Five high impact diy projects for your home when you’re working with a small budget. Save money by doing it yourself!
I love a good DIY home project! And I especially love a good budget home project where you can make a dramatic transformation without spending a lot of money! Don’t you?
Today I’m sharing five of my favorites. I’ll show you how to paint furniture, give an entertainment center a makeover, how to make pleated-look draperies, we’ll makeover a bookcase, including a diy sliding barn door and we’ll also build a simple upholstered bench that you can customize to the size you need so that you can use anywhere in your home.
I’ll provide you with step-by-step directions for each project, including links to the supplies you need (where applicable).
DIY PROJECT #1: PAINT FURNITURE
This painting project is a really good one if you’re new to the furniture painting world! It’s easy to do and is very forgiving. Best of all it will fit in with several different types of decor – French country, farmhouse, cottage and shabby chic.
I even made a video of the process for you, which is included in the blog post.
HOW TO PAINT FURNITURE FOR A FRENCH COUNTRY, FARMHOUSE, COTTAGE OR SHABBY CHIC LOOK
DIY PROJECT #2: PROFESSIONAL QUALITY DRAPERY PANELS
Do you have basic sewing skills? Then this is a good project for you! This tutorial will teach you how to make professional quality, lined, flat panel draperies. Making pleats can be a bit more difficult, so you’ll also learn how to give them a pleated look without actually making pleats.
If you’ve ever priced them, you already know how expensive custom window treatments can be! One of the problems with ready- made budget friendly options though is that they look inexpensive and often have uneven bottom and side hems.
Obviously, the labor for this project is free and you can control the budget by how much you spend on drapery and lining fabric.
HOW TO MAKE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY, LINED, FLAT DRAPERIES
DIY PROJECT #3: MAKEOVER A BOOKCASE
This makeover was a complete make-it-up as you go project for me, but it turned out better than I ever could have imagined!
When I gave this pair of bookcases a makeover, I knew that I wanted more than to just paint them to get rid of the cheap cherry finish. I wanted to do something to jazz them up a bit and make them a real feature in the room.
I thought that building the sliding door and figuring out the hardware would be complicated, but it wasn’t at all!
BOOKCASE MAKEOVER – FROM TRADITIONAL CHERRY TO FARMHOUSE FAB!
PROJECT #4: BUILD A SIMPLE UPHOLSTERED BENCH
You only need the most basic of carpentry skills to build yourself a cute little upholstered bench like this one!
It can be customized to any size and the lines of the base are very clean, so it will fit in with any type of decor, depending up the color of paint or stain that you use and the fabric that you upholster it with.
HOW TO BUILD AN UPHOLSTERED BENCH
DIY PROJECT #5: GIVE NEW LIFE TO AN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
I know there are many of us who have large entertainment centers for holding our televisions and other paraphernalia. Mine was a huge eyesore in our family room!
We were able to give ours a makeover without any sanding, which was awesome! Only a couple of other changes were made to it and now it looks fresh and modernized and brightens up the whole room.
HOW TO UPDATE & MAKEOVER AN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER – NO SANDING REQUIRED
I hope you found at least one or two projects that have inspired you to make some high-impact changes to your home!
If you’re looking for even more diy project ideas, check them out HERE!
Stacey Keeling says
Your house looks amazing Suzy! Very inspiring.
Debbie says
Love love love your farmhouse. You have great style and design. Keep posting. Enjoy your sight very inspiring
Phyl says
Your house looks beautiful and I agree with you on painting the dining table. I am still waiting to do this project and will do this soon. I know that I will be happy once it is done. I also like the shelves that you did in your dining area. There always seems to be a project.
Heather linz says
Love the laundry room
Marty Oravetz says
Everything look amazing. I love the way you have transformed your home into your own personal style.
Nancy Carroll says
My favorite has got to be the industrial shelves in the breakfast area, although all of these improvements have made a dramatic impact!!
Lauren@SimplyLKJ says
Suzy, you have created a warm and inviting home. We installed hardwood flooring throughout our 2nd story and it has by far been the biggest yet most rewarding DIY we’ve tackled.
Bonnie says
I think every change you and your husband have made has improved your home. It’s just beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your good ideas.
Julie says
I love all of the updates you have done! Your home is so pretty and welcoming!
Mary Chris says
great decorating style. love the ideas and creative tips.
Theresia says
I love all your ideas and your home transformation! Your have a beautiful home! Keep up the good work!
Kathleen Crigler says
Love the painted dining room table. Awesome look!!!
I so enjoy your projects!!
Deborah Rinna says
Love the open shelves.
Linda says
When you need something else to decorate, my house is around the corner(s)from you on the corner of Foxhollow and Westminster!!
Suzy says
How cool is that, Linda! I actually travel Jefferson Rd. almost every day! 😀
Elizabeth Logan says
Oh my, you have a beautiful home. I love your style and really admire your makeovers. Thank you for showing the before and afters! I have a question about your shelves in the Breakfast area. I have some that are just about like yours and I’m trying to decide how to space them above my buffet and how far apart to put them on the wall. Can you tell me the space between your shelves and the top of your sideboard to the bottom of the shelf above it?
Thank you in advance and thanks for the inspiration!
Suzy says
HI Elizabeth. The distance from the bottom of the lower shelf to the top of the buffet is 18.5″. The bottom of the top shelf is 15.5″ from the top of the middle one. And the top of the next shelf is 35″ from the ceiling (we have 9′ ceilings). Hope this helps!
Elizabeth Logan says
Oh, thank you so much for that information Suzy. We only have 8′ ceilings but that will help me with spacing them. I love how you have them styled! 🙂
Mary Johnston says
HI Suzy,
I too have red brick with an Oak mantle. I also have an oak china cabinet…I have been saying for a while to much oak. Not sure that white is the way for me to go, Will have to think about it. I do love the way yours looks. I love everything you have done in yor home.