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Whether you own or rent a penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side, a loft in Tribeca, or a summer cottage on Long Island, everyone is looking for those quick fixes that can take their homes to the next level. However, who wants to spend one’s hard-earned salary on home improvements or, worse yet, spend hours and hours of your precious free time slaving away on projects that never turn out just how you expected? That’s why we’re giving you a list of DIY home improvements that only take a weekend to complete. You can enjoy your weekends and still get exactly what you envisioned for your home by the time Monday morning arrives. Try these 10 DIY Home Improvements That Only Take a Weekend to Complete.
Spice Up Your Light
If you are showing off your bachelor pad to your buddies, or showcasing the new flavor of the week with your gorgeous patio, tiki torches are a must-have. These simple candles are perfect for any occasion, blazing high for fun times with friends and low for a romantic night in. The best part of DIY tiki torches is that they can be made using empty wine bottles, so drink up! You begin by filling the empty bottle halfway with beads, rocks, or decorative glass. Similar to a store-bought torch, you fill the bottle with tiki fuel and place a washer on the top of the bottle. The washer should match the size of the opening so the wick will fit snugly at the top of the bottle. Place a tiki torch replacement wick through the washer and into the bottle, leaving a portion of the wick sticking out for lighting. Keep in mind that the wick should be at least halfway covered by the fluid. Place the torches on a table to represent a centerpiece, or scatter them around your backyard or patio to create the perfect setting for you and your guests to enjoy.
Faux Fireplace is Definitely Not a Faux Pas
On a cold winter’s night, who doesn’t wish they were coming home to that cozy room with the fireplace that is featured in countless romantic movies. If you didn’t luck out by purchasing a home with a fireplace, have no fear—just build your own. The key to crafting a fabulous faux fireplace is finding a good base to use for the mantel. Depending on your taste, you can use a bulky hardwood or one with elegant curved edges. Mount the mantel on the wall of your choice and use finishing nails to secure molding on each side to create the square frame for the outline of the fireplace. In place of the logs and flames, you can insert paneling against the wall, which you can purchase in most home improvement stores. The paneling designs are plentiful and include anything from faux brick, stacked wood, or solid neutral colors. This faux fireplace can fancy up any room!
The Stage Isn’t the Only Place for Lights
Don’t just bring any lamps into your home—build a mounted work of art out of your lights! Collect or buy multiple mason jars with lids. Trace a small circle on the center of the lid and start drilling small holes close together along the entire circle. Using a hammer you can push the center through, but be careful of the protruding metal edges. You will need to purchase a cord kit, which is sold in most home improvement stores. Unscrew the lid of the jar and place the cord through it. Then add the bulb to the end of the cord and place it in the jar. Screw the lid back onto the jar, and use the excess cord to adjust the height of your new hanging light. Building multiple lights is a great way to create a hanging light sculpture to brighten up your home life.
Your Bedroom Will Have Guests Turning Their Heads
The most sacred room in your household is the bedroom. Not everyone gets the chance to view it, so make it worthwhile for those lucky ones that do! One way to make a statement is to construct a headboard that makes your bedroom pop. You start with a couple of pieces of 2x4 and a sheet of plywood to build a box outline for the space behind the head of your bed. Wrap the wood with cotton batting and staple it to the back of the plywood as a first layer. Then staple the fabric of your choosing over the batting. You can mix and match fabrics to display a bold look for you and your visitors.
Every Fortress Needs Some Buds
If you have always imagined having a home with a garden, but do not want to spend all the time it takes to create one, we have the perfect solution for you. This do-it-yourself garden idea is quick and won’t take up too much of your precious backyard/patio space. For this project you only need a few supplies: tin cans, hammer, nail, drill, rope or string, and spray paint for the finishing touches. Start by drilling two holes in the back of the can for hanging. Then, using the hammer and nail, make holes through the bottom of the can to create a draining system for the plants. Decorate the tin cans using your favorite colors of spray paint. Hint: Use a color that is bright and shines when the sun hits it! After drying is completely, run the string through one hole in the back of the can and out the other. You can cut the strings to all be the same length, or use different lengths to create a stylish layout for the tins. You now have hanging pots to fill to your liking.
Classy Winos
An easy way to class up your household is to add a wine rack to your living or dining room. It’s a simple way to flaunt your wine purchases after a weekend spent tasting in the vineyards. You will need a sturdy board that’s around 2x6, as well as 4-5 pieces of 2x4 depending on how many bottles you would like to display. Start by cutting the 2x4s so that they are just a little longer than the height of a bottle of wine. These pieces will serve as vertical shelves along the board and each wine bottle will lay flat on its side on each shelf.
On each of the shelves, drill two small holes next to each other that are only a couple of inches apart and are as close to the edge as possible. On your board, place markings every six inches down the board and drill the shelves into it. Hint: Drill the screw through the back of the board and into the shelf to hide any screws or holes. After each piece is secured together you can stain or paint the wood depending on your personal style. After the wood has dried, insert bolts or larger screws into the holes that you made earlier on each shelf. These will hold the wine bottles in place to prevent them from rolling off the shelves. Place the wine rack on a wall of your choice to jazz up the room.
Steam and Sizzle Are Not Just Meant for the Stove
Over the years you seem to have collected more pots and pans than you know what to do with. Of course, you can’t imagine your life without your wok, grill pan, sauce pot, frying pan, and other various-sized skillets, but storage space in the kitchen can be tough. Instead of having these pots and pans precariously balanced on the top of every cabinet, create a unique mounted pan holder for your kitchen wall. Start by purchasing a peg-board and hooks that fit into the size of the holes on the board. Strategically place the hooks to hang each of your culinary vessels in a custom scheme. Not only does this create more space, it also allows you to display your inner chef for all to see.
Don’t Be Led Down a Path of Destruction
A simple way to dress up your home is by designing an outdoor pathway all by yourself. You will have your guests begging for more as they stride across your custom stone walkway. The stones can be created using empty boxes. You can use boxes that are the same size or mix them up to build a more natural walkway. Start by mixing a bag of cement, sand, and water in a large plastic bucket. You will be pouring the cement mixture into the empty boxes, so follow the directions on the cement bag for the correct measurements. After you blend the concrete mix, pour it into the boxes, creating stones as thick as you would like them to be. While the mix is still wet, add shells, colored glass, bottle caps or beads to design the stones to your liking. Another option is to write a favorite quote or inspiring word in the wet cement with a tip of a nail. Leave the mixture to fully dry and harden. Once this is complete you can remove the cement stones from the boxes and place them in an area of your yard or outdoor space for visitors to step across in style.
Sit Down in Style
Don’t allow your guests to just sit on anything when they visit your place; make sure your visitors remember that the chair looked as good as it felt. Start by stripping an old chair of its outdated fabric. Depending on the condition of the chair, you may consider adding a layer of cotton batting. Place the new fabric inside out on the chair and pin it together to achieve accurate sizing. After you have correctly sized the fabric, sew it together (or ask your favorite tailor for some assistance), and drape the fabric around the seat. When working on the back of the chair, you will stick tack strips through the opposite side of the fabric. Then flip the strip and hammer it into the frame. This will allow the fabric to be tight and smooth along the chair. The same steps are taken for the seat cover and tacked into the bottom of the chair. This easy project will allow you new and improved seating in a weekend's time.
Why Should Your Walls Have All the Fun?
Brighten up your home by adding an exclusive coffee table to your living room. Personalize your space by building a coffee table with pictures of loved ones or favorite sports teams. You can use an older table or purchase an inexpensive one to redesign. Lay out the pictures or memorabilia that you have chosen for your design in a pattern of your liking and one that works with the shape of the table. If you would like to go for a more vintage look, print the pictures in black and white. You will need to purchase two-part epoxy mix, a glue-like substance that will harden into a material that feels like plexiglass. Don’t stress as this mix can be found in most home improvement or craft stores. Pour a layer of the epoxy mix on top of your pictures on the table, being careful to smooth it out to avoid air bubbles. Allow the mix to dry overnight. The next day, sand the edges of the table to create a smooth surface and voila! This stylish table will give the room a touch of your personality.