DIY Life

High-Design Hack: Pouf Ottoman

Brie Dyas — 2011-06-06T10:18:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Living Rooms, Small Spaces

Love the look of a pouf ottoman but hate the $150+ price tag? This DIY is for you.

The Fabled Needle

Also known as the more sophisticated cousin of the bean bag chair, a pouf is one of the handiest pieces of furniture you can have. It can be called into use as seating, an ottoman or even a table (just top it with a tray). The one problem? A pouf can cost anywhere from $150-500. But, as Jen from The Fabled Needle shows us, a pouf is easy to DIY.

You'll need fabric, a white sheet (to reinforce and line the fabric) and stuffing. For the latter, you can use anything from spare foam packing peanuts to old (clean) clothes to fill the pouf. You'll also need to print out and follow this pouf template. Jen's main piece of advice is to have plenty of stuffing material, since the pouf needs much more than you probably think. For more on how she created her romantic pouf, visit The Fabled Needle.

For more DIY pouf ideas, check out...
DIY: Make A Knitted Pouf
Daily DIY: Create Your Own Moroccan Pouf
Create a custom ottoman

And because we could all use a quick refresher now and then, check out this video on how to sew straight stitches on your sewing machine...

How to Sew Straight on the Sewing Machine

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Curbspotting: Vintage Chair

Brie Dyas — 2011-06-03T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Living Rooms, Dining Rooms, Home Offices, Small Spaces, Essential Skills, Know-How

A vintage chair with "good bones" (but not much else going for it) becomes a knockout with a fresh coat of paint and a little reupholstering know-how.

Justin and Elise, flickr

This vintage chair by Drexel was facing a future in the dump when it was rescued just before the garbage truck came along. And though it had potential, you can see why someone might chuck it in the first place. The torn upholstery, scratched-up wood and general filthiness definitely overshadows its elegant frame.

Then Justin and Elise Snow came along. They cleaned it up, gave the wood a fresh coat of lime green paint and replaced the upholstery. Though it looks impressive and sounds intimidating, reupholstering a side chair is one of the easiest projects you can do. Really. All you really have to do is re-wrap the cushion with foam and then smooth over with the fabric of your choice, stapling both in place as you work. It's projects like this, or the hope of undertaking a project like this, that made me buy a staple gun in the first place.

Want a few more ideas for refreshing a vintage chair? Check out...
Minute Makeover: A DIY Accent Chair
Flea market chair gets a makeover
Thrifted task chair gets a new look

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Architectural Inspiration: Daylighting

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-25T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Makeovers & Inspiration, Living Rooms, Small Spaces, Living Spaces, Experts

If you plan on renovating this summer, there's new reason to rethink window placement: Research has shown that daylighting (an official-sounding term that refers to maximizing the natural light in a space) can make a room feel more inviting and you more productive. Also, it looks great. See for yourself with these amazing projects by the masters of daylighting, KSS Architects.

KSS Architects; Taylor Photo

Let me ask you: Which space is more appealing to you, the left or the right? If you answered "the right" (I'm guessing 100% of you did), you just learned the core principle of daylighting: Maximizing the light through windows and details. KSS Architects completely transformed West Chester University's 25 University Place building by opening up the ceiling and adding a high row of windows. But while daylighting might be associated with windows, a neutral color palette and unobtrusive lighting are also ways to boost the bright factor.

Your takeaway: Blonde wood accents, neutral flooring and discrete overhead lighting (check out the bent-arm lamps) can be just as effective as adding windows.

KSS Architects; Taylor Photo

This project really sold me on the power of daylighting. Here is the dramatic before and after of the basketball court at New Jersey City University's University Academy Charter School, another KSS project. The building had a nice big window, but obviously little charm (an understatement). KSS kept the brickwork but did something that I thought was interesting: Instead of repainting the walls white for a uniform look, they chose to strip the paint to reveal the natural hue of the brick.

Your takeaway: While white paint tends to make a space feel larger, sometimes it's best to expose the original finish of a high-quality material.

KSS Architects; Doug Snower Photographer

At Lawrence University's Warch Campus Center, KSS added Mondrian-esque windows and filled the space with brushed metal accents (which gently reflect light without scattering intense beams of sun all over the place). Like the 25 University Place project, neutral wood elements punctuate the room. To make the juxtaposition less jarring, stone tiles in both browns and grays were installed on the floor.

Your takeaway: Brushed nickel accents give you the gleam of metal without the upkeep (no worries about smudges). To integrate it into a space that has a lot of wood, opt for a natural stone tile that has bits of both hues.

Want more ideas for brightening up your home? Check out...
Easy Ways to Brighten the Kitchen and Living Room ... - ShelterPop
11 ways to brighten a room - DIY Life
10 Things You Can Do (Right Now!) to Brighten Your Home - Shelterpop

And to see how you can quickly boost the light in any room, watch this...

How to Brighten Up Your Rooms

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Grow a Kitchen Garden in a Window Box

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-13T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Small Spaces, Know-How, Outdoors

When a recipe calls for fresh herbs this summer, you'll be covered with a compact kitchen garden that fits right on a window ledge.

HGTV

A kitchen garden window box of herbs is the answer for those who like the idea of a garden, but can't commit to a summer of tending a whole bed of plants. Or, those of us who forget to tend the garden until it's scorched earth. With a window box right on the kitchen sill, you'll be reminded to water the plants on a daily basis and will have the herbs at arm's length for easy enjoying.

So, what to put in there? I usually go for mint and basil (for mojitos and basil gimlets), because they create the illusion that I'm a fabulous gardener. Just leave them in a sunny spot for a few weeks and you'll come back to find amazing, heavenly scented bushes. Easy. But this month's HGTV's Family Gardening Club Project goes one step further and uses petite vegetables as window box filler. They recommend lettuce, radish and dwarf carrot, started from seeds. We say: Overachievers. But we're secretly envious of their patience. Here's the how-to.

Feel ready to start your own kitchen garden? Then check out...
Time to Plant the (Kitchen) Garden
Planning a Kitchen Garden
Minute Makeover: An Herb Garden in Your Kitchen

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A Playhouse Plan That You Can Sew

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-12T11:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Small Spaces

Though kids can make forts out of anything, this easy-to-make felt playhouse plan from fab blogger Homemade by Jill is sure to be a big hit. A little safer than wood models and definitely more affordable than commercial versions, this felt cottage also turns any table into a playhouse.

Homemade By Jill

Playhouse plans run the gamut from time-consuming to seriously difficult, which is why I was so excited to see this felt version by blogger HomemadeByJill. Not only is it a relatively simple project to sew (just join lengths of felt to create an open-bottom cube, then cut out doors/windows and applique details) but it also is space-savvy, since it's designed to fit over an existing table. Just pack it up when playtime is over. Here are more details:

Homemade By Jill

Check out the cute little window box, near a window covered in open mesh (for ventilation). The door can open and shut with velcro tabs. Love the scalloped trim at the top.

Homemade By Jill

A view of the side, where you can see another mesh-covered window. Three-dimensional apples on the tree and the seriously adorable owl add whimsy. For the playhouse plan and how-to, visit Jill's blog.

Want to get inspired before you try your hand at this playhouse plan? Then check out...
Kids Crooked Houses
Build a "Jungle Cruise" playhouse, Disney-style

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Taming the Record Pile

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-11T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Small Spaces, Storage & Organization

If you'll never in a million years convert your record albums to mp3s, you're in good company. But when your LPs start to overwhelm your shelf space, it's time to get creative. Here's how I took control of my collection's overstock.

moustache, flickr

"Why don't you organize your record albums by color?" suggested the friend-of-a-friend who watched me attempt to unload my latest record store haul into the packed cabinet underneath my record player.

"Or better yet, why don't you just give most of them away? Or just convert them to mp3s...and then give them away," she continued.

You either "get" the idea of records, or you don't. This friend-of-a-friend clearly was in the latter camp. For her, she would just keep on skipping through life immune to the odd suspense of rummaging through 70's basement-smelling stacks in the hopes of finding a copy of "Arthur (Or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire)." And that's fine, because who needs people like that clogging up the stacks anyway. When she reads the inevitable trend story about the resurgence of vinyl, she will probably get her records from Urban Outfitters, next to a stack of clothes last seen on the set of "Clarissa Explains It All." I'll pretend, when she brings over her $30 find, that this conversation about converting records to music files never took place. Or when she eventually uses it for crafting.

A record is just different from an mp3. There's the whole bit about the pops and crackles, the sound quality, etc. But for me, listening to a record is a time-out. I generally listen start-to-finish, mostly because I have lots of 60's comedy records that have to be heard that way. This means sitting down and paying attention. If you catch yourself, you realize that you've been staring off into the middle distance for a half hour and that the worries you brought home with you are now gone.

wondermonkey2k, flickr

But I digress. The problem isn't with collecting records but with storing them. There aren't a ton of products on the market designed specifically for holding oversized (and often falling apart) albums. There's plenty of things like record frames for those who like to display albums, but then there's the accessibility problem.

Enter the crate. Used by the more old-school shops, the plastic milk crate is the right size for holding records. It's just...ugly. And there's a whole thing about the ethics of acquiring milk crates. (Owned by dairy vendors, the crates are not for grocery stores to give away. So if you take one, it's stealing.) And when the records are placed in a crate, they tend to slide as you remove albums.

So what I did was take a 13-inch storage bin (which has enough space for a 12-inch LP) and lined it with a large wire dish rack. When I added records, the slots in the rack cradled the albums into groups, creating an ersatz filer.

And no, I did not organize anything by color.

Want to learn more ways to organize your old-timey things like record albums, newspaper clippings and the like? Check out..

How to Clean Vinyl Records
Preserve old newspaper clippings
One Really Cool Vintage Typewriter

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Magnetic Paint Gallery Wall

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-09T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Home Offices, Small Spaces, Living Spaces

Bye-bye tacks and nails...a new magnetic paint allows you to stick up art without damaging your walls. Our friends at ReadyMade show us how it's done.

Sherry Griffin, ReadyMade

Magnetic paint has been around for a little while, but I'm only now seeing it being used in really sophisticated ways. Like this installation at the gallery r20thCentury, which features posters and pamphlets displayed on the wall using rare-earth magnets. (Why rare earth? Because it's world away stronger than any alphabet magnet you can find.)

Sherry Griffin, ReadyMade

For the strongest effect, use three coats of the magnetic paint. While you can paint over it and still get the magnetic benefit, I've heard that two coats are the max for the second color coat. (And even then, it gets a little weak.)

champagnechic, Flickr

Magnetic paint is ideal for a childs' room. (Just think, no unsightly holes made by tacks!) Here, it's used to repurpose a mirror into a message board. What's even more remarkable is that the designer finished the project with a topcoat of pink chalkboard paint. Love this idea.

Want more ideas for how to use magnetic elements in your decor? Check out...
10 Creative Uses for Magnets - DIY Life
Making magnets from flat glass marbles - DIY Life
New Gorillapod uses rare earth magnets, sticks to your car

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Pegboard Goes Out of the Garage

Brie Dyas — 2011-05-04T14:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Small Projects, Small Spaces, Storage & Organization

A panel of pegboard can lift up the clutter that's been taking over workspace, thanks to easy add-ons like hooks and shelves. And did we mention that it's ultra-cheap when compared to pricey wall organizing systems?

Lajos Geenen, Readymade

Crafty entrepreneur Diana Rupp hung up a huge piece of pegboard behind her workshop's learning stations, so students have everything they need right at hand. Makes you just want to play with those spools of thread, doesn't it? One thing I'll warn you about: A pegboard panel has to be raised away from the wall a little bit, in order to accomodate things like pegboard hooks. Most people build a rail or framework made from wood strips to accomplish this, but I've had success with attaching unused kitchen sponges at the corners of the pegboard backing using hot glue instead. (Of course, this was for a way smaller pegboard than Diana's!) Get the full how-to over at the fabulous ReadyMade.

sassyradish, Flickr

Julia Child famously organized her kitchen tools on a pegboard wall, but this DIYer took a more compact approach. I loved the notice-me shade of orange that was used, too. If you decide to paint the pegboard, I'd suggest spray paint. You won't have to worry about paint clogging the perforations the way a brush-on latex can often do.

adamknits, Flickr

Instead of a knitting bag (where yarns end up getting tangled into each other), hang the skeins on pegboard hooks. Just looking at all the different yarns is inspiring and keeps your stash at a manageable size.

Want more ideas for using pegboard? Check out...
Spring Spruce-Up: Organizing Accessories and Jewelry
5 Things You Can Do (Today!) to Organize the Garage
DIY: A Golden Jewelry Board

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From Books to Wallpaper

Houzz — 2011-03-30T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Makeovers & Inspiration, Small Spaces, Living Spaces, Crafts & Celebrations

Bored with paint? Intimidated by wallpaper prices? Make your own wallcovering with book pages.

Check out this creative DIY project from our friends at Houzz!

A quick look through my design portfolio and it's obvious I'm a fan of wallcovering. From grasscloth to fabric, geometric prints to toile, adding texture, color and/or pattern with textiles is always my preference over paint.

Before: A blank slate. After: Beautiful DIY book wallpaper. Photos: Houzz.

Since many high-end wallcoverings come with high-end price tags, we can't all shell out the clams to clad our walls so elegantly -- unless we get creative, that is. Here's a way to cover your walls with words and illustrations from old books. If you've ever (a) read a book (b) held a paint brush (c) cut a piece of paper, you can do this project. Check it out:

First up, you've gotta decide on the proper room for this project. Kitchens and bathrooms? No -- in fact, consider all wet spaces totally off limits. Guest rooms, offices or reading nooks? Yes, please. For my own little typography-fest, I chose a bachelor's attic which is used for quiet escapes.

Want to get the full step-by-step? Head over to Houzz for the full story.

Or check out these great stories for more cures for the common white wall:
Wall Decor Ideas: What to do with a Blank Wall
Decorate Walls Without Paint
Dining Room Decorating Ideas: Ikat Pattern Wall Stencil

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Make a Jewelry Holder

Nikki Pepper — 2011-03-30T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: home decor, Crafts, Bedrooms, Small Spaces, Know-How

Who knew that humble peg board and an old picture frame could make for a perfect jewelry holder?

Three Men and a Lady

We were looking through the DIY projects on the blog Three Men and A Lady and fell in love with this creative jewelry holder. All it takes is a frame and a peg board. Add some spray paint and various hooks for a I-can't-believe-you-made-that look. You don't have to worry about your necklaces and bracelets tangling and you'll always be able to find what you're looking for.

Visit Three Men and A Lady for more project pictures and the step-by-step instructions so you can get started!

Three Men and a Lady

Get more great DIY projects:
Recycle Your Old Light Bulbs into Vases
N ew Ways to Recycle Phone Books

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Hollow-Core Door Makeover

Houzz — 2011-03-22T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Home Offices, Small Spaces, Living Spaces

See this drab hollow-core door transform into a black and white showstopper, complete with fancy knocker!

Check out this creative DIY project from our friends at Houzz!

My photographer friend Christina had me over to her house recently. Naturally, she inquired as to any ideas I could offer to make her home a bit nicer. Upon entry, I wanted to say, "Well, you can start by tossing those nasty hollow-core doors out the window, then setting them on fire." But instead, the nice part of me decided to offer up a do-it-yourself upgrade - the same nice part that got tricked into staying and actually doing it. One protein bar, two pitchers of ice water and about 6 hours of conversation later, here's how we took Christina's 40-year-old, contractor-grade, hollow-core door from eyesore to showstopper:

Houzz

While I recommend this project for hollow-core doors, it works just as well on those made from solid wood. High contrast offers up the most impact. Black and white is classic and goes with everything, but playing up two drastically different shades of your room's wall color works just as well.

Check out Houzz's step-by-step hollow-core door transformation to make this DIY happen in your home!

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Office Organization -- Spring Cleaning Guide

Kristine Solomon — 2011-03-07T18:37:00+00:00

Filed under: Small Spaces, Living Spaces

Office organization is your ticket to a home office that works for you!

Office organization clears your desk and your mind. Photo: Getty Images

Messy desks plague most home office - for those of you who are able to confine office type mess to the office. People with no time to tidy up, who end up spending more time looking for things then actually being productive.

When you consider that all this mess is affecting productivity it is time to make a change.

Taking back your workspace isn't easy. The home office often becomes a place to dump boxes of outgrown baby clothes, ancient computer parts and even random junk that's lying around when company is on their way over. Here are a few tips to help you feel good in your workspace.

Once you've decided how the room will be used, only keep relevant things there.
Find another place for old baby clothes. If your house is really short on space and you need to use the office, find a way to separate storage area from work area. This could be as simple as a hanging curtain, or confining Rubbermaid bins to the closet. This will keep your workspace as a dedicated area even if the room is serving two purposes.

File papers right away.
File papers as soon as they come into the house; it's far less work than filing a huge pile at once (and even less work than looking for something come tax time!). If you find that files get too messy, you might like to use binders instead. Keep a three hole punch handy and put important papers in a binder as they come in. These are easy to flip through when you need to find something later. Organize them neatly on a shelf with labels facing outward.

Don't be afraid to throw things out.
Most of us keep papers way too long. Not necessarily because we think we need them, but because they once got filed and forgotten. Go through your papers and get rid of old things giving yourself a fresh start.

Add some style
Add a little personality to your work space. Maybe this could be the room where you allow posters or prints that you like but wouldn't dare display in the living room (dogs playing poker anyone?).

TACKLE OFFICE CLUTTER
Does your home office have a desk that's covered with files and piles of paper? What you need are some office organization tips that work. In the following video, a professional organizer provides smart tips for keeping the clutter under control. On her to-do list:

-- Assign everything a "home" so it's easier to make sure each item stays where it belongs.
-- Never let books sit on your desk because their home should be in your bookcase.
-- Keep a shredder or recycle bin handy at all times so you don't accumulate papers on your desk.
-- Use a napkin holder or vintage toast rack to separate your incoming mail so it doesn't end up tossed about.

Watch the video for lots more tips from a pro on office organization.

UTILIZE HIDDEN STORAGE
In the following video, a professional organizer recommends clever office organization tactics we'd never even thought of, like transforming a closet in or near the office into a bookcase or file cabinet. You can close the doors to keep clutter out of sight and out of mind. Here's how it's done.

SEE ALSO:
Build a Closet Office (Popular Mechanics)
40 Stylish Gifts for the Home Office (Houzz)

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Home Style Upgrades on a Budget - DIY Links

Cheryl Thompson — 2011-03-04T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Crafts, Kitchen & Bath, Big Projects, Makeovers & Inspiration, Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Small Spaces, Living Spaces, Crafts & Celebrations

Hack your way to sophisticated home style with these innovative, budget-friendly projects from around the web.

Marcus Design

Dorothy Draper Hollywood Regency furniture pieces can easily set you back thousands of dollars. But a trip to IKEA can garner you the materials to create a fabulous knockoff -- one that costs just a little more than $30. Nancy from Marcus Design has step-by-step instructions to transform an affordable, bland dresser into a gorgeous DIY showpiece.[Marcus Design via Ikea Hacker]

Apartment Therapy

MacGyver may have met his match in Ohdeedoh's Katie Steuernagle. With a few pieces of wood, vinyl strips and a concrete form, she whipped up an amazing DIY nightstand. The nailhead trim gives this DIY creation a high-end look -- for only $30! [Apartment Therapy]

DIY Network

Want a beautiful kitchen remodel without spending major cash? The key is to get the most out of inexpensive materials. Take for example this sleek kitchen island, which is crafted out of two-sandwiched IKEA cabinets topped off with butcher-block. The soda-fountain stools were online finds that were anchored into the floor. [DIY Network]

Better Homes & Gardens

Bookcases and storage cubes are simple pieces that can be converted into custom furniture creations. Turn stackable storage cubes into an entertainment center by screwing the cubes together and adding metal legs (pictured left). For a floating store-and-serve buffet, use wall anchors and mount bookcases horizontally (center). Also, you can transform a bookshelf into a bench by adding a cozy cushion and wooden furniture feet (right). [Better Homes & Gardens]

Nesting Place

Accent pieces don't have to be expensive to be beautiful. Add instant style to a room with this dramatic DIY sunburst mirror. Folded poster board, mirror and glue are the main materials used to create the pretty display. [Nesting Place]

Charles & Hudson

Think you can't paint bathroom tile? Think again. Using Glidden's Gripper Primer, the folks at Charles & Hudson easily upgraded dated dandelion tiles with a modern, high-gloss finish. [Charles & Hudson]

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Garage Door Troubleshooting: Check Your Spring

Joe Provey — 2011-03-03T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Small Spaces, Exteriors & Facades, Living Spaces, Outdoors

If your garage door opener isn't in operating properly, you could be setting yourself up for an expensive repair down the road. We consulted a pro about one very common garage door troubleshooting issue.

Examine your spring for a break in the coiled metal. Another sign of a broken spring is if the steel cables that run along the wall near the door jambs are loose. Photo: Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

Is your garage door operating at full capacity, or is it poised to malfunction? Veteran garage door tech Ken Uliano recommends that you regularly check the real muscle of your automatic garage door system: the spring.

"Few homeowners realize that it's the spring (or springs) that do 90 percent of the lifting when an automatic opener lifts a garage door," says Ken Uliano, a professional garage door technician. "The garage door opener's motor is only designed to handle 10 percent of the lifting." Over time, the metal coil that makes up the spring becomes weak and loses some tension, causing the motor to work harder than it should. If the motor becomes overtaxed, the plastic gears inside may break and you'll be facing an expensive repair.

How to Test a Garage Door Spring
To check to see if your spring is no longer doing its fair share, conduct the test that Uliano uses.

Pull the release cord to disengage the J-arm from the carriage. Then conduct the test described above. Photo: Joe Provey, Home & Garden Editorial Services

First, disengage the J-arm (the J-shaped lever) from the carriage (see photo) by pulling on the release cord. Then manually raise the door 1 foot and let it go. The door should stay at the release height. Repeat this test at shoulder height and with the door almost fully raised. If the door slams to the floor when you let go, the spring is probably weak.

Caption: It's okay to make a slight adjustment of force by turning the lift force higher by one or two settings. More than that, however, and you risk damaging the opener's motor and the door itself.

If the door slowly drifts to the floor, a slight adjustment of the motor's lift force may solve the problem. Be careful, though: The garage door can be quite heavy, especially if the springs are weak. When raising one manually, lift with you knees to avoid hurting your back. Call a friend to help with the lifting if necessary.

If you suspect that the spring is weak, get a quote from a qualified technician to replace it. Don't wait until it breaks, otherwise you'll probably end up paying even more for the repair. In some cases, the spring can be tightened in order to increase tension. In others, it will need to be replaced.

A new spring is not an expensive part and only takes a pro 20 minutes or so to install. Fees, however, can range from under $200 to more than $400. Uliano says to ask for oil-tempered springs that are rated for at least 30,000 cycles. In addition, he says homeowners should opt for at least a 5-year warranty and to choose a lifetime warranty if they're not planning on moving anytime soon.

Safety tip: Do not attempt to adjust or replace springs your self. This is one repair that can cause serious injury or worse if you bungle it.

Once you're certain your garage door is stable, learn how to insulate it with these handy tips:

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Dryer Lint? Use It to Start a Fire! - Reader Tip

Ken Miller — 2011-02-28T11:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Small Spaces, Essential Skills, Know-How, Living Spaces

Dryer lint is disgusting, and your first instinct is probably to toss it. But here's an idea: save it up and use it to start a fire in your wood stove fireplace. Here's how.

Dryer lint and egg cartons to start a fire in your fireplace. Who knew? Photos: dumbeast, Flickr; Getty Images

Nobody knows what to do with old dryer lint -- aside from the throw it away, of course -- but here's how to reuse it in a fun and creative way!

Save up your empty cardboard egg cartons and mix a combination of melted candle wax and dryer lint into the egg cups. Break the cups apart and you have a dozen firestarters to toss into your wood stove or fireplace! Add essential oils or other scents to the wax for an added bonus.

Watch this video to learn the right way to clean your dryer vent of lint (which can impede your dryer's performance if it builds up):

Got any other uses for dryer lint? Let us know in the comments below!

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Radiant Floor Heating - Should You or Shouldn't You?

DIY Life Staff — 2011-02-17T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Home Offices, Small Spaces, Living Spaces

Is there a better way to heat your home? Radiant floor heating is a very viable option: it's clean, evenly distributed and energy-efficient.

It's the heart of winter and by now we're all familiar with it: the flaky, cracked skin that comes from being cooped up all day surrounded by dry air. The kinds of heating systems that most of us have -- forced-air systems (think furnaces and radiators) -- breed this kind of environment.

But radiant floor heating offers a very attractive alternative to the dusty vents and radiators we're used to. By installing plastic tubes underneath your actual flooring, your house gets warm from the ground up, and the heat is distributed throughout the house evenly and without the dryness and dust of forced air systems. Plus, they actually save energy by allowing you to turn down your thermostat a few degrees and still feel the same amount of coziness.

Would you make the switch?

SEE ALSO:
Cheap Ways to Heat Your Home
How to Heat Your Home Eco-Consciously (ShelterPop)

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Painting Techniques: Painting Behind a Radiator

Mark Clement — 2011-02-17T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Home Offices, Small Spaces, Essential Skills, Know-How, Living Spaces

Painting the walls? Don't let a cumbersome radiator get you hot under the collar. Here are some foolproof tips and techniques for painting behind a radiator.

artnoose, Flickr

So you're painting your living room. You're excited, too. This is going to turn out great.

You've bought everything you'll need. A bountiful heap of plastic shopping bags full of drop cloths, roller frames, paint pans, a 5-in-1 tool, and, of course, paint brushes -- and not just any old brushes; you need good paint brushes: watch this video to learn how to choose!

You've also got just the right color picked out. And because it's an older place, you've tested for lead paint.

As you paint your way around the room, you first realize the radiator in your charming old place is at first in the way. Then, as you get right up to it with the brush you realize, "Wait a minute. I can't really get the brush back there. What the heck?"

And all your good karma turns sour because you now dread an ugly, slathered paint outline around the radiator.

That's usually how the scenario plays out. So whether you've found yourself there already or you had the foresight to research the problem before it actually became a problem, here's the best approach to painting behind a radiator.

Should You Remove the Radiator?
Let's get this out of the way early. Our advice: Don't even think about it. This is a professional plumber's job (the Washington Post agrees). Still want to attempt it yourself? We suggest at least consulting a professional plumber first.

Get Yourself Some Radiator Rollers and Radiator Brushes

(Left to right) Amazon; Ace Hardware

The easiest way to paint behind a radiator is to head back to the store (turn the heat off before you go; you'll see why later) to get what's called a "mini-long-handled roller." You can find this long, slender type of paint roller at practically any paint store or big box home center. Some manufacturers call them "radiator rollers."

You'll probably find two types at point of sale: one with a sponge roller cover (the part you put the paint on) and one with a microfiber roller cover. For what it's worth, I've had the best luck with the microfiber covers, but both work for this application.

Though I've never tried them, some people use radiator paint brushes too, which are designed to be long and slim enough to fit in tight quarters (same idea as a radiator roller).

Also, grab a box of contractor grade trash bags while you're there (you'll want them later for all the paint cans and debris that'll stretch your kitchen bags past the breaking point.)

When you return home, slide a contractor bag over the radiator -- which should be cool by now -- and snug tight with tape or string (or just have someone hold it taught). This is to protect the roller from all the dust bunnies and debris back there.

Then, load your radiator roller with paint and sneak it down between the bag and the wall. Paint what you can but if it won't go all the way down, let it be. You won't be able to see that far behind the radiator anyway -- nor can you see through most radiators, for that matter.

Unlike standard size roller covers, I clean out mini roller covers in my utility sink. Why not just throw them out? First, they're not all that cheap, so I tend to reuse them. Second, unlike full-size roller covers, they clean up fairly easily so it isn't a hassle at all.

Or You Could Just Build a Radiator Cover
If for some reason you can see through the radiator to the unpainted wall behind but can't paint there's another other option: building a radiator cover. These are a really fun projects. However, we bring it up here only as an option. How to build them is another kettle of fish entirely.

In this video, DIY Network's Marc Bartolomeo demonstrates how to make a radiator cover out of wood and leftover soapstone countertop:

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DIY Home Humidifiers: Humidify Your Home for Less

Jaime Derringer — 2011-02-15T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Kitchen & Bath, Bedrooms, Small Spaces, Essential Skills, Know-How, Living Spaces

In the second installment of our Humidifier 101 series, we take a closer look at home humidifiers. Here are some DIY ways to humidify your home on the cheap.

Placing bowls of water around your home is a simple way to add moisture to the air -- without the cost of buying a humidifier. Chimpr, Flickr

The cold winter weather outside, coupled by indoor heating systems, easily sucks all the moisture out of your home. Low humidity levels can also lead to a host of problems including dry skin, sore throats, along with cracks in paint and wood furniture. Adding a humidifier is an easy way to replace this lost moisture in your home, but at times humidifiers can require high maintenance and more space and money than you would like to expend. Luckily, even on the tightest of budgets, there are inexpensive tricks to humidify your home.

Essentially a humidifier boils water and evaporates it into the air. These basics make it easy to achieve the same effect without purchasing another gadget. Keep in mind that there are store-bought humidifiers that can be attained at affordable prices, plus have a greater reach than homemade options. But if you're in a pinch or need relief ASAP, these DIY humidifiers will do the trick:

Getty Images

- Boil a large pot of water on the stove. This releases moisture into the air in the form of steam; the same way as a humidifier. The downside to this method is that the moisture is limited to the area in close proximity to the stove. If you want to circulate the moist air, add a fan next to the stove to blow the air out and away, increasing it's reach.

Getty Images

- Run hot water in the shower to produce steam. Alternatively, if you take baths, leave the water in the tub after you've finished bathing. Both are short-term solutions that can help those suffering through a cold. However, they're not without their drawbacks. First, you're wasting quite a bit of water, which can be expensive. In addition, the steam won't extend a great distance from the bathroom. So a fan is also needed or you'll have to sit in the bathroom to absorb the increased humidity. Like boiling water on the stove, you cannot run your shower all night. Therefore, this is a very short-term option that can be much more expensive and wasteful than purchasing an inexpensive humidifier.

- Place bowls of water around your home. Similar to the way houseplants emit water vapor like living humidifiers, the water from the bowls will evaporate and add moisture to the air. Increase the humidity even more by placing a water bowl on top of a radiator to heat the water. Avoid placing the water bowls near electrical devices.

SEE ALSO:
Humidifiers 101: Say Goodbye to Dry Air
5 Humidifiers to Consider [Apartment Therapy]
How to Humidify Your Home [Lowes]
Controlling Humidity Levels at Home [Re-nest]
The Best Humidifiers [Switch]

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Humidifiers 101 - Say Goodbye to Dry Air

Jaime Derringer — 2011-02-10T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Living Rooms, Bedrooms, Home Offices, Small Spaces, Living Spaces

Increase indoor air moisture and lower your heating bills with a humidifier.

Dry winter air can batter your home and health. Boost moisture with a humidifier. Mek22, Flickr

Suffering from cracked skin and dryness in your nose and throat? Blame your environment.

Winter air holds less moisture than the warm air of spring and summer. Increasing the temperature on your thermostat may feel like the wise move to stay toasty, but it's actually making already dry air worse by sucking out any existing moisture.

Dry, scratchy throats in the winter can be caused low humidity in the air. Photo: Corbis

Dry air causes a lot of things we associate with winter: static electricity, chapped lips, sore throats, dry skin, increased susceptibility to colds and irritation to those who suffer from asthma. Also, wood floors, indoor paint and electronics can sustain damage from low humidity levels. So if you find yourself doubling up on lotion and lip balm, using an inordinate amount of Static Guard and popping throat lozenges like candy, it's time to replace the lost humidity in your home by adding a humidifier.

Humidifiers are devices that use water vapor to increase moisture levels in the air and remove airborne allergens and dust. And because humidity holds heat, using humidifiers in your home can increase the temperature inside by as much as 15 degrees.

There are two major types of humidifiers on the market: warm mist and cool mist. Read on to know which kind is right for you.

Warm Mist Humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers use electricity to boil water and produce steam. These humidifiers are very effective, but if you use them for too long the air can become stale and feel a bit muggy. Also, these devices can get hot to the touch, so take precautions when using them around small children.

(Left) Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier. Photo: Amazon; (Right) Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer. Photo: Walgreens

There are two main types of warm mist humidifiers: warm mist and steam vaporizers.

- Warm mist: These units use a heating element that heats the water before evaporating it into the air. Before it's released, the humidifier cools the steam slightly so that it doesn't come out extremely hot.

- Steam vaporizers: These devices boil the water, which is sent out into the air as hot steam. The boiling process helps kill any mold or bacteria. You can add medicine or aromatherapy to these humidifiers, and create a warm, humid environment to keep noses and chests clear at night. Steam vaporizers do not cool the air at all before it is released, so they can become extremely hot.

Cool Mist Humidifiers
Vapor from the machine is not heated, so there is no risk for burning, making them ideal for use children's rooms. There are three different types of cool mist humidifiers: evaporation wick/evaporative, impeller and ultrasonic.

(Clockwise from left) Multi-room Cool Mist Evaporative Humidifier. Photo: Humidifiers.com; Sunbeam Health Impeller Humidifier. Photo: Sears; Crane Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier. Photo: Bed Bath & Beyond

- Evaporative wick/evaporative: These humidifiers use a fan to blow out cool evaporated water that gets absorbed through a wick or filter. These humidifiers self-regulate -- when the moisture in the air increases, the rate at which the humidifier releases more mist is slowed. A drawback to cool-mist humidifiers is that the fan can become noisy and make it difficult to sleep when running it through the night. Evaporative humidifiers are fairly affordable.

- Impeller: Impellers use a rotating disk in the water to create mist, which is slightly less noisy than the evaporative fan.

- Ultrasonic: These humidifiers use sound waves or vibrations to create water droplets, so they are the quietest of the three cool mist options. These tend to be the most expensive of the three.

Concerns about Humidifiers
There is such a thing as too much humidity, which can be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Keep indoor humidity levels in the range of 35 to 55 percent or so; anything above 60 percent is to high and anything under 30 percent is too dry. Opt for a humidifier that has a built-in humidistat, which is basically a thermostat for humidity. Alternatively, you can buy one for your home. Also, don't keep your humidifiers running all day and night. Turn them down or off, and use a dehumidifier if levels get too high, especially during the summer.

And finally, it is very important to clean humidifier frequently to prevent dormant water from turning into a pool of bacteria, mold and mildew. Therefore, while a tad inconvenient, to follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning which usually entails washing on a daily basis with soap and water.

SEE ALSO:
Lower Your Home Eating Bills
Controlling Humidity Levels at Home [Re-nest]
The Best Humidifiers [Switch]

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Building a Mud Room

Jen Jafarzadeh L'Italien — 2011-02-02T08:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Small Spaces, Living Spaces

Did you know that about 80 percent of the dirt on your floor comes tracked inside by your feet? Here's a guide to building a mudroom and keeping slushy boots and wet umbrellas where they belong.

MCT

If your winter has looked anything like mine here in the northeast, you're dealing with weekly snowstorms complete with muddy Wellies, soggy mittens, and lots of wet, dirty outdoor gear coming and going. It can create quite a mess if you don't have a system in place.

Building a mudroom not only creates a pretty entryway for your home, but it's a practical means of keeping winter's elements from trailing through the house. We consulted with Sabrina Soto, Target Style Expert for Home and host of HGTV's "Get it Sold," the popular show in which she uses her organizing and decorating expertise to stage homes for potential buyers.

Sabrina shares her tips below for how to makeover even the smallest space into a practical, inviting mudroom.

Organizing pro Sabrina Soto. Photo: HGTV

-- Any space will work: No matter the size, any entry can serve as a mud room as long as you assign everything a place to live and make the space comfortable and functional. "It's important to keep this space organized and tidy as it is the first part of your home that guests will see," says Sabrina.

-- Clear out your space and de-clutter: Before you start this project, it helps to clear out the entryway to define what space you have to work with and see what the limitations of the area are. Do a careful edit of what you need and what stuff has just landed there over time.

-- Build your mud room with the essentials: Carefully choose furniture that's the right scale for your space. A seating area and loads of storage bins for accessories are must-have tools for a mudroom. Sabrina suggests this entryway bench with built-in storage. The bench solves so many clutter problems in one storage piece.

-- Create a system and stick to it. Create enough storage space for every family member; color-coding is an easy way to organize bins for each family member. Don't over-clutter your mud room with furniture pieces that are too big or don't add function to the space.Maintain the mudroom to prevent it from becoming a catchall space.

ELEMENTS OF A MUDROOM
Here's a list of specific elements that Sabrina likes to pull into a mudroom. You can pick and choose which elements best suit your needs. Also, check out these stylish product picks, coutesy of the design minds over at ShelterPop!

Click over to ShelterPop for some fashion-forward mudroom product picks. Photos: from top left, clockwise: Etsy, Audio Video Furniture, Amazon, Pier 1 Imports, Anthropologie

-- Console table: A console table is a perfect landing spot for keys and provides a surface for a lamp, since mud rooms often need extra lighting to liven up the space. If you don't have space for a table, you could always substitute a floor or ceiling lamp and hooks for hanging keys.

-- Wall hooks: Simple, sturdy wall hooks keep umbrellas, coats, hats, bags, and even keys off the floor and within reach. Hooks offer the customization that each family member may need to keep them organized. Kid's hooks should be hung low so they can reach and help keep their belongings neat.

-- Mirror: A simple design trick in a small space is to hang a mirror at eye level, as mirrors give the illusion that a space is larger. Bonus: a mirror in your entry provides an easy spot to check your makeup as you head out the door.

-- Shelf with bins: No space for a bench? Maybe a shelf with bins for hats, gloves, and accessories is a better fit for your mud room.

-- Boot trays: Protect your floors from wet boots with a couple boot trays.

-- Door mat: Every entry needs a door mat to catch dirt before it comes in on your shoes.

-- Umbrella stand: You want a place for everything - your keys, mail, and umbrellas.

What's in your mudroom? Tell us in the comments below!

SEE ALSO:
Mudroom Ideas for a Small Space (ShelterPop)
HGTV Dream Home 2011: Mudroom Pictures (HGTV)
Mudroom Designs (Houzz)

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