100 Upcycling Ideas for Every Space in Your Home

From the entryway to the kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, dining room, kids' room and even your great outdoors, we're sharing our best DIY ideas and designer inspo for beautifying on a budget by creatively reusing, repurposing, recycling and reimagining items you may already have.

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By: H. Camille Smith

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Entry: Turn Cutlery Into Coat Hooks

Take a cue from our friends at HGTV Magazine and hit your kitchen cutlery drawer (or local thrift store) to gather a variety of vintage spoons you can bend into decorative and functional coat hooks.

Learn More: This Virginia Home Is a DIY-Decorated, Handmade Heaven

From: HGTV Magazine

Entry: Reflect a Layered Look

Boost your foyer's natural light and provide a handy spot to check your look before heading out the door by overlapping a collection of smaller vintage mirrors. Hung from wires on the back, each mirror can be easily maneuvered and adjusted so they stay level.

See More Photos: 5 Ways to Brighten Any Space With Mirrors

From: HGTV Magazine

Entry: Go Dutch

A fun feature of older homes, Dutch doors allow you to keep small kids or pets safely in the home while opening the door's top half for ventilation, illumination or to chat with a neighbor. Our step-by-step instructions, below, share how to give any door dual functionality.

Get the How-To: How to Make a DIY Interior Dutch Door

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

Entry: Sub a Tall Dresser for a Low Table

Max out storage space in a small entryway with a tall dresser. Painted in a soft, leafy green, this vintage beauty boosts the slim space's style cred while also providing a handy place to stash any gear you might need before heading out the door.

See More Photos: 3 Homes That Make Living In Less Than 1,600 Square Feet Look Chic

From: HGTV Magazine

Entry: Add Up the Cottage Charm

Take a cue from designer Sarah Richardson and shop yard sales or your local salvage shop for mismatched house numbers to increase your staircase's style.

See More Photos: A Look Inside Sarah's House

Entry: Use a Spray Bottle to Create Art

Get creative to give a readymade canvas an artsy update. Just pick water-based craft paint in three colors (we used pink, yellow and lavender) and a waterbased metallic. Using a brush, randomly apply the paints, then before they can dry, liberally spray each color with water and hold the canvas vertically to let the colors run into each other.

See More Photos: 50 DIY Wall Art Projects

Entry: Use Up Leftover Paint Samples

In this home, featured in HGTV Magazine, every step is a hit of happy. To create the cheery look, the homeowner raided her collection of sample paint pots left over from previous design projects, chose four colors and put them on at random.

See More Photos: Colorful Ideas Abound In This Happy Florida Home

From: HGTV Magazine

Entry: Add Interest With a Collection

The foyer is just one more spot where you can (and should!) display the things that you love. Here, shallow woven baskets in a mix of sizes, colors and patterns create a graphic wall display. To hang the baskets, just hammer a nail with a small head near the center of each so the edges of the baskets overlap. Start with one big basket and work your way out.

See More Photos: 7 Ways to Fill Up Your Walls

From: HGTV Magazine

Entry: Turn Paper Into Your Favorite View

Mountains ho! Turn inexpensive sheets of colorful paper and chalk pastels into an artistic take on your favorite outdoor scene. Raid your craft stash and make your own with our tutorial, below.

Get the How-To: DIY Art: Create a Torn Paper Landscape

From: H. Camille Smith

Entry: Drape a Table for Hidden Storage

After all, who couldn't use more storage in their entryway? Take a cue from our friends at HGTV Magazine and cover a console table with a tablecloth, or even just an embellished canvas dropcloth, to create ample storage space that's decoratively disguised.

See More Photos: Mixing Paint Colors and Patterns

From: HGTV Magazine

Entry: Cozy Up the Stairs With Table Runners

Wooden steps are beautiful, but they can be slippery and cold underfoot. Add some warmth, softness and a non-slip surface by installing a stair runner. Readymade table runners are just the right width and you can customize the pattern to suit your style.

Get the How-To: Upcycle Woven Table Runners Into a Durable Stair Runner

From: Marian Parsons

Kitchen: Add Color Without Paint

Self-adhesive shelf liner isn't just great for lining drawers; you can also use it to inexpensively give glass-front kitchen cabinets or open shelving a big pop of color and vintage-style charm. Our instructions, below, share the trick for creating a durable, scalloped edge to really up your kitchen's cottage cred.

Get the How-To: Give Your Kitchen a Colorful Makeover (Without Paint!)

From: H. Camille Smith

Kitchen: Turn Tea Tins Into an Herb Garden

Having fresh herbs at hand will take your culinary skills to the next level — and add a beautiful pop of live greenery to your kitchen. Save counter space while putting your prettiest tea tins on permanent display with this easy upcycle that ensures fresh herbs are always within reach.

Get the How-To: Make a Magnetic Herb Garden for the Fridge

Kitchen: Use a Tablecloth as Upholstery

Significantly cheaper than buying upholstery fabric by the yard, tablecloths are also readily available in both department stores and mass retailers — and they're a great option when recovering barstools or dining chairs. Take a tip from our friends at HGTV Magazine and cover the fabric with a layer of clear vinyl from the fabric store to make the seats stainproof. See more of this tip-filled home, below.

See More Photos: 32 Cool Design Tricks to Steal From an Arizona Home

From: HGTV Magazine

Kitchen: Give Antique Doors a New Home

Many beautiful antique doors and windows are orphaned from their original cabinetry, furniture or homes but their quality of construction and inherent charm make them worthy of a little upcycle. Follow our tips, below, to give these orphaned finds a cottage-chic new home.

Get the How-To: Upcycle Reclaimed Doors Into a Custom Storage Cabinet

From: Marian Parsons

Kitchen: Make Your Own Magnets

Vintage silverplate forks are gorgeously detailed and easy to source at estate sales, flea markets and thrift stores. Just add small self-adhesive magnets to turn them into handy business card or photo holders for your fridge, a metal filing cabinet or any magnetic surface. Get more tips for repurposing kitchen castoffs, below.

See More Photos: 20 Easy Upcycles for Old Kitchen Gear

From: Heather Baird

Kitchen: Repurpose Your Kids' Easter Basket

Our antiquing tips, below, will help you roll back the clock on your kid's abandoned Easter basket, taking a new basket from blah to beautiful. Proudly display your new/old basket in the kitchen corraling cookbooks and other kitchen essentials.

Get the How-To: Make a New Basket Look Old for Vintage-Style Storage

From: H. Camille Smith

Kitchen: Cue the Charm With Corbels

Originally part of the exterior of historic homes, intricately detailed corbels have now made their way indoors. Their massive size and timeworn charm make them a beautiful stand-in for basic brackets when adding shelving to your kitchen or as a support for a breakfast bar.

See More Photos: A Look Inside Sarah's House

Kitchen: Add Privacy With Tension Rods

Truly a handy-dandy invention, tension rods allow you to easily hang curtains without damaging woodwork. For these, stylist Liz Demos cut a pretty scarf to size, then used tension rods and clip-on rings to add a big splash of color and pattern without splashing the cash.

See More Photos: 5 Ways to Style Your Home With Items You Already Have

From: HGTV Magazine

Kitchen: Put Staples Within Easy Reach

Hands down, Mason jars are one of the best storage options around. Turn them into a space-saving solution as well by attaching the lids to the underside of kitchen cabinets, filling the jars with dry goods, then screwing the jar onto the lid.

Get the How-To: DIY: Hanging Mason Jar Storage

From: HGTV Magazine

Kitchen: Repurpose Hand-Me-Downs as Art

Vintage tea towels and other small hand-embroidered linens are not only beautiful, they're often a sentimental reminder of a beloved family member. Honor your history or just creatively upcycle a favorite thrift store find by framing the linen's embroidered details.

Get the How-To: How to Frame a Vintage Tea Towel

From: H. Camille Smith

Kitchen: Turn Tea Towels Into a Topper

The perfect no-sew kitchen valance may already be at your fingertips — in your stack of kitchen towels. Easily whip up a budget-friendly valance by clipping drapery rings onto the tops of three or more pretty tea towels, then hang them on a cafe-style drapery rod and arrange in a pleated fashion.

See More Photos: 20 Easy Upcycles for Old Kitchen Gear

From: Heather Baird

Kitchen: Transform a Platter Into a Clock

Upcycle a wood platter, a leather belt and a clock mechanism (check your local craft store) into a rustic-chic wall clock. This stylish time-keeper looks like a super trendy catalog find but it's easy to DIY for a fraction of the price — you may even have the platter and belt already on-hand.

Get the How-To: 5 Easy DIY Clocks You Can Make in No Time

From: Sam Henderson

Kitchen: Cottage-Up With Reclaimed Wood

If you're handy with a saw, cut up found strips of weathered wood to give your kitchen island or peninsula a cottage-style facelift. Alternately, you can give new boards a similar look by painting them in different colors, then heavily sanding them.

See More Photos: 50 (Almost!) Free Kitchen Updates

Bathroom: Craft a Tub-Side Table

Spa-time is a snap with this space-saving, folding table that keeps relaxation essentials, like bath salts, scrubs or oils, or a glass of wine and a book handy while you enjoy a nice, long soak. Best of all: This stylish table is upcycled from items you probably already have on-hand.

Get the How-To: Cheap Meets Chic: Craft a Tub-Side Table for Your Bathroom

From: H. Camille Smith

Bathroom: Dress Up a Shower Curtain

Go foraging for leaves with an interesting shape, then follow our tips, below, to give a plain flat sheet or readymade shower curtain a trendy, tropical makeover on the cheap.

Bathroom: Corral Morning Must-Haves

Hit flea markets or thrift stores to score vintage beauties like a tiered enamel server or brass tray to prettily corral your makeup and morning necessities.

See More Photos: 70 DIY Decor Projects to Craft This Weekend

From: H. Camille Smith

Bathroom: Dress Up a Bland Vanity

Harness the power of paint to give your bathroom vanity a budget-friendly facelift. Our tips, below, will help you prep and paint like a pro.

See More Photos: The Right Way to Paint Your Bathroom Vanity

Bathroom: Put a Vintage Vase to Work

Small vases, like this vintage Avon bottle, are perfectly sized to hold a single makeup brush, ensuring you don't set it down on your vanity — leaving stains and potentially picking up bacteria — between uses.

See More Photos: 32 Clever Uses for Everyday Items in the Bathroom

From: H. Camille Smith

Bathroom: Repurpose Your Kiddo's Stepstool

Has your child outgrown their two-step bathroom stool? Good! Repurpose it as a tiered plant stand and fill up one corner of a sunny bathroom with a variety of plants that'll thrive in the higher humidity while clearing the air of odors and common indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde.

See More Photos: Plants to Grow in Your Bathroom

From: H. Camille Smith

Bathroom: Turn a Dresser Into a Vanity

That old dresser or buffet stashed in the garage can have a new life as a retrofitted bathroom vanity with the addition of a sink and faucet. Our pro tips, below, will walk you through each step.

Get the How-To: Turn a Vintage Dresser Into a Bathroom Vanity

From: Marian Parsons

Bathroom: Mount Baskets for Handy Storage

Storage is always an issue in small bathrooms, plus there's the question of what to do with the wasted space above the toilet. This quick and easy storage solution puts a wire or wicker basket to work to solve both problems in no time flat.

Get the How-To: Easily Boost Bathroom Storage With Wall-Mounted Baskets

From: Marian Parsons

Bathroom: Turn Scraps Into Storage

Get ready to raid your garage. Our step-by-step instructions, below, will show you how to turn leftover lumber and rope into a space-saving hanging shelf.

Get the How-To: Stash Your Stuff in Style With This Hanging Rope Shelf

Bathroom: Give New Life to an Old Cabinet

Put pretty paper and an assortment of new and vintage containers to work to beautifully boost your bathroom's storage space and style. Get all our tips and tricks in the link, below.

See More Photos: Freshen Up an Antique Cabinet for Beautiful Bathroom Storage

From: H. Camille Smith

Living Room: Showcase Your Kid's Art

After all, your kids are your favorite artists, right? Create a gallery wall by hanging their best works as a grouping. Shop your local craft or big-box store to purchase basic frames with white mats so the cost stays low — and their handiwork remains the star.

Learn More: House Tour: Fun and Fearless Decorating

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Rearrange Your Bookshelf

For a free DIY update, boost your styling skills with one of our ideas, below, for organizing items you already have for an Insta-worthy bookshelf.

See More Photos: How to Style Shelves: 9 Need-to-Know Pro Tips and Tricks

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Give New Life to Old Rugs

Hard to believe but this single, vintage Oriental rug is actually three thrifted rugs laid side-by-side. To prevent them from shifting, the homeowner used double-sided carpet tape to attach the trio to a floor-protecting carpet pad. Learn more about Oriental rugs and why buying vintage is often best, below.

See More Photos: Oriental Rugs 101

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Frame a Calendar

Calendars, especially vintage versions, are often full of beautiful images. A collection of budget-friendly frames and stock white mats make it easy to turn an old calendar into a colorful gallery wall. Our friends at HGTV Magazine share four more ways to dress up your home with items you already have on hand, below.

See More Photos: 5 Ways to Style Your Home With Items You Already Have

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Don't Forget Your Best Friend

Vintage drum-style side tables are not only back in style, they're also perfect for converting into a cozy hideaway for dogs or cats. Want to make your own? Hit thrift stores to find a side table that's large enough for your pet to be able to stand up and turn around. Remove the doors and add padding and upholstery fabric to the table's interior. Finally, add a cushy pillow for lounging.

Living Room: Craft a Kitty Scratchpad

Save your upholstery and give your beloved furball a textural surface that feels oh-so-good to sink their claws into. Just fill an old frame with a coir door mat, then securely attach to the wall at kitty's perfect level for having a good scratch.

See More Photos: 15 Adorable DIYs for Cats + Cat Lovers

Living Room: Frame Fun Finds

Skip mass-produced printed posters and instead get creative when framing items to use as art. This living room, from HGTV Magazine, features an eye-catching portion of a ship's sail that once raced in the America's Cup.

See More Photos: Cool, Calm, and Collected Decorating

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Upholster an Old Coffee Table

For much less than buying a new ottoman, you can turn an old coffee table into a cushy, oversized ottoman with — bonus — lots of handy, hidden storage for throws, books, board games and kids' or pets' toys.

Get the How-To: Turn an Old Coffee Table Into an Upholstered Storage Ottoman

Living Room: Repurpose Old Wood Scraps

Salvaged wood and architectural remnants are prime candidates to be repurposed as furniture. In the case of this table, sections of an old rope bed and a beadboard door were upcycled into a functional and one-of-a-kind coffee table. Learn how to make your own, below.

Get the How-To: How to Make an Upcycled Coffee Table

From: Marian Parsons

Living Room: Turn Scrap Wood Into a Tray

Beautiful and timelessly on-trend, cement tile adds a big punch of color and pattern to any room — but it's pricey ... and heavy. Get the same luxe look without the hefty price tag (and, well, heft!) by stenciling a board and tacking on wood trim to create a gorgeous tray.

Get the How-To: Stencil Your Way to a Stunning Cement Tile Tray

From: H. Camille Smith

Living Room: Fake a Built-In Bookcase

Truly chic on the cheap, this bookcase was assembled from pre-fab bookshelves and kitchen base cabinets for a stylish storage solution that has the look of a custom built-in at a fraction of the cost. Get our tips for doing it yourself, below.

Get the How-To: Fake a Built-In With Prefab Cabinets and Bookcases

Living Room: Squeeze In a Bar

Don't let that space under your stairs go to waste. Add lots of hidden storage with readymade kitchen base cabinets and, budget allowing, a wine fridge. Top with a DIY concrete countertop or swing by your local stone yard to have a cull cut to size.

See More Photos: 5 Creative Ways to Use the Spare Space Under Your Staircase

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Raid Your Family Photo Album

After all, why hide your family's history away? Instead, pull out your favorite photos, scan them into your computer and print out a copy, then pop them in a frame and create a gallery wall so everyone can enjoy a sentimental stroll down memory lane. See more images of this home, featured in HGTV Magazine, below.

See More Photos: A New House With Old Charm

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Cut Down a Dining Table

Featured in HGTV Magazine, this family-friendly living room features a coffee table that was once a small kitchen table. Cutting off the lower portion of the legs brings it down to size without sacrificing any of the antique's original charm. See more of this hard-working home, below.

See More Photos: Kid-Friendly Home Decorating

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room: Upgrade Your Current Sofa

Nail head trim is typically a sign of more expensive, custom furniture. Follow our tips, below, to give your existing upholtered pieces a budget-friendly upgrade while you catch up on your favorite shows.

Get the How-To: Add Nail Head Trim to Furniture

Living Room: Craft a Sunburst Mirror

Take a stroll in your great outdoors to gather slim branches or twigs, then follow our tips, below, to use those free finds and spray paint to give a small mirror big style.

Get the How-To: Create a Sunburst Mirror

Bedroom: Sub Baskets for Art

A centuries-old handicraft, woven baskets are a utilitarian item we take for granted. Swapped in for standard artwork in this guest bedroom, their textural surface is a perfect complement to the room's other natural materials. And, bonus, they're easy to hang: just tap a nail through the basket's center.

See More Photos: Coastal + Classic Style at This Stunning Sea Island Home

From: James Farmer

Bedroom: Stack a Storage-Rich Nightstand

Vintage suitcases are not only more attractive than their modern-day counterparts, they also offer up lots of hidden storage for items you rarely need to access, like holiday ornaments or out-of-season clothing. Shop estate sales and flea markets to find several on a budget, then stack them up beside your bed for vintage-style storage.

See More Photos: 35 Tips for Turning Your Guest Bedroom Into a Retreat

From: H. Camille Smith

Bedroom: Fake a Vanity Area

Shop the house to find items like a small table or desk and chair that can function as a vanity. Don't worry if they don't match; mismatched styles and finishes lend a collected-over-time look.

See More Photos: 35 Tips for Turning Your Guest Bedroom Into a Retreat

Bedroom: Soften a Spindle-Style Headboard

Take a cue from HGTV Magazine and soften a solid wood headboard by simply draping an eye-catching, clean tablecloth over it. Readymade tablecloths are often much, much cheaper than buying the same fabric by the yard and bonus, they're already hemmed on all edges so no sewing required.

See More Photos: 5 Ways to Style Your Home With Items You Already Have

From: HGTV Magazine

Bedroom: Add Impact With DIY Art

Art makes any room feel more alive and personalized. For a truly one-of-a-kind touch, frame a vintage scarf (check estate sales and yard sales) for a big pop of color and pattern on a budget.

See More Photos: 35 Tips for Turning Your Guest Bedroom Into a Retreat

From: Jennifer Mehditash

Bedroom: Sub a Dresser for a Nightstand

If space allows, dramatically boost your bedside storage by swapping out a small nightstand for a full-size dresser.

See More Photos: 32 Cool Design Tricks to Steal From an Arizona Home

From: HGTV Magazine

Bedroom: Repurpose a Tea Tin

Live plants not only add a mood-lifting reminder of the great outdoors, they also clean the air of common indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde and act as mini humidifiers, releasing moisture back into the home. Add a cozy, cottage feel to your bedroom while cleaning the air by placing a plant in a vintage tea tin. Just be sure to place an inexpensive plastic saucer under the plant to protect the tin from excess moisture.

See More Photos: Beautiful Bedrooms: Layered Bedding Looks We Love

From: H. Camille Smith

Bedroom: Dress Up a Plain Lampshade

The easiest of upcycles, just use fabric glue to attach a band of rickrack, grosgrain ribbon or fabric trim to the bottom of a lampshade to take it from bland to beautiful.

See More Photos: A Look Inside Sarah's House

Bedroom: Glow-Up What You Have

Harness the power of paint to turn your existing nightstand into a hand-me-down-worthy bedroom showstopper. Inexpensive milk paint and our faux-finishing tips, below, will help you unleash your inner artist.

Get the How-To: Give Plain Nightstands Rustic Charm With Milk Paint

From: Marian Parsons

Bedroom: Bring In a Garden Stool

Typically right at home in the great outdoors, garden stools have made their way indoors. The stool's height makes it the perfect stand-in for a vanity stool in this teen girl's bedroom.

See More Photos: A Look Inside Sarah's House

Bedroom: Use a Quilt as Art

Take a cue from designer Sarah Richardson and put a pretty vintage quilt on permanent display by hanging it from a bathroom towel rack. It's still within easy reach for cozying up on chilly nights while adding an artful touch of color and pattern to the walls. See more of Sarah's waterfront home, below.

See More Photos: Tour Sarah's Summer House

Dining Room: Make a New Table Look Old

Old furniture has a warmth and charming patina created by years of use. Our designer tricks, below, will help you recreate this lovely timeworn look on a new unfinished piece of furniture.

Get the How-To: How to Make a New Table Look Old

From: Marian Parsons

Dining Room: Get Creative With Containers

Think beyond a standard vase and instead create a centerpiece in a pretty vintage tin for an added pop of color and pattern. Protect the tin and eliminate any possibility of leaks by first placing the arrangement in a plastic or glass container that's just a bit smaller than your tin, then slide the bloom-filled container inside the tin to brighten up your table.

See More Photos: Our Favorite Easter Table Settings + Centerpieces

From: H. Camille Smith

Dining Room: Save Space With a Banquette

No space for a formal dining room? No worries! A banquette could be your answer. Just surround a round table with a mix of wall-hugging benches and standard dining chairs for maximum dining space in minimal square footage.

Get the How-To: How to Build Banquette Seating With Built-in Storage

From: Jenn Feldman Designs

Dining Room: Fake the Look of Marble

Is a Carrara marble-topped table beyond your budget? Gather your painting supplies and a sponge (yes, a sponge!) — our painting tricks, below, will help you get the look for less. Plus, we'll share the trick to finishing it with a durable, stainproof surface.

Get the How-To: How to Paint a Faux Marble Tabletop

Dining Room: Repurpose Pretty Paper

For a colorful table runner that's just as easy on your budget as it is on the eyes, sub gift wrap or even multiple squares of patterned card stock for a standard fabric runner. Bonus: Spills aren't a worry; when the party's over, just toss the stained paper — or, if it's still in good shape, save it to use again later.

See More Photos: Luxe for Less: Set a Timeless Table That Only Looks Expensive

From: H. Camille Smith

Dining Room: Turn Pots Into Cake Stands

Turn inexpensive terra-cotta pots and saucers into gorgeous cake stands with our easy tutorial, below. With personalized stamped sayings and a trendy distressed look, your friends and family can have their cake and Instagram it too!

Get the How-To: Serve Dessert in Style With DIY Terra-Cotta Cake Stands

Dining Room: Pretty Up With Plates

Don't store your collection away out of sight — put your pretties on display. Hang plates, platters and shallow serving dishes, like these oyster plates, in a symmetrical arrangement with approximately the same amount of space between each to create a cohesive grouping.

See More Photos: Coastal + Classic Style at This Stunning Sea Island Home

From: James Farmer

Dining Room: Hang a Rug as Art

A rug is a one-and-done way to fill a wall, and makes a good conversation piece. Lightweight kilims and dhurries are best for hanging. The Velcro method is sturdy: Attach a strip of the hook side of Velcro to a piece of wood the width of the rug. Sew the looped side of the Velcro strip to the rug. Mount the wood to the wall, then stick on the rug. HGTV Magazine shares more creative design tricks, below.

See More Photos: 7 Inspiring Home Ideas You Never Thought to Try

From: HGTV Magazine

Dining Room: Add Character With Corbels

A pro at mixing new and old, designer Sarah Richardson once again creates a space that's both buttoned-up and laid back. To frame the opening to her farmhouse's dining room, she added salvaged wood corbels with a unique daisy shape that had been stripped down to the bare wood. The raw pine's natural hue complements the wicker dining chairs and exposed brick in the adjacent space.

See More Photos: A Look Inside Sarah's House

Dining Room: Illuminate With Wine Bottles

Start saving bottles of your favorite vintages to create this DIY chandelier that's a colorful ode to vino.

Dining Room: DIY a Trendy Serving Tray

Caning is having a major moment in design and, like anything that's trendy, this look can also be pricey. But, luckily, caning is available as a ready-made material so it's easy to use it to turn a wooden frame and a pair of brass pulls into a trendy tray. Get our tutorial, below.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Stylish, Cane-Back Serving Tray

Dining Room: Pull Up an Occasional Chair

Unlike dedicated dining chairs, occasional chairs are attractive seating that can be used in any room, like these vintage cane-backed cuties that would look just as at home in a master bedroom or formal living room. Pull up a pair of chairs around a bistro table to create a compact dining nook if you're short on space.

See More Photos: A Look Inside Sarah's House

Dining Room: Craft a Paper Pendant

Our step-by-step instructions, below, will help you turn yesterday's news into a sculptural light fixture that you can customize to fit your space and design style.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Paper Mache Pendant Light

From: Sam Henderson

Outdoors: Turn a Pot Into a Mini Fire Pit

Give your outdoor get-together a little ambiance (fast!) by transforming a large ceramic planter into a tabletop fire pit in under 15 minutes. Learn how to light up the night with our tutorial, below.

Outdoors: Transform a Pallet Into a Bar

Upcycle free wood pallets into a space-saving outdoor bar that — bonus — folds securely closed to keep beverages and glassware protected from the elements when not in use. Now you can raise a glass to happy hour anywhere — even small outdoor spaces.

Get the How-To: Build a Hanging Outdoor Bar

From: Sam Henderson

Outdoors: Reimagine That Plastic Flamingo

Add a tropical twist (hello, flamingo!) to your front porch or back patio with this faux boxwood topiary that starts as a standard plastic flamingo and needs no maintenance to keep its playful good looks.

Get the How-To: Kitschy-Cool: How to Craft a Faux Boxwood Flamingo

From: H. Camille Smith

Outdoors: Keep Bugs at Bay

Using inexpensive supplies and leftover wine or liquor bottles, you can quickly create tabletop torches filled with citronella oil to deter pests while beautifully brightening up the night.

Get the How-To: Turn Old Glass Bottles Into Citronella Torches

From: Chelsea Faulkner

Outdoors: Give New Life to That Old Crib

Don't toss your kiddo's old crib. Use the rails to create a DIY bike rack with bonus storage for helmets, bike locks and other gear. Our tutorial, below, shares all the steps.

Get the How-To: DIY Bike Stand: Upcycle a Crib Rail Into a Bike Stand

Outdoors: Treat Our Feathered Friends

Don't toss it! Give a pretty but chipped or permanently stained tea cup new life as an outdoor bird feeder. Use permanent, outdoor-rated glue to attach a china teacup, on its side, to a saucer. Following manufacturer's instructions, allow the glue to fully set, then fill with birdseed and hang the feeder with ribbon threaded through the teacup's handle. Hang near a window so you can keep an eye out for squirrels and enjoy watching our feathered friends help themselves to a snack.

See More Photos: 20 Easy Upcycles for Old Kitchen Gear

From: Heather Baird

Outdoors: Upcycle Your Recyclables

Tin can lanterns are one of those summertime crafts that we all remember making as kids — but do you remember them looking this stylish? For an almost-free outdoor update, pull large metal cans out of the recyclables and give them a chic upgrade following our tips, below.

Get the How-To: How to Make Tin Can Lanterns

Outdoors: DIY an Alfresco Buffet

If your outdoor space is well protected from the elements, you can safely bring indoor pieces out and turn an old dresser into a colorful outdoor buffet — or even a potting bench. Damaged mirror? No worries — replace it with pegboard to provide vertical storage space for backyard essentials.

Get the How-To: Transform a Dresser Into a Potting Bench + Buffet Station

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Outdoors: Turn Pallets Into Sturdy Seating

Wood pallets are one of those rare, readily available and free (seriously, what's not to like about free?!) castoffs that can be upcycled into so many useful items. From a wine rack to a mobile pet bed, the DIY design options are nearly endless. Get our tips, below, for turning those freebies into outdoor seating.

Get the How-To: How to Make Stylish Outdoor Pallet Seating

Kids' Room: Tablecloth = Indoor Playhouse

Get crafty to turn a basic white tablecloth into an indoor playhouse your little one will love. Our easy-to-follow instructions and video, below, show you how to cut out windows and a door, then deck out the house with colorful linens to customize the look.

Get the How-To: How to Make a No-Sew Tablecloth Playhouse

Kids' Room: Use Up All Your Paint Samples

We all have them, multiple small bits of paint left over from a variety of projects. Clean out your stash by following these tips from HGTV Magazine: Starting in the top right corner, tape off a triangle, apply two coats of paint, then pull off the tape while the paint is still wet to ensure clean edges. Patience is key: wait till each section is completely dry before taping off the next one, then going triangle by triangle, complete your design. Get more tips for coloring your world with paint, below.

See More Photos: 60+ Paint Shades We Love and How You Can Use Them

From: HGTV Magazine

Kids' Room: Craft a Sporty Valance

A vintage wooden golf club, purchased at a flea market for a few dollars, becomes the rod for a window valance when hung from orphaned curtain rod brackets. Tie felt pennant banners onto the golf club to create a fuss-free window treatment.

See More Photos: Tips for Decorating a Shared Kids’ Room With Vintage Flair

From: Marian Parsons

Kids' Room: Turn a Twin Sheet Into a Tent

Lightweight and collapsible for easy storage, this kid-pleasing tent will turn a corner of their bedroom or playroom into their favorite spot for imaginative play. Our instructions, below, show how to upcycle a twin sheet and basic hardware-store supplies into a kiddie hangout.

Get the How-To: DIY Indoor Kid Fort

Kids' Room: Sub a Desk for a Nightstand

Make their bedside table dual-purpose by working in a small desk instead of a nightstand.

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

Kids' Room: Use Books as Art

Install a set of book ledges, tutorial below, at kid level in your little one's room to help them easily access their favorite reads. Bonus: the colorful covers act as art.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Ledge Bookshelf

From: J&J Design Group

Kids' Room: Craft a Bulletin Board

Easy to source at your local thrift store, garage sale or flea market, large vintage frames are always a budget buy worth considering. Painted in a cheery color and filled with cork (check your local craft store), your DIY board will make it easy for them to pin up an ever rotating display of souvenirs, to-do lists and their favorite photos.

From: HGTV Magazine

Kids' Room: Turn Pencils Into Pinwheels

With just a little help from an adult, kids can craft these colorful paper pinwheels to dress up their desk with a pencil that'll make homework a bit more fun.

Get the How-To: Kids' Craft: Easy Pencil Pinwheel

Kids' Room: Assemble a Space-Saving Desk

Vintage Victorian corbels topped by a painted white board create a streamlined desk that's perfectly scaled to serve as either a homework station or a vanity table. To match the corbels to the room's color palette, designer Sarah Richardson gave them a coat of cheery pink paint, then sanded them back for a timeworn appearance.

See More Photos: Sarah's Suburban House: New Home, Classic Style

Kids' Room: Turn a Bucket Into Chic Storage

Can you believe this personalized bin began as a five-gallon bucket from the hardware store? Covered in durable canvas fabric and personalized with iron-on letters, it's cute enough to display indoors but sturdy enough to haul your gear to the pool or beach. Learn how to make your own, below.

Get the How-To: Say It Ain't Sew: No Sew 5-Gallon Bucket Tote

Kids' Room: Honor Their Musicality

Yep, that's a wall covered in cassette tapes. Homeowner Jo Gick sourced a wallful of cassettes from Craigslist and eBay, then painted them in a rainbow of colors before attaching them to a single wall in her son's room. Get more steal-worthy design tips from our friends at HGTV Magazine, below.

See More Photos: 32 Cool Design Tricks to Steal From an Arizona Home

From: HGTV Magazine

Kids' Room: Create Colorful Vertical Storage

Create funky wall storage with vintage or new (check your local craft store) produce crates prettied up with paint. Paint the crates, let dry, then drill a hole in each corner and securely screw them to the wall. Then, fill with their favorite collectibles, books and toys.

See More Photos: 7 Ways to Fill Up Your Walls

From: HGTV Magazine

Kids' Room: Craft a Storage-Rich Nightstand

Got an old crate lying around? Well, you're one step closer to a nightstand for your kiddo — just add a coat of spray paint and wooden legs (check your local hardware store) for a one-of-a-kind nightstand that'll also keep their favorite bedtime reads within easy reach.

Get the How-To: Just Add Legs for Easy DIY Furniture

Kids' Room: Frame Their Heroes

Comic books aren't just super collectible, they're also, well, art. HGTV host Chip Wade put vintage comic book pages he found at a local antique store on permanent display in his kids' room to bring ka-pow! to the space.

See More Photos: Tour Chip Wade's Next-Level Rustic Wood Cabin

From: HGTV Magazine

Kids' Room: Give Them the World

If your kids' hand-me-downs or thrifted chairs have seen better days, easily give them a wordly fix-up with maps and decoupage glue.

Get the How-To: Upcycle a Plain Kids' Chair With a Decoupaged Map

Kids' Room: Fake a Headboard With Tape

Easily removable and available in every color of the rainbow, washi tape has SO many uses — but did you know you could turn it into a headboard for your kiddo? Well, now you do. Check out more DIY headboard ideas, below.

Get the How-To: No Boards About It: DIY Alternative Headboard Options

Kids' Room: Repurpose Their Favorite Tees

Kids often have a hard time parting with their favorite T-shirts even after they've outgrown them. Our tutorial, below, shows you how to turn old T-shirts, sport jerseys or even childhood blankies into a collage of color over your child's bed.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Headboard Out of Old T-Shirts