We’re constantly talking about DIY projects and ideas but we never really talked about the general meaning of the term “DIY“. To put it simply, the acronym stands for “do it yourself” and is used to describe any task that can be completed without the direct help of a professional. That of course doesn’t mean you don’t need to use a tutorial. In fact, that’s the most important part of any DIY project: knowing how to do it correctly and efficiently. This applies to any domain.
There are many different types of DIY projects and the term has been around for ages. It became popular in the early 1900s when it was primarily used in correlation with home improvements and maintenance activities. The syntagm “do it yourself’ came into common usage in the 1950s and was used to describe a trend of various small crafts and projects that aimed to be recreational or cost-saving. The trend has been growing ever since and is now more widespread than ever.
Our favorite DIY projects are those that teach us how to craft things for our homes: furniture, decorations and anything in between. As you can imagine, this term gets used a lot and is very general and not everyone interprets it the same way. What may seem like a simple task to someone can come across as being difficult or even impossible to someone else.
Our goal has always been to make DIY projects accessible and enjoyable and we hope continue to inspire in the future as well.
With that in mind, today we’d like to share with you a few more DIY projects that we think could really improve your home.
What DIY Can I Do at Home?
We know that a lot of people are wondering what DIY projects are easy to make at some, but I’ll do you one better and tell you that I’ve scoured the web and discovered what are the most popular DIY projects that people make across different corners of the globe, in hopes that your next project might be on this list.
DIY Vertical Gardens
From the beginning, this project received a lot of positive feedback, so its popularity shouldn’t surprise you. If you have a limited amount of area for gardening, this DIY vertical garden is a terrific option. Even if you don’t have a yard or garden space, this vertical garden is a very convenient way to bring greenery to any place.
DIY Outdoor Furniture Projects
While people are often careful with every detail when it comes to their indoor furniture, they don’t usually pay that much attention to their outdoor pieces, so DIY projects that involve making anything from benches to swings seem to be a hit!
DIY Spice Racks
A spice rack is an excellent choice if you are searching for a quick afternoon project to complete. You can complete it in about an hour, but it will require a couple of coats of paint to look good. For the back, you can use blackboard paint, as the spices truly stand out against the dark background.
DIY Laptop Stands
Create your own laptop stand and you’ll always have a place to work on your laptop, regardless of where you are. The majority of these laptop stands function as sofa tables, TV trays, and a means of transporting stuff between rooms.
You’ll discover that they are simple-to-assemble projects that are ideal for beginners. Due to the simplicity and straightforward nature of these do-it-yourself projects, they require a minimal quantity of tools, which means that the majority are also quite budget-friendly.
DIY Floating Shelves
Due to the concealed hardware, floating shelves literally look as if they’re floating against the wall. They’re a little more complex to construct than a standard wall shelf, but they’re still an excellent project for a starting builder.
DIY floating shelves work well in any part of the house and they’re ideal for storing ornamental things and books, but can also be used for ordinary storage on a wider scale.
DIY Window Boxes
Window boxes are the ultimate DIY project since they are simple to construct and require just the most basic tools. Materials can be purchased in local hardware or home improvement stores, with many being pre-cut. If not, you’ll discover that the majority of retailers will cut the supplies on-site, saving you important time.
DIY Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Making a DIY Christmas yard decoration allows you to customize the look of the space located around the house. These crafts require only a few supplies, some of which you may already have on hand.
Numerous these projects are also simple, making them ideal for kid- and family-friendly holiday activities. Without prior skill, almost anyone can create and construct beautiful festive decorations.
Kids Play Tents
Your children will be unable to leave these do-it-yourself play tents that are only for children, no adults permitted. A tent may transform into a fantastic realm where your youngster is in control and can play make-believe all day.
DIY play tents and forts are an excellent way to save money. You can purchase one at a store for over $100, but the quality will be inferior to one you can create yourself. Additionally, they are typically simple projects. While some require sewing and others more woodworking, they are all enjoyable crafts that even a beginner can do.
How Can I Decorate My Home with Simple Things?
One mistake that people make when looking to set the tone for a personality check for their homes is to think they need fancy and expensive decorations to set a welcoming tone. In reality, you can get by with simple decor items, so here are some ideas to get you started:
- Whenever you’re strolling down the beach, collect seashells to make beautiful decorations for your home. You can also collect sand and store it in mason jars, alongside seashells and candles.
- Sometimes we become so accustomed to seeing our furniture arrangement day in and day out that we are unaware that there may be a better option. Take a couple photographs of your space with your phone. This enables you to view the room differently.
- Taking out your family heirlooms and putting them on display throughout the house is a simple and cost-effective way to add more personality to your home.
- A quick trip to the neighborhood nursery or hardware shop can provide some stunning results. Simply arrange the stems in a lovely container or vase and the leaves will remain fresh for months.
- If your current furniture is simply not working for you but you lack the funds to replace it, you may always add a coat of paint. Refinishing vintage furniture throws new life into it.
- Put a stool next to your bathtub. Not only will the additional surface area aid in organization, but it’s also an excellent method to elevate the overall atmosphere of the space.
- Throw pillows are the simplest method to update the appearance of your bedroom or living area. By introducing a different shape, print, pattern, or color with a throw pillow, you can re-energize the entire environment.
- Swap out your traditional bulb for a bright one for an unexpected flash of color. It creates the same effect of a neon sign but without the need to drill holes into the wall. Consider using it in a corridor or foyer, where décor moments are scarce, and space is restricted.
Difference Between DIY and Crafts
Explaining the difference between DIY and crafts can be a tad complicated, so we’ll try to tell you what each of them means without getting into details that aren’t necessary.
A DIY project is basically an action where you take a series of raw materials to construct or transform something. A craft is a skill where you put your creativity to use in order to make something with your hands.
Nowadays, DIYs are highly popular, especially with the advent of social media. People are increasingly adapting to new concepts of creativity. DIY is preferred as a hobby, whereas crafts is considered to be something more professional.
Additionally, do-it-yourself projects involve less innovative thinking and more excellent work, whereas craftsmen invest more in creativity. Crafts are more likely to be considered a traditional phenomenon, whereas DIYs are infants in the world of fantasy. However, regardless of how they appear, they are quite distinct from one another.
DIY can be considered a subcategory of crafting, since the latter covers different creativity aspects, and the former relies on your ability to transform raw materials into a finished product.
Is DIY Worth It?
This question does not have an easy answer because it depends on how each of us perceive DIY projects. I strongly believe that, in order to answer this question based on your individual preferences, we should take a look at the pros and cons of tackling DIY projects.
Pro: It can save you money.
There are some instances where a little do-it-yourself can save you a lot of money. And if you come across something inexpensive at a thrift store that only requires a light cleaning or a fresh coat of paint, that should be a simple way to save money. It’s a good idea to learn how to repair items rather than simply replace them.
Con: Projects can be time-consuming.
You see a DIY video on TikTok or Youtube, or perhaps Pinterest leads you to a tutorial that seems stupid-simple, but when you actually start doing it, you see that you spent the entire weekend working on making a kitchen cabinet that still isn’t done.
Make sure you assess your skill level accordingly and, if you’re trying to tackle a more difficult project, assume from the get-go that it’s going to take longer for you to complete it. It’s the safest approach that helps you avoid the frustration of having wasted time.
Pro: You learn to be patient.
Following a text or a video tutorial does require reading or watching the same thing multiple times in order to get it right. Plus, the entire working-on-making-something-new process is going to require patience on your behalf. In time, you’ll learn not to rush and trust the process, which turns you into a more patient person overall.
Con: It doesn’t always look/function as expected.
Occasionally, do-it-yourself projects go horribly wrong, and you wind up with something that is unsalvageable. Bear in mind that if you invest excessively on supplies, you risk losing money, quitting, or asking someone else to do it for you. Plus, if you’re not keen on DIY projects and lack the patience, you might end up with an end product that doesn’t look or work the way you expected it to.
Pro: It’s something to take pride in.
When you make something using raw materials and your two hands, the sense of accomplishment that you have at the end is something that makes DIY totally worth it. You earn bragging rights for something you made yourself and it gives your end products a story to tell, since they are so personal.
Con: It’s sometimes dangerous.
One of the most common problems with people who start DIY projects is not correctly assessing what they can and can’t do before they get started. We know you want to save money and install a new light fixture on the porch, but if you have no clue how to work with wires and how dangerous electricity is, it’s best to actually call an electrician to do it.
As fun as some projects seem, they often require using power tools or messing with gas/water/electricity, making them unsuitable for people who have no clue what they’re doing.
DIY Chalkboard
This is how you can make a chalkboard out of an old picture frame: give the glass a good sanding and then wipe it off with a soft cloth. Cover the frame with painter’s tape, then apply a few layers of chalkboard spray paint onto the glass, in light even layers. Remove the tape and there you have it. Be sure to follow the instructions on the spray paint can to get the best results.
Put your new framed chalkboard up on a wall and have fun with it. You could hang it in the kitchen and write recipes on it.
DIY Wind Chime
This particular DIY project is easy but does require you to have a glass bottle cutter. The idea is to use it to cut off the bottom from a wine glass bottle in order to turn the rest of it into a wind chime. Apart from the bottle and the bottle cutter you also need some jewelry chain, 3 key rings that can fit inside the bottle neck, a wooden wheel and a stone pendant.
Some of these items can be replaced with something else, especially the pendant. You can customize the wind chime however you want to and that’s the beauty of any DIY project.
DIY Drawer Dividers
Some types of crafts are meant to be more practical rather than decorative. A good example is a set of drawer dividers that you can make in order to more easily and efficiently organize the contents of a drawer.
Obviously, you can adapt the proportions and everything else to suit your own requirements and drawers. These dividers are made of cardboard which makes this a very easy and cheap project. Anyone could do it and it only takes 15 minutes to complete it, assuming that you follow the same pattern.
DIY Wall and Window Shelves
These acrylic shelves are meant to be placed in front of windows in order to save space and to give the plants the sunlight they need. The shelves are made of clear acrylic which is a nice little detail. They’re transparent so the light passes through them and reaches the plants underneath.
Also, they’re very versatile and can fit in any decor. We think this is a really cool DIY project for the kitchen because it allows you to grow fresh herbs without wasting any counter space.
How to Make a DIY Coat Rack
A coat rack is something we see in every entryway, foyer, lobby and mudroom. It’s such a basic thing that we often take it for granted and we don’t even think twice about going out to buy one. But there’s a different way you could do things. You could craft a coat rack from scratch.
It would be a nice way to personalize your entryway. At the same time you’d have the freedom to choose the exact proportions and dimensions that you want in order for the rack to fit your space perfectly.
How to Update Your Handrailing
Not many people dare to make home improvements themselves and choose to rely on professionals instead. While that can prove to be easier and more convenient, it’s not the only option. You can choose to take care of things yourself.
There’s a lot that you can do around the house, including to build a staircase railing. This modern-industrial design is very easy and forgiving so perhaps you’d like to give it a chance.
DIY String Art Ideas
There are also a lot of DIY projects you can do in order to make your home more beautiful. We’re talking about decorations and such. For example, you might like to try making a string art wall piece. It’s easier than you might think.
All you need is a piece of wood, lots of small nails, a hammer, string and paper that you can use to trace the desired pattern on. You can start with something simple like this cute little heart-shaped piece and then gradually come up with more cool ideas.
DIY Entry Shelf
A DIY project can also involve building a piece of furniture. You should probably leave the big and complicated pieces to the professionals but when it comes to little things like a shoe rack, an entryway shelf or an end table you shouldn’t have any problems completing the build successfully. Take this little module for example. It looks stylish and elegant and it’s also really easy to make.
How to Make a Wood Side Table
On the same note, you could totally build a wood slab side table if you wanted to. To describe this project in the simplest way possible, all you have to do is attach the hairpin legs to the wood slab. There’s a little bit more than that to the project of course. Cutting a wood is a task on its own. It needs to be sanded and sealed and you can also stain it if you want to. Leave the bark on for a rustic vibe.
How to Knit Cushion Covers
Have you ever used your arms to knit…in the sense that you don’t use any tools, just the yarn and your arms? It’s pretty fun and easy and you can do a lot of cool things using this technique. For example you could make some soft and cozy cushion covers. All you need is bulky yarn. Pick any colors you like and give your home a makeover.
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