DIY projects don’t have to take up the whole weekend.
Spruce up your home with one of these done-in-an-hour decor ideas.
Some need extra drying time, but all require 60 minutes or less of hands-on work.
Credit: Carson Downing
These quick DIY ideas will show you how to craft your own home accessories for nearly instant gratification.
Marble-Look Tray
Recreate the look of a pricey marbletray using a cutting board and contact paper.
Measure and cut marble-patterned self-adhesive paper to fit the surface you’d like to cover.
Credit: Carson Downing
Slowly peel off the backing and smooth it over the cutting board.
To add leather handles, drill a hole at each corner.
Punch holes into each strap and screw into place.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Choose a pretty patterned fabric and add decorative trim or fringe to customize your runner.
Pretty Painted Vase
Revamp a plain white vasewith a simple paint techniqueusing rubber cement.
Dip a small paintbrush into the rubber cement and create a pattern of thick dots across the vase.
Credit: Steven McDonald
When dry, add color using a sponge applicator and a thin layer of glass or ceramic paint.
Bake the vase according to the paint manufacturer’s directions to set the finish.
DIY Marble Candlesticks
Dip basic candlesticks into paint for a gorgeous marbled effect.
Credit: Brie Passano
Start with a garbage bag-lined bucket filled with water.
Add in Magic Marble paint (or fingernail polish) in your desired colors and swirl with a skewer.
Try the technique on sheets, pillowcases, and decorative shams for a custom bedding set.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Watercolor Canvas Art
A simple swirling techniquemakes it easy to paint an abstract watercolor masterpiece.
Then craft an inexpensive frame from painted wood lattice strips tofinish off your DIY artwork.
Simply drill 3/4-inch holes through a wooden figure, then coat using glossy white spray paint.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Look for figures large enough to accommodate a few holes without splitting.
you’re free to often find them in craft stores, on eBay, and at garage sales.
Spoon Rack Display
Turn an old spoon rack into a fun display board with twine.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Wrap colorful twine around the spoon holders and use small clothespins to display reminders or mementos.
If you have extra time, paint the spoon rack before wrapping the twine.
Patterned Tabletop
A smooth tabletop is the perfect spot for a colorful wallpaper makeover.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Cut a piece of patterned wallpaper to fit, then adhere it with decoupage medium.
To protect the surface, brush the top with decoupage medium or spray with clear acrylic sealer.
Platter Display
Rescue cast-off crystal platters and turn them into one-of-a-kind artwork.
Credit: Adam Albright
Mix and match colors, sizes, and patterns, thenhang the platters togetherin a grouping.
DIY Doily Bowls
Doilies abound at flea markets and antique stores.
Pick up a few and repurpose them as storage vessels.
Credit: Andre Martin
Dip the doily into a mixture of one part crafts glue and one part water.
Smooth the wet doily over an upside-down glass bowl with your hands; let dry.
Carefully peel the doily away from the bowl.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Simply cut paper to fit and adhere to the cabinet back.
Here, a patterned paper with a gold design adds metallic glimmer.
Fabric-Covered Canvases
Use fabric to fashionaffordable DIY canvas art.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Buy ready-made canvases or canvas stretchers and cover with a favorite fabric.
Try using a large-scale pattern, and use different parts of the pattern on each canvas.
To start, drill a hole in the center of the lid to accommodate a knob.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Prime, then paint the lids; let dry.
Spray with a clear sealer to protect the paint; let dry.
Attach the knob, then cut off the excess shank.
Credit: Jay Wilde
For an extra decorative touch, cut paper to fit around the jars and adhere in place.
Dress them up in a trio or quartet of new colors.
Simply spray-paint the candlesticks in coordinating colors, let dry, and put on display.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Painted Glass Bottles
Set a pretty display with painted glass bottles that look like milk glass.
Wash the glass with soap and water; let dry.
Dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol, and wipe the inside of the glass vessel with the cloth.
Credit: Adam Albright
Swirl the paint around inside the bottle or jar until the entire interior is coated.
Place the glass vessel upside down on a paper towel or paper plate to dry.
DIY Lampshade Update
Give a plain lampshade a boost with ribbon.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Wrap ribbon vertically around the shade, overlapping to create a dynamic design.
Secure the ribbon with pins and glue.
Dictionary Word Art
Create meaningful art using pages pulled from a dictionary.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Enlarge and photocopy the pages andhang in matching frames.
Custom-Painted Vases
Transform plain white vases with freehand painting.
Mix glass paint with a few drops of paint thinner.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Paint freehand designs on each vase using an acrylic brush and let dry.
Cork Memo Board
Fashion an office memo board from inexpensive cork trivets.
To begin, paint the cork rounds with two coats of acrylic paint in your chosen color palette.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Leave several unpainted for a natural look.
Use wall hook-and-loop tape to hang.
Twine-Wrapped DIY Decor
Grab baker’s twine in various colors and start wrapping tocreate custom DIY decor.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Embellish a flat frame with varying widths of twine wrapped around the frame.
Hang a twine-wrapped papier-mache letter inside the opening for personalized art.
Decorative Tape Decor
Decorative tapes are now available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Use these pretty adhesives to dress up almost anything in a flash.
Embellish a plain white frame with strips in a variety of patterns.
Stick to a complementary color palette for cohesiveness.
Credit: Adam Albright
Cut stalks of bok choy or celery about 2-3 inches from the bottom.
Blot off the moisture, and let the vegetables dry for an hour.
Select a light and dark shade of crafts paints in the same hue.
Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour
Pour the darker color onto a paper plate.
Repeat with the lighter color, overlapping stamps as desired.
