The joy of DIY has always eluded me, not for any other reason but my own lack of manual dexterity! I’m the type of person who shakes when applying eyelashes. Every time I see various DIY projects, I can’t help but exclaim: ‘What skillful hands!’ Especially after viewing the shares of many treasure trove homeowners on the Yidoutang APP platform, I feel utterly inadequate. For this issue’s homeowner DIY project, I have compiled a list of required materials.
Those who need it can simply tap on it. Scan the code to add my secondary account and reply with ‘1012’ to get the complete list. DIY decorative paintings are cost-effective and meaningful, and they can elevate the beauty of your home to new heights. However, good decorative paintings are often expensive. Why not try handmade DIY, saving money while being unique and outshining store-bought options!#01. 20-Minute DIY Pleated Decorative Panel Cost: ¥90.6 Yidoutang APP homeowner @YoungLee, previously unable to find suitable decorative paintings, embarked on DIY. Friends interested in this pleated painting can learn how to make it.
Materials needed: brush, glutinous rice glue, stapler, pleated fabric (1 meter of fabric for a 60X90 canvas) DIY process: 1. Apply a layer of glutinous rice glue on the canvas and lay the fabric, leaving 5-8CM for the edge. 2. Create texture on the canvas by hand, not too regular. You can also apply some glue on the surface and rearrange for more layered texture. 3. Use a stapler to secure the fabric on the back, ensuring the edges are roughly flat. 4. If you’re satisfied with the plain effect, you can stop here. If you want some color, use acrylic paint in your preferred color, applying multiple coats for better results. #02. Easy-to-Make High-End Decorative Painting Cost: ¥55.56 Yidoutang APP homeowner @IsSugarLord Hey family, let’s get moving and get this self-proclaimed ‘easy-to-make’ decorative painting, which is super suitable for modern minimalist homes, right? Materials needed: black coated oil painting frame (50×50cm), small round lens (12cm), 3M glue DIY process: 1. I have a little baby at home, afraid he might cause trouble, so instead of painting, I bought ready-made ‘black coated frames’. Friends who pursue texture can also use acrylic paint to create the base. 2. Attach 3M glue to the back of the small round lens and then stick it on the frame. It’s better if you have nail-free glue at home, as it sticks more firmly. 3. When pasting, pay attention to leaving an equal width on all sides.After adhering, remember to place it flat. Don’t stand it up immediately for photos, as it may easily fall off (personal experience). Once done, you’ll have a simple yet sophisticated decorative painting with an impressive effect! The key is that the cost is less than 40 yuan, which is truly delightful. Even those who feel they are not skilled at crafts can give it a try. #03. 3D Sphere Decorative Painting, I made it for a cost of 30 yuan.
Materials: Acrylic white panel (22x22cm), blue and orange sponge balls (16 each), hot glue gun. Special note on the DIY process: The official version has detailed steps, which are a bit cumbersome, so they won’t be described here. If you want to see them, you can search for related tutorials online. Here, we only provide a ‘freestyle’ approach, focusing on ‘randomness’. Arrange the balls on the acrylic board and glue them with the gun based on your feeling. It takes about 5 minutes to complete a piece, as shown in the picture above. I made a blue square and an orange triangle, getting a high-value good with a Nordic style. In addition to hanging on the wall, it is also very suitable to place on the desktop or bookshelf as a small ornament. #04. I’m so thrifty, I managed to get a vintage decorative painting for 18 yuan. Materials: Black picture frame (60x60cm), vintage painting core (60x60cm). DIY process: A DIY that anyone can do: 1. Open the backboard; 2. Place the painting inside, the size fits perfectly without needing to cut; 3. Close the backboard, all in less than three minutes! Easily save hundreds of yuan! It looks great just by placing it casually, and you save more than half, which is the wisdom of the working people. #05. 12 yuan homemade checkerboard decorative painting, hurry up and collect it. Cost: 12 yuan. Materials: Oil painting frame one (30x30cm), leather stickers two colors (off-white, brown), scissors, ruler, pen. DIY process: The detailed production process is shown in the picture, you can follow it step by step.Gentle reminder: Do not cut the middle 10 strips to facilitate easy sticking and to keep the frame neat and attractive. Additionally, for the interwoven pattern, this step requires more patience. If you find it troublesome, you can avoid tearing the backing adhesive during the weaving process and instead, paste the edges and tear the adhesive afterward. Supplement: After weaving, if you find leather strips available, you can purchase them directly for weaving without the need to cut strips.
DIY furniture saves more than just a little. If the previous DIY decorative paintings were money-saving tips, then making your own furniture is a significant cost-saving skill! This leaves us, the less dexterous, with little room to maneuver. #01. DIY Internet-Famous Bookshelf, saving over 1000 yuan: ¥200+ from the Yidoutang APP homeowner @Lena – I also want to have this aesthetically pleasing bookshelf! I hesitated to buy it online due to the price but came across a blogger sharing materials to make this bookshelf. I immediately started the project! It’s especially meaningful to save money by doing it yourself! Materials needed: Backboard (170x60cm), shelves, screws, white marker, power drill. DIY process: 1. Clean the backboard and shelves, measure the dimensions with a tape measure, and mark them with a white pen, with each board spaced 34cm apart. 2. Secure the shelves on the white marks with tape, drill holes with a power drill, and tighten the screws to fix them in place. 3. Remove the tape, stand up the bookshelf, and you’re done!️ Gentle reminder: The bookshelf naturally leans against the wall, which could damage the wall paint. I used these foot pads to stick on the back of the shelf. This way, the wall won’t be damaged! #02. Acquire a Mid-Century Side Table, even mom praised me for saving money. Cost: ¥18 (mostly reusing idle items) from the Yidoutang APP homeowner @Xiaotang’s rental house. Since my materials were all picked up from idle items at home, I only spent money on stickers, so it was quite cost-effective…^_^ Materials needed: A board (left by a carpenter), a washbasin rack (bought previously for crafts, similar ones available online), wood grain stickers, glue. DIY process (see image). #03. 70 yuan for 5 minutes, homemade USM storage rack. Cost: ¥70+ from the Yidoutang APP homeowner @Yunketao. Since I posted this project, I’ve heard that the homeowner’s backend has been inundated with requests for tutorials, so here it is! Materials needed: One stainless steel cart, one roll of self-adhesive leather. DIY process can be summarized in one sentence: Wrap the shelves with leather and then install them normally on the cart. It’s that simple, with almost zero failure rate! Whoever does it will succeed! Online, similar items are almost 900 yuan, so this is much cheaper~ The effect is not bad either. #04.The cost of a high-end acrylic partition shelf is ¥100+. Homeowner @OatYooni from the Yidoutang APP wanted to create a clean, refreshing, upscale, and minimalist bathroom. White shelves seemed clumsy, wooden ones were not waterproof, and the glass ones on the market were greenish and not clear enough. So, they DIYed their first piece of furniture for their new home, an upscale and cold-toned acrylic partition shelf. With a set of toiletries and a touch of green plants, the effect is absolutely stunning!
Materials needed for customization: Acrylic partition + alloy glass clip DIY process: Drill holes in the wall → Secure the alloy glass clip to the wall with screws → Place the acrylic board → Tighten the glass clip Dimensions: The partition is 60cm long, 20cm wide, and 8mm thick, with a 40cm spacing between the middle width of the clips and a height interval of less than 30cm between the two partitions. You can own a high-end, buyer’s shop-style shelf for less than 100 pieces! The load-bearing capacity is also very good! #05. Just a mid-century stool for over 20+, it’s really great! Cost: ¥20+. Homeowner @HuluBobobo from the Yidoutang APP also succeeded in DIYing despite being a ‘handicraft party’, so hurry up and arrange it! Materials needed: White embryo hand-woven stool, wood lacquer, sandpaper, masking tape DIY process: Sand the stool with sandpaper, protect the rope near the stool legs with masking tape, and finally paint the stool with your favorite color, let it dry. The black-woven stool is very harmonious with the home style, placed in the porch as a shoe-changing stool; placed on the living room carpet, it can be used for the cat to nap or as a small stool; placed in the corner, it can hold green plants… DIY soft decoration, not just a little bit better-looking. To increase the atmosphere of the home, some soft decoration items are indispensable. Here, home bloggers are active, and the things they make are more and more beautiful! #01. Lazy version of the popular little flower mirror Cost: ¥300+. Homeowner @WuXiaoPangPang from the Yidoutang APP finally couldn’t resist the trend and made a popular little flower mirror in my favorite color combination of purple and green recently. Materials needed: Diameter 11mm circular soft light strip, high-elastic fur balls, anti-collision strips, hot melt glue gun DIY process: 1. Fix the light strip with the supplied clips at intervals with a glue gun, try to choose clip positions where there are flowers to facilitate concealment. 2. Remove the back adhesive from the anti-collision strip and stick it on the light strip. 3. Stick the high-elastic fur balls onto the mirror according to the drawing～It’s simple, you can remove the light strip, it’s also very good-looking without the light strip. Recently, I really like the combination of purple and green, and everyone can color according to their preferences.50 DIY Stunning Clocks Cost: ¥50+
A homeowner from the 6CM app, inspired by a minimalist Instagram-style wall clock, shares a step-by-step tutorial.
Materials needed: Colored acrylic backing board (diameter 350mm, thickness 3mm), embossed number wall clock, acrylic paint.
DIY Process:
1. Remove the protective film from the acrylic board, which is a bit challenging but therapeutic.
2. Color the clock numbers with acrylic paint; skip this step if you prefer solid colors.
3. Install the battery in the clock mechanism first, as it’s difficult to operate after attaching the backing board.
4. Attach the hands in order: hour, minute, no second hand, and finally, the top pin. Ensure there’s space between each hand.
Finally, take stunning photos! It’s much simpler than you might think!
#03. Bauhaus Floor Lamp Without the High Price! Cost: ¥100+
A homeowner from the 6CM app, @Yu Yang Design Studio, reveals that a Bauhaus floor lamp can be DIYed for just 130, instead of the usual thousand or so.
Materials needed: Floor lamp, stainless steel balls.
DIY Process:
1. Inform the seller beforehand that it’s for DIY purposes, and they will help by not installing the lamp head and send you wiring instructions.
2. You don’t need to buy stainless steel balls of the same size; you can buy a combination of sizes to create a layered effect.
#04. High-End Flower Bouquets for Just a Few Dozens of Yuan Cost: ¥30+
A homeowner from the 6CM app, @Twelve La La La, recently bought props to DIY a bouquet, which is full of high-end feel and great for gifts.
Materials needed: Ribbon, acrylic fresh flower box.
DIY Process:
There’s no difficulty involved; just buy flowers and insert them into the holes. Compared to the large bouquets wrapped in layers of paper, this style feels more upscale and refreshing.
#05. Homemade Vintage Calendars That Look Better Than the Original! Cost: ¥80+
A homeowner from the 6CM app, @Larry Pan Pan, didn’t idle at home and used the weekend to DIY the popular vintage calendar. The result looks even better than the original!
Materials needed: Acrylic board, bottle caps, date stickers, round rings.
DIY Process:
1. Use colored paper to create individual squares.
2. Fix the bottle caps with hot glue for a neater spacing.
3. The round rings are wooden bag handles, chosen after looking at many options, and they fit the bottle caps perfectly, not too loose or tight. Color all materials with oil-based pens. The total cost is just over 80, and the result rivals the original, which costs over 1000!
Sugar Lord has something to say: After seeing so many DIY works, Sugar Lord is truly amazed. Each piece is beautiful, and the cost required is not high, yet the effect can rival the original. If you’re also tempted, try to find time to give it a go; you might get the same style! Some of these projects have zero difficulty, even for those who are not handy. No more talk, Sugar Lord plans to start this weekend!