Finding Friday–5 Easy Ways to Add DIY Projects for Beauty/Savings

Welcome to Friday! You know those weeks when we were stuck in the other part of the house and not able to work on the kitchen and dining room…well…I have 5 easy ways to add DIY Projects that we found to add beauty AND savings for our home.

Fire Restoration Update- Week 13

We are still making final decisions on the Dining Room area after the fire. The HVAC system cleaning is on today’s agenda to get closer to completing the fire restoration. Carefully sorting through things that need to stay and go and where to fit all of the puzzle pieces back together continues to be a challenge. Are you like that?

In the middle of those weeks in February where we were out of the kitchen and dining room brought my focus on updates for other rooms.

When I realized that there were simple things that we fixed and updated during those weeks, I thought you might enjoy some of the DIY hacks that have kept us sane.

So…let’s get started!

5 Ways to Add DIY Projects for Beauty and Savings to Your Home

DIY Project Tip 1- Change Out Your Lamp Shades

I know! You probably have already done this…but, I’ve been over here shopping for new lamps and not quite finding the right height for reading for my nightstands.

My family room lights were long past fashion worthy. Shopping for new ones for both the bedroom and the family room to replace the ones there had produced nothing that I loved to purchase. .but, a trip to Home Goods and a pair of new shades to the cost of $40 for 2 was the answer…and look at the difference.

Before…

After…

Seriously…I think they can stay a little while longer. A new way to update a lamp and a room at a huge savings.

DIY to add beauty and savings ticked off my list with this purchase!

Much happier with this version until I find something else that I truly love better. Right? problem solved.

DIY Project Tip 2- Paint Light Fixtures

We are in the process of a master bathroom remodel.

It started in 2020 before the pandemic. Other projects, such as, new master bedroom closets, that front porch redo, the guest bathroom remodel, and then the fire reconstruction took precedence.

Truly, until finished with the restoration after the fire, that master bathroom was on hold.

Except that during the remodel with a huge dumpster in the front yard, we had the perfect place to get rid of that large 1980’s mirror on the bathroom wall that will require new sheetrock in the future…
Removing it revealed older wallpaper and a mess.

Seriously…

when that mirror came down…something HAD to be done!

So down went the gold/silver 20+ year old light fixtures.

Sorry! I wish I had a “before” picture for you on this one.

A simple can of satin black spray paint made everything better. These will be replaced with the new master bathroom design to fit above the new double sink vanity…but, until then? An addition of a coat of paint (that we had already purchased) on the wall and $5 worth of spray paint on the light fixtures with new mirrors have made the bathroom “tolerable” until we can complete that project.

After…

The second DIY to add beauty and savings checked off the list…all for a can of black spray paint.

Brilliant! Sold! I can survive for a few months until we take on the challenge with that room.

DIY Project TIP 3-Add Bead Board to the End of Cabinets

Now, my daughter in law has to get credit for this DIY Tip! To make your cabinets look more designer curated…she added bead board to the ends of upper and base cabinets, and molding to the bottom of their upper cabinets.

Our cabinets, installed by the previous owner, have issues. Cabinets don’t match, installation problems and they simply looked unfinished.

Enter this DIY way to add beauty at a savings.

Do you remember the spice organizer that my husband created?

Guess what? There was just enough leftover bead board to cover the ends of the cabinets and solve the matching, installation and unfinished look problems. Repurposed materials cost us nothing.

Our only cost with this one was in purchasing more cabinet paint that was required for touching up the island and lower cabinets after the reconstruction.

What do you think?

The upper cabinets will get trim molding around the lower edges down the road…but, for now? I am pleased with this DIY project accomplished.

DIY Project Tip 4- New Plants

This one truly appeals to my need for gardening. Although there are a few blooming trees and shrubs with daffodils departing in my yard, it is simply too early in our zone to be adding ferns, herbs and outdoor plants until the last frost in a few weeks.

So, my DIY tip to beautify and add savings? Buy small pots of plants now that you love to use later for outdoor containers, porches and landscape plantings.

This tip began with me in February at the Nashville Antique and Garden show. That’s where I purchased tiny ferns to decorate indoors until they are added in containers to my back porch.

You have already seen that sweet bunny container in the Easter tablescape and Easter Brunch posts–but, it makes my heart happy to have living plants indoors that I’ll use later in the outdoor areas.

There are 2 main reasons I love this tip:

1. You buy small plants during the winter months for a great price…these ferns were $5 at the Antique and Garden Show. If I wait until I need to plant them, the size they will be by then would put them into the $20-30 price range. Plants will be repotted and be a great size by the time I am able to plant them after there is no longer a threat of a freeze.
2. These plants always brighten and add beauty to my home on the inside during months when there are no plants growing outside.

A win for both savings and beauty!

DIY Project Tip 5-Shop at Great Flea Markets and Antique Shops

If you have been around me long, you will know that one of my favorite things to do is shop at some of my favorite antique and flea market shops.

So many times I will find pieces at a great price that I can add and redo in my home to add beauty and at an affordable cost.

That sweet antique desk came home with me for a refurbish with strengthening it’s legs and improving the finish to make it as good as new. Someone else’s discard became a treasured piece in my home.

Our dining room table that my husband refinished? A great DIY project that added such beauty to our home.

Both were great finds at Lamon’s Antiques.

That cute fairy planter that was perfect with a fern added for the Fairy Garden Tea Party? You guessed it, a great old piece purchased from Frenchtown Station.

The light fixture over our island has been a favorite. It was a Good Will find for $5.95—seriously! I wasn’t looking for a light fixture, but there it was and I couldn’t refuse it. We updated it by adding LED Phillips Hue wifi bulbs so that they can be turned on and off with Alexa or our phones. Huge win with this one.

An antique chandelier that I found was supposed to replace it…but, this one still worked better for me so here she stays.

Who knows? She may get painted black later…

My point is, look at the beautiful things that can be retrieved and repurposed for your home to make them your own. So many times I find something discarded that with a bit of imagination brings me joy.

How are you doing in the DIY department to add beauty and savings to your home?

Are you

• repurposing things that you have?
• making subtle changes with the things you love to update them?
• adding paint to update something in your home?
• or finding a new shade or a new item that gives new life or purpose to your home?

As we navigate the final design issues and finalize the last organization decisions left in the dining room, we will share a future reveal on the finished room in the future…but…not just yet.

Can I give you a sneak peak of the newest addition this week?

This sweet little hand painted cabinet was found at The Rosebriar at Charlene’s Colony of Shops in Halls, TN last week. I am in love. A little worn from use inside that shop gave it even more character.

The perfect size and design to hold all of my cookbooks. And…the price was a huge savings. There are those two words again…beauty and savings!

Glad you joined me for Finding Friday!

So happy to give you insight into a few ways that we are making some DIY projects work for us. Maybe they have given you an idea or inspiration to make a few changes to your home.

It’s spring, friends! Time to make a few changes that bring joy.

PLEASE share in the comments any DIY projects you have done to add beauty and perhaps at a savings to your home.

It makes me so happy when it’s truly not a one way conversation…you know?! I can’t wait to hear from you.

Have a great weekend!