DIY Home Inspiration: 6 Easy Ways To Update Your Kitchen

First off, here's where I should be announcing who gets a $10 gift certificate from me for winning my riddle challenge. However, no one's even attempted soooooo here's a hint: 26.

Secondly, have I mentioned yet how much I love love love these LEAF videos? The ladies behind them are just genius. And their latest video is a home run for someone (like me) who can't exactly renovate their entire kitchen.

DIY Home Inspiration: Wall Decals

My apartment has 20 foot ceilings in the living room, so I've been looking for a giant piece of art to put above my mantle to fill all that space. Unfortunately, art pieces that big are slightly outside my budget. Okay, so what about wall decals?

I've always thought wall decals were a little tacky. Most are flowers, butterflies, or "inspirational quotes" with the words "live, laugh, love" somehow incorporated. Booooooring.

And then came Blik. I'm going to thrift a giant cheap frame, take everything out of it, hang the frame above my mantle, slap one of these (surprisingly affordable) beauties inside it, and I've got myself a statement piece of art.

Or how about using these bad boys as a headboard or mirror frame? So. In. Love.

For all the old school video game geeks out there (woohoo!) they also have huuuuge Super Mario Bros, Pacman, Asteroids, and Space Invader wall decals. Still don't see anything you'd like? That's alright, cause you can just DESIGN YOUR OWN.

DIY Inspiration: Wooden Magnetic Keyholder

MY GOD I need to make this. I'd just buy it but it's 68 euros plus international shipping out the wazoo sooooo I'll just be making a Home Depot run this weekend instead.

I mean seriously, you could almost literally walk in your front door, throw your keys at this thing, and they'd still be hangin out up there in the morning. Maybe add a deep cherry stain and you've got one classy piece of wooden wall decor. And yet still so functional! Could this potentially be another Dudely DIY?? Methinks yes.

Home DIY Inspiration: Art Collage

I'm so late on the game here. Apparently I'm just now realizing that having a wall of art is something I can actually do in my own space... Especially since I'm going to have massive amounts of empty wall space in my new apartment that needs to be decorated on the cheap. Yay!! So here's some really great photos that are inspiring me in ways to create my own art collage, courtesy of one of my favorite Tumblr accounts, Home & Interiors.

>>I love that most of these pieces are very simple to DIY: pieces of paper, quotes, mirrors, bold necklaces hung on door knobs, simple art canvases, and other doodles hung with nothing more than some (paint-safe, hopefully) tape.

>>Pick some pieces that follow a similar general color scheme, frame some pieces with big bold frames and others not at all, put tiny things in big frames, and mix them all together. You can even just put a bunch of things on layered shelves so you can move, add, take away, and change things later on!

>>For an even more stunning effect, coordinate or contrast the furniture below to the art (maybe using a couch cover or by painting the table yourself?). I love the white couch accented by brightly colored pillows that mirror the art above! Great to DIY on a budget!

Can you tell I'm also digging plain white walls? Love it!

DIY Inspiration: Rorschach

As a psychology major, Outsapop Trashion's prediction that everything ink blotty is going to be sooooo in this season makes nerdy-giddy. Probably the easiest DIY's possible. I'm thinking a black and white dress and a statement necklace maybe? Bring it on!

Photos via: LoveMeagan, Sew Petite Gal, Project Runway Allstars

Home DIY Inspiration: Decorating With Toys

Don't know what to do with all your old dinosaur set or gumball machine plastic figurines? Besides turning action figures into flower stands, apparently the thing to do is spray paint them a metallic/neon color, then turn them into magnets/necklaces/rings/table decor.

Adore. I'm so breaking out the spray paint tomorrow.

(how cute is the flower headpiece on this elephant??)

(do you see the army men in this photo??)

Photos via: WeSeeRainbows, Threadbanger (x2), Sugar and Cloth, Martha Stewart, PB Teens, HGTV Design, The Sweetest Occasion (and here), The Good Machinery, This Is Colossal, GoHausGo

DIY Inspiration: Turn A Mini Into A Maxi (Sorta)

From this photo, it looks like Miroslava Duma literally just belted some extra leather onto her dress, turning the mini skirt into a fall-appropriate maxi/pseudo-fishtail dress!

But these photos show it's actually just a slightly less-mini overskirt. But still! A maxi version of this could so be DIYable.

Images via twitter and Nobody Knows Marc

DIY Inspiration: Cut Out Skirt

Yep. I need to make this ASAP. Possibly the easiest upcycle/DIY/etc project ever.

Though this model looks way less than enthusiastic about it than I am...


P.S. I've been having some issues getting a couple other posts up, but I've got a couple really awesome DIY's on the way once I figure it all out! Sorry for the silence!

DIY Inspiration: Maxi Wrap Skirt

The Sartorialist, like always, totally delivered a few days ago with this gorgeous monochromatic outfit. Her skirt immediately caught my eye. It would be so easy to recreate using a couple yards of jersey knit material, since it looks just like a tied sarong wrap. And I just adore that it's a total reversal of the high(in the front)-low(in the back) skirts we've seen all summer - makes it look so cozy!! Stay tuned...

DIY Inspiration: Asymmetrical Wrap Skirt

My namesake over at Late Afternoon posted this outfit recently, and my first thought was "oh geez, I both love and could totally make that skirt!" It's a beautiful leather (which, by the way, is so totally unbelievably in this fall) asymmetrical skirt by StyleStalker that basically looks like it's being held in place by a zipper on her left hip.

Oversized leather skirt + scissors + zipper = so easy (at least in my head). Definitely need to see if the reality would work out well. Goodwill here I come!

Images via Late Afternoon

Style/DIY Inspiration: From The Most Unlikely Source

I'm already in the mood for crisp fall nights, sweaters, tall boots, and cozy scarves. Never thought I'd be drawing style inspiration from the infamous Miley Cyrus, but here we are with this just perfect fall sweater with embellished shoulders. Some chains, some studs, and maybe a patch and you've got yourself some celeb-inspired fall-wear!

Photo source

DIY Home Inspiration: Watercolor Drip Art

Holy moly, how amazing is this?? I've never loved the crayon drip art, but I think this version, done by Design Gratis is right up my alley. And I may actually have some leftover paper and watercolors from my art class days in high school. Free artwork for my new apartment? Why yes, thank you.

See full tutorial here.

DIY Home Inspiration Series: Part Three

Elegant floor lamps, unique chandeliers, colorful table lamps, StarWars-themed lamps (no really!), white paper lanterns, art deco lamps... whatever your style, use lamps.

I've found that most lighting that comes standard with dorm rooms or apartments is just horrible. Instead, use multiple light sources throughout the room, instead of one glaring bare bulb overhead. It'll create a much more welcoming feel and a more personalized touch to the room (it's also much more flattering). More tips following.

Go to Goodwill and salvage two or three small lamps, maybe a floor lamp (you can personalize/update them by DIYing a new lampshade or mixing and matching styles). Set one by your bed, one by your doorway, and then anywhere else the light from those two won't reach. String lights are awesome too (men, this applies to you too)!


Images via Graham and Green, ApartmentTherapy (x2), Pinterest (light sabers potentially from Amazon?), Freshome, HGTV, Houzz, UonoDesigns, Michael Graydon, Wit and Whistle