Three affordable DIY projects to help customize your home

When it comes to customizing your space, DIYs can be a great way to save money and add a sentimental vibe! DIY expert Sarah Milligan is here to show you three affordable DIYs that you can easily make yourself and will last you years. 

Painted Thift Store Objects

Materials:

• Decorative thift store objects
• Spray paint
• Newspaper to cover work surface (Tip: old wrapping paper or part of a cardboard box also works!)

Instructions:

1. Lay your item(s) out on a covered, flat surface in a well-ventilated area. 
2. Spray multiple light coats instead of one heavy one so that it doesn’t drip.
3. Leave overnight to fully dry and then you’re ready to display!

Tissue Paper Art

Materials:

• Photo frames
• Oversized white poster board (to fit the frame)
• Tissue paper in various colours
• Decoupage glue
• Small Paint brush
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil

Instructions:

1. Measure & cut your white paper to fit the frame.
2. Find some bright clip art images of fruit you like as inspiration. Choose a palette up to 3 colours and cut out your tissue paper shapes. Try to use straight lines to keep it a bit more modern.
3. Glue your base layer down. Brush glue over top and add the next layer, etc.
4. Allow to dry and frame!

Mid-Century Modern Plant Stand

Materials: 

• Potted plant (preferably with straight lines)
• 1.5” wide x ¾” thick wood (2x the length of pot diameter)
• 7/8” dowels (4x the length of your legs)
• 8 dowel pins
• Power drill
• Hand saw
• ¾” chisel
• Hammer
• Tape measure
• 2 clamps
• Sandpaper
• Wood glue
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Small piece of cardstock
• Wood stain (optional)
• Painter’s tape (optional)

Instructions:

1. Measure the diameter of your pot (widest point).  Cut two wood pieces that length. 
2. Decide how long you want the legs to be (length up the side of the pot + height from the floor).  Cut 4 x dowels that length. 
3. Sand all of your cut ends.
4. Mark the halfway point of your wood pieces with a pencil.  Make that the center of a ¾” square you draw on one edge.
5. Clamp the wood to a sturdy table and use a hand saw to cut the sides of the squares.
6. Chisel out the top of the square with a hammer.  It should pop out easily between the cuts.  Do the same for the other pieces of wood and sand the rough edges.  Slot your pieces of wood together until them for an “x”.  Make sure they are level and make any adjustments necessary.
7. You will have to drill 2 evenly spaced holes at the ends of the “x” (8 total).  I find the easiest way to do this is to create a template using cardstock and mark your drill spots with a pencil.
8. Use your template to mark your dowels at the length you want your base.  For example, if your legs are 18” long and you want them 8” up the side of the pot and 10” from the floor, mark it at 10” from the bottom. 
9. Make sure your drill bit is the same size as your dowel pins. Optional: Use a piece of painter’s tape on your drill bit to mark the halfway point of your dowel pins so you don’t drill too deep on the dowels.
10. Drill all of your holes and sand them. Optional: At this point you can stain all of your pieces.
11. Glue your ‘x’ together at the notch.
12. Insert wood glue into your drill holes, insert dowel pins, and stick your legs on.
13. Leave the glue to dry overnight and then you’re ready to insert your plant!

Other products featured in this segment:

Wall Colour, DLX1152-6 Brigade | White Bookcase, $55 via IKEA | White Door, $30 via IKEA | Black Frame, $7.99 via IKEA | Black Frame, $5.99 via IKEA | Glass Dome, $19.99 via IKEA | Glass Dome with Clear Glass, $19.99 via IKEA