5 Simple Home Decorating Projects for the DIY Designer

Home decorating projects make apartments feel cozy and provide a heart-warming atmosphere. Factory produced home decor items cannot compare to your own creative projects. Get the entire family involved, and you’ll have an apartment that you’ll be proud of. Here are 5 simple home decorating projects for the DIY designer:

1. Pillow Cases

It’s moderately easy to sew your own pillow cases. Sewing pillow cases is one of the first sewing projects that children and adults new to sewing learn to do. Choose a fabric of your choice that matches your bedroom decor and follow instructions in a sewing book or online. Encourage your children to work on this, because it’s one of the decorating projects they can complete almost entirely on their own. Keep in mind their skills and abilities if you’re using a sewing machine, as you don’t want them to injure themselves.

2. Table Cloth and Napkins

Another sewing project that’s fun to do while keeping your hands busy is making your own table cloth and matching napkins. Think beyond the standard table cloth if you’ve completed some sewing projects and are comfortable with basic sewing techniques. For example, try a patchwork table cloth pattern that mimics quilting for a country living style kitchen or dining area. If you don’t want to tackle a large table cloth for a decorating project, try sewing a table runner instead.

3. Sponge Painting

Add depth to a room with sponge painting. You’ll need paint, glaze, paint sponges and a little know-how, but sponge painting can make a room look like new. However, if you’re afraid of “messing up” an entire room, try sponge painting one wall. For example, sponge paint the wall behind your bed, or one wall in your kitchen. As you gain confidence, finish the room or leave it as is.

4. Custom Headboard

This home decorating project is more for the avid do-it-yourself renter, because it does require tools and basic carpentry skills. It requires cutting wood to the shape of a headboard and legs. If you’re not comfortable doing that, perhaps you can solicit the help of a friend to do the cutting. Once that’s done, making a custom headboard gets easier. Attach batting or foam to the headboard and cover it with fabric. Attach the legs, and you may need help from that friend again, and you’re done. A custom headboard does wonders for a used or cheap looking bed. If your bed is an eyesore, this may be the solution for you.

5. Stenciling

Consider decorating projects for your home office or work area as well. For example, stenciling adds a personal touch to your workplace that can be calming. Stencil a border around anything that you’d like, such as your work desk or walls. Before you stencil the walls, make sure you’re allowed to first. Verify it in your lease or ask your landlord.

Home decorating projects do more than make you feel good. DIY projects save you money, too. Before you buy home decor products, consider whether you can do it yourself.