If you’re not confident with DIY projects, social media offers countless easy ones. However, it can still be overwhelming. That’s why we have collected several paint ideas, a few IKEA hacks, and other projects that you can try on a long weekend to gradually boost your self-assurance.

If you ensure to grasp the fundamentals, you can even handle home repairs on your own, making it beneficial to refresh your DIY abilities to avoid the need for hiring professionals for tasks you are capable of doing independently.

Easy DIY projects to update your home 

Typically, we devote more time to contemplating simple DIY projects than the actual time required to complete them. Whether it involves installing shelves or refreshing the garden gate with a new coat of paint, accomplishing these home improvement tasks provides great satisfaction. With the necessary tools at hand, these budget-friendly DIY ideas are relatively straightforward to achieve.

1. Update drawers with fretwork

Transform a dull chest of drawers into a luxurious piece by incorporating fretwork panels. This process is quick, yet the results are remarkable. Begin by thoroughly cleaning the drawers to eliminate any grease or stickiness. Proceed by painting the fronts of the drawers using a small roller.

You can apply the fretwork panels to the drawer fronts using double-sided tape once you ensure that they are the right fit for the IKEA drawer unit without the need for cutting. The porto furniture overlays from Moon Wall Stickers are specifically designed for this purpose.

2. Create a styling station

Mounting a corkboard panel on the wall above a chest or vanity unit presents a smart solution for arranging jewelry and avoiding tangled mess. Additionally, it contributes to maintaining clutter-free surfaces.

Trim the cork so that it can fit snugly within the brackets of a wall shelf, and utilize the surface for holding storage boxes and baskets. Hang necklaces on smart pins by forming loops, and insert earrings directly into the cork.

3. Create a wall of basket storage

This project can be completed in under an hour and will result in significant time savings for maintaining a tidy living room with this innovative toy storage solution. By offering easily accessible storage in specific clutter-prone areas, family members will be encouraged to consistently put their belongings away.

Install some strong metal hooks on the wall and attach a handled basket to each one. Willow baskets are visually pleasing and serve as convenient storage for quickly tidying up toys, books, and magazines at the end of the day. Assign a label to each basket, designating them for individual family members, in order to provide everyone with a designated spot to store their belongings.

4. Build a mini outdoor kitchen

Don’t let the limited size of your balcony, courtyard, or patio discourage you from creating a small outdoor kitchen. This compact design can fit into even the tiniest areas.

To begin, choose a color and paint a wooden trellis panel. Then, select four wooden crates of equal size and paint their outer surfaces as well. After they have dried, arrange the crates on their sides, stack them together, and secure them with fixings. Finally, attach the stacked crates to the bottom of the trellis panel using screws. Lastly, place the assembled structure against a wall and decorate it with your outdoor cooking equipment.

5. Make a sink curtain

The sink curtain has made a comeback in the present trend of traditional kitchen ideas and cottage kitchen ideas. It serves as an ideal budget hack for concealing unattractive kitchen aspects, making it a convenient option even for those who are renting.

To begin, choose a fabric such as old curtains or a tablecloth that you can reuse. Trim it to the desired size and sew the edges to create a neat finish. Then, at the top, make a loop where you can insert either a thin curtain rail or a tension rod, similar to the one available at Dunelm. If sewing is not your forte, you can use hemming tape and clip-on curtain rings instead of a sewing machine.

6. Upholster a footstool

If you want a simple DIY project that is both satisfying and effortless, consider trying your hand at reupholstering a footstool. All you require is an old footstool; in case you don’t possess one, you can easily find a second-hand one on eBay. Additionally, gather some fabric and a staple gun.

Make sure to verify the measurements of your footstool before purchasing the fabric to ensure it will adequately cover the top and sides, leaving extra fabric for concealing any errors.

Save time and apply the new fabric directly on top if your footstool is already in good condition. Nonetheless, if you want a fresh start, completely remove the existing fabric and enhance it with additional padding for a thorough transformation.

7. Paint a nautical-stripe feature wall

If you are searching for instructions on painting a room, a simple yet effective method to incorporate charm and playful design into your area is through the use of paint, in the form of these tidy, wall-to-wall stripes. Stick to a timeless combination of white and navy, or if you’re feeling more daring, opt for two contrasting hues such as pink and red.

To begin, paint the entire wall in your chosen base color, which in this case is a bright white. Then, take wide decorators tape or masking tape and apply it in stripes from the floor to the ceiling, ensuring there is an equal distance between each stripe. Once you have confirmed that the stripes are aligned correctly and in the desired position, use a roller to paint the entire wall with your second color, navy blue in this case. This will cover the tape and the gaps between the stripes.

After allowing the first coat to dry, proceed to apply a second coat; however, ensure that you remove the tape before it fully dries to uncover your tidy striped wall.

8. Build a Murphy desk

Consider the potential of extending the application of Murphy beds, which are renowned for maximizing space in compact bedrooms, to dual-purpose rooms or small offices. Enhance the area of your limited space by constructing a wall-mounted desk that can be folded away when not in use!

9. Hang a table from the ceiling

Nightstands are a common feature in most well-designed bedrooms, regardless of their size. To implement this DIY bedroom idea, you can suspend a piece of reclaimed wood from the ceiling. However, ensure that it is securely attached to bear the weight of your belongings. Additionally, choose wall sconces and utilize this table for storing less delicate items needed during the night. The most advantageous aspect of this undertaking is the additional floor space created, which can now be used for a hamper.

10. Put shelves by a window for plants

Acquiring houseplants for your home may transform into a slight obsession. What commences with a single attractive planter can rapidly escalate to numerous plants yearning for sunlight. In order to save room, incorporate glass floating shelves onto a window and position your plants there.

11. Mount a drying rack to the wall

Building a fold-out drying rack in a small laundry room can help save floor space. This project costs approximately $30, considerably cheaper than purchasing the same item from a store.

12. Make a console table for behind the sofa

Decorating small living rooms can be challenging. However, you can solve this problem by utilizing narrow console tables or sofa tables, which allow you to place a table and decorative items behind the couch, even if your furniture is limited to being against a wall with no other option.

13. Save closet space by building a clothing rack

Small closets are the bane of every fashion lover’s existence, but you don’t have to pare down your clothing even if you live in a small space. Build a clothing rack that you can position in your bedroom, spare room, or even in the entryway. Hang your most used and attractive items on this rack to make the most of the extra storage space.

14. Replace a coffee table with a storage ottoman

In the case of a small living room, it is illogical to possess a coffee table that does not offer storage capacity. Instead, opt for a rolling storage ottoman like this one to replace a simple table. If your intention is for the item to also serve as seating, choose an upholstered design.

15. Hang your hamper

In order to create an illusion of spaciousness in a small area, it is advisable to prevent the accumulation of unnecessary items on the floor. Particularly in the bedroom, the presence of hampers on the floor can give off a feeling of excessive clutter. To address this, you can construct a hanging laundry hamper by utilizing an embroidery hoop and subsequently hang it on the inner side of the closet door.

16. Hack existing Ikea shelves into a rustic spice rack

Due to limited space in the kitchen, there is constant demand to enhance efficiency in food preparation. A practical solution to save counter space and improve accessibility to spices or cooking oils is by constructing a spice rack mounted on the wall. It is not necessary to begin from the beginning; instead, acquire some Ikea Bekvam shelves and refinish them in accordance with your current style.

17. Divide spaces in studio apartments using a DIY wall divider

This room decorating suggestion is an ideal fit for studio apartments lacking distinct zones. Despite common perception, creating partitions can enhance the sense of spaciousness in the room and provide an additional surface for furniture placement. Just ensure that your divider allows some light to pass through, preventing the area from becoming dim.

18. Switch out a regular bed with a platform bed

If you have a small bedroom, perhaps you can save money and space by building a platform bed with storage. Commonly used items can be stored in attractive baskets or stacked neatly in the built-in cubbies. An added benefit of platform beds in small spaces is that they generally sit lower to the ground, helping to expose all the extra vertical space.

19. Make a hanging jewelry organizer

Maximizing wall space is essential for maximizing functionality in a small room. Although numerous jewelry organizers are designed to rest on a vanity, if space is restricted, it is advisable to construct a hanging organizer instead. To create this organizer, simply remove the backing and glass from a frame and replace it with a metal mesh. Additionally, attach hooks or knobs to the bottom of the frame for storing necklaces.

20. Keep toys stored off the floor

If you have children, it’s unavoidable for a room to feel cramped when there are countless toys strewn across the floor. However, it is crucial to provide a designated space for the toys to be stored after playtime, especially when your children are still young. These wooden bins are ideal for housing toys as they can be stacked neatly against the wall, taking up minimal space.

21. Swap your door handles

Fitting a door handle is an uncomplicated task that can be completed in under an hour! Changing the door knobs can bring about a significant change since they are objects that both we and our visitors use. Opting for a door knob that provides a satisfactory quality will enhance the overall ambiance of the room.

22. Add some light with a DIY mirror

Adding mirrors is a method to create the illusion of a spacious area in a small room. However, there is no need to set up a floor-to-ceiling mirror on the entire wall. Instead, you can enhance the appearance of an affordable full-length mirror by engaging in this inventive DIY project.

23. Fake a marble side table

With the help of an effortless marble effect film, it is possible to renew a side table or make your own coffee table. By attaching the adhesive film to your current work surface, you can instantly transform its appearance. Explore a wide range of worktop vinyl options on Amazon. If you happen to have a small, outdated storage unit lying around, you can easily update it as demonstrated above. It is difficult to believe that this sophisticated platform is simply a basic display plinth covered in marble wrap.

Jonathan
Author: Jonathan