DIY Home Project

How to make a Wood Sign: A Farmhouse Essential

I can’t wait to share how to make a wood sign! A DIY’ed wood sign is an easy project that instantly adds personalization & character to your home.

I had a lot of fun making our, Keene Homestead, wood sign. I’ve also learned some tips on wood sign making. I’ll even show you a trick to paint letters on wood without a stencil.

First decide on your phrase. After brainstorming what to word to use with our last name, I decided on “Homestead”. It adds just enough farmhouse/vintage vibes to our suburb home.

How to Make a Wood Sign Template

Canva is the online program I use to make all my labels to organize everything. It is also what I use to perfectly paint letters on wood. In Canva, I created a template with my words for the wood sign. You get to create any size design, so you can input the exact size of the wood sign you are working with. Then you can select your font and adjust the letter spacing.

Then, I sent my design to Staples to print on blueprint paper for less than $5. While I waited to pick up the print, I finished the wood with the stain color: Special Walnut.

After picking up the template, Roll it out over the piece of wood, and tape it down with painters tape. Use a ballpoint pen to press hard on the outline of the letters along the template.

How to Paint Letters on a Wood Sign

Now that you have your letters traced onto the wood, it’s time to paint the letters onto the wood. Time to reveal your perfect your spacing and font! Roll the paper template out on top of the wood sign. Center the template on the wood and tape it down. Trace the letters with a ball point pen. Press hard and you will be making a dent in the wood underneath on the outside of the letters.

When you remove the paper, you can see the outline of the letters. The “trough” that the pen makes helps the paint stop at the perfect edges of the letters. Instead of a solid paint, I wanted a more aged look that would add character to the room. So I used the chippy paint technique.

The chippy paint look is so much fun to do! You’ll need wax (grab some tealights or candles), a putty knife or trowel for scraping, your paints (I used chalkboard black, and a white sample paint), and some small paint brushes.

During any project you’ve got to enjoy the journey, right? Since this is the fun part, grab your favorite drink (or 2- if you’re as extra as me) to sip along the way. Pictured is my Favorite Chocolate Protein Shake & coffee.

How to Make a Wood Sign with the Chippy Paint Look

Now, onto chippy painting on your wood sign. The first step of chippy painting the letters onto the sign is using the base paint color first. Chalkboard black paint is my base. I didn’t apply it totally solid because I wanted some wood to show through. To do this, haphazardly push the wax tealights in different areas of the letters before painting on the black paint layer. After the paint dries, then use the putty knife to scrape off the wax and voilà- the paint looks beautifully chipped.

You can see how the first letters look after scraping, and the last letters before scraping above.

Step 2 of the chippy paint technique is adding the second color. Same process here, use the wax to make marks on the letters, then put the white paint on. After it dries scrape it off to reveal the final chippy paint look!

Where to Hang DIY Wood Sign

I love decor pieces that can have many different homes throughout their lives. This wood sign has been a great shape and size to make an impact in our living room first, and now in our garage-turned-hangout-space! Its long thin shape was perfect for the space above the windows in our living room. Now it has moved to the space above our TV in our garage hangout.

Now that you know how to make a wood sign… its time to get to work!

7 Essentials of an Enchanting Dreamy Boho Patio

It is Spring, time to get the patio ready for family dinners & afternoon hang outs with friends! Our boho patio has really come together over the years. The cedar pergola with a tin roof has so much personality, and gives me such sweet vibes because my father-in-law and hubby built with their own hands!

Our boho patio has added a whole additional living space! In our small 1465 sq ft home, that’s invaluable!

Here is how you can decorate your outdoor space into your Boho Patio:(Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.)

Boho Patio Staple #1: Globe Lights

The most quintessential of all the boho patio embellishments is Glob Lights! Every boho patio should have globe lights strung about! These magical little round balls of light add instant ambiance to any patio. I have had ours strung for awhile, but just bought replacement globe light bulbs on Amazon, that are made out of plastic (so they won’t break) and are supposed to have double the life of the old ones we had that were starting to burn out.

Boho Patio Staple #2: Outdoor Rugs

First we added outdoor rugs. The rugs make it feel much cozier than the cement slab and bricks underneath them. The navy & gray trellis rugs are from Target years ago, and it is actually (4) 3×5 Rugs laid next to each other. My hubby power washed them a few weeks ago, and they look brand new again!! I should have taken some before and after pictures of how amazing the power washer worked on them. Since these exact rugs aren’t carried anymore I found some similar ones if you are loving this look- Outdoor Rugs.

Boho Patio Staple #3: Outdoor Curtains

Curtains is the next element that make it really feel like a room. I’ve switched out different curtains several times, and these Laura Ashley curtains from Amazon are holding up well through all the weather here in Texas. They are a gauzy material. So they dry quickly after it rains. That helps to keep them from getting that musty smell that other outdoor curtains get. So they don’t have to be washed all the time. I hung them on hooks. They totally make the patio feel like a real room!

Boho Patio Staple #4: Furniture

Our patio furniture is the Applaro Patio Set from IKEA. It seats 8 comfortably, the rust colored finish looks great with the cedar on our pergola. To make this wooden patio furniture more comfy & cozy we added Pillow Perfect Gray Seat Cushions. These are great because they are neutral and go with any decor theme we switch to.

Boho Patio Staple #5: Outdoor Throw Pillows

After annoying my own self with the amount of research I was doing on throw pillow cover sets, I ordered an Efolki throw pillow cover set from Amazon & this Merrycolor Pillow Cover to compliment it. These pillow covers are affordable. They’re made of a thick canvas fabric, so they are not the kind you’d want to nuzzle your head into on the couch, but the stiffer fabric is holding up great outside with the heavy duty use from the kids. The exact Efolki pillow cover set I got is currently unavailable, but Efolki has a lot of similar sets on Amazon to choose from that have the same boho vibes!

Boho Patio Staple #6: TV

We’ve had this little inexpensive TCL TV outside constantly for years now, and its still going strong! We mounted it to the wall. I painted the cord the same color as the siding, and then hot glued it along the top of the pergola to the outlet, so it is unnoticeable.

(You can see our old swing set in the distance, check out how I painted it back to life, here.)

Boho Patio Staple #7: Grill

Believe it or not, our grill was a large trash day find! The previous owners cared for it impeccably. It came with a cover, and it even had a sign taped to it that it worked. I channeled my excitement into muscle to hoist the huge, bulky, heavy treasure of a grill into the minivan. (If you’re intrigued by what could be found on large trash day… check out this post of mine!)

A boho patio, has textures and succulents, and neutral colors with some pattern mixed in. I just love how all these pieces come together to make this our little outdoor boho paradise at home!

10 Steps to Install Metal Landscape Edging- Best Budget Option

We discovered this metal landscape edging after scouring the internet for the best budget-friendly landscape border.

After tons of research on different landscape edging I decided on 12″ Tall Dakota Tin Corrugated Metal Garden Edging. I like it because it gives a unique look, is much more inexpensive than rock, and is relatively easy to install.

Metal Landscape Edging Step #1 Pound Stakes Along Edging Perimeter

First, mark along the edges of where you want the metal landscape edging to go with landscape stakes. The stakes will help you picture the edging so you can make any adjustments to the shape/area to be edged. The cool thing with this metal border is that it curves really nicely, so you can have a really organic, flowing, curved outline to the garden bed.

Metal Landscape Edging Step #2 Find Level Height with String

Then we will use the landscape stakes to see the height of edging needed in the different areas where the ground around the garden bed may be higher or lower. Attach string to the stake at the height you want your edging and then pull it accross to another stake on the opposite side and use your level to get it level and then tie it. After doing that process to a few of the stakes you will be able to measure the height of metal border needed along the perimeter.

Step #3 Measure Height & Length of Metal Landscape Edging Required

I like to draw a sketch and then take your measurements. Now we have the amount we need to order.

Step #4 Order the Metal Landscape Edging

Order, this Dakota Tin Landscape Edging in 10 inch or 4 inch height. It also comes in 3 different colors. I ordered all 10 inch in the Galvalume finish.

Step #5 Shovel Cut/Dig Where Edging Will Go

In places where the edging will only be a bit under ground you can just cut the soil with a shovel. Push/Pull the handle of the shovel forward and backward to make the “cut” or trench a little wider.

If the shovel hits something (a root/rock/or hidden treasure) dig the trench out to remove the blockage.

Step #6 Place Edging- Checking with Level as You Go

You can gently pound the edging by placing a piece of scrap wood on the top edge of the edging and then hammer onto the wood. You don’t want to do this step without doing the previous step, dispite what you see online, because I did and if you encounter a rock or root, your edging will get mangled from trying to pound it into something it can’t move through. Figured that one out by experience;)

Step #7 OverLap at Seams

You’ll want to be sure to overlap the edging at the seams. If it isn’t at least 1/3 underground, secure the seam by screwing it into a landscape stake. Drill with a drillbit meant for metal, screw in a screw meant for metal.

Step #8 Stabilize Edging into Stakes Where Needed

Screw Edging into Stakes anywhere it’s not Stabilized into the Ground.

Step #9 Fill with Garden Soil

I learned how inexpensive it is to have garden dirt delivered by the ton, rather than buying it bag by bag. They just dropped it onto the driveway and I shoveled it into buckets and dumped it into the garden bed. “Free workout” included there!

Step #10 Plant Plants

I got to choose some plants to go into the raised beds. I’m a gardening novice and learned a trick for planting new plants that has worked so well: When planting new plants, dip the dirt/roots/base into a mixture of root stimulator and water and then place it into the prepared hole.

Power Wash Sidewalk

There was no way to do this job without getting the freshly powerwashed sidewalk filthy again. My hubby power washed it for me again, what a guy, huh?!

This is where I am at right now with the front yard landscaping. I still have a few future projects planned- Maybe mulch for the garden beds? I also will put sand in the cracks between the corrugated metal edging and the walkway to prevent leaves from getting stuck in there. I’m planning on building a cedar garden box for under that front window. I want to do something cute and simple on the covered stoop too, but I’m not sure what yet. I’ll be sure to update you with future DIY’s as the curb appeal continues to progress!

This is where I am right now with ‘Operation Curb Appeal’. Here are a few more ideas for the future to add a little more oomph to the front yard landscape.

Fill the cracks along the walkway with sand so that leaves, etc don’t get caught in the cracks between the walkway and the corrugated edging.
Add Cedar Mulch to the garden beds
Possibly a cedar window box for trailing plants under the front window?

So rewarding to soak in all the good DIY Vibes while looking at this stunning metal edging!

Simple Bathroom Wainscoting DIY in 10 Steps

Bathroom wainscoting adds dimension and personality to a basic bathroom. It was an easy process that anyone can do!

First, there’s a few things to consider for the Wainscoting Design. Then I’ll go through the 10 Step DIY process to creating it.

Bathroom Wainscoting Design:

Bathroom Wainscoting Height

First, you will want to map out a wainscoting design in your bathroom. Painter’s tape is a good tool to use because it helps to visualize the moulding in the space. We did a half-wall wainscoting. Half way up the wall seemed to look the best in this small space.

Bathroom Wainscoting Styles

There are many different styles of wainscoting. For this bathroom we created a picture frame wainscoting design. It is small and delicate enough to compliment this little bathroom.

White Wainscoting

White wainscoting lightens and brightens up any space. Since it is a half wall of wainscoting it adds to the white in the bathroom without washing out the color in the room.

Bathroom Wainscoting DIY Process:

1. Plan Out Wainscoting Design

Putting the design on the walls with painter’s tape helped me decide how many “picture frame” mouldings on each wall. I first decided 2 behind the toilet and then keeping the same picture frame dimensions would give me room for 4 on the longest wall. I did have a tiny wall between the bathroom counter and the door. No frame moulding would be added to that small area.

2. Cut Plywood Pieces

For the base of the wainscoting, I used plywood. Plywood is inexpensive, lightweight, and gives a smooth raised base for the wainscoting, apart from the textured drywall. First I measured the 4 walls, then gently cut the plywood with a hand saw, and gently sanded the cut edges with a sanding block.

3.Paint Plywood Pieces

Then I painted the plywood white with Behr Marque Ultra White Semi-Gloss paint. It’s the same paint & color I used for all our interior doors, baseboards, and trim. I painted the plywood prior to attaching it to the wall. It is easier to paint this large porous surface while its laying flat. Pro tip- if there is any imperfections in the plywood, thick paint will smooth them over. Just let the paint sit without the lid for a little bit for it to thicken a bit.

4. Attach Plywood Base

To attach the plywood seamlessly I used E6000 Glue on the back and near the edges of the plywood sheet & attach it to the wall. Then, use a nail gun to attach it to the studs at the very top- where the chair rail will cover the nail heads.

5. Cut Chair Rail

When you cut the chair rail you’ll have to think about each piece to make the appropriate cut. On corners where the chair rail will meet each other you’ll need to cut it at a 45 degree angle so that the corners will meet up perfectly. Where it meets up with the bathtub, door trim, and counter- it gets a straight cut. Pro-tip- Instead of measuring for the chair rail cuts, I held up the actual piece on the wall and marked it- that way it is exactly the right size.

6. Attach Chair Rail

I attached the chair rail to the top edge of the plywood, covering the nail heads. Use E6000 Glue, but be careful not to use too much- because you will see drips of it if you do. Hold the chair rail in place with painter’s tape while the glue is setting. Pro tip- Check back in over the next half hour for glue drips as the glue is drying and wipe any extra glue away while its still wet and wipeable.

7. Cut Moulding into Picture Frames

You’ve got the size of your picture frame moulding from your designing process. Now you’ve got to cut the moulding into the picture frames. Using a miter box and a handsaw you can cut the 45 degree angles for the frames to match up just right.

8. Attach Picture Frames

Use the E6000 Glue, and a level. Use the level to not only make sure they are straight, but also level with each other.

9. Paint Picture Frames

Thicken the semi-gloss paint, so the seams between the picture frame moulding and the plywood base are automatically sealed as you paint. This tip creates the seamless look of perfection with ease!

10. Caulk Seams

White silicone caulk matches the Behr Marque Ultra Bright Trim Paint perfectly. I just caulked along the edges where the chair rail meets the drywall, the sides of the plywood base, and a bead of caulk where the plywood base meets the baseboard. This finishing step gives everything a finished, well-done look.

There are many methods to get a smooth, even bead of caulk… take the time to figure out which one works for you. It is worth it, because depending on how the caulk is put on can give it the ‘botched DIY look’ or all the ‘Wow vibes’! I found I got an even smooth finish by squeezing the caulk across the seam evenly, then use a wet finger to smooth the caulk down, wiping off the excess caulk from my finger every so often.

Celebrate! Just sit for a minute and check out your handiwork. You just upgraded your bathroom 10 times over. It has a more sophisticated vibe with this picture frame wainscoting.

As you can see from the before and after, I didn’t skip a beat before I took on my next DIY in this bathroom… painting the tile floor! Check out how I created the faux slate tile look with paint, here.

Little Known 1 Ingredient DIY Carpet Cleaner that Works Miracles! [Stains will NOT Come Back]

Before you yawn at reading about DIY Carpet Cleaner.. I agree that cleaning is far from “fun” or “exciting”. But, when you can’t afford new carpet in your whole house and you find a way to make your carpet feel fresh and new– it IS so exciting! Because you’ve discovered the impossible is possible! It looks like you have new carpet without spending a $1 at the carpet store.

The Problem with Commercial Carpet Cleaners
The DIY 1 Ingredient Carpet Cleaning Miracle Revealed
The Jaw Dropping Results on Carpet Stains with Before and After Pictures
The Method to Use the DIY Carpet Cleaner (Without a Machine)

The Problem with Commercial Carpet Cleaners

You will discover why you need this Miraculous DIY Carpet Cleaner in your life when you try commercial carpet cleaners.

When I first moved in- I felt like I was missing the “housewife” bone bc I couldn’t figure out how to clean our carpets.

We have a dog and 3 kids and are in and out all day long- the carpet is also 10+ years old and light tan. The spots were everywhere. I tried ALLLLLL the carpet cleaners and would be disappointed, and disappointed again.

Then, I’d find a cleaner that made the spot disappear- only to see it reappear a week later— Excuse me, what?! That is almost worse- because you think the problem is fixed only to discover it is back!

The DIY 1 Ingredient Carpet Cleaning Miracle

After a few years of this and I think every carpet spot cleaner on the market, I did some research and tried hydrogen peroxide. This one ingredient, DIY carpet cleaner, not only took out all the spots, but they did not come back!!! Miraculous! Happy dance!! New carpet feel!! Win!!!

The Jaw Dropping Results on Carpet Stains with Before & After Pictures

When we first discovered it I wish we would have taken before and after pictures or videos because the carpets were bad everywhere. One of the areas that constantly gets dirty is where I do my makeup. The kids somehow get their curious little hands on some loose powder and it ends up all over the carpet.

Here are before, during, and after pictures of the last time I spot cleaned that area with this miraculous DIY carpet cleaner.

Here is a close up of the worst spots. It’s not perfection, but next time I do it the carpet will lighten up more. Truth be told, I let that powder sit there for way too long before I got around to spot cleaning it.

After years of cleaning the carpet in our house with this DIY carpet cleaning method, the thought occurred to me to try it on our minivan carpets and mats. You can see, it worked wonders on those disaster-filled mats!

My mom definitely has the good housewife bone, and she mentioned that hydrogen peroxide should bleach the carpet, so test an inconspicuous area with caution. But, if you are lucky and have carpets like we do, this could be your next DIY Vibe- A full house of new carpeting without a multiple thousand dollar price tag.

How to Use the DIY Carpet Cleaner Without a Machine

Here is a kind of ridiculous video of me spot cleaning the carpet by our back door. Sometimes it just helps to actually see the method.

If you prefer to read it rather than watch me clean my carpets, here is how its done:

Pour Hydrogen Peroxide on the spots/stains
Let it sit for 5-10 Minutes
Use a stiff bristle brush and scrub in every different direction with some pressure
Use an absorbent towel and some pressure to get all the moisture out

Let me know if this DIY Carpet Cleaner is as life changing for you as it felt for us! Happy scrubbing!

DIY Tree Branch Decor [2 Creative Ways to Use Tree Branches as Decor]

Tree Branch Decor stands out from your other mass produced decor. Tree branch decor adds a rustic element & some natural wood texture to your room.

Theres something that feels so good about bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out when decorating. Not to mention, a tree branch is free and easy to come by!

Here is everything you need to an element of nature inside your home with your own tree branch decor!

How to Treat a Branch from Outside to Use as Indoor Tree Branch Decor
2 Creative Tree Branch Decor Ideas
The 5 Steps to Hang a DIY Tree Branch Plant Hanger

How to Treat Wood for Tree Branch Decor

You may be sawing a branch from your tree & wonder about what you may be bringing inside with your fresh branch- I’ve been learning everything about how to bring raw wood inside.

First, remove the bark. You can sand it off or sometimes a pocket knife- (Although, using a pocket knife gave me thumb blister when I tried it for a different indoor branch project I’ve got coming up.)

If there is any signs of fungus or bugs spraying it with white vinegar will kill it.

Lastly, if it is going to be used in a way where it matters if it shrinks you will have to wait for it to dry. It can dry out by storing it in your garage for a few months.

*For a branch ready to use for tree branch decor- Michaels sells 5′ Birch branches for $20!

2 Creative Tree Branch Decor Ideas:

There are a couple of ways we’ve added tree branches to our decor:

#1 Tree Branch Curtain Rods

You can read about how we hung them, the faux olive leaf garland strung on them, and see more pictures of here: Tree Branch Curtain Rods.

#2 Tree Branch Plant Holder

Looking for a unique plant hanger for your plants? This tree branch plant hanger is the perfect answer! I’ll show you how to hang it so it looks like the tree branch is coming out from the wall!

How to Hang a Tree Branch Plant Hanger [5 Steps]

Now to attach your tree branch plant hanger to the wall..

*I’m not saying this is a fool proof way to hang it. This is just how I hung mine & it has been safely in place for 1 year and counting now. You can tap into your inner-engineer to adjust anything you feel the need to!

1. Find a Stud

Use the good old stud finder to see where you’re nearest stud is. Try to aim for the middle of the stud. Bathrooms always make me a bit nervous because I’ve drilled right into a water pipe in our bathroom wall before and water was spraying everywhere! Chaos! Haha, but this time was no prob.

2. Angle Base of Tree Branch to be Flush with the Wall

Hold the branch up to the wall and figure out which way you want it to face and what angle you want it to hang at and then see how the stump of the branch needs to be cut or sanded to sit flush with the wall. I used a power sander to get it flush and smooth against the wall at this angle. It took a few times of sanding, holding it up to see, sanding a little more on this side, or that, holding it up….

3. Drill a Pilot Hole

You will want to hold your branch in place, flush with the wall. Use your other hand to drill a hole through the base of the branch and into the stud. You’ll have to get the pilot hole good and started in the wall before you can remove the branch and finish drilling into the wall to be sure you are going at the proper angle. Make sure you use a long enough screw to go through the branch, and the drywall and go into the stud.

4. Screw the Tree Branch in Place

Use those muscles and screw your long screw through the pilot hold in the branch and into the pilot hole in the wall. Stand back and give yourself some props!!! That is beautiful & smart work you’ve done!

5. Decide Placement of your Hanging Plant

Hold up your plant to decide how far down you want it to hang and how far over on your branch. The closer to the base of the branch the easier for the branch to support it. May want to keep that in mind if it is on the heavier side.

Enjoy the natural, rustic vibes from your Tree Branch Decor!

If you want to see more of our bathroom and how we transformed it on a dime check out these:

Bathroom Makeover DIY

DIY Wall Towel Storage

DIY Bathtub Tray/Shelf

Small Corner Shower Makeover

Painted Tile Floor

5 Steps to Painted Backsplash [Improve Your Kitchen on a Budget]

Is your kitchen in need of some revitalization? Painted backsplash is an easy DIY project that can revive your kitchen on a budget! Typically, if you want to change your kitchen backsplash, you’ll need to buy the tile and pay for the labor to install it. Thus making new kitchen backsplash a pricey undertaking. But you can get the look of your dream kitchen for a WHOLE LOT LESS, if you use this painted backsplash DIY to change up your kitchen backsplash!

Before we painted our kitchen backsplash the dark laminate countertops went up the wall as the backsplash as well. Changing this dark backsplash into white backsplash would lighten and brighten up the kitchen. I thought a white shiplap backsplash would give our kitchen a nice farmhouse flair. We ultimately got the white backsplash look we wanted for far less than installing new backsplash- with this easy Painted Backsplash project!

5 Step Process for Painted Backsplash:

Step 1: Prep

Step one of any paint project, the prep work, is always a drag. But I’ve learned the hard way it is also the most important. Be meticulous with your cleaning and taping because you when its time to pull off that tape and you’ve got perfect crisp lines it will have been worth it! A year down the road, when the painted backsplash is all still perfectly in tact, you will also thank yourself.

To prepare the surface, I first degreased it the laminate backsplash. Then washed it with dawn dish soap, and then again with this TSP Substitute.

After the surface was cleaned it was time to protect the countertop so it didn’t get paint spills and splats in the process. I taped off where the countertop meets the backsplash. And finally, I covered the countertops- because truth be told, I am a messy painter, ha!

Step 2: Measure and Tape Out Backsplash Design

If you want a Shiplap Backsplash design there is just a tiny bit of math involved. First step- measure the height of the backsplash and divide it evenly by 4. In my case I’d have 4, 4.5″ wide Shiplap Planks all the way around. Then measure and use a long level to mark along the whole line before applying this Fine Line Painter’s Tape.

You could easily add this thin painter’s tape between the planks every 6″ to make a painted subway tile backsplash. You’d want to stagger the vertical lines so that it appears just as subway tile would be applied. Laying out your design with the thin painter’s tape takes some concentration, but its all reckless painting fun from here!

Step 3: Prime Backsplash with Fusion Ultra Grip

Fusion’s Ultra Grip acts as a primer for surfaces that can be difficult for paint to adhere. Since our backsplash is a smooth laminate, and I wanted this Shiplap Painted Backsplash to hold up for years, I used Fusion Ultra Grip as my base. You’ll notice that Fusion Ultra Grip adds a fine texture when it dries, this is how it allows the paint to adhere to a super smooth surface and stay put.

This base coat primer dries clear, so you won’t see any difference. But, you’ll know you did your due-dilligence to make all your work last.

Be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle- And allow 12 hours between applying the Ultra Grip and beginning to apply your first coat of paint over it

Step 4: Apply 2 Coats of Paint to Backsplash

Woohoo, its finally time to paint your painted backsplash! Apply the paint of your choice. (After all the hundreds of paint projects I’ve done over the years Behr Marque is my absolute paint of choice. Its more expensive but worth it, because of its fuller coverage and how it lasts. If you try to use Behr Marque with Wax or Vaseline for a scratch off Antiqued look it can even stay on if you don’t do a thick enough patch of Wax or Vaseline. Thats how impressive it is.) If the budget is tight I use Behr Premium Plus Ultra, like I did on this project. I got my paint mixed in the color ‘Paper White’, in a Satin finish.

Step 5: Seal Painted Backsplash with Fusion Ultra Grip

It is time to peel the detail tape off. This part is so rewarding! Pull the detail tape off at an angle of completely backwards (not straight out) to get the most clean lines. Then take a minute to enjoy your beautiful design! What a crazy transformation, huh?!

Next, is where you can learn from my mistake. After peeling off the detail tape, I sealed the whole backsplash with Fusion’s Tough Coat. Although Fusion Tough Coat claims to be a non-yellowing top coat, the heat of our air fryer did cause it to begin to yellow.

If I were to do this project over again I would see if I could find a truly non yellowing top coat and/or paint that holds up to heat if you will be using any countertop appliances that emit heat directly out of the back towards the backsplash like our air fryer did.

*This yellowing nonsense might also not be a big deal if you are using a darker paint color for your backsplash.

Painted Backsplash Years Later

As far as holding up, it is now 2+ years post project and this painted backsplash is exactly as it was when I finished it. There has been zero peeling, chipping, or wear and tear marks from cleaning it, etc.

**No wear, beside the one corner where our air fryer was and the heat from it slightly yellowed the very top of the backsplash under the cabinets. You would have to go around with a bright light to even notice the slight yellow tone. However, I did start pulling the air fryer forward away from the backsplash while in use after noticing that initial yellow tone behind it. Otherwise I’m sure it would have gotten more yellow over time with the reoccurring direct heat on the painted backsplash.

Another DIY Kitchen Renovation: White Washed Kitchen Cabinets:

You probably noticed in the before-and-after photos that I revamped our Honey Oak Kitchen Cabinets with White Wash.

The White Washed Cabinets DIY was so rewarding because, wow, what an impact one change made! It also ended up being SO so so much quicker and easier than painting these cabinets would have been. I love the warmth and texture of the wood we still get with the white washed cabinets, as opposed to painting them stark white.

If you want to see the fast & easy way I White Washed our Honey Oak Kitchen Cabinets check out that DIY project here: White Washed Honey Oak Kitchen Cabinets.

5 DIY Christmas Garland Ideas That’ll Fill You With Christmas Joy

The most whimsical of all the Christmas decor is DIY Christmas Garland. By the time you see the magical look of these 5 DIY Christmas Garlands, I think you’ll agree!

#1 DIY Christmas Garland: Lighted Pine Garland

We added lighted garland to our archways…. such a spectacular difference! (Check out the how-to with the product links here.) That archway garland got me thinking of all the different types of Christmas Garland. That led me to creating these 3 Festive DIY Christmas Garland Ideas!

This year I started stringing some DIY garlands and just kept going… now I have Snowball Garland, Hanging Ornament Garland, Mini Ornament Garland, and Garlands out of Everything! It’s true, the more garlands, the more Christmas cheer!

DIY Christmas Garland #2: Snowball Garland

You can whip a very long strand of Snowball Garland together in minutes! A big yarn needle- some cute twine or bakers twine & those faux snowballs they sell everywhere… Snowball garland is so easy & festive! Snowballs on Christmas colored twine- how much cuter can you get?!I draped mine over our curtain rod. Note to self for next year- attach them to the curtain rod MOUNTS rather than the curtain rod so I don’t have to pull out the ladder and adjust them after we actually use our curtains. Got to keep things functional & it will look exactly the same!

DIY Christmas Garland #3: Hanging Ornament Garland

Hanging Ornament Garland is perfect to hang in any corner or anywhere where wall space is limited but you still need a little Christmas dazzling. If you have the perfect corner for a string of this Ornament Garland, grab Shatterproof Ornaments, Cute Twine, and a Cup Hook to hang it from.

I used 2 different sizes of Shatterproof Ornaments and a dark forest green twine. I love the juxtaposition of the rustic twine with the glittered ornaments! Perfect Christmas Farmhouse Charm. The cup hook is attached to the ceiling, just far enough from the walls so the ornaments clear the wall when they hang. Long, skinny, and shatter-proof- makes it the perfect Christmas garland to add some cheer to this little corner of our kitchen!

Pretty, inexpensive & you don’t have to be careful with it… perfect for our household of crazies;)

DIY Christmas Garland #4: Mini Ornament Garland

Mini Ornament Garlands add so much charisma to smaller spaces! I’ve noticed the selection of mini ornaments has blown up in the best way… and found myself with a whole selection of them because they are SO cute and affordable! I knew I could do something cute with them…

Treat yourself to some mini ornaments! I picked up some from Target and Walmart this year for $3 for a box of 20. String them onto cute rustic twines or bakers twine. Tie knots to keep the ornaments spaced apart evenly. Use a yarn needle to string them if you find yourself wrestling the twine into the tiny ornament holes. This garland comes together crazy quick (especially with a yarn needle)!

This mini ornament garland is made out of mini clay ornaments and black and white bakers twine for our Fold Down Secretary Desk we recently Made-Over. I don’t mind sitting here to work when is giving me these adorable Christmas vibes!I hung some of my black and white mini ornament garlands from the Rustic Shelves above our Coffee Bar. The garland definitely adds to my Christmas Shelf Decor game!

DIY Christmas Garland #5: Garlands Made From Any and All Leftover Christmas Decor

With my rustic twines and bakers twines I started stringing wooden Christmas trees I painted white from Michael’s. Pine needles that fell off of our garland or that I cut off of old picks, acorns I spray painted….. Can not wait to see what you come up! We all need something to make the 2020 Holidays feel a little brighter…. my something new this week is Christmas garland.

DIY Christmas Garland might be the most under-rated Christmas decor that adds that Christmas magic to your home is Christmas Garland! If you think about it everyone has a Christmas Tree…. but not everyone has Christmas Garland. Maybe now you will join the DIY Christmas Garland club!

Walmart Christmas Lights

The most magical Holiday Home starts with these Walmart Christmas lights that are less than $10! At dusk every room in our home is transformed to magical warm Christmas vibes.

These Walmart Christmas Lights operate on batteries. They come on automatically every day at the same time and turn off on their own at bedtime. The wire string of lights look good just sitting on a table, hung like bunting, draped over anything, in a jar, on a mini tree, really you can’t make them not look good….

Personally I haven’t had it in me to get down the Christmas decor and put everything up yet…. but I wanted to start to feel the Holiday season magic around here. These $6 Walmart Christmas lights have done just that and in the easiest way!

Automatic Christmas Lights in the Bedroom

My little buddy helped me set up the ones in our Master bedroom over our Homemade Bob Marley Sign and he told me he LOVED them & wanted me to get him some for his room.

Automatic Christmas Lights in the Garage Hangout

I put some on the coffee table in our garage “Family Hangout” space. Every evening this area looks so inviting now!

I will head back out to Walmart to get some more battery operated twinkle lights for every different nook of our home. These twinkle lights are a great gift too. They are so affordable, go with any Christmas decor, and take no effort to put up. I gave a set of twinkle lights to my mother in law. She, like me, hasn’t had it in her to drag out all the Christmas decor yet. Her Walmart Christmas twinkle lights can add some Christmas magic to her home until she does. And between that and all the drawings the kids made her she is set, haha!

Walmart Christmas Lights Available Online

The exact Holiday Time twinkle light pack that I got for $5.88 in-store at Walmart isn’t sold online. But Walmart.com does have a few of these Holiday Time battery lights that are way longer (48 feet rather than 12 feet) left online for $9.98!

Walmart’s Holiday Time Curtain Lights that are available online for $14.98 look beyond magical as well! I might need to order those to hang from my girls’ bunk bed!

Here is a link to browse all the battery operated lights available online at Walmart. Turn your home into a magical Christmas Wonderland the easy way with a set of these Walmart Christmas lights in every room!

Happiest, warmest, coziest Holiday vibes to you!

Jaw-Dropping Small Bathroom Makeover for $500

Our Small Bathroom Makeover, on a budget, all started with a crack in the bathtub… We needed a new tub. My Pinterest dreams, of a freestanding tub, and new shower, and new tile, started wildly dancing in my head…

The dancing daydreams came to an abrupt halt after we got a few quotes from contractors for our bathroom remodel. Whoa! The quotes started at $15,000- and that is for our very small bathroom. After digesting that, we sprinted the other direction, down the DIY path to our Light & Bright Bathroom visions.

I will detail the projects & cost of our small bathroom makeover in 3 sections:

The Bathtub DIY
Vanity DIY
Shower DIY

And then, after doing a drastic small bathroom makeover ourselves, while on a budget- I’ve got a couple insights to share:

Tips on How You Can Do a Small Bathroom Makeover on a Budget
How to Do a Small Bathroom Makeover Yourself

Small Bathroom Makeover Cost

Our DIY bathroom remodel was less than $500 Total. That is $14,500 less than having our bathroom remodeled. Definitely worth the hard work in my book!

Here is an actual cost breakdown for each section of our small master bathroom…

Small Bathroom Makeover: $100 Bathtub DIY

DIY Window Treatment $35– A faux roman shade made from an Opalhouse Curtain from Target. Check out how to install DIY Faux Roman Shades, here!
Painted Floor $30– The tan ceramic tile was transformed to a stylish white & black pattern with this Floor Tile Painting Method
Painted Window Frame $20– The bisque window frame blended into the walls, but the black painted window frame pops! The tutorial for this DIY project is: Window Grid Shower Upgrade.
DIY Bathtub Tray $15– With some wood pieces and strong glue this spa-like bathtub tray was created. A spa-like bathtub pillow tutorial using a towel, safety pins, and secret hooks finishes off the luxury vibe for the bathtub. Here is how you can easily upgrade your bathtub with a DIY Bath Pillow and DIY Bathtub Tray.
Painted Walls $0– A freebie because I used leftover paint from the rest of the house mixed together to create this light gray. Do you have leftover paint that you could use to create a pretty color for a small bathroom?
Painted Faucet $0– I used the same can of paint and technique as painting the window black to paint the bathtub faucet. Turning all the shiny chrome into matte black fixtures with a can of paint made such a big difference!

Small Bathroom Makeover: $160 Vanity DIY

New Lights $70– Replaced the old light fixtures with these Farmhouse Lights from Amazon for $35 each.
New Mirrors $40– Replaced the big mirror with antique mirrors, from Facebook Marketplace, I refinished with Briwax Liming Wax.
Painted Floor $30– from boring tan tile to this fresh white and black patterned tile: Heres the Bathroom Floor Painting Tutorial.
Cabinet Hardware $20– These really nice heavy black iron Cabinet Hardware and Drawer Hardware Handles are from Hobby Lobby. I got them when their hardware was 50% off. Hobby Lobby’s sales always rotate, so if you are patient you can wait until what you need is on the sale rotation.
Painted Faucets $0– I used the same can of paint that I had for the window, shower, and bathtub fixtures.
Painted Walls $0– Again, I mixed extra paint I had from the rest of the house to make this light gray.

Small Bathroom Makeover: $165 Shower DIY

Large Mirror $70– The White Nissedal Mirror from IKEA, it is very useful to have a full length mirror while getting ready. It makes the small bathroom feel bigger and brighter.
Rainshower Head $45– Available here at Amazon. It’s easy to install & makes for a more luxurious shower experience.
Painted Floor $30– Again, check out the tutorial for this light, bright no-stencil floor tile painting DIY, here.
Shower Grids $20– Here is the tutorial to add these black window grids to your shower. With this DIY method you can create this upscale shower look for $20!
Painted Shower Frame & Plumbing Fixtures $0– I used the same can of paint I had for the window and other plumbing fixtures.

I had the $30 Floor paint re-listed on each photo- so if you take that into account the grand total was $300! That is just mind boggling.

I would even add $200 for paint, poly, painting supplies (pre-paint cleaners, brushes, etc.), along with extra items that always come up mid-project…. That is still only $500 all-in, for this crazy-dramatic small bathroom makeover!

You can also see a video tour of our Bathroom Renovation for Less here:

1. How Can I Renovate my Bathroom Cheaply?

Bathroom Makeovers on a budget start with paint. Paint is the key to transform what you have into the look you want. Paint alone is half of of our bathroom makeover.

EVERYTHING was beige when we moved in. In the before picture I had already painted the trim and the door white with Behr Marque Ultra Pure White in Semi-Gloss. We painted the ceiling flat white and that actually brightened the bathroom up a lot! I created the light gray wall color by mixing leftover paint from the rest of the house.

Lastly, I painted the tan ceramic floor tile into a white and black patterned tile masterpiece. Check out the whole Floor Painting Process here. Long story short, every square inch of the bathroom was painted.

You need to stay on a budget but don’t want to grab a paint brush? Easy bathroom makeovers can be done with just decor and cabinet hardware. The DIY towel holder & DIY bathtub tray & bath pillow are bathroom decor that instantly adds function and style to our bathroom. The black iron cabinet hardware on our vanity is the finishing touch for this small bathroom makeover.

Also, anytime you can figure out how to work with what you have rather than replacing it, you save money. If something is broken- Can it be repaired rather than replaced? For the crack in our bathtub- we bought a $15 Bathtub Repair Kit, rather than a $1,000+ new tub. Thats a huge $$ difference.

I also dreamt of one of those cool grid shower doors.. I made the one we already have look like one of those trendy, expensive shower doors by adding grids to it for a mere $20 (Shower Door Grid Tutorial). The bottom line to renovating your bathroom on a budget is to always try to transform what you have into what you’re visualizing, especially for the big expensive things like tubs and showers.

2. How Do You Do a Small Bathroom Makeover?

Okay, so you’ve seen the before and after pics, you’re SO in with the cost savings of DIY, so how do you do a bathroom makeover? The benefit of doing it yourself is you are on your own timeline. You get to live in, and use your bathroom daily and see what functional needs you have.

My advice is to take it one project at a time. See what bothers you, and what you appreciate about the space as you’re living in it. For us we kept realizing we have no place for clean towels. To solve that we made the Wall Mounted Towel Storage..

While a mass overhaul in 2 weeks is an exciting thought, patience will get you farther here. In the long run, it will be worth it! You can take the time to discover and meet all your tastes and needs. You will also keep more of your sanity and prevent burnout if you do one project at a time and live in it before tackling the next.

Do any of these ideas give you inspo for your bathroom? Please share your before and after pictures with me if you tackle any of these DIY’s! I’d love to celebrate with you and (with your permission) send out your successes to my monthly newsletter subscribers to forward on the inspiration. You can make your bathroom visions come true on a budget, DIY style!

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