DIY

20 Out-of-the-Box DIY Tips to Try on Your Next Project

Tired of the same old DIY tips? Don’t worry. These 20 out-of-the-box DIY projects will give you all the creative inspiration you need.

Transform Old Furniture with Chalk Paint

Chalk paint is often chosen for the fresh, vintage look it gives old furniture. This versatile paint requires minimal prep, adheres well, and can easily be distressed.

You can choose from a wide range of colors to suit your decor. Apply chalk paint with smooth strokes, allowing it to dry between coats for best results.

To finish, seal the painted surface with wax or a clear coat for durability. This simple project breathes new life into outdated pieces, enhancing your home’s style.

Repurpose Jars into Stylish Storage

Credit: Reddit

There’s a reason mason jars are en vogue. They’re durable, aesthetically pleasing, and can store just about anything you need them to, from pencils to food.

While mason jars do have a certain je ne sais quois, they’re not the only jars you can repurpose. If you want to think outside the box, open your fridge.

Jars of pasta sauce, salsa, or anything along those lines can work equally as well. So long as it’s glass, it can be effectively reused.

Upcycle Wine Corks into Creative Home Décor

Credit: Reddit

Now, you don’t have to go all out and make a detailed portrait of Anthony Bourdain. But you could, if you wanted to — that’s the beauty of corks.

You’ll have to collect a lot of corks over time. Of course, the specific amount differs depending on what you want to make.

You can lay them upright or lengthwise, whatever strikes your fancy. Just make sure to boil them first, so that they’re pliant enough to work with.

Craft Unique Planters from Vintage Teacups

Credit: Reddit

They sell teacup-shaped planters, but why buy one when you’ve already got teacups at your disposal? With a drill, you can easily upcycle old teacups.

Not just any drill will work, however. You’ll need one that can cut through the material. A diamond drill bit will get the job done.

In terms of the actual planting, it’s up to you! Flowers and succulents can both work well. Be sure to add stones to the bottom, for drainage purposes.

Use Washi Tape for Instant Décor

Credit: Reddit

You probably don’t want to put any kind of tape on your walls, and I can’t blame you. Nobody wants to tear up their wall paint.

With washi tape, though, you can kiss those worries goodbye. It’s made solely for decorative purposes, and doesn’t damage the surface it’s placed on.

It’s also water-resistant, colorful, and easy to use — what’s not to love? If you’ve been looking for simple ways to liven up your living space, this is it.

Turn Old T-Shirts into Colorful Rugs

No, we’re not talking about a fabric scrap quilt (though those are great, too!). To make a proper rug, you’ll need yarn first.

Luckily, you can make yarn out of old t-shirts. Don’t worry — it’s easy. All you need to do is cut them into strips and thread them together.

Once that’s done, you can crochet (or knit) with your yarn as you normally would. Use a variety of t-shirts for a cool, colorful rug!

Make Personalized Coasters with Ceramic Tiles

Got tiles left over from your last home improvement project? Or are you just looking for a fresh, new DIY project? Whatever the case, you’ll love these coasters.

People approach this project differently, but I like Caroline Dunn’s method. She cuts colorful scrapbook paper into squares, then glues it onto the tiles with Mod Podge.

It can be easy to forget, but remember to add felt pads to the bottom. Otherwise, the tile could end up scratching surfaces.

DIY Terrariums for a Touch of Green Indoors

Credit: Reddit

What’s great about it — aside from the plants — is its versatility. Terrariums come in all shapes and sizes, from small spheres to coffee tables.

They can be as complicated or as simple as you want. A glass jar filled with rocks, soil, and moss (in that order) can be enough.

If you want to make it decorative, then you could paint the jar, add a few fake flowers to it, or wrap it in a garland of some sort.

Create a Statement Mirror with Plastic Spoons

Credit: Reddit

No, plastic spoons can’t replace an actual mirror. You definitely still need glass. If your mirror is looking rather plain, though, then spoons can be an excellent frame.

You could leave them as is, but if you want them to look less spoon-like, there’s a solution: paint. It’ll fix all your problems.

You could paint it all one color, but you’re by no means limited to that. For a bit of pizzaz, try painting a gradient.

Build a Coffee Table with Crates

Credit: Imgur

If you want a DIY project that’ll require a bit more elbow grease, then this is for you. Woodworkers, especially, will love this one.

Not only does this project allow for innovative upcycling, it also provides ample storage space. Start by sanding down the wood, because nobody wants a splinter.

Then, line up four crates, like the image. Once that’s done, screw them together. If you want, you can paint them, for added color.

Transform Tin Cans into Chic Desk Organizers

Mason jars aren’t the only things you can do this with! Old tin cans can also make for great desk organizers (and organizers in general).

You could just use them as is (after washing, of course), but if you want to spruce them up a bit, we’ve got a couple of tips.

Painting the cans can really brighten up your office space. You can also make a base out of cardboard to put multiple cans in, to keep them centralized.

Use Paint Chips to Create Vibrant Wall Art

Credit: Reddit

There’s no need to toss your paint chips. Actually, you might want to start collecting them. Once you get enough colors, you can make cool wall art.

The kind of wall art depends on you. Want to cover your wall with a rainbow? Go right ahead. Want to make small hearts or flowers? That works, too.

You’ll probably want to cut off the label, unless you’re planning on incorporating it somehow. To make the chips stick, use mounting putty.

Make a Custom Doormat with Stencils and Paint

As with all DIY projects, there’s several ways to tackle this. However, it’s a lot easier if you have a Cricut or another similar appliance to make stencils with.

As I’m sure you already know, doormats usually don’t have smooth surfaces. When applying the stencil to the doormat, use tape to hold it down.

The next step is pretty simple. Use acrylic paint to fill it in. Remember to dab, not brush, or else it won’t apply properly.

Craft a Hanging Macrame Plant Holder

For this craft, you’ll need to buy some supplies beforehand, namely macrame. This specialized yarn, made from high-quality cotton, is much more durable than regular yarn.

You’ll need a way to hang the plant. You can either make a loop yourself, or have a wooden hook to loop the macrame through.

There’s a variety of different knots and patterns you can try to make the holder itself. Just make sure they’re able to hold the pot.

Revamp Lampshades with Fabric

Let’s be honest: most lampshades are kind of…boring. If you desperately need to revamp yours (and you probably do), grab some fabric. There’s a couple things you can do.

Firstly, you could go the easier route, using a yard of fabric from the crafts store. This is the no-sew route — all you’ll need is an adhesive.

If you want your lampshade to be more boho-chic, you can sew your own using fabric scraps. It’ll require more work, but it’ll be worth it.

Craft a Beautiful Wind Chime with Old Keys

Credit: Reddit

Never know what to do with old keys once you’ve moved? Now you’ve got your answer. Unless you hate the sound of keys jangling together.

This DIY project is as simple as tying keys to a few strings. Just make sure the strings hang at different lengths, so that they don’t get tangled.

If aesthetic appeal is important to you, you could paint the keys different colors. Honestly, though, I think that’s unnecessary. Regular keys have a certain nostalgic quality.

Turn Old Books into Secret Storage Boxes

Got an old book that you didn’t particularly like reading? Your purchase wasn’t entirely wasted. You can make your own storage box out of it.

First, you have to cut out all the pages with an X-ACTO knife, while taking precautions not to damage the actual pages. You’ll replace them with a cardboard box.

For a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing look, you can glue a few book pages to that box. As for what you’ll do with the ones leftover…

Create Custom Wall Art Using Everyday Items

Credit: Reddit

If there’s anything you’ve learned from these DIY tips, it’s that you can make wall art out of literally anything. You can make art out of anything, full stop.

Case in point: book pages. You could frame your favorites, paint on them, or make a collage out of them to say something entirely new.

Bottle caps are another option. They’re fairly easy to bend and work with, so they’re a popular choice for the kind of wall art depicted above.

Build a Vertical Garden with Wooden Pallets

Credit: Reddit

If you’re lacking backyard garden space, this DIY project can offer a neat solution. It’s fairly easy to construct, and can house multiple plants at once.

Before you start, there’s a few things to keep in mind. Flowers may be better suited to this type of gardening than herbs or veggies.

That’s because pallet wood is often chemically treated, though not always. To avoid this, buy wood labeled with “HT.” This means it’s been heat-treated instead (per The Kitchn).

Design Unique Picture Frames with Seashells

Credit: Reddit

Sure, you could buy a seashell picture frame, but where’s the fun in that? Designing one with seashells you’ve found is a good way to preserve those seaside memories.

Plus, it’ll make for a much more eclectic and unique frame. You can be sure that absolutely nobody else has one like yours.

To make sure the shells stick to the frame, you’ll need an effective adhesive. Hot glue usually gets the job done. The shells should also be durable.

Sara Traynor

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