Crafty DIY Projects That Every Cook Can Use in The Kitchen

Picture the kitchen of your dreams. Is it neat and organized? Stylish and chic? Or perhaps it's a combination of all the above! Either way, these do-it-yourself projects can help you add storage and personality to your kitchen!

Copper Paper Towel Holder [almostmakesperfect.com]
Love modern design? If so, this copper paper towel holder will add some modern style to your cooking area. The end result may look expensive, but the materials are very affordable — and it's easy to make!

Tiered Fruit Basket
Display fruits and vegetables without taking up counter space by making this three-tiered hanging fruit basket. Its sturdy chains make it able to hold a good deal of weight, while its wooden bases create flat surfaces for your produce to rest upon. [alwaysrooney.com]

Stitched Hot Pads [purlsoho.com]
Whether you're looking to add a pop of color to your kitchen or to add to your collection of textiles, these adorable stitched hot pads are the perfect project. Even the most novice crafter can easily stitch together the fabric scraps used for these hot pads, and by mixing and matching fabrics, you can create a whimsical look that's sure to bring some big style to your space.

How to Give Your Rental Home More Pizzazz and Personality

You want your home's surroundings to reflect your personal style, but this can sometimes prove difficult as a renter. Follow these tips to help give your rental home more life and character!

  • Keep fresh flowers and potted plants around to add warmth and life to your space.
  • Change out the hardware on your kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers. It will make a big impact, and it's easy to change back when you move out.
  • Add area rugs to help define your space and to add warmth and color.
  • Use temporary wallpaper to create a statement wall and bring some color or bold patterns into your space
  • Changing out your light switch plates is such a small detail but can really make a difference. Plus, this is also something you can change right back when you leave.
  • Hang your favorite art pieces around to brighten your mood and inspire you. Instead of hammers and nails, use 3M hooks to hang framed photos and posters.

How to Decorate a Rental [Style Me Pretty]
Dos and Don'ts of Decorating a Rental [HGTV]
5 Easy, High-Impact Rental Decorating Ideas (That Can Move With You) [Apartment Therapy]

Public Domain/Flickr/Anna Bieniek

Style a Catalog-Worthy Bed With These Pro Pointers

Styling your bed can be a little difficult. There are so many different color and pattern options for bedding, not to mention the wealth of options available for pillows and decorative accents! Follow the tips below to create a unique bed that fits your style.

  • Follow guidelines on how to layer your pillows depending on the size of your bed. For example, a king bed should have three Euro pillows, then two king pillows, then two standard pillows, and a few accent pillows on top of that.
  • Use a simple, neutral color for your comforter or duvet cover and add a splash of color with your pillowcases or accent pillows.
  • Place a throw or blanket at the bottom of your bed. Make sure the texture or color matches the same as your pillows at the head of your bed.
  • For a sophisticated look, be sure to make your bed tight with little to no wrinkles.
  • Style up your bed with a traditional wooden, upholstered, metal, or neutral headboard.
  • If headboards aren’t your style, hang a piece of art or a large mirror on the wall above your bed to create the illusion of a headboard.

How To Make a Bed [Pottery Barn]
How to Style a Bed [The Everygirl]
Dressed to Snooze: 20 Ideas for Styling a Bed [Apartment Therapy]

4 Affordable Online Stores With Bedding So Comfortable, You’ll Want to Hit the Snooze Button

Even if you're unable to splurge on the fancy Egyptian cotton sheets favored by four-star hotels, that doesn't mean that you can't create a hotel-quality bedding setup in your own bedroom. Here are a few great sources where you can shop affordable, stylish bedding online.

IKEA
Everyone's favorite affordable home goods store also offers an equally expansive selection of bedding for children and adults. From bright, colorful patterns and traditional floral prints to knitted throw blankets and even plump pillows, you'll find everything you need for any budget.

Overstock
Budget-conscious shoppers love Overstock for its ever-changing selection of furniture and home goods, but the site also sells complete bedding sets that make it much easier (and more affordable) to invest in new bedding. You'll find name brand bedding for up to 80% off of the original price.

Target
With stylish bedding from designers like Nate Berkus, Target's selection is one of the best bangs for your buck. Purchase a complete bedding set or mix and match affordable separates on your own.

Wayfair
With its popular "bed-in-a-bag" selection, Wayfair offers one of the best deals on bedding that you'll find online. This is also great for those pressed for time, as it makes it easy to cover your whole bed in one step.

How to Keep Your Desk Organized—Whether at Home or at the Office

Whether you work from home or in a traditional office, it takes no time at all for your desk to go from spic and span to dusty and disorganized. Even if you take special care to put things in their proper place, you need the right organizational tools to keep up a tidy workspace. Here are four hacks that will add both style and organization to your desk.

  1. Pick one pen and one pencil. If you're guilty of having an unnecessary abundance of pens and pencils—yet you can never seem to find one when you need one—it's time to downsize….your pencil cup. Pick just one good (working) pen and a single pencil, and keep the rest tucked away in a drawer. Put them in a specific spot and return them to their home as soon as you use them to avoid the clutter of multiple writing utensils.
  2. Hang cute clipboards for paper clutter. Stacks of paperwork aren't exactly a style statement, but hanging clipboards can be—if you decoupage them with scraps of wallpaper first. Then hang them in rows on your cubicle wall and assign each clipboard a specific job—one for junk mail, one for outgoing paperwork, etc.
  3. Organize office supplies with a pegboard. In a similar vein, you can hang a pegboard on your wall and stock it with pouches and pegs for various office supplies. Scissors, tape, maybe even a stapler can all hang in plain view, just keep the arrangement organized.
  4. Opt for accordion folders. Instead of constantly dealing with a slew of manila folders, make the switch to accordion folders. They come in cute colors and patterns, and they can hold the equivalent of many manila folders, which makes them much more useful for organizing.

Office Organization Ideas for Disaster-Zone Desks [Martha Stewart]
10 Good Things for a Highly Efficient Home Office [Martha Stewart]
12 Tips for an Organized Desk [Productivity501]

How to Use Color to Brighten Your Home at Millenium Waterway

It’s not uncommon for renters to have restrictions when it comes to making changes to the look of the unit; however, there are a number of other ways to brighten up your space without the use of paint. Here are just a few!

  1. Add a pop of color in the kitchen by mixing and matching brightly hued chairs with a neutral table. Paint your existing set in a bright yellow, rich navy blue, or trendy turquoise.
  2. Set out vases of fresh flowers throughout your home for an all-natural burst of color. Think daisies, hydrangeas, and tulips in equally colorful vases.
  3. Top your bed and sofa with a variety of mismatched throw pillows in complementary hues. While they don’t all have to match completely, choosing one color scheme will help you to keep things looking stylish.
  4. Add artwork from local thrift stores and home decor shops housed in painted frames. You can also try a “dipped” look by painting the entire bottom half of the painting and frame in one bright shade.
  5. Add removable wallpaper that you can easily peel off when your lease is up. Use a floral or striped style on one accent wall for a magazine-worthy look.

20 Ways to Add Color to Your Home Without Painting [Brit + Co]
Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space [HGTV]
7 Ways to Add Color to Your Dining Room [Dwell]

How to Control Entryway Clutter

Are you one of those people who walk through the door and drop everything right in the entryway? If you answered yes, you might be looking for ideas for controlling clutter in this high-traffic area. These simple tips will show you how to control all of those shoes, bags, keys, and other essentials that tend to accumulate right inside the front door.

  1. Add hooks. Whether you have an overflowing hall closet or no closet at all, adding simple hooks somewhere that you can easily reach them makes it much simpler to store your jacket, scarf, keys, or purse when you enter the house.
  2. Add bins. For your shoes, add a few large bins or one long, low bench where people can store their shoes without them amassing a large, unruly pile. You can usually find this type of storage containers at the flea market, thrift store, or any home goods store.
  3. Try out a locker. For more serious storage, hunt for a row of vintage lockers that will keep everything in place (and also create a cool, industrial look).
  4. Add a key hook. If you frequently lose your keys, try adding another, smaller row of hooks where you can easily store them every time you come home.

Entryway Ideas [Martha Stewart]
5 Tips for a Clutter-Free Entryway [PopSugar]
Organizing Your Entryway, Hall or Mudroom [Dorothy the Organizer]

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