8 DIY Projects for Lazy Summer Days
Have fun and redecorate with chalkboard "wallpaper," giant washi tape, photos, scrap wood and more
Take advantage of extra free time during a holiday or a long weekend to whip up one of these colourful, crafty projects for the home. From DIY wallpaper and spray paint art to giant washi tape for your walls, these eight projects spied around Houzz are sure to get your creative wheels turning.
Chalkboard “wallpaper”
A chalkboard wall can go beyond the playroom when you treat it like your own customisable (and easily changed) wallpaper. Just use white chalk to create your own pattern – try tiny plus signs, dots, stars, triangles or waves.
Learn how to make your own chalkboard paint
A chalkboard wall can go beyond the playroom when you treat it like your own customisable (and easily changed) wallpaper. Just use white chalk to create your own pattern – try tiny plus signs, dots, stars, triangles or waves.
Learn how to make your own chalkboard paint
Giant washi tape wall decorations
Like the popular Japanese paper crafting tape but on steroids, this supersize washi tape can be used directly on your walls to add colour and pattern, without the commitment of wallpaper. It comes in beautiful colours, and when you get tired of it, it will peel right off.
Like the popular Japanese paper crafting tape but on steroids, this supersize washi tape can be used directly on your walls to add colour and pattern, without the commitment of wallpaper. It comes in beautiful colours, and when you get tired of it, it will peel right off.
Spray paint art
Pick up a blank prepared canvas and a can of gold spray paint at your local art shop, and spritz your own design.
Set up your workspace outdoors, cover the ground with a sheet and protect yourself with a mask and gloves. Test your design on plain paper first until you feel comfortable with the spray paint; then move on to the canvas.
Pick up a blank prepared canvas and a can of gold spray paint at your local art shop, and spritz your own design.
Set up your workspace outdoors, cover the ground with a sheet and protect yourself with a mask and gloves. Test your design on plain paper first until you feel comfortable with the spray paint; then move on to the canvas.
Giant letter magnets
Turn papier-mâché letters from the craft store into a major statement for your fridge by attaching magnets to the back. Choose a favourite word to spell out, cover the letters with colourful fabric or paint, and glue magnets to the back of each one (you may need several magnets per letter).
Turn papier-mâché letters from the craft store into a major statement for your fridge by attaching magnets to the back. Choose a favourite word to spell out, cover the letters with colourful fabric or paint, and glue magnets to the back of each one (you may need several magnets per letter).
Scrap-wood wall art
Put your own spin on typography wall art, like the pieces shown here, using scrap wood and letter stencils. Fasten the wood pieces together, then paint on a short quote or phrase using letter stencils and white paint.
Check out these head-turning ways to decorate walls
Put your own spin on typography wall art, like the pieces shown here, using scrap wood and letter stencils. Fasten the wood pieces together, then paint on a short quote or phrase using letter stencils and white paint.
Check out these head-turning ways to decorate walls
Photo booth wall display
Do you have a drawer full of photo booth strips somewhere? If so, it’s time to dig them out! Hung together in rows on mini clotheslines, these little mementos make a big impact. No photo strips? Try using polaroids, black and white photos or any photos with a theme (oceans, portraits etc.) instead.
Learn how to decorate walls with photos
Do you have a drawer full of photo booth strips somewhere? If so, it’s time to dig them out! Hung together in rows on mini clotheslines, these little mementos make a big impact. No photo strips? Try using polaroids, black and white photos or any photos with a theme (oceans, portraits etc.) instead.
Learn how to decorate walls with photos
Photo grid wall
Whip up a dramatic-looking but deceptively easy display for all of those summer vacation photos by using a grid of identical inexpensive frames (those shown here are from Ikea). The tricky part is measuring precisely so that the frames hang flush with one another, but once you manage that, it’s a piece of cake - and the results are pretty impressive.
Tip: Don’t have enough photos to fill every frame? Fill a few randomly placed frames with plain white paper instead – look closely and you’ll see that was done in the room here.
Read more:
9 Of The Best DIY Projects On Houzz
Tell us:
Have you made anything this monsoon? Itching to try something new? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Whip up a dramatic-looking but deceptively easy display for all of those summer vacation photos by using a grid of identical inexpensive frames (those shown here are from Ikea). The tricky part is measuring precisely so that the frames hang flush with one another, but once you manage that, it’s a piece of cake - and the results are pretty impressive.
Tip: Don’t have enough photos to fill every frame? Fill a few randomly placed frames with plain white paper instead – look closely and you’ll see that was done in the room here.
Read more:
9 Of The Best DIY Projects On Houzz
Tell us:
Have you made anything this monsoon? Itching to try something new? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Spice up a plain white cushion, sofa cover or vintage chair with a splash of bright paint. Either splatter the paint à la Jackson Pollack or use a simple stencil or stamp with fabric paint to create a repeating pattern, like the hearts shown here. Practice your design on paper and scraps of cloth first, until you’ve mastered the tools you are using.