5 Simple Home DIY Projects to Upgrade Your Space

The pandemic has caused the world to spend a lot of time in our homes. It’s also given us time to try new projects, surf Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram and find ways to spruce up our space while learning new skills. Here are five simple home DIY projects to upgrade your space without breaking the bank.

1. Create a Simple Hanging Planter

Everything old is new again, and macrame and plants, in particular, have both come back around. But don’t panic, this craft doesn’t require advanced knot tying.

What You’ll Need

• Macrame cord: There are lots of choices. If you are making this to use indoors, go with natural materials such as cotton, linen or a blend. There are different thicknesses, and your local craft store will have a good selection. If you are making this to use outside, you should choose a synthetic, but they can be harder to work with. Any well-stocked hardware store has a good selection. You might want to practice with natural materials first since they are easier to work with. Here’s a handy reference article to get you started.
• A base: This can be a tile, a square piece of wood, a log round, a small cutting board, a cork (make sure it’s thick enough not to bend), metal trivet or any other base you have sitting around.   
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Optional) O-ring: These come in various sizes and any hardware store or craft store will have them.

What To Do

• Choose where you want to place the finished plant hanger.
• Measure the width of the base.
• Decide how long you want the finished hanger to be, and measure it. Now, before you cut anything, add the width of the base to the measurement. Why? Because when you put the base into the hanger, it will shorten the overall length because it will pull out the sides. Make note of the total length.
• Cut four or eight pieces of cord. Each piece needs to be the total length you measured in Step 2 (length from ceiling plus base). If your base or plant isn’t very big, four pieces will be sturdy enough. If you are using a larger pot or heavier plant, more is better, so use eight pieces.
• Hold the cords together, and tie them together in an overhand knot 5 to 6 inches from the ends. Pull it tight.
• Center the base so the knot is right in the middle underneath the base. Bring the cords up each side of the base, and center each cord in the middle of each side so the base sits flat on top of the knot. (It’s easier if you have an extra set of hands -- one to hold the base while you bring the cords up and around.) If you use eight cords, you will have two on each side.
• Hold the ends of the cords together and fold them over to form a loop and tie another knot. If you are using an O-ring, thread the ends through before you tie the knot. Pull all the knots tight.
• Hang it, add a plant and admire your clever DIY project.

Here’s a handy article for more inspiration.

2. Repurpose Plastic Pants Hangers

We all have them—those plastic pants hangers with claws on each end. Does anyone ever use them for clothes again?

Here’s a better idea: If you have wire or plastic shelving, hang your chips, cereal or snack bags under the shelving with the hangers. You’ll be able to see what you have, plus free up space on the actual shelf.

It will also be more of a challenge for creepy critters to get into your snacks if the bags are hanging, plus they will stay fresh longer because the claws will keep them closed.

3. Repurpose Plastic Shower Curtain Rings

Do you have a scarf collection overflowing from multiple locations? Do you risk an avalanche of hats when you open a closet?

Here’s an easy upgrade: Swing by your local hardware or dollar store and pick up a set of plastic shower curtain rings. Avoid the metal ones because they can damage delicate fabrics.

Clip a few rings onto a hanger. Slip your scarves through the openings and hang the hanger in the closet. You can also hang baseball caps the same way.

4. Paint Something

One of the easiest ways to upgrade your space is with a can or two of paint. You can give a basic chest or coffee table a makeover with a quick coat of paint and some new drawer pulls. Or, repaint your bedside tables to match your bedspread.

Chalk paint and milk paint transformations are all over Pinterest and Instagram right now. Instead of chucking that tired coffee table in the dumpster, jazz it up with a new look.

Drive around on garbage day and turn someone’s trash into a one-of-a-kind piece in your home for the cost of the paint and a couple of hours of effort. Check out this amazing dresser before and after!

There are all kinds of how-to resources out there, so grab that brush and get creative. If you don’t like it, you can always paint over it.

5. Make Throw Pillows

An easy way to change the look of a room is with throw pillows. Sure, they can be pricey, but there’s an easy solution: Take a trip to your local dollar store, pick up a couple of placemats, a hot glue gun or fabric tape and stuffing or a pillow form, and you’re on your way to being creative.

What You’ll Need

• Two placemats, the same size. You can use the same design or two different designs with the same theme, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween or summer. Look for ones that are heavier. Thin placemats will show the glue.
• Hot glue
• A pillow form the same size as the placemats

What to Do

1. Place one placemat on top of the other with the back (wrong) sides together. Make sure the pattern on each side is facing up in the same direction.
2. Place a line of hot glue on one side of the placemat and then press the other placemat down on top. Continue along the three sides. Leave one end open so you can slide the pillow form in.
3. Slide in the pillow form, and then glue the 4th end shut. Enjoy your new decor! You can easily change your pillows according to your mood, the season or the time of year.

Here’s a video for inspiration:

How Self-Storage Can Help DIY’ers

Any dedicated DIY’er will tell you that crafting is addicting. You start with one project after getting inspired from a post on social media, and next thing you know, you have your own channel, following and online store.

The other truth about crafting is that the supplies can quickly overrun every available space, nook and cranny. And where do you keep all your new creations? One solution is to rent a self-storage unit.

One thing, though: You cannot keep things like paint, paint thinner or furniture stripper and other chemicals or flammable materials in your self-storage unit. It’s against the law, and also really dangerous. Here’s a complete list of things that cannot be kept in your self-storage unit.

Suppose you are keeping supplies like paper, fabric, stuffing or furniture to be painted in your self-storage unit. In that case, however, you might want to consider a climate-controlled unit -- especially if you live in an area with extreme swings in temperature.

Here are some other reasons why a climate-controlled unit can make good sense.

If you’re an avid DIY’er in New York, New Jersey, Florida or Louisiana and want to free up some space at home, contact Storage Post to find out how we can help!