The right tools simplify a paint job.
We love picking up tips from DIYers that answer the question, “What makes your job easier?” As if spray paint wasn’t already a total time-saver, we now have a new gadget on our wish list that saves index fingers during longer painting jobs, thanks to @simplestylingsblog.
Color unifies everything.
In @jenniferdimplesandtangles’ hallway, a bold green ties together an eclectic mix of mirrors. Got some mismatching at work in your own home? Choose a single color to unify your collection, be it of frames, vases, or other tchotchkes.
You can completely DIY your curtains.
When restyling window treatments or the shower curtain in the bathroom, save a few dollars by skipping hooks altogether. Instead, use contrasting fabric or even scraps from your current curtain to tie it to the rod, as seen in @tiltonfenwick’s cheerfully styled panel.
Plates need not reside in cupboards.
If your wedding china is just too pretty to eat off, opt instead to display your dishes as art. Show off your collection by hanging your fine china on a prominent wall, as @drivenbydecor has done in her dining room.
Hardware doesn’t have to match.
When you're stuck with furniture that’s missing a few knobs, you can achieve distinguished results by replacing just a couple of them rather than springing for a complete matching set. Or, creatively reposition what you have: This sideboard was short three of the medallion rounds that originally backed the six drawer pulls, so @primitiveandproper simply moved like hardware to the same row.
Incorporate the outdoors for natural beauty.
Natural elements offer an inexpensive solution to texture and whimsy, especially when rustic pieces can be picked up from your own backyard. This sliced-wood headboard from @thewhitebuffalostylingco makes us want to curl up for a nap.
The weathered Pottery Barn look can be achieved with a little sandpaper.
Shabby chic can be as simple as a swipe of sandpaper. Take a page out of @ellaclaireblog’s book and sand down the edges of anything painted—trays, frames, furniture—with a small square of fine-grade sandpaper. The rougher the edges, the better.
Chalkboard paint can make over any sad space.
Don’t let ugly appliances get you down—look how a coat of paint can perk up an old refrigerator! Using chalkboard paint on the fridge, like @deltagirlframes did, will open up space for doodles and grocery lists.
Washi tape outlines all your hanging needs.
This quick trick helps minimize the effort that goes into planning a gallery wall. Just unroll strips of washi tape to match the size of each frame, then tear and stick to help you envision the best place to hang your art before you put holes in the wall, just as @lillatallbarret has done along this stairwell.
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