You worked with a realtor in El Paso, Austin, Phoenix or any other bustling city to find and buy your favorite home, and you’ve finally moved in.
When you think about making improvements to it, the first thoughts that come to mind may be remodeling the kitchen or a bathroom. These can be big projects and costly, to boot.
Fortunately there are easier and cheaper ways to improve your home, old and new: Through simple interior design, of course.
One way in particular to enhance the design and decor of your home is by taking on a simple DIY wood project.
You can make virtually anything functional or creative with wood, it’s relatively cheap, and there are a million tutorials online to walk you through any given project.
While home improvement and repair expenditures reportedly amounted to over 326 billion dollars in the year 2015, there are lots of easy and inexpensive DIY projects that can enhance the look of the home.
In addition, these same projects can help get you more organized while allowing you to user your creative skills too.
Let’s take alook at just a few, and see if we can inspire your creative juices.
Rustic Headboard
The country-style look is in, and one of the best ways to take advantage of it in your bedroom is to construct a rustic headboard.
One approach is to make it look like an old barn door using materials like reclaimed wood and pallet boards.
Here are some basic instructions for making your own:
Doors
Cut two 2 X 6 boards to 53” for the end posts of the headboard.
Next cut 14 1 X 4s at 30 1/4” and drill 3/4” Kreg Jig pocket holes down the length of each board, one at each end facing out.
Clamp the joints together, attaching them using 1 1/4” pocket hole screws.
Now cut two 2 X 4s at 49 1/2”, fitting the length of the planked 1 X 4s for the top and bottom trim around the planks.
Attach the top piece to one of the 2 X 6 boards using a Kreg Jig and 3/4″ pocket holes drilled into the 1 X 4s, securing with the pocket screws. Make it flush with the top of the 2 X 6.
When the planks are attached to the side and top pieces of your frame, add the bottom 2 X 4 and side 2 X 6 boards.
Barn Door Trim
For the barn door trim, cut one 1 X 4 piece at 30 1/4″ and two pieces at 35 1/4″long. They can be attached using wood glue and a nailer.
Place the straight board on the center of the headboard so the other two pieces fit corner to corner.
Use wood glue and a nailer to attach a 1 X 3 board to the frame, leaving a 1” overhang at both ends, flush with the back of the frame.
Now add the 2 X 4 with 2 1/2″ wood screws and wood glue.
Use stain to finish – dark walnut or a washed out gray are especially attractive.
Produce Storage Bin
Source: thewoodgraincottage.com
This produce bin helps keep those fruits and veggies organized while enhancing the look of your kitchen.
To make it, you’ll need to cut the following:
1 – 1″ x 4″ board cut at 18 1/4″ for the front rail
3 – 1″ x 3″ boards cut at 18 1/4″ for the bottom slats
1 – 3/4″ plywood cut at – 7.5″ x 16 3/4″ for the back
2 – 3/4″ plywood cut for the sides
Cut out the handles on the sides and then create a template for the handles that is 1.5″ wide by 3″ long, tracing it on the plywood and cutting it out using a jigsaw.
Make pocket holes on both ends of the back board and the straight edge of the divider.
Attach this piece to one divider using pocket hole screws and wood glue.
Measure 8″ from the side and then attach the divider using wood screws and pocket holes.
Attach the other side just like you did on the first side.
Attach the front rail using wood glue and finish nails, then add the bottom slats using wood glue and finish nails too.
Sand, stain and seal with a food-safe top coat.
Wooden Picture Frames
Source: notjustahousewife.net
Wooden picture frames can be scattered throughout your home’s interior to provide a more rustic look. They’re incredibly easy to make.
Any picture frame can be converted to one that’s rustic by adding small pieces of wood.
All you need to do is cut up some branches from your own backyard or park, then use a hot glue gun to secure them to the frame.