Check out these 20 fabulous and thrifty home decor DIYs and crafts. Elegant doesn't have to be expensive. And here's the proof. Come see! My goodness, how did we get here so fast? I can't believe we're staring not only a new year, but a new decade in the face.
Sometimes it's hard to capture that Christmas spirit. Every year isn't a great, but that's ok, it can still be good. And while I wrote these words in 2019 after my mom passed, I have a feeling that 2020 Christmas may feel the same way. Christmas 2019 is a just a memory now and I have to admit, I feel a little bit sad. I know, I know, it's normal to feel a teeny bit melancholy when the day passes. After all, there's such a big build up. However, that's not my story. Not this year. This year was different.
Don't throw away those old, worn out wooden Christmas decorations. They can be updated and repaired. Here's how! Many, many years ago, I bought myself a reindeer. It was before I had kids to coo over him and before I had my own home to decorate, but he was so cute, staring at me from behind the glass, I just knew I had to have him. It was our first Christmas as a married couple , our first with a shared space and apartment all our own. We bought a tree, some discount ornaments, a few strands of lights and a pair of stockings, but as far as holiday decor went, that's all the budget could bear.
Random sparkle Christmas mini lights are all the rage and what a charming look. Only one out of every ten twinkles for a subtle holiday glow. Here's a sneak peek at how they look on my tree. And where you can get them. This morning I woke up and realized that while I've been busy decorating and DIYing around my little cottage for weeks now, in preparation for Christmas, I haven't shared much of it with you. Oh boy. I don't know what I was thinking, but today, when I realized that Christmas is exactly a week away, that old "I'm late, I'm late..." Alice In Wonderland mantra began running through my head. And I sat down at my computer.
Holiday gift bags make great wooden signs. With a little imagination you can use them to decorate your home at Christmas. Come see how... For a long, long time, I've wanted a festive sign to hang over my kitchen window during the holidays. Unfortunately, the space is tiny. Store-bought signs are generally too large. Leaving DIY as my only option. Which is fine. Most of the year.
Let it snow! Turn an old thrift store cutting board into a festive, Christmas wooden sign with a few vinyl letters and a stencil. Ok, so it's no secret that I am not a fan of snow. But I should probably be clear, because that's not actually 100% true. You see, the thing is, I really like some snow. Like December snow.
Here are my best paint by numbers tips and tricks to help you achieve the most beautiful results from your kit. Even if you've never tried painting by numbers before you can get professional results. Pinky promise! Every year, just as the holidays roll around, I tell myself that this year , I'm going to take it slow. I'm going to relax my way through the season. Enjoy every carol, every moment of twinkle, and rather than get caught up in the hustle and bustle, focus on the peace of December days.
Whip up a glitter candle holder for the holidays, as a gift or for decoration. They make great wedding favors, shower centerpieces and home decor accents. Check out the easy and inexpensive craft DIY. It's hard for me to say this without sounding like a cliche, but I cannot believe it's December already. Where did this year go? I feel like I just put that tree away and yet this weekend, I found myself unpacking it again, in preparation for the upcoming holidays.
Earlier this year, we updated our hall bathroom. It was long overdue, but I stalled and stalled, because I just couldn't let go of all that red. I loved the paint. Balmoral Red by Ralph Lauren. It was so dramatic and powerful, it made my heart stir every time I walked by or into the room. It's hard to fight that kind of emotion. And attachment.
Refinishing your worn kitchen table is a great alternative to buying new. Especially when you already love what you have. It also protects the wood and the process is easier than you think. Several months ago, we remodeled our bathroom and it opened a huge can of decorating worms. One thing certainly does lead to another and I've been moving around from one "another" to "another" since April. Here's my latest unintentional DIY. And it all started in the kitchen.
Dress up a wooden chair with a ruffled furniture skirt to add some charm. You can skirt dining chairs, rocking chairs, even high chairs. Just grab your staple gun. Check out the easy tutorial and all the tips for this simple DIY. Last week, I spent a lot of time in my living room. It was unseasonably cold outside, so I decided to take advantage of my fireplace and curl up in front of it to work. Unfortunately, while the room was toasty, the view was less than stellar. This is what I saw...
Cottage style kitchen decor doesn't have to be defined by one element, like a braided rug or rose covered curtains. Modern cottagecore design allows for so much more. Take a chance and experiment. You may love what you create. It's official. My kitchen makeover is finally complete. Ok, well, not completely complete, one thing certainly does lead to another, but the breakfast area is done and I must say, it was totally worth the wait. And phew...because honestly, I had my doubts.
Have questions about Exquisitely Unremarkable DIYs, projects or crafts? You're not alone. So let's get to the answers. Today, I'm going to try something totally new here at Exquisitely Unremarkable. Today, they'll be no DIY, no crafty creations and no decorating reveal. Nope. Today, I'm going to answer some of your {not so} burning questions.
Clear glass pumpkins with LED lights are all the rage this fall, but you don't have to break the bank to get the look. Check out this quick tip and be on trend in minutes. Every now and again, I pop into the thrift store for a little me time break and find something truly outstanding. Of course, by outstanding, I mean a cute trinket that costs less than five bucks and is in relatively good condition. The bar really isn't that high.
I have a confession to make. For far too long now, I’ve been working on some curtains for both my master bathroom and my kitchen. This journey to new decor began way back in...ummm...April or May? But here we are on the cusp of November and I'm just finishing them up now. Oh boy.
When I started blogging I really had no idea what I was doing. It's a sentiment I used to hear echoed over and over again in blog posts, regardless of niche. Apparently, the desire to write, craft, cook and share caused a lot of people to dive right in. My motivation was to create an escape, a lovely little place where I could think out loud, share my love of decorating, crafting and maybe a funny story or two.
For someone who has paid an enormous amount of attention to every decor detail in my home, the tv remotes have been visible for far too long. Ordinarily, I cringe over the small things, like wrinkles in the couch or an un-poofed pillow. Yet, those ugly controllers have been on full display forever.
Want a new look in your living room? Well here's an easy way to dress your coffee table in style on a budget. Just grab an old thrift store tray, a little paint and a stencil that makes you smile. And you'll have a fabulous and affordable year round decor accessory in no time flat. Last week I shared a stencil craft fail. Look, it happens. When you craft as much as I do, you're bound to run into the occasional bump in the road. The general consensus was live and learn and I totally agree.
Working with stencils is not always easy, especially when they're paper. Here's what I learned...the hard way! Fall may not be my favorite season, but it's definitely one of the best times for crafting. For some reason, inspiration seems to be all around. Maybe even more than at Christmastime. Which, let's face it, is the craftiest time of the year.
Turn a dollar store splatter screen into an elegant home decor pumpkin accent for fall with a napkin and a metal decal. It's a quick and easy craft. And you won't believe the gorgeous results. I have been a crafter my whole life. Whether it was finger painted puppies or mud pies, I've always loved creating things. When I was small, it was all about the process, no one really expected much from a child. However, as I got older, there was considerable more attention paid the product.
I'm very picky about my pillow. Ok, so that's not so surprising, most people are. I mean without a decent pillow, a good night's sleep is impossible. With a great pillow, your head is cradled as you drift off into dreamland. When you have a bad pillow, you get a stiff neck, maybe a shoulder cramp and you just can't get comfortable or sleep.
When I was a little girl, taking pictures was a really big deal. First of all you needed an actual camera....imagine that. Then you needed film, flash bulbs or cubes and lastly, you had to have the film developed if you ever wanted to see your actual shots. It was a pricey endeavor, so taking pictures was for special occasions only.
Whip up a simple and elegant white pumpkin wreath for fall to welcome the season and decorate your home. It's a quick DIY that you can whip up in minutes. And leave up all season long. Well hello there my {almost} fall friends! Are you ready for a little bit of seasonal inspiration? I know, I know, I'm usually all about summer until old Mother Nature and the calendar force autumn on me, but this year, I'm diving in a few days early. Crazy, I know. But I have a good reason.
Layering different shades of white to create a warm and cozy space with charm, isn't always as effortless as it looks. Here are a few tips to create a warm and cozy white bathroom. And still keep it light and bright. Our bathroom renovation is finally complete. Can you believe it?? Well, it took me long enough...I mean five months from start to finish is just a little too long wouldn't you say? Ok, full disclosure, the nuts and bolts were swapped out with relative ease. The hold up was all my fault. You see when I said that I wanted an all white bathroom, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Earlier this year, I made a list. I believe it was spring when I sat down in front of the computer to lament over how once you start renovating one room, the rest of them look old. My words took you on a virtual walk through my home as I chronicled everything I wanted to do to make the entire house look as fresh as the new bathroom. I called it Tiny Redecorating. And then promptly forgot all about it.
Paint by numbers aren't just for kids. Adult paint by number kits are a great way to relax and create a flawless piece of art for you home. For as long as I can remember, painting has been a part of my life. Whether I was immersed in a paint by numbers kit from Santa, a composition for my college portfolio or stencil project to post here on my website, the activity always brought me great joy. Of course, the older I got, the less time I had to devote to my beloved hobby. Then recently, we renovated our bathroom.
Several years ago, I reconnected with an old friend. While we were inseparable in high school, our grown up lives took us down different paths and we lost touch. It had been about twenty years since we'd stood in the same room together and I was beyond excited to see her.
Summer is the best time to shop at yard sales. If you look hard enough there's always a treasure hiding. Come check out the pretties I've found! Let's be honest. The last thing I need around this teeny, tiny cottage is more stuff. And yet. When the warm months roll around and people start lining their driveways with items they no longer want and a big sign that says, SALE, I can't help myself. The urge to buy is strong.
Transforming a plastic mirror frame into one with a wood look is super simple with this quick trick. Come see the simple DIY. I know it seems as if my bathroom renovation is taking forever. And frankly, it is. Thanks to a few unexpected bumps - which by the way, should always be expected - the complete lack of a design plan and a weekend warrior DIYer, the project that started April is still not complete as we enter August.
Want a show stopping focal point in your kitchen, bathroom or laundry room makeover? Well you can make a beautiful solid wood countertops from plywood in one afternoon. It's easier and cheaper than you think. With a few supplies and basic tools, you can complete the entire project in no time. Here's the simple tutorial for this DIY project, all the easy steps and an update of how it's held up. I've always had a thing for wooden countertops. Long before I knew what a blog was and years before the farmhouse trend came roaring back into style, I was smitten.
Struggling to keep your pond water crystal clear without using chemicals? Try this one time quick and easy trick to remove the algae once and for all. And get reacquainted with your fish. In my opinion, summer is the best time of the year.
Transform an old, dated bathroom vanity with a makeover and turn it into a modern piece with a little paint and a few inexpensive accents. It's easier than you think to customize it and create your dream bathroom in the process. Way back in April, we started renovating our bathroom. While the room is basically finished and the kids are back to destroying using it, it's not ready for a final reveal. Update: It's ready- here's the reveal ! I'm still collecting accessories and putting on the finishing touches. However, what I am ready to show you is my totally transformed bathroom vanity. You'd never, ever guess that it was the same one that came with the house if I didn't tell you. I'm pretty shocked myself.
Whip up a custom curtain for a garage door windows in no time. Warm up the space, add privacy and a bit of charm. Sew or no sew, this DIY is quick and easy to customize no matter what kind of garage door you have. A few weeks ago, I was outside on the patio, watering my flowers and feeding the fish in the pond, when I noticed a giant tear in the garage door curtain. WHOA. Hold on a minute. When and how did this happen?? I grabbed my husband.
Add a few paper doilies to your outdoor summer picnic decor. Wrap up silverware, make a banner and decorate your table. It's an inexpensive and virtually effortless way to add some country flair. Summer is finally here in full force and that means it's time for barbecues and picnics. Spending time outside, dining among the flowers and if I'm very lucky, maybe the stars, is one of my all time favorite seasonal highlights. While we do entertain quite a lot around here, this weekend was a quiet one. My husband was away, my kids were occupied with their own plans, so that left me dining alone. Something I rather enjoy, to be honest.
Add a little bit of fabric to your shutter doors for some authentic cottage style charm. It's a quick change and super simple to do. Come see! A little while ago, I mentioned that along with our major bathroom renovation, this summer, we were hoping to tackle a few smaller projects around the house. One of these updates involved a makeover of the shutter doors that cover a bank of small shelves in my master bathroom.
Turn old glass milk bottles and others into new home decor with matte spray paint. Get that vintage stoneware look with this quick, crafty and inexpensive DIY. Normally, when I whip up a pretty DIY, I can't wait to get online to share it with you. However, lately, real life has been so busy, finding a quiet moment to sit down in front of the computer has been a challenge. So while, these lovely glass bottles are new to you, they've actually been decorating my kitchen for some time now. And I couldn't be happier with the makeover, even if it didn't start out the way I planned.
Choosing a bathroom tile isn't always just about the look. You need to think about how it will wear. What kind of tile is safe on a wet floor. The price, the ease of installation and ok, ok, the look! Here are a few more important considerations, plus a comparison of tile types.
Decorate an apron for July 4th or Memorial Day or any summer day in this pretty red, white and blue pattern and kick off the summer barbecuing season in patriotic style. Here's the easy DIY. Summer, summer, summertime!! Woo Hoo!! It's here, it's here! Ok, well, technically, it's almost here, but as a devout summer girl and island dweller, when the weather arrives, the season arrives! And it has arrived.
Turn an old men's dress shirt into a stylish apron with the quick and easy DIY pattern. Sew or no sew...that's up to you. I'm not exactly sure when my apron obsession began, but at this point, I don't think that really matters. I just know I'm hooked. There's something very romantic about the idea of cooking with an apron tied around your waist. Perhaps, it brings me back to my childhood, when everyone cooked with an apron and a set of pearls. Well, whatever the psychology behind it may be, the fact remains that I've become an apron aficionado and, lately, I've been making them on a regular basis out of some unorthodox materials. My most recent creation involves and an upcycled men's dress shirt.
Finding a bisque refrigerator is hard enough in today's market, so I didn't gripe when mine didn't come with enough glass shelves. Here's how we quickly remedied that and organized our fridge. Several years ago, my bisque refrigerator died and I was overjoyed. I had hated that albatross from the day I purchased it. While the color was perfect, blending seamlessly with the rest of my kitchen, it wasn't the counter depth model I'd always dreamt of. It stuck out in the room and there was a large gap between the top of it and the cabinets. Sloppy. For years, I waited for that thing to kick. With no luck.
When it comes to crafting or DIY, I have a very strict rubric before I dig in. Number one, a project must be quick and easy to do. Number two, it must be inexpensive to construct and number three, and probably most important, it can not look like crap. Let's face it, no one wants to fill their home with decor that looks like it was thrown together from cheap materials. So over the years I've developed some effective cheats to help me produce elegant projects in a jiffy and on a budget. As you can imagine, I operate the same way in the kitchen.
Kelly and Kat are sisters, singers and songwriters. They have written and released 4 songs as of 2021 and have been signed to a publishing deal with Peer Music UK and Joat Music Group. Their 4th single New Girl was released in November. I've always been a busy person, sitting still doesn't sit well with me. I enjoy being active and having things to do. When I left my teaching job, after my eldest was born, I kept busy by taking care of my family, my home and volunteering for just about every position I could find. Of course, kids grow and once my youngest started middle school, things changed. I suddenly found myself with a lot more free time. So I began to write. Twice a week, every week for the last six years. Then, about a year ago, things changed again. My daughters, who have always been singers and songwriters, met Adrian Young, the amazingly talented drummer from the band No Doubt, and they decided to write songs and record them together. And this week, Kelly
It's inevitable. Once you start renovating one spot in your home, suddenly everything else looks, well, old. Or at least it looks a little less shiny than it did the day before. I don't know why I'm surprised, the last time this house got a complete renovation was about seventeen years ago. Oh sure, there have been small updates here and there, new furniture and accessories, but on the whole, nothing big has happened in all that time.
For some totally unknown reason, pigs have become my decorating animal of choice. I'm not exactly sure when or why this happened, but now, if I'm out and about and I see a pig, I have to have it. I think the root of it can be traced back about 15 years, or so, to this adorable napping swine. I saw him in a local gift shop, while my littles were at dance class, and I just couldn't leave the store without him.
Renovation is awful, but when the mess is bigger than expected and you have allergies, it's a nightmare. Here's the story of how our tiny bathtub replacement turned into a major, messy DIY project. I hate renovation. I mean I really, really hate it. Yes, the results are lovely, but all the in between stuff, makes me crazy. Now, I know most people feel this way about the process. No one likes a mess, no one likes being put out and certainly no one like the stress, decisions and unexpected expenses. I get all of that, but let's face it, no pain, no gain. However.
Whip up a full length apron from a kitchen dish towel in no time flat. Try this quick sew or no sew DIY with my easy instructions. Several weeks ago, I was in HomeGoods and spotted the cutest embroidered bunny dish towel. Its delicate ball fringe and ridiculously low price made it impossible to resist. I knew immediately I was going to be able to do something special with it.
Whip up an elegant Easter banner to decorate your home with discount greeting cards. It's super simple, super lovely and super cheap. Several years ago, when I first started blogging, I saw a burlap banner decorating someone's home and immediately wanted to make a garland of my own. The only banners I had seen up until that point were cardboard and said Happy Birthday on them. I was inspired by this new-to-me decor accessory, that I immediately dug through my craft closet, grabbed some old puzzle pieces , spelled out the word LOVE and hung it on my kitchen hood. From that day on, I was hooked.
Grow grass indoors in tiny pots for a cottage style or farmhouse kitchen decor accessory. It's super easy to get started and it doesn't take a green thumb to keep it alive. Years ago, I was at Ikea and found the cutest little galvanized tubs . They came three in a pack for something silly, like seventy nine cents. I fell in love, bought a package, planted grass in each one and popped them on my windowsill making the whole kitchen feel fresh.
Old silverware pieces make great garden markers or garden art for indoor plants. Here's an easy DIY for your own thrift store finds. Last summer, I found these pretties at the thrift store. I think they charged me $1.00 for a the trio, two spoons and corer of some sort. I didn't really know specifically what I was going to do with them, but I knew that I wanted to use them in the garden. However, when I got them home, I tucked them into my craft closet and that was the end of that. Out of sight, out of mind.
Not all bunny tales are full of fluffy fun and gardening farce. In the real world, they may not always be as cheerful, but a mother's love and the belief in fairytales can sometimes lighten the story. When I was little I was a huge animal lover. Like most kids I wanted every fluffy, furry, soft cuddly creature I could get my hands on and bring it home to be my pet. Of course, my parents weren't quite as excited about the prospect of a menagerie in our backyard, but it didn't stop my quest. I was persistent and by third grade, I was the proud owner of many animals, including two rabbits. Pumpkin and Blackberry. Just like the pies.
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