If you quickly get tired of the way your place looks or like to stay on trend, switching up small details can have a lot of visual impact. Don’t worry, we’re not expecting you to do a full-scale interior makeover. But if you have a few extra hours on the weekend. and want to make a few minor upgrades to your interior decor, these DIY hacks might be what your imaginary decorator ordered.
Play With Color Using Dip-Dye Details
As we’ve occasionally demonstrated on CraftFoxes, you can tie-dye more than just T-shirts.
Bob Vila's home decorator mavens suggest this method for bringing a splash of cheer to plain white ceramic pots. A similar method works for cloth lampshades. You'll just need to moisten the bottom edge and dip into a bath of permanent dye; Vila suggests Tulip brand for this project.
Color Your IKEA
Got a hankering to work with spray paint? Adrienne Breaux at
Apartment Therapy has easy ideas to make use of your leftover colors. Painting your IKEA items is a classic upgrade, either covering their surfaces completely or emphasizing key details. Large planters can be adorned with stripes, polka dots or more intricate, upscale designs. If you're not confident with freehand painting, using stencils can effortlessly add a new look to your items without much guesswork. To ensure your handiwork remains true to the stencil’s pattern, try temporary adhesive to affix the pattern to your object.
Easy No-Sew Upgrades
If you don’t have a sewing machine or are just learning how to use it, you can still work with fabric and create stunning interior decor details. In a
February 2013 Houzz article, contributor Laura Gaskill offers several project ideas. One standout suggestion is pairing up canvas stretchers with unused fabric for innovative, eye-catching wall art. If you don’t have any ample-size scraps, search local stores or online for
home decor fabric for bold, large-scale prints with plenty of color and drama. Stretch fabric around your canvas, secure on the back with a staple gun, and you’re done.
Not content to stop with wall art? The experts over at
Bob Vila’s website also offer a stockpile of recommendations. For example, no-sew pillowcases can be created with a few free yards and some fabric glue. The upholstered headboards from Gaskill’s Houzz article are also another great hack for your bedroom. If sewing isn’t your thing but you’re more skilled with a saw, it’s a mildly ambitious project that can produce eye-catching results.
With these projects, making small changes to a room needn't be a Herculean effort. All it takes is a few supplies, a little bit of time and some ingenuity. Dip-dying items to produce beautiful decorative touches is as easy as coloring Easter eggs. Spray paint can be a magical tool, instantly transforming the look of your old items. Finally, no-sew projects allow you to craft wonderful additions without breaking out the sewing machine or pricking your fingers. These little hints and more can help you transform the look of a an interior space that’s past is sell-by date.
