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Four Easy (and Cheap!) DIY projects

Four Easy (and Cheap!) DIY projects

As you all know, the interior design world is humming with DIY projects – who knew there were so many uses for a glue gun??  While I am constantly inspired and impressed by these hard-working and creative DIYers, I have to admit most of these projects I will never, ever undertake.  I am simply not handy (or patient) enough!

However, there are a few DIY ideas I’ve seen recently that have grabbed my attention.  And they are easy and quick enough that I think, “hey, maybe I could do that too…”

1) Picture Frame Redo

This first project is one of my all-time faves.  I have so many plain black frames from Crate & Barrel and Target floating around my apartment and I just feel like they are sort of “blah”.  I recently read this quick picture frame redo post from Oak Ridge Revivals and I thought “Eureka!”

Before:

After:

She simply measured two inches from each corner and applied gold paint.

 

Instant chic!  Check out the whole process at Oak Ridge Revival’s blog here.

2)  Sunburst Mirror

Okay, this is a little more involved, but I love the homemade, artisanal feel of this Sunburst DIY mirror from House of Fifty.  I really want a gold sunburst mirror in my future foyer, but I also think the look has been really overplayed.  This sunburst feels refreshing and different to me:

She found a bunch of sticks from Ikea and glue-gunned them onto a mirror. How hard can that be?? And I think the result is really stunning.

You can read all about the Sunburst mirror process here.

 

3) Nightstand Redo

One of my new favorite blogs Stay at Home-ista is by a Bay Area mom who is chock-full of creative ideas.  She recently spray-painted her son’s bedside table, literally transforming the look of the room.  I love the color and what it does to the space.  Reading this post I thought, “yes, I can do this!”

spray painting a table

 

 

DIY orange nightstand

Isn’t is great?  You can read all about the “Nightstand Switcheroo” here.

 

4) DIY Twine Balls

One thing I just can’t stand is spending money on accessories that I *know* are not worth the price tag.  Have you noticed that things like grapevine balls (that you can place casually in a bowl on a coffee table, for instance), cost a pretty penny?

 

grapevine ball

 

Hence my love for this simple and very cheap project.  Twine Balls! 

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

{ Via Wedding Favours }

 

amy sedaris

 
This was featured on The Nate Berkus Show and tried out by Melanie, the DIY Bride blogger.  All you need is twine, glue and balloons!

 

 

Final result.  I love how the DIY Bride uses her twine ball as a stand-alone sculptural element:

 

 { Via Wedding Favours }

 

Well, now you know what I’ll be doing this weekend!  I think my pregnancy has gotten the best of me – all I want to do is NEST and MAKE THINGS!

 Till next time ~

6 Comments
  • Jessica @ Stay at Home-ista

    May 17, 2012 at 6:08 PM

    Lorri, thanks for showing my son’s nightstand. I usually feel the same way as you, I’m not as crafty as other bloggers, but I can totally handle spray paint! I’m facebooking your post now.

    Jessica
    stayathomeista.com

    • Lorri@ReturnToHome

      May 18, 2012 at 12:35 PM

      Hi Jessica – thanks for facebooking my post! I appreciate it!

  • Andrea

    May 17, 2012 at 6:31 PM

    Lorri, thanks so much for including my frame project. I love all the other projects also. Great inspiration!

  • Christine @ First Home...Love Life

    May 17, 2012 at 7:45 PM

    Hey there! I say Jessica’s FB post and had to come over and say hello! I’m your newest follower 🙂 Can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us! Cheers!

    • Lorri@ReturnToHome

      May 18, 2012 at 12:34 PM

      Thanks for following! Appreciate your comments. So glad you like the Expedit too – wow, it’s more popular than I ever imagined!