4 practical DIY home decorating projects

Get inspired with these four DIY ideas and involve the whole family so you can get stuff done while spending quality time with your partner or kids at the same time.

DIY projects are a great way to inject some style into a space and tackle some of the areas of your home you’ve been neglecting – and you don’t necessarily have to be very handy or need to use a power drill to do them.

1

CREATE A GALLERY WALL LIKE A DESIGNER​

This is one of the easiest DIY projects you can do, but can really make a statement in your living room or entrance hall. Start by selecting the art you’d like to frame – your options here are to either make it all uniform (for example, black and white photographs), or all different (art in different mediums: paintings, prints and sketches). Make sure you have different sized frames to play with, as this adds interest.

An easy way to play with the configuration of your gallery wall is to trace each frame on paper and stick them up on the way with masking tape. Now you’ll be able to move the ‘frames’ around until you get to an arrangement you’re happy with. Once you’re satisfied with the configuration, you can start hanging up the frames and art one by one.

TIP

Make your wall 3D by incorporating different textured objects such as woven wall hangings, small mirrors and geometric animal skulls.

2

Tile your own backsplash

A kitchen backsplash is a great area to flex your DIY muscle as it is a fairly small area to work with. In this video here, a backsplash gets a slick, modern update with white subway tiles.

If you’re concerned about the dent that ornate tiles could make in your pocket, you can create the same effect using peel-and-stick vinyl decals. Vinyl decals are a lot easier to apply and remove than tiles, making them ideal for renters who can’t do much in the way of home improvement.

TIP

Check out tilevera.co.za to browse an extensive range of vinyl decals, from geometric Moroccan-style patterns to colourful Mexican swirls and shapes.

3

Reupholster a chair

You might be under the impression that reupholstery is best left to the experts (and we wouldn’t blame you!), but this DIYer shows how easy it is to revamp the seat of a wooden dining chair using just a piece of fabric and a staple gun.

TIP

If you’re good with a sewing machine, you can sew together a slipcover for the seat of the chair for when it starts to look worn or stained.

4

Create a hidden storage compartment with old books

If you have a pile of books that are gathering dust and you have limited storage space, look no further than this easy upcycling project.

TIP

Hardcover books are best for this project as they have sturdy spines perfect for achieving a classic library look and feel.