Come on, let’s be honest: we all get the redecorating bug at some point or another. It might be the peeling paint on the hallway that you promised yourself you’d get to “next weekend,” or the dull living room walls that always seem to look the grumpiest when you walk into the room.
You don’t need to revamp the entire area or spend a fortune in an effort to bring in the atmosphere of some entirely disparate, other, and unique space. It might simply be a flash of genius, mad weeks, and shiny bits and bobs to transform something incredible.
Whether you’re crashing on your parents’ guest bed (no judgment, friends.), renting, or owning, give these frugal and genius DIY hacks at getting you redoing your space—and, hey, enjoying it, too.
1. Create An Accent Wall Without the Pledge
Accent walls are the shots of espresso in your bedroom—bold, exciting, and a little something extra. If painting, however, just isn’t your cup of tea, then experiment with the alternatives such as peel-and-stick wallpaper, stenciling, or even fabric.
And a home-brew version here: pick up a piece of white wood or blank canvas at the hardware store, and make your own “floating” mural using stencils, spray paint, or even collage with cut-up mags. Glue them solidly in a clump on the wall to achieve the look of an accent wall—no guilt trip down the road or hassle with the landlord.
2. Upcycle Old Stuff Like a Pro
Want an old, rusty ladder in the attic? Repurpose it as a rustic bookshelf or hanging planter. Misfit mason jars? Perfect bathroom lighting or storage. The old wood crate that you didn’t think would work? Add some casters and have a rolling coffee table.
The trick is to eliminate the days of labeling new things “junk” and view them instead as raw material. The benefit? You save money and acquire a one-of-a-kind personality that you simply can’t find on a store shelf.
3. Create the Moments That Matter (With a Twist)
Old pictures can be re-shot, but the ones that are framed cannot. Attempt to print out black-and-white copies of your most valued memories and pin them up in a grid. Or pair unrelated things like doodles, quotes, or tickets for an inspirational gallery wall that’s frustrating to the eye but significant.
Want to upgrade? Remove objects from your photos using a photo background remover with Adobe Express and place them onto patterned or colored backgrounds. It’s a small thing, but it makes your gallery wall look fresh, up-to-date, like-you-took-hours-with-a-designer-when-truthfully-you-were-scrolling-around-in-your-PJs-and-clutching-a-mug.
4. Add Whiteboards—but With a Facelift
Whiteboards are no longer the sole property of schools and startup accelerators. They’re easy, low-fuss, and, if bedecked to the nth degree, glamorous as well.
Install a frameless whiteboard in the kitchen to write down grocery lists, dinner plans, or inspirational slogans. Install one in the home office to track work, brainstorm, or feel that wonderful cross-off feeling.
Even better? Give life to your concepts with whiteboard animation. It’s the ideal method for storyboarding your space makeover prior to starting. Imagine it such as sketching in a picture journal—but animated. Not only does it aid in planning, but it’s also extremely enjoyable and adds a dash of creativity to your DIY endeavor.
5. Layer Lighting Like a Designer
Lighting is what makes or breaks a space. Blinding ceiling lights? No way. To produce a warm atmosphere, layers are your friend: overhead for overall light, floor lamp or table lamps for atmosphere, string lights or LED strips for mood.
Get inventive with your fixtures, also. Wrap fairy lights around a ladder shelf. Position motion-sensing lights under floating shelves. Or use an old colander as a far-out pendant light (really—it’s genius and fabulous in country kitchens).
6. Add Texture with No Tools
DIY isn’t always power tools and elbow grease. Occasionally, it’s merely the proper textures and stacking them high. Faux fur throw blankets, wicker baskets, velvet pillows, chunky knit blankets. Those little minute details immediately warm up a room, give a place a lived-in look, and stylistically, put it there with intention.
And for goodness’ sake, don’t make me speak, but piled-up textures over each other will distract anyone from design errors. Loathe a sofa you? Drape it with a textured throw and cover it with two decorative pillows on top. Bam—now you’ve got a Pinterest-perfect vignette.
7. Get Your Green On—Even Without a Green Thumb
Plants are the ultimate room-refreshers. They breathe life—literally—into your space and give your eyes something calming to look at. If you’re not naturally plant-savvy, no worries. Snake plants, pothos, and ZZ plants are incredibly low-maintenance and basically impossible to kill.
Get crazy with planters: macramé hanging pots, tin cans, or teacups. Be creative at reuse points if you’re a materials magician. Not only are you saving the world planter by planter, but you’re also creating a personal, earthy presence in your own home, to boot.
8. Make Your Entrance a Moment
You remember that initial impression you get when you enter a person’s home? That is the entrance. If your own is just part of a hall or a corner off the entrance, make it special.
Clear a space for a key to fit, add a stool or small bench, add a mirror (which, by the way, makes small spaces) and add a wicker basket to put shoes in. It’ll tidy it up and make arriving home that little bit tidier.
Last Lessons: DIY That Feels Like You
The best part of redecorating your home is that it’s not a question of copying what’s in and copying someone else’s style to the nth degree. It’s creating a space where you’re comfortable, refreshed, and above all, yourself.
You don’t need to be a professional. You simply need imagination, a weekend, and maybe some music to get you in the mood beforehand. Use design packages, background cutters, or even whiteboard drawings. Use technology to fuel your imagination, not stifle it.
And then go for it—begin small, attempt something new, and don’t worry about making it less than perfect. Because the most beautiful rooms are the ones that are lived, loved, and truly yours.
Stephanie Grace, a graduate with a degree in Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design, has been inspiring DIY enthusiasts with her creative and practical guidance for over 14 years. Her career in design and crafting began in a small artisan workshop, where she developed a passion for transforming everyday materials into beautiful and functional items. Stephanie joined our website in 2018, rapidly gaining popularity for her easy-to-follow DIY tutorials and innovative project ideas. Since then, she has been the creative mind behind our DIY section, helping readers bring their artistic visions to life. Outside her professional pursuits, Stephanie enjoys pottery and urban gardening, hobbies that showcase her love for hands-on creativity and nature.
