10 DIY Projects to Take Decorating to the Next Level

With the start of spring, plenty of us are feeling energized to revamp our design styles. Here are 10 projects to help you get inspired.

Embrace a Rustic Look

Rolling barn doors, exposed wood beams, and a picturesque view of tranquil mountains are just a few things that scream “rustic” by design. But not all of us have the finances – or the energy – to redesign or relocate our home to give us the rustic vibes we crave.

Want a quick, less intensive option? Go outside and find a stick. The bigger the stick, the better. Maybe go for one with some moss, or cobwebs, or other nature-y things attached, like a locust shell. Then, bring it inside and nail it to the wall. Use darker or aged nails so they don’t stand out too much, and feel free to hang them in any arrangement that speaks to you.

Quick-Fix Man Cave

If you’re spending a lot of time at home right now, being around your partner 24/7 can get really old, really fast. Need a bit of space? Set up a man cave!

Don’t worry about needing an entire extra room to dedicate to the space, though. All you need is two bookshelves and a drill. After constructing the shelves, angle them to divide a section of a room. The smaller the section, the better. All you need in your space is yourself, after all! Be sure to use the electric drill to anchor the shelves securely to the wall so they don’t topple over. Drag in a lawn chair from your patio and portable TV, then crack open a cold one with the boys and enjoy your handiwork.

Add a Pop of Color

It’s advice you hear all the time: Add some color here! Throw a splash of color there! But what does it mean? And how does one accomplish it artfully?

Easy. Go and purchase a few cans of paint – whichever colors you’re looking to implement in your home. Set them up in the middle of the room, then tell the kids to have at it with a paint war! Their craftiness will surprise you, and undoubtedly, the room will have plenty of pops of color by the time they’re done. To add extra flair, let your pets walk through the paint! For a truly cohesive look, don’t bother covering or removing the furniture.

Bring Back a Retro Trend

History repeats itself, and sometimes, that’s a good thing. Plaid – Welsh for “party,” and a North American synonym for the tartan pattern – has waxed and waned in popularity for several centuries in the U.S. In our opinion, it’s due for another comeback.

We’re not talking about a simple plaid chair or a tartan throw. Nowadays, interior design is all about being loud and in your face, so put it on chairs, walls, flooring, and anywhere else there’s blank space. Make your entire room an acid trip of tartan patterns in various colors. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Center Your Energy

Perhaps the chaos of plaid everywhere is too over-the-top for you. Slow things down by connecting with your energy and the energy of the world around you with crystals like clear quartz and bloodstone.

Don’t have crystals on hand? Head outside and gather some rocks, then bring them inside in an environmentally-conscious reusable bag (Mother Nature will thank you for it later). Throw them around the room – and don’t be afraid to cast them far and wide. The more energy you put behind throwing them, the more energy they’ll have to protect your home. If a window breaks, that’s just how the energy has to be.

Less Work, More Play

Working from home is tedious, and it can be hard to set down the laptop at the end of the day and make time for a bit of fun. Break up the monotony with something to encourage play, like a ball pit!

Set up a small inflatable pool, fill it with primary-colored balls, and get to playing. When you hit a challenging problem at work just sit down and channel your inner toddler until the answer comes to you. Stripping down to tighty-whities a plus, but not required.

Upgrade the Stuffed Animal Collection

Maybe you and/or your kids are too old for things like ball pits and extreme finger painting; that doesn’t mean you have to let go of everything from your childhood! Stuffed animals often hold years of memories even after they stop serving the specific function of filling our imaginations.

Ready to move on from stuffed unicorns and dapper teddy bears in three piece suits? Embrace taxidermy! You don’t have to hunt the
animals yourself, but if anyone asks, feel free to make up a dramatic story about how they were acquired. Tell them you were scuba diving in Majorca and discovered the animals on an ancient shipwreck. Everyone will believe you.

Oh, and just a fair warning: Taxidermy animals are not guaranteed to bring as much joy as, say, a beloved narwhal named Clarisse. Whether you’re upgrading your kids’ collection or your own, prepare for some tears.

Make Your Home Pet Friendly

Hypothetical taxidermy have you feeling guilty? Make your home the ultimate pet sanctuary instead by give your fur babies free reign of the house.

Have a horse? Throw hay around your living room like confetti (but keep him confined to the living room – do not let him loose in a hospital). This will not only incentivize them to come inside, but will encourage them to stay a while. Pets who have special needs for safety reasons should still be kept in a relatively controlled space, but hardy little bastards like ferrets or lemurs should roam free. Worried about animals damaging your home? They’re just holding you accountable for all those renovations you’ve been putting off.

Think Millennial Pink

Everyone has an opinion on Millennials, good or bad, but we’re not going to dive into the politics of it all. Instead, let’s focus on one of
the many amazing and spectacular things to come from this generation: Millennial Pink!

This soft color is great for accent walls, chairs, bedding, and even clothes. Decorate your entire home with it to show off your Millennial status, or to help come to terms with the burning desire you’ve always had to be part of the best generation ever. We’re a generation that’s not patient until we’re being petty, so take your time; we’ll wait.

Old Reliable

If you’re feeling like these suggestions are too much for you to accomplish, don’t sweat it! In this age of promoting self-care, we want
you to take on challenging but doable projects. What’s something everyone can manage? Duct tape!

Find that dilapidated office chair or that barely-keeping-it-together jewelry box and slap some duct tape onto it. Use
traditional silver for a classic look, grab camouflage print to blend in, or neon orange to stand out. There are so many options, the possibilities really are endless. Duct tape is strong enough to hold your life and grandma’s old dining table together, so use it liberally.

Take Time for You

Whichever project you decide to go with, make sure you’re doing it because you want to! With all the chaos in the world, it’s important to do things that bring you joy. Be sure to send us photos of the finished product!

Happy April Fool’s Day from NewHomeSource! NewHomeSource does not recommend pursuing any of the above renovations; proceed at your own risk. Friendly reminder to only allow responsible adults access to tools, supervise children in all activities (aggressive finger painting or otherwise), and if you make a taxidermy trophy room, acquire animals ethically and legally. For real interior design inspiration, follow us on Instagram and Pinterest!