DIY Life

Today's how-to video comes from Home Depot, and I love some of the tips shared in this helpful tutorial. Although I'm not a massive fan of sponge painting or glaze, I love the look of color blocks, argyle and stripes using just a bit of chalk and painter's tape. Check it out!:


My favorite decorative painting technique? Stripes on stripes. Choose your favorite shade of paint in both matte and hi-gloss and tape off some vertical stripes using painter's tape. Alternate between hi-gloss and matte paint for a beautiful effect that adds both dimension and drama to the room. The look works great in a home that may need a boost in architectural elements.

The possibilities are endless with a can of paint and a few tools, and paint is one of the fastest (and cheapest!) ways to transform a room. Get to work!

So, it's time to paint over that bold red in the kitchen that has become a bit... much over the years. But how do you choose the right paint color when there are dozens of different shades, all under the umbrella of what you and I would label to be nothing more than white?

Our AOL home decor expert Kelly Edwards suggests grabbing a sample of a paint swatch you like, painting a foamboard of poster board and affixing it to the wall you'd like to paint over for several days. You can see what your wall will look like in the morning light and evening dusk -- a change that can make or break a space.


Want more killer painting tips? View the above video for more tips on how you can choose the right paint for your room... every time. And don't worry if you mess up; you can always join our Messy Paint Mishaps gallery and bask in your disasterous fame!

Theodore Roosevelt once said: "The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything." Heartening words, my fellow DIY'ers. Because every man or woman who has ever wielded a paintbrush or screwdriver also knows the taste of failure. It's good to remember that those failures make us better at what we do.

Welcome to DIY Disasters, a brand new, very fun feature here at DIY Life. Join us each week as we explore the ways that DIY projects of all shapes and sizes can backfire! We're kicking off the series with my new photo gallery, "Messy Paint Mishaps."

Want to share your personal DIY Disaster stories? Send us a message and tell us all about it! We'd love to see your photos and/or video clips, too.

The first step of wallpaper removal: NEVER put it up to begin with.

Please. If you are thinking of moving out of your house in the next century some time, don't hang wallpaper. You might think that there is no way people won't love your paper, but trust me it is a guarantee that someone will hate it. Remember how stylish the dark background wallpaper with teeny tiny flowers was a decade or so ago, or the large striped paper with a 12" border around the ceiling that made the room look like a big hatbox, or the cows and ducks in pastels phase, which screams outdated like your parents avocado green appliances. Yeah, how many of the people who hung those wallpapers now regret it. Or to be more accurate, how many current owners of those houses regret it.

You don't want to be that previous owner. You know that one that is talked about at dinner parties and neighborhood gatherings. The previous owner with no skills and even less taste.

One day you will sell your house. And the new owner will be faced with your wallpapering decisions. They will wonder how you could have ever thought it was worthy of hanging on the wall. Then when they are removing it and it has adhered to the wall and tears the plaster off in chunks, they will curse you.

Is your home looking a little tired? Are you dreaming of doing some renovating, but lack the funds to do so? Well, you aren't alone. According to the latest research form Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, so far there is a 12.3% drop in 2009 spending on home improvement projects. This is a slight improvement over the 13.6% drop in 2008. But things aren't expected to get much better any time soon.

Most of us think of home improvements and imagine huge projects that cost buckets of money and lots of time. The truth is that most homes can benefit from smaller projects, from a little attention to detail that often gets neglected. Most often renovations are undertaken because we want our homes to look better and function better.

With this in mind, I've rounded up my favorite tips and tricks to easily improve our homes on a very limited budget:

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There's a lot of wooden objects that you just don't want to bring back indoors: patio furniture, picnic tables, planters, etc. One thing they have in common is the ability to stand up to wind, heat, and rain. You don't have to buy the expensive stuff, just make your own!

Water-repellent preservative recipe

As with any other time you mix various potentially hazardous or flammable materials, take precautions and ventilate the area properly. Mix together:

• 2 gal. Mineral spirits, Turpentine, or #1 or #2 fuel oil
• 5/8 qts. Boiled Linseed Oil
• 3/16 lb. Paraffin Wax
• 1 qt. Penta concentrate 10:1
• 1 to 3 fluid oz Color Pigment / gallon of the above mix
  

The paraffin must be melted in a double boiler; if you try to use a regular pan, fire is a very real possibility (keep an extinguisher close.) Let your concoction age overnight before applying it and stir it well; the pigments will settle.

1980s music and '80s-style skinny jeans have popped back into fashion of late. '80s-style home decor trends have most definitely not. So if you've recently purchased a home that retains an '80s interior, or if your old house needs a style makeover before going on the market, check out these tips from MSN Real Estate on how to de-'80s your home.

The fastest and most budget-friendly way to de-'80s a space, say MSN's style gurus, is to completely rid yourself of the dreaded "Miami Vice" color palette. The hues now considered waaay outdated are hunter green, salmon pink, gray, and teal. Next, upgrade your light fixtures, particularly anything with a shiny gold (fake brass) finish or anything involving etched glass.

Next, replace outdated bathroom medicine cabinets and faucets. If you don't have the time or budget to replace the entire medicine cabinet, at least pull the old one out and hang an attractive mirror over that spot. Next, upgrade the faucets at your kitchen sink. There. The whole house looks better already, doesn't it?

All homes have exterior surfaces that are designed to protect the home from the elements. There are many different types, but the two general ones are brick and siding. Some homes have a combination of the two.

If you're giving your home a face lift, you have choices. Let's talk about the many types of siding.

Cedar Siding for the Home

Western Red Cedar siding is the type most commonly used. It's a natural product, known for its beauty and durability. For energy efficiency, rigid foam sheathing may be applied prior to installing the siding. If this option is taken, kiln-dried cedar siding should be used, because of its stability.

Do you remember those scented markers that were on the market during the 70s and 80s? Everything smelled great except the black licorice marker... that was utterly vile. While I'm sure there are still scented markers available for purchase, why not try painting with Kool-Aid?

Jacki wrote about this fun project over on That's Fit. Have your kids outline a picture with markers, but don't color it in. Mix different colors of Kool-Aid in different cups -- use only two tablespoons of water for each packet. Using paintbrushes, let your kids color in their masterpiece with the Kool-Aid "paint."

After about 20 minutes the paintings should be dry. Your kids can lightly scratch the surface of their painting and enjoy the scented colors. Fruit makes a great subject for the paintings because, as one young Kool-Aid artist exclaimed, "the oranges really smell like oranges!"

I'm getting ready to re-paint the armoire in my son's room, to reflect his budding maturity at three-and-a-half years old. The stark white with the yellow star handles will become a taupe and navy masterpiece when the transformation is complete.

As I look around the house at all of the furniture I have painted, I notice one commonality: they all have newspaper stuck to the bottom, a casualty of the drying process.

Chica and Jo have a tip on how to keep painted items from sticking while drying, and I think it's a clever one. Simply use some push pins to elevate the drying item above the surface to act as "feet," eliminating the stick. Their example was for wooden letters to hang on a wall.

Now, I'm not sure if push pins would keep up a piece of furniture, but I bet a few narrow shims would do the trick. No more newspaper decorating the bottom of my masterpieces... it'll be a good look!

Are you replacing some rotten wood trim or about to trim out that new shed? Wait! You now have choices. Wood trim is great, but it requires routine maintenance to protect it from the elements. There are new materials on the market. You might want to take a look.

• Fiber cement: The most recognizable brand name is Hardi and they have a huge market share. This stock comes already primed so that step is eliminated. You'll need a special circular saw blade to cut it. Although they claim you can nail it like wood, in my experience it laughs at finish nails. Pre-drill holes for best results.
• Composite trim: This material is a blend of plastic resins and wood fiber. Not only is it weather resistant, it's cheaper than wood and holds paint better.
• PVC plastic trim: Yes, PVC isn't just for pipes. You'll pay more for this option than you would for wood, but it will outlive you.
  

Give these modern building materials a shot. You'll be glad you did when your neighbor is once again replacing rotten fascia board while you're lounging by the pool.

I love the look of outdoor terra cotta pots and planters: a little bit rustic with a European flair, yet simple to blend in with your landscaping and house style. Sometimes, though, I wonder about embellishing them a little with some paint, just for fun.

Can it be done in a way that the elements will not destroy all of my hard work? The Artistic Garden says yes, and it is simpler than I thought. All you need are water-based acrylic paints. Why didn't I think of that? Painting terra cotta pots with craft store acrylic paints is recommended, and the article suggests that you really do not need specially formulated patio paint at all.

I was delightfully surprised to see that no sealers or top coats are needed. Since the paints are about a dollar for a two-ounce bottle at craft stores and they dry in about an hour, I cannot think of an easier project. Now, to decide on my design....

If you are looking for other ideas on how to spruce up your outside pots and planters, try Diane's spray paint makeover for plastic pots and Francesca's flower pot fun with the kids, using stencils and sponges.

Most walls can benefit from a fresh coat of paint every few years. This is one project where you can make more work for yourself if you don't do your homework. Try these tips to paint like a pro!

• Use a 5 gallon bucket rather than a roller tray. There's less chance of spilling or putting your foot in it. It also allows you to mix more than one gallon together for larger jobs, guaranteeing an overall identical shade. Hang a roller screen in the bucket. They're cheap.
  
• Use the edge of a screwdriver blade to scrape off a tiny path of ceiling texture at the ceiling/wall junction. This will give you a crisp line when you cut in the top of the wall or the edge of the ceiling.
• Sanding chair rail or crown molding? Use sanding sponges rather than sandpaper. Conform to the curve!
• When you're rolling paint, be sure to hold the pole so that the open side of the roller (not the side where the handle connects to the roller) is, on the wet paint side of the wall. This will minimize "roller marks" and can cut your labor by 30%!
• Make sure to use high-quality blue painter's tape, not masking tape. Or, you'll be sorry.
• Wear safety glasses when rolling the ceiling. Splatter happens.
• When buying white paint for the ceiling, seek out the special paint that contains a disappearing dye. This will prevent missing a spot which you only notice after the paint has dried. Who wants to drag out the painting gear all over again?
  

Using these tip will make your painting experience less painful and more enjoyable. And faster!

Rust never sleeps, they say. The longer you leave exposed, rusting pipes untreated in your yard...well, you are ruining your pipes as they are eaten away by the elements. Rusty pipes, such as those leading to a gas meter, also make a house look a bit shabby and unloved. Let's take a look at how to deal with rusty pipes on your home's exterior. Spring is the perfect time to tackle this project!

Step 1. Select your paint
Go with a good brand like Rust-Oleum. By the way, Rust-Oleum has a fabulous website with lots of helpful advice for beginners. The company even has a special section on best products for really rusty surfaces. I recommend you check it out before heading to the paint store.

You will want to use an oil-based enamel paint. Oil-based paints are sticky and are not water-soluble. This makes application and cleanup a little tougher, but it's so worth it because oil-based paints are made to last. You have a choice between brush-on paint or spray paint. Personally, I prefer the traditional brush-on kind. On the other hand, spray paints mean no messy brushes to clean up when you're done!

This paint swatch weaving project is attractive, simple, and best of all, super thrifty. Head down to your local paint store and pick up a bunch of paint swatches. If you're like me, and have a hard time envisioning how things will look when they come together, take a tip from the pros, and follow their suggested color themes. Choose something that complements or contrasts with the current color palette in your room.

Basically, all you have to do is cut the swatches into strips, lay your base, weave it, and glue the back with rubber cement. Add some bold focal points, maybe with a color drawn from the accessories in your room or your focal wall. Framing the woven swatches can take on a variety of forms, depending on the look you're going for. A bold wooden frame would add dramatic impact, where a thin basic frame gives an understated impression.

This would also make a great project for children. You might want to ask the paint store if they have leftover swatches from discontinued colors.

The cool thing about creating paint swatch art projects is that you get the exact colors you're looking for, instead of settling for something that doesn't quite match your current decor. Have you created any other projects with paint swatches?