DIY Projects & Ideas
Find hundreds of DIY projects for your home and garden that you can actually do. Whether you're an experienced DIYer or an ambitious beginner, these DIY ideas will enable you to create the home you love while saving time & money.
Build
Fondue Pot to Table Top Solar Fountain & Fire Pit
I have a fondue pot that I have been wanting to turn into something and I finally figured it out! It's a table top solar fountain by day and a fire pit at night. You can see more of my crazy creations here
Rustic Caddy using Reclaimed Fence
I love repurposing unwanted items saving them from the landfill. This is just one thing you can do with old fencing.
Wood Fence Upgrade
Last year we happily removed the old chain link fence in our backyard and replaced it with brand new wood fence. It was an interesting project because we had multiple trees on the property line to work around! Here's the lovely finished product :)
DIY Deck Gate Tutorial
I’ve got 3 kids, and 3 dogs, 1 of each currently falls in the “less than 2 years old” category, and let me tell you something that 1 year olds love to do.
They love to break free, run wild, and basically be anywhere that “adult” eyes or hands won’t catch them or see them.
Stage-One of My Up-Cycled Backyard--The Fire Pit:
My husband and I purchased a house for nine thousand dollars from my Great-Grandfather’s estate way back in 1988 (that rhymes! Who knew!) We’ve been plugging money into it ever since. At first it was to keep a roof over the heads of our four great kids but now it’s a labor of love. I like to up-cycle, reuse, convert, buy-sell-trade, craigslist, free or nearly free-anything to save a buck. My advice is, if you buy anything online, check rebate sites—ebates, honey, retailmenot-I’m sure there’s more. Using end of the season sales, rebate sites, free ship and no-interest financing is a big money saver. A couple years back on a store card I bought a $1200 outdoor table big enough to hold my grown kids and their families, for around $400. So, my backyard….Its small. It’s drab. Thank goodness my kids grew up on a block where they had neighbors with kid friendly backyards because ours wasn’t that place. The outside table was one thing off the list but the rest of my backyard project? What to do?
Fence Picket A/C Unit Cover
EDITED TO ADD: Thank you all for your concern of our unit not being able to breath. We have had our a/c man over to check it out and he says it has plenty of room to breath and he approves of the cover. :)
Do you have an ugly air conditioning unit sitting in your yard? Yes? We did too, but now we have an awesome cover up for it! We used some old wooden fence pickets to create a more eye pleasing surround for our ugly old unit. Please come on over to our blog and see how we put it together for very little money!
Celebrate
Easy and Inexpensive...Christmas Decorations From Sheet Music
A $1.00 book of sheet music from the thrift store and a few inexpensive supplies helped me to create a pretty wreath, fun ornaments and some candles for Christmas! See the detailed tutorial on my blog by clicking on the link at the end of this post to find out how to make them!
"Glitter on the Inside" ornaments
The most beautiful Christmas ornaments I've seen/made!
Only 3 "ingredients" to make these beauties......
Pom Pom Trim Christmas Tree
A fun and whimsical Christmas Tree made from mini pom pom trim.
Wedding Candle Votives
I have a very specific idea in my head of what I want my table centerpieces to look like. I completely blame Pinterest. My florist totally gets my vibe, but didn't have the votives I was searching for. Naturally, I searched the internet and still could not find exactly what I am looking for so I DIY-ed it!
DIY Rustic Wedding Reception Table Numbers
When we started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to have a rustic/vintage feel and that we wanted to make some of the decor ourselves. I saw an idea for a table number and I knew that we could re-create it...we just needed the materials to do so :)
Easy Garland Christmas Trees
These cute trees are easy to make with poster board, aluminum foil, garland, and a glue gun.
Clean
Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly? 5 Quick Tips to Make it Like New
There's nothing worse than seeing gritty residue at the bottom of your drinking glass.
This is especially true if you have company at your house, it's the holidays, and your wife is the one who spotted the problem. So what's the solution?
Here are a few tips that helped us with our dishwasher's efficiency ...
How to Make Your Own Garbage Disposal Tablets - DIY
You walk into your house and BAM! You are hit with that horrid smell! What is it? You sniff around trying to figure out where that smell is coming from. You feel like you are playing one of those hot/cold games. Hot, hotter, boiling hot... you got it!
It's your garbage disposal!
Even if you run it often, it may still smell bad after a while. Just like other appliances, garbage disposals need to be cleaned every so often....
Pallet LED Lamp
You can, too, build this beautiful lamp from free pallet wood.
Clean and Lube Your Tower Fan to Keep It Running
Did you know that your tower fan needs regular maintenance to keep them running? Tower fans are upwards of $40 and more and are great for circulating air in the summer. I have 3 fans that run from June through October and boy do they get nasty with pet hair and dust!
I have one tower fan that is over 9 years old! and the one I used for this post is over 6 years old. Truth be told it stops working when the dust and hair gunk up the fan blade motor. It is not hard to take apart these fans and clean and lube them.
UPDATE: I ADDED A YOUTUBE VIDEO ON TAKING OFF THE BACK FOR ANYONE HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THE BACK AND PUTTING IT BACK ON ...
Easy Iron Cleaning 101 - The Pressing News
When your iron needs a good cleaning, there's no need to buy anything special. Use these two products you most likely already have in your home.
Clean Your Kitchen With Basic Products
It's after the holidays, the guests are gone, and your kitchen needs a little love. In this tutorial I will show you my favorite way to clean my kitchen using products you have in your kitchen. The best part - you probably already have everything you need! You can see more of my crazy creations here
Community
Quickly Remove Heat Stains From Wood!
You’ve seen them before. White splotchy heat stains that cover what used to be perfectly pristine wood furniture, and if you’re reading this, you probably have one or two of these marks in your home right now.
Where Are My Keys ? NO MORE! $15 Solution
Ok.. It may be possible that I may be the only one… BUT I don't think so. I hate seeing keys on a counter rolling around with no assigned location. I also don't really like having them “exposed” on a key hanger. (specially since I don't have a “Mudroom” or something like it. I wish I did.) In my case they would just hang there in my middle of one of my entry ways, looking into my OCD soul. Too much? Ok.. well, you may be right, but I really don't like them just hanging there. Doesn’t really fit in the decor.. Sometimes I feel it take aways from the great looking key hanger out there.I ramble just to justify.. My great James Bond idea. HA! “Why don’t just hide them behind a frame.” The key (no pun intended) is finding the right frame. It’s has to be at least 1½ inches in depth. This way the keys will hide behind behind the frame without damaging it or not allowing the frame to close properly. The deeper/thicker the frame the better. It was really pretty easy and I think I may customize a bit more by adding fancier hooks, and maybe replacing the elastic with a small wood plate but I just couldn't wait to share. I hope you guys like it and maybe you can customize it to fit your needs, hopefully I gave you a head start. Check it out ! I had most of the materials which allowed my cost to be minimal.
How to Remove Dried Paint From Clothing
If you are a DIYer, you probably have some clothing with dried paint on them. Here's how to remove it - for real!
6 Quick Fix-Facelift Ideas for Builder Grade Bathrooms ALL Under $120
I'd like to share some bathroom face-lift projects we tackled a few months ago. EACH can be done in 6-12 hours, some less some more (if paint is involved) but nothing over a day. When I know I can finish a project in a day (or so) I am definitely quicker to start/try it. Our '06 builders grade bathroom was plain old ugly and odd! They put carpet in the vanity area & a one piece "acrylic" counter with single sunken sink (should be two) plus oak dbl cabinets.We would rather go on vacation than fund a full remodel, so a face-lift was all we could do on our modest income. Everything we did was under $120 total...and that was spent mainly on flooring & paint. ( I wasn't planning to post. I had painted the cabinets before I took my BEFORE Photo.)
We Have Just One New Years Resolution for 2018...
Thank you for a year of inspiring, encouraging, sharing and creating together with us on Hometalk! We can't wait to reminisce about all the amazing things we've done together this year, but before we get carried away...Our New Year's Resolution:
Decorate
New Life for an Old Farm Door
Antique Farm Door Turned Garden Art/Now Bird Nest
Potted Hanging Wind Chime
I wanted a wind chime for my outdoor space. I also wanted to use items on hand . Most of the time you can create a piece with many items around the home. Before you know it you have the makings of a 1 of a kind craft.
Garden Herbs
I've had these wagon wheels, bought on a whim, leaning against our storage shed in a small neglected area of our yard forever it seems. I knew it was time to do something here. For a few days I just starred at them and thought how much they looked like clocks, but, I sure didn't have a need for an outdoor clock, much less two clocks, then I remembered seeing various wall gardens online and in magazines. So I decided to give it a try.
Quick and Easy Curb Appeal
What can you make with a $2 ladder, $6 worth of flowers, and purses by the pound? A very bright, eye-catching display to brighten the front of my home! This past winter has been so long and so cold, most of my plants froze to death, despite my taking precautions such as wrapping them in lights and putting cuttings in water in the house. I desperately needed some life and color to add to the curb appeal until the native plants grow back.
Gorgeous Colorful Planters to Brighten up Any Small Garden.
I live in a Victorian semi-detached house with a lovely but small walled garden. There isn't much space for growing plants, so I tend to grow things in pots that I can then stack on a stand.I love to make colorful vertical planters for the garden and last year I made an amazing Morrocan one out of a pallet, which you can see here.This time I used tin cans and instead of Morrocan I went all Nordic (Finnish) with my styling!
Quilt Rack Turned Outdoor Planter
This is a quick and easy project that will add a little something different to your backyard.
Furnish
Old Coffee Table to New Porch Bench
A thrifted coffee table got a shabby chic make over with the use of a drop cloth. Durable and comfortable enough to be enjoyed on cool fall evenings.....
My Potting Bench, Watering Can Collection & Pumps
About 15 years ago I wanted a potting bench, but they were pretty expensive, too expensive with three kids at home. I saw a work bench kit in a Menard's flyer for $39. I talked my husband into putting it together for me, and I stained it. It was pine and the boards were seconds but I thought it was perfect and rustic. It has become a focal point of my outdoor decorating.
http://organizedclutterqueen.blogspot.com/2012/07/potting-bench-whiskey-barrels-and.html
10 Charming Seating Areas From The Garden Charmers
The ladies in my Facebook group called the Garden Charmers have collaborated to share their favorite seating areas.
These areas are places to relax, to sit and to dream up new gardening projects. Just seeing those lovely and peaceful settings makes me want to relax in my garden too.
Please join us for a virtual tour of 10 charming seating spots. You can click on any of the pictures below, and then click the links under the photos to go to that seating area, or take the grand tour of all 10 on this post on The Gardening Cook website: http://thegardeningcook.com/garden-seating-areas/ ...
Needed a Garden Bench
Out of necessity for deck furniture I made this garden bench. I started out with twelve cinder blocks.
Simple DIY Headboard Bench Tutorial - I Only Made 4 Cuts on Wood!
I've always wanted a pretty and welcoming front porch. I've also loved headboard bench makeovers but thought my skills wouldn't be good enough as a beginner with power tools. With some help from Home Depot, I made this an awesome beginner project and only had to make 4 wood cuts. It also justified my first personal powertool purchase, a Ryobi drill! I love how the bench turned out and my front porch is now welcoming and pretty as you walk up to the front door.
From Child's Roll Top Desk to Counter Potting Shed!
I found myself constantly going out to our potting area in a dreary area of our barn, getting what I needed to start seeds or cuttings and coming back up to our porch outdoor kitchen counter to do them. A while back I bought a kids roll top desk, and although the bottom portion was a little rickety, the top was in good shape. After all the trips back and forth out there, I thought it would make a great counter top potting shed.
Garden
How to Age a Terra Cotta Pot With Chalky Finish Paint
It's front porch sitting time...
Time to spruce up those boring terra cotta pots with a little paint and stencils.
How to Get an Amaryllis to Bloom
Did you get an amaryllis bulb kit around Christmastime? If so, you're probably sad that the beautiful flower is long gone. Many people give up on their amaryllis bulbs and throw out the plant once it's done flowering. However, you can get your amaryllis to bloom again. It might not be in time for the holidays (unless you time it very carefully). But holidays or not, it's fun to to see your plant bloom again, and who doesn't love a beautiful amaryllis flower? Here's how to get your amaryllis to bloom an encore this year!
Grow Garlic in a Container
We've recently moved into a new home with no backyard. While we are still putting in the landscape, I didn't have a place to plant garlic.
Instead, I chose to plant it in a container and not miss out on fresh garlic next summer.
How To - Distress Pottery
Step by Step Instructions - How To Distress Pottery
Mint Wonderful Mint: How To Care For & Plant This Fragrant Herb - See
By Nell @JoyUsgarden
I love pretty much any herb. I do a lot of cooking and have a raised bed of herbs in the back yard that I can pick from all year long whenever my little heart desires. Of all the herbs, mint is my very favorite. I use it almost every day to add to a pitcher of water with sliced lemons for that added pop of flavor.
How to Root Basil
Basil is the most popular herb grown, and it's easy to root more plants for yourself or friends!
Make Over
Sail To Get Your Mail?!
Here in Florida, it's not uncommon to see fun and whimsical mailboxes. I just finished this custom Pirate Ship Mailbox and it's sailing all the way to Homestead, Fl. !!
Come Sit a Spell !
Before we even moved the furniture into the house, we hung the porch swing on the front porch! It was a dream realized for me. Morning coffee, chats with neighbors and a shady break spot when gardening, this is my favorite "room" in our home. Here are some pictures of our front porch over the seasons with more to come soon!
Privacy Fencing Mini-makeover
My deck has been neglected since we moved in 4 years ago. And because our dining room window faces into the privacy fencing for the hot tub, I just couldn’t stand the thought of looking at it for another winter! So I decided to do a quick and inexpensive update before the winter hits. I bought a can of paint and ‘shopped’ in our garage for cast off items.
DIY Tutorial: Replacing Your Mailbox Post
Has your mailbox post seen better days? No need to pay someone to install a new one for you. You CAN replace it yourself with this DIY tutorial.
My Front Porch Makeover
After two years of residing in our house our entry has finally received a makeover. I started with a design board where I gathered my ideas. Next I came across some great finds for unique pots and planters to use for decoration. Then new paint, a fancier header above the door, a new light fixture and I love it! Check out my whole makeover at the link below.
Make Your Mailbox the Envy of Your Neighborhood
Follow along this tutorial and your mailbox will be the prettiest one on the street this fall!
Organize
Simple Shelving Using Two Tools
Need shelving in your basement or garage? These simple shelves can be made so easily and all you really need are two simple tools - a screwdriver and a level.
DIY Hose Holder and Lantern Hanger
Hubster had a couple 54″ 4×8 boards left over from one of his projects and asked if I wanted them. This obviously was a silly question, of course I did! I knew I would eventually find a purpose for these puppies! Well, they have been sitting in the shop for over a year, but I finally came up with a project for one of the boards: a DIY hose holder and lantern hanger. Any projects that help to organize or clean up in or around the house is a winner in my book!
DIY Dollar Tree Makeup Brush Organizers
I was not going to let the jars without the lids that I used to make the Apothecary Jars go to waste so I used them to Organize my Makeup brushes. Of course with a touch of "Glam".
A Wall of Shelves Using Store-bought Shelf Organizers
The builder who built my house finished the entire basement. While it's nice and one huge room, it left no storage. I needed storage. I also love bookshelves and always dreamed of having a wall of shelves. They are very expensive to have custom built. So I figured out a work-around. The beauty of this wall is that the next owners can just take it down if they don't like it. But, for me, I love it!
5 Fresh Ideas for Organizing With Jars
When it comes to organizing, a glass jar (or two or three or more!) is a wonderful tool. Here are five Fresh Ideas for Organizing with Jars. These clutter-busting solutions are perfect for your kitchen, your workspace and your bathroom!
Washboards and Ideas
I love wash boards! They have so many uses! Usually I just clean them up and send them back out the door but when the odd one comes in that is damaged beyond restorative means, I change it up a little! Here are a few that just so happened to be in that situation. Would LOVE if you uploaded a picture of your own washboard recreations in the comments!
Paint
Guest Bedroom Makeover
THE PLAN
This makeover is very close to my heart. I did it in 4 days and I worked everything out in less than 1 $1000. To begin, I sketched the concept and design on a piece of paper. I had so many ideas in my mind but going to Lowes armed with the my concept sheet I shopped at l my initial supplies based on my rough sketch. I spent a couple of hours and picked colors that would coordinate the existing wall color.
wanted the room to have a calm and soothing effect with a bit of eclecticism and still have a boutique hotel feel. I had the dresser that I had picked on craiglist and for a long time I couldn't figure what to do with it. After the colors for the room was finalized, I decided to paint it a dark deep blue grey and distress it. I kept the dresser drawers as is to create that contrast I needed....
Stenciled Color Secrets Unlocked
Cutting Edge Stencils Shares Tips for Using Color Psychology In A Home
Good morning, my color enthusiasts! Cutting Edge Stencils is curious if this decorating scenario sounds familiar. You've disliked a room in your home for years and have finally made the decision to give it a makeover. It feels good to know you're going to build your dream room until you realize there's over 3,400 paint colors to choose from. Finding the right paint color can be a daunting task. Don't feel bad because you're not alone in the color struggle. Cutting Edge Stencils is here to hold your hand through the process. When we understand what moods are evoked by certain colors, we can use psychology in our homes to compliment the different functions of each room. We spotted this awesome psychology of color graphic that pinpoints which color to use in which room. http://blog.cuttingedgestencils.com/?p=12607
Spray Paint a Pillow? #FallPreview
Sure, why not? My front porch needed an injection of color. Stat! So I used what I had on hand - burlap from Home Depot garden dept., spray paint., and a dollar store felt leaf.
Stencil Your Floor with our Shipibo Stencil
We've gone absolutely gaga over this Shipibo Stenciled Floor! Jessica did a tremendous job with this DIY stencil project! Check it out on our blog below for details and in-process pics!
READ ME NOW: http://blog.cuttingedgestencils.com/painting-a-geometric-stenciled-floor-with-cutting-edge-stencils.html
Stencil Basics: Stenciling With Discharge Paste
Discharging is the process of removing dye from fabric in a controlled manner. Jacquard Discharge Paste can be painted or stamped on dyed natural fiber fabric, and its thick viscosity makes it ideal for using on fabrics with Royal Design Studio Stencils. Discharge Paste will safely remove color from natural fibers and is also safe for use with silk. Unlike bleach, Discharge Paste will not weaken or deteriorate the fabric.
Visit our blog for more inspiring stencil pattern ideas and full How-to:
http://www.royaldesignstudio.com/blogs/how-to-stencil/12269389-stencil-basics-stenciling-with-discharge-paste...
Stenciled Rug!
I needed a new rug for my outdoor patio but didn't want to spend too much so I found a rug at Home Depot for $17, applied a stencil pattern to it and sealed it with spray on poly. Not sure how it will hold up but our weather in South Texas is mild so I'm curious to see how it does! At this price, I may make another one for the holidays!
Repair
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Send fruit flies on a one way trip with this easy and effective solution using stuff you already have at home.
Cement Step Repair: Get Your Curb Appeal Back in One Day!
After a long cold winter we had to repair our cement steps. I'm guessing you might have to do this, too. So I decided to share how we fixed our steps in one and got our curb appeal back for the spring season!! You can totally DIY this same project and save some money for spring flowers.
For a complete step-by-step video you can also visit my blog post over on Home Repair Tutor.
Let me know if you've got any questions because I'd be happy to help :)...
Terra Cotta Space Heater
Ok, I have to admit, this is pretty thrifty. This space heater is a clean and cheap energy alternative and also a pretty fun looking little piece. If you live in a place where one room tends to get colder than others, or you want to save a little cash money, or are like me and live in a space where you can't control your heat, this is great! This space heater is made from some simple terra cotta pots and hardware and can really heat up a space on the cheap.
We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.
Organic Pest Control That Works
Spring has finally arrived. time to get outside and do some spring cleaning and a few chores. Spring around here brings bugs. I mean crawling yucky bugs like ants and other unwelcome critters. No worries though, I use diatomaceous earth for organic pest control.
Homemade Fruit Fly Trap
Here’s a really useful eco-friendly trick to get of fruit flies. I hate fruit flies. Actually, I hate any bug that comes into my home, but fruit flies are the worst. Obviously, the first step to getting rid of them is to find the rotting fruit or vegetable and dispose of it, but sometimes those fruit flies just keep sticking around (and they multiply!). So when they wouldn't go away, I used apple cider vinegar and dish soap. I also used this great trick to get rid of the fruit flies from my veggie patch, so this trap works outdoors too.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies With Household Items
I don't know about you, but this time of year the fruit flies are out in full force at our house. To me they are one of the most annoying bugs, and they seem to multiply like bunnies! Apparently female fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time and their life spans are 40-50 days, during which time they can lay several 500-egg batches. No wonder they are so hard to get rid of!
Tile
Make Your Grout Look Like New!
I can’t believe we’ve been in our current house for over two years. In a way, it feels like we just moved in here. It was our first single family home. We love having a spacious, private backyard for the kids. We love having an in-house washer & dryer to make laundry day a breeze. We also love our family-friendly neighborhood. However, there has always been one thing that bothered me about this place…The tile floor in the kitchen has seen better days. To be clear, the tiles themselves are in good condition, as in there are no cracks, chips, etc (although I probably would have chosen another color for the tiles). However, the overall floor in the kitchen has been a bit (a lot!) of an eyesore, mainly due to the condition of the grout.
How To Change the Look of Your Tile Grout for Less Then 30 Dollars
Cleaning your tile grout is always a choir and time consuming. Applying a grout color sealer like Grout Shield will not only save you time but make you feel as if your floors or wall are looking new again.
How to Install a Brick Tile Floor
Installing a brick tile floor in your home is a great way to give your home that old-world, rustic charm. Brick is a timeless material that never goes out of style. In this tutorial you will learn how to install thin brick tile veneer onto a floor such a bathroom or kitchen. Installing a brick tile floor is easier than you might think and the application is very similar to regular tile.
Hexagon Tile Floor Transition Entrance
After seeing numerous photos of Hexagon Tiles organically transitioning into hardwood flooring, I had to attempt this technique. I hadn’t seen any conclusive tutorials on doing this transition so I was left to my own devices. The final product turned out really sharp and has held up perfectly since it was installed two years ago.I will be installing a Zebrawood engineered hardwood flooring. This means it has a thin veneer of Zebrawood mounted on an MDF substrate and a little layer of cork on the bottom. It is important to have the tiles sitting approximately 1/16″ – 1/8″ higher than the hardwood floors. This is to minimize damage to the frail Zebrawood veneer.
Coastal Farmhouse Bathroom Refresh
We teamed up with Jeffrey Court Tile to bring our boring master bathroom to life. By mixing the different kind of tile added interest and the final finish definitely feels more spa like and gave our ugly bathroom a modern coastal feel. Transforming this bathroom was definitely a labor of love and was one of the most physically demanding projects to date. At least now we have a soothing place to relax.
How to Clean Grout and Install New Grout That Won't Stain
Grout is a major pain, especially when it's old and grimy. Today you'll learn how to clean grout and make it look new again. Plus we share which grouts to use if you decide to re-grout your bathroom floor or if you just installed new tile. The tips you'll learn will be priceless.
Upcycle
Storage Ladder
I've been wanting a leaning ladder for as long as I've seen them out in stores and online. My husband and I acquired several ladders over the years and I finally decided to make it useful. This was surprisingly an easy project--intimidating because of the power tools--but otherwise easy.
Two Upcycled Projects From One Old Ladder
We picked up this old wood ladder that had been left as trash a while ago, and finally got the inspiration for what to do with it! It started out as one project, but quickly turned into two. Here's how we upcycled it!
Seashell Beeswax Tea Lights
These tea lights are a beautiful gift idea and look just beachy in glass candle bowls filled with sand and shells. From the eBook: Garden Therapy Handmade Gifts: How to Make Simple and Beautiful Skincare, Candles, Living Gifts, and More!
DIY Modern PVC Pipe Wine Rack
My need for extra wine storage led me to a lot of expensive, not so great looking options. So I decided to make my own.
How to camouflage an ugly well pipe
Milk can .... sawzall ....Ta Da!
Repurposed/Upcycled License Plate Clipboards
This is the second round of license plate clipboards I've put together so far. I got a hold of two matching pairs of 1975 license plates that were never used. They still had the parchment paper included that listed and displayed the current (1975) signs and traffic law changes to make the driver aware.
