Bring color into your home with easy DIY color projects.

Color is more than just a way to add visual interest. Adding color can make your home cozier, help you start your day feeling invigorated, and provide that warm feeling of a safe haven when you return from work in the evening.

Bringing color into your home is also a way to show off your personality and your personal style. Get creative and inspired to take on some easy DIY color projects to brighten your home.

DIY Color Projects

1. Colorful Table Linens

Turn plain cotton napkins, runners, and/or table cloths into colorful coverings. Use fabric paints to create color-filled color sprays, repeat patterns, polka dots, or other colorful designs.

2. Painted/Decoupaged Bookshelves

Add color to plain bookshelves by painting the backs and/or the fronts of shelving units. You can also mix and match decoupaging with colorful papers to add color and pattern.

3. Tie-Dye Pillows

One super easy way to get colorful pillows is to buy plain white pillows and tie-dye them. Instead of adding multiple colors on each pillow, tie-dye individual pillows different colors for a modern  look.

4. Dipped Dyed Lampshades

Bring faded lampshades back to life by dip dying them. Dip dying is both simple to do and completely on trend. Choose one color and dye all the lampshades in a room, or go for it and use a different color for each shade.

5. All the Trimmings Curtains

Add fun fabric trims to plain curtains for instant color. Make a visit to the fabric store to get inspired by everything from pom pom trims, tassels and fringe, embroidered jacquard ribbon, and more. Don’t worry if you can’t sew–a little fabric glue will do the trick.

6. Splash Art

Turn a plain piece of canvas into a colorful work of art–and painting skills are not required! Anyone can drizzle, splash, or spray using colorful acrylic paints to create an abstract work of art.

7. Ombre T-shirt Rug

Score some overachiever DIY points by repurposing t-shirts to make an ombre t-shirt rug. Dye old t-shirts using shades of your favorite color from light to dark. Once the t-shirts are dry, cut them into strips and follow this tutorial for making a rag t-shirt rug.

Related on EcoSalon

7 Stunning Watercolor Effect Ideas for Painting Up Your Space
7 Sure Fire Ways to Make a Statement with Neutral Colors
12 DIY Home Projects On the Cheap to Make Your Space Look More Expensive

The post 7 Inexpensive DIY Color Projects to Brighten Your Space appeared first on EcoSalon.

The trees are bursting, the birds are tweeting, and it’s staying light longer, all of which means spring is in the air and it’s time to get inspired by some clever repurposing DIY projects.

Whether for inside or out, repurposing everyday objects is both fun and practical. And springtime is the perfect time to work on projects for outdoor spaces–like for the front porch, patio, or deck–and to work on projects for the inside that repurpose things that might have had another life outside. Get your hands dirty and spruce up your space with these easy DIY projects..

9 Springtime Repurposing DIY Ideas

1. Garden Chimes – Turn everyday items into a back porch, patio, or garden chimes. Turn on your creativity. Use a large embroidery hoop or bend a wire hanger into a circular shape for a frame. Add everything from old spoons, broken pieces of pottery, old keys, sea glass, or what have you.

2. Dip-Dyed Herb Garden – Lots of household recyclables or other objects can be repurposed into indoor or outdoor planters–everything from jars and cans to old dresser drawers or baskets. Dip-dye for added color and design aesthetic.

3. Kitchen Cart Outdoor Bar – Come across an old kitchen or microwave cart at a yard sale? One of our favorite DIY ideas is to turn that cart into a patio or deck bar cart for your next outdoor gathering.

4. Step Stool Indoor Planter – By the same token, if you find an old step stool, then paint it up and turn it into a functional plant holder for the living room.

5. Bucket Base Coffee Table – Those galvanized buckets, that you probably have three of in the garage, can be neatly repurposed into a handy and smart coffee table. Here’s a tutorial for the how-to.

6. Gutter Planters – Replacing your gutters? Use the old ones as handy planters outside.

7. Tee Shirt Rugs – To keep the dirt at bay as you come and go from the outside, repurpose old tee shirts into fun tee shirt throw rugs. They can even be used for your outdoor spaces as well.

8. Tire Ottoman – Upcycle an old car tire, for the ultimate repurpose project, into a fabric-covered ottoman for your indoor or outdoor living space. Here is a handy tutorial.

9. Shutter Headboard – Bring the outside in by repurposing old shutters as a practical headboard. Add bright paint and a string lights to make it extra fun!

Related on EcoSalon

10 (Almost) Instantly Gratifying Outdoor DIY Projects to Try for Spring
25 Awesome DIY Projects Made From Nature
9 Down-to-Earth Natural DIY Decorating Ideas

The post 9 DIY Spring Repurposing Project for Inside and Outside Your House appeared first on EcoSalon.

Like the idea of painted old wood furniture or adding paint to your other DIY projects, but don’t like the idea of using toxic VOC-filled paints?

Consider milk paint instead. That’s right. Milk. Paint. Milk paints are water-based paints that are made from milk and lime with added pigments. It’s been around for thousands of years and was even used by early humans to create cave paintings and other decorative objects. Many people most likely associate the paint finish with colonial-era furniture and finishes. The advent of petrochemicals saw the rise of oil-based and acrylic paints, but milk-based paints are again gaining in popularity for those looking to avoid VOC-laden paints that are also difficult to dispose of safely.

While it is possible to make your own homemade milk based paint, if you are so inclined, it’s also possible (and way easier) to purchase it if you are looking for a more consistent product, or need to cover a larger area. Buyer beware, though, some suppliers sell paint that creates a milk-like paint effect, but which still contain VOC-producing chemicals. Both Real Milk Paint Company and Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint are both non-toxic and contain no VOCs.

Milk-based paints, which generally produces a delicious saturated matte effect, come in powdered form and must be mixed with water before use. But don’t let this necessary step deter you. The process is actually pretty simple as demonstrated by Dwayne Siever, founder of Real Milk Paint Company, in this video tutorial.

The paint works well for both furniture refinishing projects as well as on walls. There are special considerations when painting on walls, like whether you are painting directly on drywall or not, the type of joint compound used, and more. It’s probably best to do some research first before deciding to tackle painting your walls with the paint.

Milk-based paint is definitely ideal for DIY furniture projects of all kinds. From creating a Union Jack buffet to painting up a child’s dollhouse with a safe non-toxic alternative, the Internet is awash in inspiration. Here are a few of our favorite DIY projects to get your creativity working overtime.

Milk Paint Projects

1. Milk Paint Kitchen Cabinets
2. Distressed Dresser Layered Milk Paint
3. Plank Wall with Milk-Based Paint
4. Milk Paint Piano
5. Two Toned Dresser

Related on EcoSalon

7 Simple Rules for Picking Wall Paint Colors
Try These 3 Low VOC Interior Paint Brands for Your Next Fall Project
Is Plywood a Sustainable and Elevated Design Material?

Milk Paint Colors Image via Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint

The post Non-Toxic DIYing with Milk Paint? appeared first on EcoSalon.

This summer bring a bit of the outdoors inside with one – or eleven – of our natural DIY crafts.

Have you been searching for some fresh DIY crafts to fill your summer weekends with? Then look no further because we’ve got you covered with some of the prettiest home decor revamps.

Although each project differs from the other, the running theme throughout is the use of at least one natural material. Whether it’s reliable wood, sleek stone, earthy jute, or glamorous agate, there are crafts here to suit a variety of skill levels and personal tastes. Each idea has an associated tutorial, which can be found linked in the header, so you can follow along and easily make these yourself.

1. River Rock Boot Tray

This is the perfect place to park wet rain boots or muddy shoes this summer. Simple and beautiful, this project can be more involved by creating a custom tray, or extremely fast by using a premade waterproof base like a rubber mat with a lip or plastic serving tray and filling with natural river rocks.

2. Geode Cabinet Knobs

This DIY is so glamorous and impactful, yet so simple and straightforward. Find a few of your favorite pieces of geode chunks or agate slices and adhere them to blank knob or pull bases and affix to your furniture.

3. Seashell Soap Dish

A great beachy addition to any bathroom is this seashell soap dish. With a large shell as the soap tray and a small one as the base, glue and patience is all you really need to complete this project. Once dry, pop in your favorite bar of soap and admire your craftiness every time you wash your hands.

4. Braided Jute Basket

This braided jute basket DIY requires some sewing skills and a sewing machine, but the outcome is really lovely. The instructions walk you through the process and the finished product would be the perfect vessel for carrying fresh flowers and other odds and ends.

5. Crystal Necklace Display

With just some craft wood, paint, glue, wall adhesive, and a selection of raw crystals you’ll have a beautiful necklace display, or three, to hang on your wall this summer. The best part is that it’s really as simple to assemble as it looks.

6. Burlap Pillow Covers

This one requires sewing skills, or some Heat’n Bond (shhhh, we won’t tell if you don’t), along with burlap, loose stuffing or a pillow insert, and a contrasting strip of fabric. If you’re not into the tan tone of the burlap, then paint it white first and choose a black and white geo print to make this pillow more modern.

7. Seashell Candles

Turn your treasures into a beautiful reminder of your seaside jaunts with shell candles. These would look great as part of a beach inspired tablescape and the easy to follow tutorial will tell you exactly how to execute.

8. Stone Door Mat

This is a project that has a really chic, rich looking outcome with just a few simple materials. Another plus is that it can be used as a front door mat or as a shower mat. If you plan on getting it wet, then choose a base that has holes in it for drainage or poke some in it yourself.

9. Jute Cord Camouflage

Ah, finally a solution for those awkwardly placed outlets causing your lamp cords to cut all kinds of crazy across the room. This tutorial shows you how to camouflage those unsightly strands with some hot glue and some jute twine.

10. Balsa Wood Lampshade

One of the coolest projects I’ve seen lately is this modern and natural unfinished balsa wood lampshade revamp. It’s another quick and easy DIY that has major impact. I especially love this blogger’s finished shade against her navy blue walls.

11. Wine Cork Bath Mat

Calling all wine drinkers! This easy DIY is simple, but requires around 175 corks, according to the blogger who shared this tutorial, so if you’ve got the materials, then you can also have a really nifty cork bath mat.

Are there any projects from our list that you’re excited to try? Share your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

Related on EcoSalon

Have a Seat in Style with this Eco-Friendly Furniture

7 Tips for Summer Yard Sale and Flea Market Shopping Success

7 Ridiculously Awesome Recycled Art Projects You Can Easily Do Yourself

Image of Craft Supplies via Shutterstock

The post 11 Decorative DIY Crafts Using Natural Materials appeared first on EcoSalon.

Bring form and function together with DIY bookends you make yourself.

Bookends are a dual purpose home decor item. They are really quite helpful in holding up books, and they can also add a little pizzazz to otherwise plain bookshelves. You can even use them to create little vignettes on your coffee table or mantle. And they don’t have to cost a lot of money either–especially if you make your own DIY bookends.

Need a little inspiration? Read on for some easy ideas for how to make your own DIY bookends using stuff you might already have in your home.

7 Simple Projects for Making DIY Bookends

1. DIY Terrarium Bookends – Turn mason jars, or other glass jars, into living, breathing bookends and also add a little greenery to your space. Making your own terrarium is super simple, just follow the steps in this easy terrarium tutorial.

2. DIY Brick Bookends – Regular paving bricks are versatile and very functional bookends–they can even support heavier coffee style books. The bricks can be covered using fabric or paper, painted, stenciled or left natural for simplicity’s sake. The pictured ones are decorated with painted pop art designs. Image: FancyBrick

3. DIY Concrete Bookends – If you are looking for another study alternative, try making concrete ends to support your stacks. Here is an easy tutorial for making concrete bookends utilizing a plastic mold and added felt dots to protect the shelf. Image: mhoch3design

4. DIY Beanbag Bookends – Believe it or not those beanbags you learned how to make in camp can actually come in handy for holding up your books. If you don’t remember exactly how it’s done, here’s a simple how-to. These would be ideal for a kid’s room. Image: ColoringTheirWorld

5, DIY Thrift Store Knick Knacks – Turn fun and funky thrift store finds into functional bookends by mounting them to blocks of wood and spraypainting them. Use a monochromatic palette or get crazy and alternate the colors. Image: robinseggvintageNC

6. DIY Diorama Bookends – If you are a nature lover, consider making your own diorama bookends inspired by some of your favorite natural places. Here’s a fun tutorial that shares one technique for making dioramas. Image: heidis bridge

7. DIY Pipe Industrial Bookends – Have leftover metal or PVC pipe from a plumbing project? Repurpose it into bookends for both form and function’s sake. Here is a tutorial for a project that shows one technique for the how-to. Image: TheCleverRaven

Related on EcoSalon

7 Unique Bookends to Spruce Up a Drab Bookshelf

Be Still Our Book-Hoarding, Architecture-Loving Hearts!

13 Brilliant Staircase Ideas to Give Your Stairs a Step Up

Image: LuxeWoodworks

The post 7 Cool Ideas for DIY Bookends You Can Make appeared first on EcoSalon.

As a long time maker and lover of nature, I often find myself making art and nature crafts from treasures I find in the wild. The flotsam and jetsam of my backyard are some of most inspiring mediums to me. Pieces of bark, dried leaves, fresh mosh, stones, acorns, dried herbs, and more all call out to incorporate them into DIY and arts and crafts ideas.

Inspired by my own desire to create and companies, sites and individuals like Spiritual Kindling, Juniper Ridge, Margaret of Resurrection Fern, John Muir and so many others, I put together a list of nature-inspired DIY arts and crafts ideas that you can create to add your own brand of nature, design and spirituality to your space.

15 Ideas for Nature Crafts 

1. Painted Pebbles – Decorate your stone collection with a paint or a sharpie.
2. Kindling Wall Hanging – Turn kindling into a spiritual and decorative wall hanging.
3. Tabletop Biosphere – Make and tame your own mini biosphere for a taste of nature indoors.
4. Branch Candelabra – Decorate your next dinner party with some wild abandon.
5. Rainbow Painted Stick Wind Chimes – Create a visual and auditory homage to nature.
6. Painted Stick Love – Turn sticks into a lovely work of art to show that love is all that matters.
7. Painted Stick Mobile – Let your creativity drive you to create a painted stick mobile.
8. Stick Stars – Turn brush into celestial art to decorate your own starry night.
9. Branch and Textile Mobile – Use a branch, yarn and other textiles that speak to you into a hanging mobile.
10. Evergreen Paintbrushes – What a clever idea–use evergreen cuttings as paintbrushes for your next painting project.
11. Branch Weaving – Branches can be used as a loom to create colorful textiles.
12. Branch Wall Art/Room Divider – A practical and decorative natural touch.
13. Flower Petal Sketches – Use flower petals in your next sketches for the ultimate in creativity.
14. Hanging Dried Flower Art – Create a hanging “garden” with dried flowers.
15. Garden Mandalas – Turn leaves, flowers and other natural bits into decorative mandalas.

Related on EcoSalon

5 Natural Perfumes That Actually Smell Great

25 Awesome DIY Projects Made From Nature

15 Simple Ideas to Add Texture with Rustic Home Decor

Dried flowers image via Shutterstock

The post 15 Ideas for Spiritual Kindling and Other Nature Crafts appeared first on EcoSalon.

Use nature to decorate your space with these gorgeous DIY projects.

Spring is an amazing time of year to combine two of my favorite things–nature and DIY.  My husband and I like to take walks at the local nature reserve near our home. We also like to garden and spend time out in our yard. I always pick up little items from my time in the yard and at the park–it’s a habit from childhood. I do it almost absentmindedly. When I come inside from being out in nature, I discover I’ve got quite a collection of natural souvenirs. These souvenirs might include a mini-pinecone, a gingko leaf and a bit of fern leaf in my pockets. Since I’m also a pretty crafty person, I often try to come up with clever DIY projects for which I can use these natural treasures to decorate my home.

There is something about nature that inspires my creative side and using natural objects as a medium in my DIY projects seems like a no-brainer for me. From the simple to the more complex, using some of my natural discoveries in DIY projects to decorate my home is a way to create a warm and inviting space and document some of my favorite outdoor adventures. You can get in on the fun too with these DIY projects. Use them as inspiration or follow the tutorials instruction by instruction to bring nature into your home.

From the backyard to your more far flung nature adventures, collect, preserve and incorporate nature into your home decor.

25 Made-from-Nature DIY Projects for Your Home

1. Indoor Succulent Gardens
2. Branch Candle Holders
3. Crochet Covered Stones
4. Painted Stick Wall Art
5. Dried Flower Garland
6. Tabletop Biosphere
7. DIY Log Slice with Vase
8. Tree Stump End Table
9. Leaf Painted Wall Art
10. 6 Ways to Decorate with Rocks
11. Lighted Branches Wall Art
12. Painted Fall Leaves
13. Tree Branch Curtain Rod
14. Pinecone Flowers
15. Branch Weaving
16. Moss Terrarium
17. Bark Owls
18. Natural Branch Coasters
19. DIY Wood Texture Stamps
20. Seashell Beeswax Candles
21. DIY Veggie Stamps
22. DIY Dreamcatcher
23. Twig Coat Rack
24. Living Moss Coffee Table Idea
25. Spring Nature Frame

Related on EcoSalon

10 Free Objects From Nature to Decorate Your Home

Gorgeous Watercolor DIY Home Decor Ideas

Backyard Designs for Magical Outdoor Living

Image: CountryChapel

The post 25 Awesome DIY Projects Made From Nature appeared first on EcoSalon.

Read on for clever tricks and ideas you can incorporate to add more organization and style to your home office. 

Whether you have a dedicated home office you use for work, or a space for taking care bills and other household business, it’s probably a given that your office is the one area in your home you aren’t so proud to show off. If you are like most folks, your office is filled with rejected furniture items, stacks in need of filing and an overflowing paper recycling bin. It’s not pretty, but you view it as a utilitarian space, so you don’t sweat it.

But it doesn’t need to be that way. With a little inspiration, planning and effort it is possible to transform your home office into a space that you actually enjoy. You might even keep the door open when guests come over.

These home office hacks will help you get more organized and do so in a way that adds a bit of style as well.

7 Clever Home Office Hacks to Transform Your Space

1. Art Deco Desk – Add style to a boring old desk with this hack that turns an Ikea desk into a chic art deco workstation.
2. Clip-on Desk Organizers – In need of more storage space on your desk to keep everything at hand? Make your own clip-on organizers from grip clips and old coffee or soup cans.
3. Color-Blocked Bulletin Board – Add some style to your display/reminder board by adding some color. We all need a space to keep reminder notes, but it doesn’t have to be a drab bulletin board.
4. Bookshelf Work Station – Don’t have the luxury of a room for your office, consider converting a bookshelf into a home office work station.
5. Chalkboard Wall – Forget post-it notes! Instead paint a wall with chalkboard paint to keep track of when bills or due or when that project is due.
6. Hanging Storage – Create more organizational space with this project that uses magazine files and a wall shelf to create additional space to organize your paper.
7. Fabric Corkboard – Add fabric covered cork board squares above your desk to add functionality and color and pattern.

Related on EcoSalon

9 Functional Home Office Ideas for Small Spaces

5 Ideas to Declutter Your Home and Maximize Space

7 Clever Space Saving Ideas: Big Dreams, Small Spaces

Top Image: iamronna

The post 7 Home Office Hacks To Add Order and Style to Your Workplace appeared first on EcoSalon.

Turn your old bras into awesome new accessories and garments with these fun and easy DIY projects.

Don’t throw away your old bras just yet – you may find that one of these 5 amazing DIY projects is the perfect solution for your faded, torn or broken bra. Whether all you can salvage are the straps, or maybe you just want to vamp a boring bra into a chic bralette, these projects are the ticket to keeping your old bra from going in the bin.

1. Upcycled Bra Strap Headband from Spincushion Those strappy headbands that look so simple but elegant can easily be made from an old bra strap, and even embellished with a fabric flower or some vintage buttons. Use plain straps for a clean and preppy look, and printed ones for a more stylish touch.

2. DIY Bralette Top from Chictopia Got an nice bra that  you don’t really wear that often but can’t bear to throw away? Or maybe one of your bras has lost its straps but you can’t really wear it without them. Well this bralette top is the perfect feminine addition to your Spring/Summer ’14 wardrobe  and can be customized for your personal style.

3. Scented Bra Pouch from Craftbits A simple and cute way to recycle your bras is by turning them into a little potpourri pouch for your lingerie drawer. Just choose your scent of choice and turn your old bra into a sweet, little pouch.

4. Bra to Bathing Suit DIY from Tasha Delrae Finding the perfect bikini top can sometimes become a challenge – if only you could find one that fits as perfectly as your favorite bra! This DIY tutorial will teach you how to do that in your bathing suit fabric of choice. Make a pair of bottoms to match too!

5. DIY Adjustable Bra Strap Bracelet from [a few good things] Another super cute way to upcycle your bra straps is by turning them into a simple but classy bracelet. Personalize yours with a bead or embroidery. These are a wonderful gift, and one that no one would ever guess came from a recycled undergarment!

Related on EcoSalon

11 DIY Jewelry Projects for $20 or (Way) Less

DIY 10 Things to Do with An Old T-Shirt

Smart Style For Bookworms and Sexy Librarians: On Trend

Images: Spincushion, Chictopia, Craftbits, Tasha Delrae, [a few good things]

The post 5 Awesome DIY Projects to Upcycle and Recycle Bras appeared first on EcoSalon.

The DIY patchwork sweater trend is still going strong, and you can work it with these 4 DIY projects.

Stay warm this winter season in cute and comfy patchwork sweaters by transforming ugly and outdated knitwear into trendy pullovers, cardigans and capes.These 4 DIY projects range from simple to more advanced, each one offering step-by-step instructions for patching your sweater together. Rummage through grandma’s fabric scraps and grandpa’s ancient sweater collection or hit your closest thrift store to find materials for this awesome holiday fashion project.

1. This Revamped DIY sweater from Sincerely Kinsey turns a plain old sweater into a cute and customized cover-up that you can adorn with your favorite colors and patterns. We love the diamond and arrow pattern, which adds a feminine touch to the classic boyfriend cardigan.

2. These trendy DIY Lightning Knit Sweater Dresses from Outsapop are edgy, quirky and such an amazing way to upcycle sweaters! Choose 3 sweaters with similar color palettes and one sweater in a contrasting color for the lightning bolt. Make it as a short sweater or dress version!

3. Stylish and so perfect for winter weather, this DIY patchwork sweater cape also from Outsapop is a little more advanced and time consuming, but so worth it, in our opinion. To take on this “trashion” project you’ll need about 10 wool sweaters of the same thickness and something to make your pattern with. Snuggle up in it on your couch or don it as your top layer for twirling around on the ice skating rink!

4. Have a boring sweater that you want to primp up without cutting it all up? Brit + Co.’s DIY sweater tutorial will teach you how to sew super cute elbow patches to add some flair to your old sweaters. Go preppy with plaid patches, romantic with floral patterns, or get an edgier look with leather patches.

Images: Outsapop, Sincerely Kinsey, Brit + Co.

Related on EcoSalon:
Operation Old Sweater: 10 Great DIY Rescues
7 Beautiful, Comfy and Eco-Friendly Sweaters

The post 4 DIY Projects Channeling the Patchwork Sweater Trend…Just in Time for Winter appeared first on EcoSalon.