I love that the first project on this list is to clean out your drunk drawers. Have you watched Tidying up with Marie Kondo on Netflix yet? All I can say is I have this outrageous need to fold something!! In all seriousness though she did give me on piece of advice I actually put to use the other night! See I have these two really nice rolling file cabinets that I moved from my office space to out in my Workshop thus FORCING myself to clean them out.
I’ve had them for literally 17 years and, ya know what? I’m pretty sure there was stuff in them from the first day I got them omg.
It was SO time to do some purging. I still needed to keep some basic office storage in my office though so I used one of my storage benches just for that.
At first I stacked everything in my bench before stopping myself and then STANDING EVERYTHING UP. Its all so obvious now its literally silly. I can see everything, nothing is buried and it looks like I’m using half the space it would have seemed before.
(The following is a contributed article.)
When it comes to home DIY projects, it always feels like it’s an endless list of tasks that will never get done. It’s the beginning of 2019, so there’s actually ample time to plan and execute a great home project that you will be proud of at the end of the year.
The reason we procrastinate on these projects is that we don’t think there’s enough time or we think we need massive amounts of time. It’s also because we become so overwhelmed and end up not getting into action.
What I’ve learned is there are so many home projects that feel small but actually make an impact on your home and how you live. What are some of the projects you can have done in less than a month or even a week or just a simple weekend? Here are some ideas…
Cleaning Up Your Junk Drawers
Everyone has that drawer, or several drawers they just toss everything into and keep out of sight and out of mind. Whether it’s coupons, unused chopsticks or unopened mail, these drawers can actually become small nightmares.
When a drawer becomes so packed, it loses its functionality. How will you be able to find a specific thing if there’s hundreds of bits and bobs?
Cleaning up your junk drawer is a project you can get done in matter of hours if you really focus. Get a bin to throw out things you don’t need, have a specific box for things you want to give away, donate or sell.
You can also invest in storage bins and put the things you don’t need into a storage unit in your town. According to Livible, a storage company in Portland, “many homes are made more functional and better to live in through renovation, but sometimes it’s just as simple as doing some good old decluttering.”
Instead of doing a great big project for a better home, cleaning out your junk drawers can give you amazing results and make you feel so much better.
(Check out my latest project on how I updated my workshop bins)
A Gallery Wall
Gallery walls look like they require the expertise and time of a professional decorator but they are actually very easy to do all on your own!
If you’re looking for a stylish way to display your art collection, your family memories, and to add character to a corner of your home, gallery walls are one of the most effective decorative techniques. There are many ways to arrange the art, but the key thing is spacing the pictures in a way that enhances the room.
You can use measuring tape to know how to space things and arrange them in a way that tells a story.
Furniture Reupholstery
Breathe new life into an old piece of furniture with upholstery, this is one of the most effective methods for transforming a space without spending a lot of money.
It gives you the chance to make huge changes like colors and completely change the style. The question is whether to do it on your own or work with a pro.
Be sure to watch some videos to see if DIY is a route you can take. If not, you will find many professionals who are willing to help.
(Reupholstery can make a ton of difference, see how I gave my Grandma’s chair a makeover.)
An Outdoor Living Space
One of the best ways to enhance your home is to add more livable space, and one of the best projects you can do is sprucing up your outdoor space, and turning it into a real oasis.
You can add outdoor furniture and rugs, plants and barbeques and things like a bocce ball court, something that will actually make family time more fun.
Make this year the year you transform your home, and it doesn’t even have to cost you a lot of money or take months.
With the right resources and choices, you can have really organized drawers, a great indoor-outdoor living space you can entertain in, and ultimately a home you’re happier to spend time in.
(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)