Erin Spain Shares 25 Homes Projects You Can Commit To
Tackling DIY projects can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Choosing one bite-sized project at a time drastically decreases the intimidation factor. Here are 25 simple projects around the home to get you started in the new year. Try one and see where it takes you!
1. Dip-Dye Baskets for Cute Storage
You can use paint or dye to “dip” the bottom section of a basket to create a cute and stylish storage solution. I suggest using painter’s tape to tape off the area you want to paint. Use a fun color or even create an ombré effect!
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $20
Materials: Basket, painter’s tape, dye or paint, paintbrush
See the full tutorial here.
2. DIY Faux Concrete Planter
Planters are a simple way to add greenery to any space. Concrete planters bring an industrial look but can be quite heavy. With this project, you can get the style you want without the weight (or cost).
Time: 2 hours, plus drying time
Cost: $40
Materials: 1″x4″ lumber, brad nailer, drill, wood glue, sandpaper, FolkArt® painted finishes – concrete, paintbrushes, pea gravel, cactus mix, succulents
See the full tutorial here.
3. Rearrange Things
Sometimes something as simple as moving things around can create a totally different vibe in a room. Play around with different furniture configurations and décor arrangements and see if there might be a more efficient use of space or a way to make your space function better for your family.
Time: 30 minutes to an hour
Cost: Free
Materials: Existing décor
4. Add Removable Wallpaper
Bring interest to your walls by updating them with removable wallpaper! This is a great way to incorporate a fun pattern or color without the commitment of regular glued paper, making it a great option for renters.
Time: 2 to 3 hours
Cost: $300+
Materials: Removable wallpaper, scissors
See the full tutorial here.
5. Freshen Up Your Front Porch
Set the tone before you even walk through the door by freshening up the front porch. Give your front door a new coat of paint. Add some greenery to your steps with some seasonal planters. Even something as simple as adding a wreath and a doormat can do wonders for your welcome.
Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cost: $20-$40
Materials: Paint, paintbrush, planters, doormat, wreath
6. Create a Reading Nook
Carving out a cozy little corner of a room and devoting it to lounging and reading is a great project, whether it’s a kid’s space or one for the whole family. This reading nook incorporates a DIY daybed with an upcycled crib mattress as the cushion. You could build something similar or purchase a daybed or chaise lounge.
Time: 5 hours
Cost: $200
Materials: Plywood, pocket hole jig, pocket hole screws, drill/driver, furniture legs, brad nailer, crib mattress, fabric, staple gun
See the full tutorial here.
7. Decorate a Planter or Flowerpot
If you’re looking for a quick and easy project you can complete in under an hour, decorate a planter or a flowerpot! You can use paint, gold leaf or other embellishments and turn an inexpensive terra cotta pot into a colorful and stylish décor piece for your home. The kids can help too!
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $20
Materials: Terra cotta pot, multi-surface craft paint, paintbrush, gold leaf sheets, adhesive
See the full tutorial here.
8. Swap out Hardware
For a project that makes a big impact and takes very little time, consider swapping out the hardware on your kitchen cabinets or bedroom furniture. All it takes is a screwdriver. Hardware is the “jewelry” of furniture and comes in many different styles and materials.
Time: 15 minutes
Cost: $30-$100 depending on how many pieces you swap out
Materials: Cabinet handles and/or drawer pulls, screwdriver
See the full tutorial here.
9. Try an IKEA Hack
Speaking of giving pieces of furniture a new life, there are so many creative ideas out there for flipping IKEA pieces and making them look custom-made. Adding paint, new hardware and, in this case, overlays to the drawer fronts made a world of difference.
Time: 5 hours, plus dry time
Cost: $400
Materials: IKEA TARVA dresser, furniture legs, primer, paint, wood overlays, sanding block, paintbrush or roller, saw, construction adhesive, rubber gloves, brass finger pulls, satin finish (optional)
See the full tutorial here.
10. Make Abstract Art
You don’t have to be a professional artist to make interesting art. You can easily create this abstract piece by painting a canvas white (use a store-bought canvas or build your own), then, using the color of your choice, paint the bottom half of the canvas. When you reach the middle, flick your brush upward to create a stained effect.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $40
Materials: Canvas, paint, paintbrush
To build canvas: 1″x2″ boards, staple gun, brad nailer, drop cloth
See the full tutorial here.
11. Reupholster Old Chairs with New Fabric
Re-covering the seat cushions on your chairs is actually a really easy process and a great way to update them with a fresh color or new pattern. Simply unscrew the seat cushion, staple on the new fabric while pulling it taut as you go, and then reattach the seat.
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $25+
Materials: Upholstery fabric, scissors, staple gun
See the full tutorial here.
12. Build a Bookshelf
Incorporating a handbuilt piece of furniture into your home is a great way to add custom storage to a space without breaking the bank. This DIY pipe bookshelf is an easy option since it just consists of rectangular boxes connected with pipes and flanges.
Time: 2 to 3 hours, plus paint dry time
Cost: $50 or less
Materials: 1″x12″ lumber, pocket hole jig and screws, sander, drill, 6” long pipe, pipe flanges, spray paint, latex paint and primer
See the full tutorial here.
13. Play Around With Painted Designs
Whether on the walls or on furniture, creating a design with paint is a really fun way to add personality to a space. You can use a stencil or create a fun geometric pattern using painter’s tape. The possibilities are endless.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $30
Materials: Paint, paintbrush and/or roller, painter’s tape or stencil
See the full tutorial here (including how to make a floating desk of your own).
14. Make a Canvas to Display Photos
Stencil a premade art canvas and hot glue metal clips to it for a fun way to display photos! You can have Instagram photos printed or just print out photos in a variety of sizes. Polaroids are a fun option for this too.
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $30
Materials: Canvas, stencil, stenciling brush, acrylic craft paint, metal clips, glue gun, photos
See the full tutorial here.
15. Make Over a Thrift Store Find
Second-hand treasure hunting is always an adventure, and it’s a great opportunity to upcycle something old into something new or give an old piece of furniture a new life. Plus, you end up with a unique piece that you can’t find in a big-box store.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: Under $50
Materials: Sander or sanding block, primer, paint, paintbrush
See the full tutorial here.
16. Kid’s Wood & Copper Book Storage Bin
Toys, books, stuffed animals—you can never have enough storage with kids. This easy-to-make book bin is both cute and functional. For the copper pipe, if you have the correct tools, you can cut it at home; otherwise, you can have it cut at your local home improvement store.
Time: 4 hours, plus drying time
Cost: $75
Materials: 4’x18″ wooden project panel, 3/4” copper pipe, 90-degree copper elbows (x8), epoxy/glue, pocket hole jig, screws, brad nailer, primer, paint, polycrylic topcoat, drill, 3/4” Forstner bit
See the full tutorial here.
17. Create DIY Curtains
Window treatments can get expensive, especially if you have to order custom sizes. Instead, you can pick up some inexpensive cotton curtain panels and add fabric to the bottom to add length as well as a pop of color. Can’t sew? No problem! Use hem tape for a no-sew version.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $30-$50
Materials: Cotton curtain panels, fabric, scissors, hem tape or sewing machine
See the full tutorial here.
18. Build a Coffee Table
Everyone needs a coffee table, and if you’re interested in learning how to build furniture, this is a great place to start. A quick and easy way to make one is by ordering prefabricated metal hairpin legs and attaching them to a piece of plywood or a panel of laminated lumber, or you can create this slatted top using 1″x2″ boards.
Time: 3 hours
Cost: $120
Materials: 1″x2″ boards, wood glue, brad nailer, stain, wipe-on poly, staining pads, hairpin legs, spray paint
See the full tutorial here.
19. Make String Art
Even if you don’t feel like you possess a strong artistic talent, you can make string art as a unique piece of wall décor! Simply trace a stencil or template on a wooden board, hammer nails along the outline, and then randomly string yarn from one nail to another. Tie a knot at the beginning and then at the very end once you’ve finished crisscrossing your string. You can use any color (or colors) and create it at any scale you choose.
Time: 1 to 2 hours depending on scale
Cost: $30
Materials: Wooden board, nails or brass pins, hammer, stencil or template, pencil, embroidery floss or yarn
See the full tutorial here.
20. Create a Gallery Wall
Decorate a wall by creating a photo gallery with varying size frames. A quick tip is to arrange it on the floor until you find a configuration you like best and then recreate it on the wall. Alternately, you can trace the frames onto craft paper and tape them to the wall to play around with different placement ideas.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $100 (varies)
Materials: Photos, frames, hammer, nails (or drill and drywall anchors/screws)
21. Make Over a Dated Bathroom Vanity
Don’t have the budget to replace your dated bathroom vanity? Make it over! Adding a fresh coat of paint to the cabinets and a specialty epoxy to the countertop can make it look as good as new. With a few new accessories, you can create a whole new look.
Time: 3 hours
Cost: $50
Materials: Primer, paint, paintbrush or roller, sandpaper, appliance epoxy, respirator, plastic drop cloth
See the full tutorial here.
22. Paint Interior Doors
Another great way to add interest is by painting your interior doors. You could go with a bright color or stick to neutrals like black or gray. Anything other than white is eye-catching and unexpected. You can also add unique doorknobs to really turn the doors into a statement piece.
Time: 5 to 6 hours depending on number of doors
Cost: $50-$100
Materials: Paint, paint roller, paintbrush, doorknobs (optional), screwdriver (if replacing knobs)
23. Spray Paint a Lamp
Update an out-of-style lamp with spray paint! Just tape off the socket and cord, then add a coat of spray primer followed by your choice of color. You can make over an old lamp you have on hand or pick one up for a few bucks at a thrift store.
Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $10
Materials: Spray primer and paint, painter’s tape
See the full tutorial here.
24. Paint the Ceiling
It’s common to add color to a room by painting the walls; why not paint the ceiling? You can paint it the same color as the walls, a coordinating color or something contrasting and bold. If you want to be extra daring, add a high-gloss finish.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $60
Materials: Paint, paint roller, paintbrush, ladder
25. Add Wallpaper to the Back of Shelves
No more boring shelves! Dress up plain built-ins or bookshelves by adding wallpaper to the back. You can use thumbtacks or double-sided tape to stick the wallpaper on or use removable peel-and-stick wallpaper. This adds color and pattern, which creates interest, and it’s a quick and easy project.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $50-$150 depending on scale
Materials: Wallpaper, thumbtacks, scissors
See the full tutorial here.
The Woman Behind DIY
Erin Spain is a home décor and DIY online content creator living in the Atlanta suburbs with her three sons. She shares DIY tutorials on her website and YouTube channel and is passionate about learning new skills and inspiring others to do the same. She loves woodworking, welding and anything involving home décor. She learns as she goes and shows her audience that if she can do it, they can too. Named one of the 30 Best DIY Design Blogs by Domino magazine, Erin has also been featured in Parents magazine and on HouseBeautiful.com and CountryLiving.com. In addition, she has also spoken at various conferences and at events on behalf of HGTV Magazine. www.erinspain.com, www.youtube.com/erinspaindiy, www.instagram.com/erinspainblog
