DIY Life

Make a candygram to show you care. Place a message inside a shallow box and fill with a single layer of colorful gumballs. Sweet. – Inchmark

See Owlsorts' spooky mantelpieces all decked out for Halloween. Check out the cute Halloween wind spinners, too! – Owlsorts

Colorfully painted glass jars become light-hearted Halloween luminaries. Just add happy or sad Jack-o-lantern faces. – Crafts by Amanda via The Crafty Crow

IKEA is good for a lot of things, yes, and my college dorm room would have been ridiculously bare without the extra help from my Swedish furnishers. Yet now that I'm older (and hopefully wiser!), the Billy bookcase just doesn't do it for me. I've seen it lined with gift wrap, wallpaper, and covered with cabinet doors, but I can always spot a Billy from a mile away.

Until Ali Mode's creation, of course. By taking plaster columns and crown molding to her traditional Billy bookcases, she's created a glamorous and customized look that will take any space to the next level. And with a mounted swinging arm lamp? A complete makeover done in a day.

Check out Ali's tutorial from our friends at ShelterPop, and if you're looking for a few good reads to line your newly glamorous bookcases, check out a few of DIYLife's book reviews right here and here.

IKEA is good for a lot of things, yes, and my college dorm room would have been ridiculously bare without the extra help from my Swedish furnishers. Yet now that I'm older (and hopefully wiser!), the Billy bookcase just doesn't do it for me. I've seen it lined with , , and , but I can always spot a Billy from a mile away.Until creation, of course. By taking plaster columns and crown molding to her traditional Billy bookcases, she's created a glamorous and customized look that will take any space to the next level. And with a mounted swinging arm lamp? A complete makeover done in a day.Check out Ali's tutorial from our friends at , and if you're looking for a few good reads to line your newly glamorous bookcases, check out a few of DIYLife's book reviews right and .

We all know people who can no longer fit their car into their garage. Perhaps we are even among them. (Hey, I just moved, okay? And we downsized dramatically! And there are no basements! And, and, and... I'll take my own advice soon, I swear!) The garage has become a repository for all the stuff that they have nowhere to store. Look around your neighborhood, I am willing to bet that most people are using at least one of their garages for storage.

Did you know that Americans are renting storage units to store all of the stuff that won't fit into their houses? According to this article "self-storage units cover 72 square miles, the area of Manhattan and San Francisco combined." That's a whole lot of people storing a whole lot of stuff, that frankly they probably do not need.

My take on the self storage phenomenon for the average suburban American? Get rid of it. Make decisions about what you really use and need, then get rid of the rest. If it isn't useful or making your life better in some way, then you do not need it. The problem that most people have is that they do not organize their stuff and therefore they cannot find it when they need it.

Dive right in and decorate your new rental. The sooner you start, the sooner it will feel like home. If you're beginning college this fall, now's a great time to hunt for dorm room decor. Whatever your space, remember you're not alone: Most home buyers are choosing pre-owned, and face the exact same make-it-mine challenges as you do!

1. Curtains are key for making a place feel like home. Sheer window panels are affordable and come in many gorgeous designs. Budget tip: Chunky curtain rings make window treatments really pop. Skimp with budget-priced curtain rods then splurge a little with eye-catching curtain rings such as bamboo hoops.

2. Rugs really anchor a room. It's OK if you're on a tight budget: Small rugs work surprisingly well, too. Opt for a small living room rug and position a coffee table on top of it. Similarly, a small throw rug next to the bed is a heck of a lot cheaper than a full-size area rug, but still makes the room feel cozy.

There truly is something for everyone in this world. I would never have thought to combine kitchen storage with geeky computer stuff, but this idea is well worth crossing the two. After thinking it over, it makes perfect sense to store your server in your extra bread bin.

The tutorial for this project is quite clever -- and clear enough for even the most challenged of DIYers. A bread bin is just about the perfect size for a server, and the material is easily cut to fit cords and the like. Once the server is safely tucked in its new home it can live there relatively dust free and out of harm's way.

When I look at a piece of unfinished Ikea furniture, I see yet another project to add to my list. But when an Ikea hacker looks at a piece, they see a blank canvas just waiting to be filled.

Ikea hackers view purchased pieces as "raw material" or the base of their creation. Ikea is known for its inexpensive furniture and boasts a simple style, perfect for modifying.

For instance, one artist used two Ikea snack boxes to make a rolling litter box, while others turn lamps into wall sconces. The whole idea, say Ikea hackers, is to "upcycle" or lift the piece out of its typical, mass-manufactured self and create something better.

If it sounds like fun to you, check out the Ikea Hackers blog and find yourself some inspiration.

I love IKEA: I can spend my days looking and drooling at all the wonderful products that I could have shipped to my home. My husband is incredibly thankful that I am not a big spender, because I really could have IKEA packages delivered to my door every day.

If I did go on a shopping spree for IKEA products, one of the items I would buy would be this awesome GRUNDTAL towel rail, primarily made for the bathroom. It is inexpensive and can be easily hacked into something else, namely a spice and condiment stand.

Instructables user Frootloose used the Grundtal towel rail, attached a piece of openwork steel to it, added a few hooks to hang necessary kitchen utensils, and affixed it to his kitchen wall. The towel rail happened to be just the right size, shape, and length for what he needed.

With my tiny kitchen, I am very appreciative of Frootloose's hack. I have one space on my wall that is just begging for this shelf, and it will free up some clutter in my cabinets. What do you think you could use the Grundtal towel rail for?

[via: Curbly]

I love the DIY projects Derek and Lauren do on Wednesdays over at Design*Sponge. They are vacationing in Hawaii this week, but still had time to post about a great shelf makeover project straight from their friends' kitchen.

You can spruce up your Ikea shelves too, simply by covering them with woven grass cloth, or fabric of your choice, paper, or vinyl, and then applying a coat of wood stain. You'll need to follow the directions carefully, being sure that you don't staple your fingers in the process. Make sure to wear gloves, too, otherwise you'll have a hard time getting the stain off your hands.

Ikea products can be boring, so the shelf makeover is something I definitely need to try. For more Ikea makeovers posted on DIY Life, be sure to check out Francesca's Ikea bike rack hack.

So another weekend has rolled around. Here I am, at my computer, goofing off diligently planning my weekend house projects. What should I stumble upon, but this very funny clip on You Tube. The video was taken from Australian comedy show The Chaser's War on Everything. In it, a couple of guys play a cheeky stunt on local Ikea store employees: they intentionally assemble some Ikea furniture ridiculously badly, then take each item back and request refunds. Return items include a futon/bookshelf/side table combination. It's pretty funny watching the employees being all nice and polite about it.


According to Wikipedia entries about the show, The Chaser's War on Everything is the creation of a bunch of Aussie comedians. Apparently, they've gotten themselves into some hot water over the stunts they've pulled...stunts that make the Ikea gag look like child's play. Most notably, the team managed to breach tight security at the 2007 APEC meeting in Sydney by cruising through checkpoints in a totally fake motorcade. Once inside the security zone, cast member Chas Licciardello, exited one of the vehicles dressed as Osama bin Laden...and was promptly arrested. Norty, norty!

To me, this looks more like a dancer's pole than a bike rack, but regardless of the kind of rack this pole is supporting, it's an impressive hack. Bike storage is an issue for many people with small spaces. This sleek design allows you to stack two bikes on top of each other, taking up very little room.

This innovative solution is just another example of the tremendous flexibility of IKEA parts and products. Here's what you need to put the bike rack together:

• One Stolmen post
• Two brackets
• Two hooks
• Screws
• Aluminum 20X20 pipe
• Rubber foam

IKEA hacker has all the assembly instructions. The whole thing will cost about $40. Pick up these few things from IKEA, spend a bit of time assembling the rack and stop tripping over your bikes for good.

[via: Lifehacker]

When the Swedish furniture company, IKEA , opened up in New Jersey it was like a celebration for me. Not only could I shop for inexpensive projects to put together, but I felt like my house (and my husband's office) was about to get a whole lot more efficient and good-looking, just like the IKEA catalog promised it would.

Has it? Well, not exactly!

Most everything at IKEA has a slightly modern appeal ... and my house is far from modern. Basically, only my husbands office has benefited. To fit in my house, I needed ideas on how to give their modern pieces more character allowing it to conform to my style ... and just when I thought it was a lost cause, I found Ikea Hacker, a blog devoted to the clever creations people come up with using raw materials gathered at Ikea. Now, the opportunities for DIY projects are endless.

Have you ever left IKEA wondering where you're going to fit all the fabulous things you just bought? Well, they've gone ahead and taken care of that for you too. IKEA just sold their first ever flat-pack houses. The first 60 timber framed houses were released at one of their UK stores yesterday.

The average person in the UK needs a mortgage 5 times their annual salary to enter the housing market. I know most Canadian cities are just as restrictive and I don't believe things are any different in the US either. The houses are very affordable and designed specifically for average income families (there is an income cap).

These houses have been named the BoKlok series, which translates literally to Live Smart. IKEA stays true to their smart use of space and clean design. They are all equipped with IKEA kitchens, bathrooms and wood floors. You can't do all the work yourself, the developer will have to put it up, but that will leave you with time to assemble all the IKEA furniture you buy with the gift certificate they give you for housewarming!

What will they come up with next?!

[via Digg]

During our kitchen renovation last year, I drooled over glossy magazine pics of sleek stainless steel backsplashes. Yes, stainless looks fabulous, but a real-deal stainless backsplash was out of the question for budgetary reasons. Here's how I got the look without the expense: I found a magnetic noticeboard at Ikea that does the job admirably. Total cost: about $5. The one I got is made of thin, rolled steel painted a glossy grey that blends in nicely with our stainless steel kitchen appliances.

The particular one I used is no longer available, but Ikea does have one called IMPERATIV that's a very reasonable $18 for a 30 x 24-inch-sheet or $20 for a 37 x 15-inch-sheet. The Container Store has one that's 15 x 21-inches for $34.99. Can you say: Very Thrifty?! Okay, okay, so it's not as good as a real stainless backsplash cut for a custom fit. But it's affordable, easy to clean and durable. Best of all, you can install it all on your own, assuming you're confident drilling holes. Voila! No installation fees required.

Unless you're one of the lucky ones sporting limited edition designer dresses this summer, then you're probably like me; trying to make the best of some seasonal favorites from the typical mall retailers. You may even be one of the few who are flattered by these trendy colors and fits. If you are then you're off to enjoy the sunshine feeling pretty fabulous; until you spot that same dress on three other people in the same afternoon.

Suddenly you're not feeling so fashionable. Melissa over at fehr TRADE offers an inventive solution with her resourceful use of untraditional material paired with classic patterns. Melissa looks stunning in the shots pictured here of her shower curtain dress. Next time you see some interesting fabric on a pillowcase or tablecloth, consider crafting a whole new piece. Melissa inspires us to look at fabrics through an inventive lens and opens up a whole new world of do it yourself Haute Couture. For those of us not quite brave enough to try the shower curtain dress with intricate pink piping and waist band details, why not make a cool new headband or a stylish belt to spice up an old favorite?