20 Wonderfully Inventive DIY Projects by Houzzers
You'll never look at a wood scrap or empty jar the same way again. Borrow these ideas or just let them inspire your own project
Home dwellers can show great creativity when faced with less-than-ideal circumstances such as a tight budget, a small space or a boring rental. Even the most mundane and unexpected items — FedEx boxes, mason jars, metal salad bowls and wine bottles — find second lives as decor in their hands. Take a look at these 20 creative DIYs and get inspired for your next weekend project.
2. Flying-carpet coffee table. The illusion of this fantastic flying-carpet table adds a little bit of magic to this DIY-heavy apartment. A small Persian rug rests on top of a piece of plywood. Once removed, the plywood reveals a small wooden coffee table with a built-in wine cooler.
See this house: Ultimate Live-Work Space Adapts to the Needs of the Day
See this house: Ultimate Live-Work Space Adapts to the Needs of the Day
3. Wallpapered stair risers. Leftover wallpaper and vintage address numbers pasted onto this Vancouver staircase risers make for a fun, interactive way for the homeowner's young daughter to learn to count.
See this house: Quirky, Colorful Vancouver Heritage Home
See this house: Quirky, Colorful Vancouver Heritage Home
4. Colorful cardboard-box wallpaper. A collection of old FedEx boxes went to good use for this wall covering — each box was cut into several shapes, layered on the wall and hand painted.
See this house: An Antique Cape Cod House Explodes With Color
See this house: An Antique Cape Cod House Explodes With Color
5. Outdoor-friendly wine-bottle light fixture. This homeowner made an outdoor light fixture out of empty wine bottles and a steel bar. Edison bulbs alternate with tea lights for extra charm.
See this house: Eclectic, Artistic Rented House in Ojai
See this house: Eclectic, Artistic Rented House in Ojai
6. DIY salad-bowl sink. A sturdy stainless steel salad bowl fit the bill for a modern and affordable sink in this home. The bottom of the bowl was simply drilled through for the plumbing.
See this house: Creative Open-Concept Home in Toronto
See this house: Creative Open-Concept Home in Toronto
7. Free-form wallpaper substitute. This homeowner took a time- and money-saving approach to her wall decor — instead of hanging wallpaper, she painted a simple circular pattern, inspired by a favorite designer.
See this house: Budget-Friendly Bohemian Ranch in Dallas
See this house: Budget-Friendly Bohemian Ranch in Dallas
8. Salvaged wood seating. This awkward space instantly became a cozy nook with a few salvaged wood joists, cut to size and wedged into place.
See this house: Artful Restoration for a Brooklyn Brownstone
See this house: Artful Restoration for a Brooklyn Brownstone
9. Freezer-paper wall treatment. This couple came up with a clever and cost-effective solution for their plain walls. After cutting and ironing 550 circles of freezer paper onto the walls, they added a coat of paint for a brand-new look.
See this house: DIY Efforts Transform a South Philly Row House
See this house: DIY Efforts Transform a South Philly Row House
10. Built-in CD rack storage. You have to get creative when you're moving into an old pretzel factory. In search of extra storage, these homeowners installed Ikea CD racks in between the wall studs, creating four extra cabinets in their long hallway.
See this house: Converted Pennsylvania Pretzel Factory
See this house: Converted Pennsylvania Pretzel Factory
11. Custom Southwest stencil art. This Dallas couple custom designed a Southwest-inspired stencil for their dining walls. Several shades of purple create a dazzling ombré effect.
See this house: Colorful Hand Painting Bedecks a Creative Home
See this house: Colorful Hand Painting Bedecks a Creative Home
12. Easy and affordable bulletin board. In search of a way to keep her family organized, this homeowner snagged a massive pinboard from a school auction for $1, sawed it in half and covered it in fun fabric with a playful pattern.
See this house: Bright and Eclectic Ohio Family Home
See this house: Bright and Eclectic Ohio Family Home
13. Stacked-lampshade lighting fixture. Plain-Jane lampshades got new life in this homeowner's artful lighting installation. Each lampshade is stacked on top of the other, and the whole thing is lit by a string of low-wattage bulbs.
See this house: Travel Art and Creative Layering Mix in Vancouver
See this house: Travel Art and Creative Layering Mix in Vancouver
14. Pinned-up-paper wall treatment. Textile designer Kate Roebuck couldn't bear to have too many white walls in her Mississippi rental. Green printed paper rolls pinned to the wall act just like wallpaper, without the hassle.
Bonus DIY: Roebuck also made the glittery chandelier cover shown to hide an unattractive existing fixture.
See this house: Artful Character Colors a Textile Designer's Home
Bonus DIY: Roebuck also made the glittery chandelier cover shown to hide an unattractive existing fixture.
See this house: Artful Character Colors a Textile Designer's Home
15. Undermounted mason jar storage. Mason jars make for a smart storage fix in this crafty home. Mounted under small floating shelves, the jars are easy to screw in and out — perfect for a sewing room's little odds and ends.
See this house: Craftiness and Color in 3 Charming VIrginia Spaces
See this house: Craftiness and Color in 3 Charming VIrginia Spaces
16. Simple sticker wall art. What kid wouldn't want a giant sticker album on the bedroom walls? Butterfly stickers cover the walls of this girl's room for a wall treatment than can be easily added to or replaced.
See this house: Hip, Historic Victorian in Santa Cruz
See this house: Hip, Historic Victorian in Santa Cruz
17. Custom Expedit room divider. Perhaps the most amazing Ikea hack ever, this retro DIY shelving unit and room divider is made entirely out of Ikea Expedit shelves, MDF panels and plastic foil.
See this house: Plastic Is King in an Out-of-This-World Home
See this house: Plastic Is King in an Out-of-This-World Home
18. Doorknob coatrack. Instead of hanging clothes and hats on his home's doorknobs (like so many of us do), this clever homeowner made a coatrack out of black porcelain doorknobs and a scrap of wood.
See this house: Ecofriendly and Salvaged Style in a Montreal Triplex
See this house: Ecofriendly and Salvaged Style in a Montreal Triplex
19. Contact-paper wall art. Using an overhead projector, this couple traced letters from a photo onto shelf-liner paper. They're renters, and the contact paper can peel off easily when they move.
See this house: Passionate Repurposing in a Heritage Home
See this house: Passionate Repurposing in a Heritage Home
20. Wooden-crate wall shelves. Wooden crates like these are easy finds on Craigslist. These crafty homeowners decided to take advantage, installing several on their bedroom wall for practical storage.
See this house: Eclectic Repurposing Fits First-Time Homeowners in Utah
More: 29 step-by-step home decorating projects to make you a DIY superstar
See this house: Eclectic Repurposing Fits First-Time Homeowners in Utah
More: 29 step-by-step home decorating projects to make you a DIY superstar
See this house: Creative Moves Turn a Toronto Basement Into a Stylish Rental