DIY Links: Faux Projects for the Home

If you're one of those homeowners who has champagne dreams on a beer budget, check out these faux DIY projects we found around the web. They all look as good as the real thing.

Love the look of upholstered furniture? This chic IKEA Besta hack shows that you can mimic the look of upholstery easily without the use of fabric or staple guns. That's right, to faux-upholster, all you need are the nails! Trace a pattern and hammer away. [Ikea Hacker via Signed by Tina]

Wallpaper can be a big headache to put up, and a bigger pain to take down. Enter instant wallpaper, otherwise known as tape. Yep, the sticky stuff you use for small crafts and wrapping paper can create spectacular wall stripes, geometric patterns and much more. The best part? It's inexpensive and easy to do away with when you're ready to move on to something new. [ShelterPop]


An alligator table can set you back thousands of dollars, but you can duplicate its luxurious looks for much less. Simply use a hot gun to attach faux-alligator skin matting to the bottom of a serving tray. Pair the tray with foldable legs -- and voila! [Nate Berkus]


Similarly, you can update a bathroom vanity with a faux-crocodile look using vinyl wallpaper. [HGTV]

It's been said time and time again that a simple coat of paint is the easiest and cheapest way to upgrade a room. But why settle for simple? With a little elbow grease, these faux painting techniques can give your walls the grand look of wood grain, linen, plaster and more. [DIY Network]

Get the look of marble for less using a decorative painting technique. To update an old dresser or table with a "marble" top, you'll need latex and acrylic paint, and a sponge to apply. Dab and smear the paint to create the marble effect. Finish with a coat of high-gloss polyurethane to protect the surface and give it a posh shine. [DIY Network]