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Create quirky decorations.
Meg Baker, a DIY enthusiast who specializes in colorful and eclectic home designs, recommends two unique projects for beginners to instantly upgrade your living room space. The first is his DIY snake mirror made using a rubber snake, superglue, and gold spray paint. If fake snakes give you the creeps, try Baker's DIY plant hangers instead, made from leftover curtain rods. They require lots of light and are great for keeping plants off the floor or other surfaces.
Create a bookshelf with plenty of storage capacity.
Dagenais says you can make furniture even if you don't have the tools.
“The hardware store will cut the wood you buy (for free), so all you need is the dimensions of the wood you need to cut, and the rest is pretty much just a drill,” he explains. “Once you have everything you need for your project, just screw the boards together.”
Check out his how-to videos on YouTube where he builds a sleek mid-century bookshelf from scratch. It details how to make it using very minimal equipment. Or, if you're looking to refresh your existing furniture, consider painting it to make it look like new.
Add picture frame molding to the wall.
Using decorative trim to add detail and dimension to a room's walls is a timeless project that instantly adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to a space, says Jensen.
Farwa Moredina, a UK-based artist and member of the Apartment Therapy DIY collective, agrees. “This is my favorite project to do in the living room,” she says. “It really adds character.”
Change rugs and throw pillows.
You can keep your DIY simple by skipping the build and focusing on accessories instead. Dagenais recommends replacing old rugs and cushions to create a completely new atmosphere. “This is the easiest way to feel change with minimal effort,” he says. Cushions have many affordable DIY options. Shop your closet and make a no-sew scarf pillowcase like this one, or try his DIY remake of a plain white pillowcase.
Create a DIY photo shelf.
If you have a blank wall in your living room sectional or behind your couch, you can spend a weekend building a DIY custom photo shelf, says Vivianne Chow of Viv and Tim Home.
“We had a hard time finding a long picture shelf that would fit over the sectional, so we decided to make one ourselves,” she explains. “For this project, all you have to do is cut the wood to the appropriate length, drill the screws, and stain it (we chose the walnut color). The picture shelves were completed, creating a cozy and inviting space.”
For an intermediate level of DIY, Baker recommends that plant enthusiasts create a plant wall shelf with grow lights for a space-saving and fun display.