Christmas decor comes in a wide range of styles. Some decorations are cute, some are classy, and some are, well... I'll say it: ugly. Sadly a lot of do-it-yourself decorations can fall into this last category, but I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to be that way. I've found 81 examples of stylish Christmas decor that you can make yourself (and proudly display when you're done).
I have been loving brass metalwork hurricanes lately, especially the ones from Anthropologie. While trolling the lighting aisles of the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store the light bulb went off...the one in my head that is. I could use a brass and glass 1980s light fixtures to make a brass hurricane. Here is how I made my knock off metal work hurricane.
Halloween can get cheesy fast. Just look around your local craft stores, and you'll see ghosts and goblins and witches galore. But there are ways to decorate your home for the holiday in a more sophisticated way... and we set out to find 15 of the very best. Click through to check them out.
I grew up as a Girl Scout and did my fair share of camping, and the s'mores were always my favorite part. Even as an adult, I would toast s'mores on my gas stove, but sadly my current home has an electric stove, leaving me without a makeshift campire to make s'mores. Rather than letting that stop me, I made this portable s'mores fire pot with Sterno ethanol gel canisters and a planter pot!
For those of you who love color as much as I do, then you probably love PANTONE too. (If you're not sure what it is, here ya go). And in my opinion, those swatches really lend themselves to fun DIY projects. So today I'm sharing a quick and easy tutorial for "balloon-dipped" PANTONE vases. Read on to check 'em out.
Spring is in the air! To me, spring is always, first and foremost, about color. It's also my favorite time of year to keep flowers in the house, but this can be a very expensive habit. Instead, I've committed to getting my flower fix by picking one or two flowers from my daily walks to display in small bud vases. To honor each bloom, I wanted to whip some special bud vases to give them just-the-right place to live.
Spring is (finally) right around the corner, which means that you're probably starting to think about your outdoor space. I know I am. So today I'm sharing a fun project that will give your porch some serious style. Read on to check it out.
I've been making a concerted effort lately to remember to recycle as much as possible, and it's been working... we have double the amount of recycling as we do trash lately. And then I got to thinking - there must be all kinds of fun DIYs that I could do using all those empty vessels. Keep reading to check out four easy ones that I tried out.
Looking for a way to create colored glass bottles and mason jars? Why tested two techniques to see which one works best.
Photo: DIY Maven
A few years back, we profiled a new technique to 'dye' clear glass any color. The original maker included instructions that called for mixing acetone (nail polish remover) with Vitrail glass paint. Since posting the profile of the technique, the original how-to has vanished from the...
One of the (many) things that deters me from super getting organized is not wanting to spend a ton of money on storage containers and other organizational items. But then it dawned on me - why don't I use things that I already have make some storage containers? So today I'm sharing five of my favorite upcycled organizational DIYs that you can make from things you probably already have lying around the house.
1. Egg Carton Jewelry Storage - For this project, simply spray paint the outside of the plastic type of egg carton. I cut mine into two pieces and painted each one a different color. Easy peasy!
2. Plastic Bag Dispenser - This one is made out of a disinfecting wipe container. Cut the label off, spray paint the top, wrap contact paper around the outside and then stuff your plastic bags inside. You'll never have a mess of bags again!
3. Salsa Jar Canisters - For these apothecary style jars, I spray painted the tops of empty salsa jars and then glued knobs to the top using E6000 glue. These are great for holding bathroom items like I've done, or also things like beads or other crafting supplies.
4. Contact Paper Storage Box - This catch-all storage box is simply a shoe box covered with marble contact paper. You could also cover it in wrapping paper, gluing it to the box with Mod Podge.
5. Mason Jar String Organizer - For this one, remove the inside part of the mason jar cap and replace it with decorative card stock of the same size and shape. Punch a hold in the center before you screw it on, and thread the string through the hole. No more runaway string or yarn!
Share this post on Pinterest! [Photo: Faith Towers]
Who else is in need of some help in the storage department? I know I am, so today we're sharing some attractive DIY storage projects... because it's way easier to get yourself organized when you have cute storage, right?!
5. These herb-alicious boxes are made from scratch and then letter stencils are used to create the text. Get the how-to here. [Photo: The Navage Patch]
I always buy more plants during the holidays (when they're on super sale!) and am then searching for places to put them come January. This cool IKEA hack would look great on any desk with some greenery cascading down the side!
With New Year's Eve right around the corner, I have metallics on the brain... and apparently other people do too, because there are an awful lot of silver and gold DIY projects floating around the internet these days. So today I'm sharing ten of my favorite metallic DIYs for your home. Read on to check them out.
What's black and white and wood all over? A modern, rustic, Scandinavian Christmas! We've rounded up forty (40!!) Scandinavian Christmas decorations that will have you daydreaming of log fires and warm glasses of glogg in no time. God Jul!
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, many of us have jumped straight into the Christmas mindset... so today we're sharing some colorful ornament ideas that you can make yourself to help you get in the Christmas spirit. Here are thirty of our favorite modern DIY ornaments for your tree.
We’ve spent enough time on Craigslist and in secondhand and resale shops to know a good deal when we see one, so we decided to put together a list of 50 things that make us a bit giddy when we spot them on Craigslist, or at the ReStore and Goodwill. If we’ve missed anything, please share what you feel is a great score—and why—in the comments below!
UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE of sound construction that can be easily reupholstered. That means the job MUST suit our abilities as reupholsters. (Speaking from personal experience, if the piece is too complicated it may never get done and languish in your basement.)
WOOD FURNITURE that is of sound construction that can be refinished—if necessary—but only if you can use it now or in the near future, can give it to someone who needs it, or flip it (preferably for profit). Furniture takes up a lot of space, which is at a premium; best not to accumulate for “someday” use.
PICTURE FRAMES. Although standard sizes are best (4” x 6”, 5” x 7” etc), finish isn’t a priority. A can of spray paint can make anything coordinate.
ART FRAMES. Usually we start with the art first and then frame it. In this case, think backward and imagine what type of DIY art you could make to go into a secondhand frame.
CANDLES. For some reason, my secondhand stores are loaded with UNBURNED candles. Pillars, votives and everything in between. Buy them, burn them, enjoy the ambiance the create!
RAG RUGS (in good condition). We’re talking about those hand woven “grandma” type rugs here. Throw them in the wash and use them to create tote bags or pillow covers. Or, of course, you could use them as rugs too.
BED SHEETS. Bed sheets make fabulous dust covers when doing home remodeling. They can make for a last minute table cloth (both for indoor and outdoor dining). Their yardage alone can make for some great sewing projects not limited to curtains or even clothing.
TABLE CLOTHS. They might not be as in style these days, but a big tablecloth can come in very handy. Again, their yardage alone can make for some great sewing projects, but their original intent is what we like. I found a 72” x 120” white tablecloth at my local Goodwill a few years ago for about $5 just days before hosting and outdoor party in which we were erecting a 4’ x 8’ plywood table (on top of two sawhorses). The table looked lovely and everyone was shocked that they were eating off a sheet of plywood. A thick tablecloth can also be used as a great picnic cloth at the beach or park tossed over a picnic table.
FABRIC. Lots of people buy fabric and never use it. (Sound familiar?) My Goodwill has an entire section devoted to these cast offs.
Photo: DIY Maven
COOL SWEATERS. Sweaters—especially women’s sweaters—can be turned into fun pillows. Look for bright colors or interesting patterns.
TOWELS. Wash them well when you get home and use them for Fido’s next spa treatment. Or, cut them into smaller sections to make perfect shop rags. (You can get A LOT of shop rags out of one big bath towel.)
Photo: DIY Maven
YARN. Much like fabric, my Goodwill has TONS of unused skeins of yarn. True, most are acrylic, but they’re inexpensive and great for practicing your needle arts.
CRAFT SUPPLIES. People lose interest in crafts. Let’s take advantage of it. Rubber stamps, knitting needles, beading, you name it ... you can find it at one point at a secondhand shop. And they’re a great way to expose kids to these kinds of crafts too. Couple a pair of knitting needles with some of that yarn mentioned above and you’re on your way.
MIRRORS. Admittedly, most of the mirrors I see have questionable frames. Or no frames at all—especially those huge, beveled edge bathroom mirrors. The former can be lightly sanded and shot with spray paint and the latter can be framed with inexpensive 1” x 3” or 1” x 4” wood trim.
Photo: DIY Maven
LAMPS. Seriously, we’d never have to buy a lamp from a retail store for the rest of our lives if we didn’t want to. Here again, spray paint is our friend.
LAMP SHADES. Especially BARREL lamp shades. That’s because barrel shades are super easy to recover.
CLAMP LAMPS. We’re talking about work lamps. They’re perfect for the shop but also for photography. (I never seem to have enough on hand.)
TRIPODS. Old tripods can be turned into lamps (both table and floor), and even Christmas trees.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS. Think about it … they’re only used for a short while out of the year and yet people still get tired of them. Then they give them away. Christmas-y candle holders, to haunted televisions (seriously, I saw one of those yesterday!) to Thanksgiving turkey platters, thrift stores have them.
HANDWOVEN BASKETS. If you have an occasion coming up that will require a gift basket, think secondhand first. If they’re a little dusty, don’t worry. You can actually wash most baskets. Just fill up the laundry sink with warm sudsy water, dunk them a few times and let them air dry on an old bath towel. If you should be so lucky and find a Longaberger basket, don’t even hesitate. They’re totally washable and totally collectable. (Flippable? Yes.)
CERAMIC PLANTERS. I keep a lookout for WHITE ceramic planters specifically. I always have a small stash of them on hand of varying sizes for when I need to repot a plant.
Photo: DIY Maven
VASES. Seriously. They’re like lamps: we’d never have to buy another one retail ever again. Look for simple styles that will work for any room in your home. Remember, it’s the flowers that are on display, not the vase itself.
CRYSTAL. Okay, I’m not really a fan of crystal, but ever since I found a Waterford ring holder at my local Goodwill for $1.99 that retails for $60, I always scan the cut glass section. How did I know my ring holder was Waterford? Because it was stamped on the bottom!
MASON JARS. For obvious reasons.
WHITE DISHES/DINNERWARE. Plain white dinnerware goes with anything! And can come in very handy when company calls. Another personal anecdote here: A few years back we hosted Christmas at our home. We knew we wouldn’t have enough cups for cocoa/coffee. The plan was to find something at the party supply store to pick up the slack, but after spotting a set of the cutest BRAND coffee cups at the Goodwill for just 49 cents a piece, our problem was solved. Forty-nine cents a piece meant they were CHEAPER than some plastic wannabe. Oh, and did I mention they go with my Pottery Barn mugs perfectly??
DRINKING GLASSES. For the same reason mentioned above. Glass—even secondhand—presents better than paper or plastic. Also, for daily use, if the kiddos break them, no biggie.
Photo: DIY Maven
BOWLS … FOR PETS. Doesn’t Fido and Fluffy deserve to drink and eat out of people bowls? Sure they do. And, cereal and soup bowls from the thrift store are MUCH cheaper—and probably cuter—than a pet store alternative.
KITSCH. Have you ever noticed that one piece of kitsch is kinda sad but a lot of kitsch is anything but? If you have a hankering to add to your kitschy collection, the thrift store is definitely your friend.
HARDCOVER BOOKS. We love books as much as the next person, but some of those old hard covers at the thrift store are less than desirable. Better they find new life as art or a headboard then end up in a landfill.
BOARD GAMES. Sure, you could play them, but the boards themselves can make for great art, especially in family rooms or kid rooms.
Photo: DIY Maven
ART. Before buying art or even making something from scratch, check secondhand first. If you don’t spot the perfect piece, look for something that can be manipulated to BECOME the perfect piece.
OLD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. Don’t worry if they don’t work, because you’re going to make art wall art out of 'em. Just clean that old guitar up first or shoot it with paint to make it really pop.
OLD SPORTS EQUIPMENT. Just like musical instruments, old sports equipment can make for great ‘art’, especially for kid’s rooms or ‘man caves.’ Think old tennis rackets spray painted a funky color and such!
FOLDING LAWN CHAIRS. Again, another one of those things we never seem to have enough of when we need them. Because they are easily re-strung, consider buying them even if they’re less than perfect.
FOLDING TABLES AND CHAIRS. Often referred to as ‘card tables and chairs’, these things are super easy to re-do and are very handy come part-time and holiday season.
DIRECTOR’S CHAIRS. Director’s chairs don’t get enough coverage, if you ask me. They provide for better than usual temporary seating, they’re REALLY easy to remake into your own liking, and you can turn them into side tables. How versatile is that?
Photo: DIY Maven
OLD HARD-SIDED SUITCASES. Or old musical instrument cases. They can be made into a variety of things, including tables and pet beds, just to name a few.
HAND TOOLS. A hammer is pretty much a hammer, as a pliers is a pliers. If you spot a used hand tool that’s in good shape, it’ll last you for many more years to come.
YARD TOOLS. And a rake is pretty much a rake and a shovel is a shovel. A 30 year old shovel works just as well as a brand new one.
CORBELS. Wood corbels are expensive if bought from a lumber or conventional salvage yard. If you happen to spot some at a ReStore, grab them. They can function as objet d’ art or finish a counter/bar.
FARM TABLES. We’re talking sold wood and rectangular. Such tables offer a huge slab of wood! Buying the equivalent at a lumber yard would set you back $100 or more. We recently bought one such table off Craigslist for $40. We cut off a piece to fit over our big tool box and joined the leftovers to fit our smaller toolbox. A twofer that turned out perfectly!
SOLID CORE DOORS. Our go to’s for headboards and table tops.
FLOORING. Both wood and tile leftovers are plentiful at my local ReStore. No, you probably won’t be able to find enough to do an entire home, but for a small job, it’s a great, cost effective alternative.
Whew! Did I miss anything? Let me know if the comments. Or, if you're looking for something to do with some of your newfound treasure, check out our Recycling section for lots of project ideas.
Now that the craziness of summer has passed, fall is the perfect time to host a dinner party or a get-together with friends. And if you're like me, designing a beautiful dinner table is the best part (aside from laughing with good friends, of course!). So today I'm sharing ten of my favorite centerpieces and tablescapes that I've found floating around the internet lately. Click through to check them out!
Fall is upon us and what better way to get ready for the season than to add these 8 must-have pieces for fall! It's that time of year where we want our homes to begin feeling more cozy and intimate while remaining modern and current. Try introducing some (or all) of these pieces into your home this season for that perfect autumn touch!
1. Natural Wood Textures
Bring the great outdoors inside your home by introducing natural wood...
Rustic style can be très chic, even though it often involves wood... the key is to combine it with a variety of materials to create unique combinations. And today we're going to show you how to do that, with this reclaimed wood candle sconce for your wall. Keep reading to check out the simple tutorial.
I don't know about you but I hate spending money on lamps. Don't get me wrong, I love a good lamp... they bring function, balance, and style to a space. I just don't understand why they're so expensive? The good news is that there are plenty of lamps taking up shelf space at your local thrift store for super cheap. Hopefully these projects will inspire you to make a stylish lamp for a fraction of the cost!
1. Add some panty hose to a shade and you have a stunner. So easy right? How many times would you have passed up the above lamp at the thrift store. Not now, right? See the tutorial and the other "panty hose lamp" that Mandi from Vintage Revivals makes here.
2. Don't pass up those ceramic lamps in the thrift store. Just like the metal ones, they can be painted. See how Jen from I Heart Organizing painted her ceramic lamp here.
3. Buying a thrifted lamp is cheaper than buying lamp parts at your hardware store. Grab a cheap lamp, a cool vase, and make a new lamp. See how Jessica from Mom for Real made this lamp. She figured out how to do it without even drilling a hole!
4. Pick a thrift store lamp with interesting detail. It will look expensive and one of a kind once you paint it. This DIY post goes into how you can prep an old dirty lamp for paint. (Hint: you can also spray paint a lamp shade too!)
5. Dress up those skinny little table lamps with a thrifted ceramic animal. Check out how it's done here.
Two Butterflies
6. Did you know you can tint glass with alcohol ink? Alcohol ink is scrapbooking ink commonly found in local craft stores. I didn't know this either but I might have to try this one!
9. I'll be honest, painting marble intimidates me. But, this DIY looks seriously easy! It requires a tub of water, spray paint, and the ability to roll the lamp base in the water. Check it out here.
10. The ombré effect can make a vintage lamp look super unique. I love the fade from black to white on this lamp. See how it's done over on A Beautiful Mess.
Pin It: Thrift Store Lamps that Look Store-Bought
Looking for more thrift store updates? Check out this Roundup of updated thrift store china hutches.