Home Improvement Ideas for All Skill Levels

Creative Burnout in Home Projects? Here’s How to Reset

Lauren — Mon, 19 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten raw and personal with y’all because… well… when you’re stuck in a rut, you just want to crawl into your shell to process your thoughts for a while. (Or at least that’s what I do.)

After 12 years of DIY projects (and a lot of paint-splattered clothes to prove it), I hit a wall.

Two years ago, I faced a level of creative burnout that honestly blindsided me. Projects that once sparked excitement started to feel like chores.

Even sitting in some of our rooms made me feel overwhelmed and, truthfully, a little defeated. Ever been there? I’m relieved to say I’m starting to feel that creative spark all over again. But it hasn’t come easily.

If you’ve been stuck in a season where you can’t seem to muster the energy or inspiration to tackle your home, friend, you are not alone.

Home burnout is sneaky like that—it creeps in when you’ve been running on empty and suddenly everything about your home feels like too much.

If you’ve been feeling that creative fatigue too, here are some things that helped me slowly climb my way out of it—and might help you too:

15 Ways to Overcome Creative Burnout in DIY Projects

1. Admit you’re in a burnout phase.

The first step is simply acknowledging it. You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’re just human. And that’s okay.

2. Take a break and rest.

It’s okay to hit pause. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your home is nothing at all. It’s easy to let the feeling of inadequacy creep in as you’re scrolling through beautiful homes on Instagram or TikTok. But it is humanly impossible to go at an HGTV marathon neck-breaking pace 24/7.

Creativity thrives after a period of rest. (I’ve used The 5 Minute Journal to give myself mental clarity in bite-sized pieces.)

3. Re-evaluate your home goals.

Are the projects you’re working on still aligned with how you want to live in your home? It might be time to reassess. Write down a priority list starting with the most important to focus on areas of your home that cause you stress and evaluate how to improve it using what you already have.

4. Embrace imperfection.

Not every wall needs to be Instagram-perfect. Real life is messy, and that’s okay.

5. Celebrate small wins.

Even filling a picture frame with a family photo you love counts as progress. Celebrate it.

6. Look for “quick wins.”

Do a project that takes an afternoon and gives you that instant gratification hit—like spray painting old planters or switching out cabinet hardware.

7. Focus on one room (or project) at a time.

Multitasking your way through an entire house will only fuel the overwhelm. Avoid the temptation to bounce around the house doing various projects in multiple rooms. Stick to working on one room at a time. When you’ve gotten a room to a place you feel good about, then you can move onto the next.

This is how Robert and I have worked 99% of the time on our projects because it prevents us from taking on more than we can handle.

8. Create a stress-free zone.

Pick a corner or room in your house that feels peaceful and make it your retreat. No tools or displaced clutter allowed in that area, especially if you’re in the middle of a room remodel.

9. Leave your house.

Sometimes the best way to love your home again is to step away from it—take a walk, visit a friend, or plan a little weekend getaway.

Our family even planned a “staycation” at a hotel just 20 minutes away for a weekend to set boundaries when we were in the middle of a messy bathroom remodel and it was exactly what we needed.

10. Communicate your needs to your family.

Your home is shared space. Let your household in on how you’re feeling and how they can help. Have a family meeting. Make a chart to assign household tasks to everyone. Whatever you have to do to communicate that your home is overwhelming you, don’t stay quiet about it.

11. Find balance.

Do things that have nothing to do with DIY—read a book, dance in your kitchen, learn how to bake your favorite dessert. But I have one caveat for you: resist a screen at all costs. Avoid the doom scrolling on social media. That won’t help. Unplug.

I’ve been spending time on a Goodreads rampage lately, and it has been so good for my mental rest.

12. Connect with other DIYers.

Finding community with others who “get it” can reignite your creative spark. (Shameless plug: DIY Decorator School is a great place to do that.)

13. Declutter a room, closet, or drawer.

When your space feels lighter, your mind will too. Choose just one drawer or closet, set a timer for 20 minutes, and start decluttering. Then check in on yourself to see how you feel.

14. Experiment.

Try that bold paint color you’ve been eyeing. Shake things up. Sometimes a little bravery can bring back the fun. When I stepped outside of my comfort zone and started choosing bold paint colors to refresh some of our tired spaces, it ignited a creative fire in me.

15. Identify the Root of Your Stress.

Are you stressed about your finances? Take on a $0 DIY project (I promise they exist).

Are you stressed about a style identity crisis? Maybe give ChatGPT a whirl to “try on” some ideas.

Are you stressed about conflicts lately with your spouse when you’re doing home projects together? Here’s our Design Lab Partner Workshop to help.

And if you’re stressed because life is busy and you’re physically exhausted, listen to your body. A perfect home isn’t worth your sanity. Because I’m telling you, a home is hardly ever “finished”. Stop beating yourself up trying to chase it. Creativity isn’t a constant steady stream; it comes in waves. Don’t force it.

If there’s anything I’ve learned over these past couple of years, it’s this: Our homes are more than walls and furniture. They’re the backdrop of our everyday lives. And the way we feel in our homes affects our emotional and mental well-being in big ways.

I’ve become (maybe oddly?) pretty passionate about navigating the ups and downs of creative burnout, especially after going through it myself. Over the past couple of years, I’ve explored so many different ways to reignite that spark.

Some methods might seem a little unconventional, and others can take a bit of time and patience, but every single one has been surprisingly impactful in helping me feel more inspired and at ease in my home again.

Even if you only try one thing from my list and it helps you reconnect with your love for DIY, that’s a huge win in my book. I hope this gave you some fresh ideas to work through your own burnout season with a little more grace and encouragement.

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Designer Shingle Roof Makeover (Was It Worth It?)

Lauren — Thu, 01 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

If you’ve been following along on my Instagram, you already got a few sneak peeks of this big project we’ve had going on behind the scenes. Well… it’s finally time for the official reveal. We just had our old roof replaced with gorgeous designer shingles, and we are completely smitten with how it turned out!

What started as a stressful surprise from Hurricane Helene turned into a blessing in disguise.

Thanks to our insurance company covering most of the cost, we were able to upgrade our roof in a way that seriously upped our home’s curb appeal—and longevity too. We did a ton of research and pulled together all of the info so you don’t have to, if it’s on your home improvement list.

Architectural Shingles vs Designer Shingles

Here is what our roof looked like before… these were architectural shingles, which were already an upgrade from standard 3-tab shingles, but designer ones were an even bigger upgrade.

Architectural shingles offer a durable, dimensional look at a moderate price (about $5.50 to $12.25 per square foot), while designer shingles provide a thicker, more detailed, high-end appearance that mimics premium materials like slate or cedar at a higher cost (about $12.50 to $15.50 per square foot).

Why We Chose Designer Roof Shingles

When we found out our roof needed to be replaced, we figured—if we’re already going through the hassle, why not go all in and choose something we really want?

I didn’t know much about shingle options out there, just that there were definitely better looking ones than what we already had. That’s when we stumbled into the world of designer shingles.

These aren’t your basic builder-grade 3-tab shingles. Designer shingles are made to mimic the look of high-end materials like slate or cedar shake, and they bring so much texture, depth, and character to a roof.

We chose CertainTeed Belmont luxury shingles in the color Colonial Slate.

Ours have that classic, timeless look with a subtle variation in tone that adds instant charm. It’s the kind of detail you don’t always notice right away… until you do. And then you can’t unsee it—in the best way.

What Makes Designer Shingles Different?

Here’s how designer shingles stack up against standard ones:

✨ Pros of Designer Shingles

Better curb appeal: They’re styled to look like upscale roofing materials but without the sky-high price tag of slate or wood.
More durable: They’re thicker and heavier, which means they hold up better in high winds and harsh weather (huge for us, in an area that experiences hurricanes often).
Longer lifespan: Depending on the brand and installation, they can last 30 years to 50 years or more.
More color and style options: Whether your home leans traditional, modern, or anything in between, there’s likely a designer shingle style that fits.

🤔 Cons to Consider

Higher upfront cost: Compared to basic shingles, these come with a premium price—although ours was mostly covered by insurance (hallelujah).
Heavier weight: Because of their thickness, they’re heavier on your roof structure. Most homes can handle them just fine, but it’s something to verify with your roofer.
Not all brands are created equal: Like anything, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a reputable brand with solid warranties. We researched many roofing companies in our area until we found one that we definitely trusted (Taylor Roofing is the roofing contractor we chose if you’re in the Charlotte area). They were able to recommend the designer shingle brand CertainTeed Belmont.

Are Designer Shingles Worth It?

Short answer: YES.

Long answer: still yes, especially if you’re looking for a roof that’s not only built to last but also enhances your home’s exterior in a big way. It’s one of those costs that will eventually come back to you in resale since they significantly increase a home’s value. (Although, we don’t have plans to sell our house any time soon.)

This isn’t one of those upgrades that you only appreciate from the inside. It’s a curb appeal game-changer. Every time I glance up at our roof, I get a little flutter of happiness. It looks just like a slate roof.

I know… they’re just shingles. But it’s one of those little details that makes your home feel more you. It just fits.

I love how the new shingles tie in with our limewashed brick, shutters, new front door, flower beds, and lawn facelift in a way that makes the whole house feel more pulled together.

We eventually need to replace our old gutters too, but that’s a project for a different day. I love the idea of copper gutters… it’s just a matter of deciding if those are worth the higher price tag.

We’re beyond happy with how our roof turned out, and I hope this gives you some helpful info if you’re ever faced with the same decision.

More Curb Appeal Resources

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Why We’d Pick Provincial Stained Floors Every Single Time

Lauren — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:02:06 +0000

I don’t usually like to play favorites, but if there’s one home design choice I’d make again and again without a second of hesitation, it’s this: provincial stained hardwood floors.

Classic. Warm. Timeless. And totally underrated, if you ask me.

When we first moved into our 1960 colonial home, the original hardwood floors were one of the first things that stole my heart. They had that warm, medium brown tone that just felt right. Not too dark. Not too light. Not too orange or gray. Just… right.

Wood stain color is a question I get asked about a LOT. And when it comes to making big, expensive decisions, my answer will always be to choose timeless. (Timelessness is something I definitely address in my DIY Decorator School course.) Provincial stain is exactly that.

A Color That Transcends Trends

From pickled and bleached finishes in the early 2000s to the cool-gray craze of the 2010s, I’ve seen it all sweep through Pinterest like wildfire. But through it all, our provincial-stained floors have stood strong, never looking dated, never screaming for an update.

It’s the Goldilocks of wood stains: rich enough to give depth and dimension, but soft enough to let the natural grain shine through. It works with nearly every style—from modern farmhouse to traditional colonial (hi, us!) to coastal to transitional. It’s the kind of color that plays well with everything, which is probably why we’ve never once regretted keeping it.

A Perfect Match—Even After All These Years

Seven years ago, when we decided to refinish the hardwood flooring in Regan’s bedroom, I crossed my fingers and said: Please let this match.

Spoiler: It did.

Our contractor sanded everything down and restained the floors in Minwax Provincial wood stain, and to this day, you would never know that room wasn’t part of the original floor plan. It blends seamlessly with the rest of the house and proves just how consistent and reliable this stain color really is.

Matching old wood tones can be tricky—different species, aging, sun exposure… it’s a whole thing. But provincial has that chameleon-like ability to pull everything together. Warm oak from 1960? Fresh boards from 2017? Doesn’t matter. It just works.

What We Still Haven’t Done (Yet!)

We still have one little secret hiding under the carpet in our guest bedroom: more hardwood floors, original to the house.

We haven’t touched them (yet), but it’s high on our project list for later this year. And you better believe when the time comes, we’ll be pulling that carpet up and giving those floors the same provincial stain treatment.

Honestly, I’m itching to get to it, because I know once it’s done, it’ll feel like the final puzzle piece snapping into place.

Why Provincial Stain Just Works

If you’re currently standing over a sea of stain samples with your head spinning, let me make the case for a provincial floor real quick:

Timeless appeal – This isn’t a trendy stain you’ll regret in five years. It has real staying power.
Versatile warmth – It pairs beautifully with whites, blacks, grays, natural wood tones, and even pops of color. No clashing.
Hides dirt and dust – Dark stains show every speck. Light stains can look washed out. Provincial is the perfect middle ground.
Easier to match – Whether you’re touching up old floors or blending new and old together, provincial makes the job much less stressful.
Enhances the grain – It brings out the character of the wood without masking it, which is especially gorgeous with red or white oak.

If you need a runner-up to provincial, Minwax Special Walnut comes in at a very close, slightly lighter second for me in terms of timelessness.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes I scroll through flooring inspo and wonder if I should be tempted by those pale whitewashed planks or moody espresso hues. But then I look down at our floors—some 60+ years old and still going strong—and remember: provincial stain was the right call. It still is.

If you’re choosing floors for your home or debating a refinish, take it from someone who’s lived with provincial-stained floors for years: you won’t regret it. Some things just don’t go out of style.

More Wood Stain Resources

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DIY Fireplace Molding Makeover With Traditional Style

Lauren — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:45:00 +0000

The project I’ve been wanting to do for YEARS is finally finished!

Our federal colonial house deserved a federal colonial style fireplace to match, so we made it happen with a traditional molding makeover. (Just in time for Christmas.)

The simple mantel was totally fine before, but it was due for a paint job after these 8 years. So we figured, we might as well add some embellishments while we were at it.

How to Add Traditional Molding to a Mantel

This project can totally be finished in 2 days. So if it’s something you want to do before Christmas hits, it’s definitely possible to tackle in a weekend!

All of the supplies for the project cost us $393 (not including our power tools).

There is a way to adapt this DIY project to get by with basic power tools without the use of a pricey compound miter saw, so you can save a little bit on the overall cost, if necessary.

Supplies

Tools

Power drill/driver
23 gauge pin nailer
Compact router kit (not totally necessary but does elevate the look a bit)
Compound miter saw

Cheaper Power Tool Alternatives

For a less expensive approach, you can use a miter box and hand saw. Cutting the molding will take a little longer than a circular saw or compound miter saw, but it’s definitely do-able.

For a mid-range budget approach, you can use a circular saw. The cuts will take a little longer than a compound miter saw to get them exact, but it’s possible to make it work. You will still need to use the miter box and hand saw to handle any angled, miter cuts.

However, the fastest and most efficient saw to use for this project is a compound miter saw.

*It took us several years to save up for a compound miter saw, and we managed to do several molding projects just using a miter box and circular saw. You can also rent a miter saw, if you’d like.

To have a blank slate to work with, we used the pry bar to remove the existing molding under the mantel shelf first.

How to Add Pilaster and Plinth to Mantel Leg

Measure the mantel leg from hearth to shelf.

2. Cut the pilaster molding in the middle at an angle on the miter saw to the length you need to fit the mantel leg. You’ll attach the pilaster molding in two separate pieces in the next step.

3. Add the top part of the pilaster molding to the mantel leg by pre-drilling at the plinth. Attach the molding to the facing leg with screws.

4. Repeat the process in step 3 attaching the bottom section of the pilaster molding.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 on the other mantel leg.

Adding a Fluted Mantel Header

Measure the width of the header space between the two mantel legs.

2. Cut the square molding to the width of the header using either a circular saw or miter saw. Cut a second piece of square molding to the same length as the first.

3. Use a level to trace a line between the mantel legs as a guide for step 4. (The top square molding piece should be 1 inch below the shelf.)

4. Attach the two square molding pieces to the lines at the top and bottom of the header with a pin nailer.

6. Measure the distance between the top and bottom square molding pieces on the header.

7. Cut two more square molding pieces to the measurement in step 6.

8. Cut multiple pieces of fluted casing to the same measurement in step 7.

9. We had to trim the edges of the fluted casing with the miter saw to make the fluted pattern look continuous on the header in the next step.

10. Attach the square molding pieces to the sides of the header with the pin nailer to make a box shape.

11. Then, attach the fluted casing pieces inside of the molding box.

12. Using the miter saw again (or the miter box and hand saw), add the 1 in traditional panel molding underneath the shelf. Wrap the plinth block with the same panel molding. Don’t stress too much about any small gaps. Caulk can fix a lot of woodworking sins.

How to Attach Onlays

1. Use a pencil to measure and mark the center of the plinth block on the pilaster molding.

2. Attach the onlays onto the center of the plinth blocks with heavy duty construction adhesive.

3. Make a center block with the edge-glued hardwood piece by cutting it to fit over the fluted molding on the header.

4. You can choose to leave a straight edge on the center block, but if you want to add a little detail, route the edges for a more traditional look.

5. Attach the hardwood block to the center of the header using wood screws (be sure to pre-drill first).

6. Add the wreath onlay to the block using construction adhesive.

7. Once all construction adhesive is dry, caulk all edges and fill all pin holes and screw holes with wood filler.

8. Once wood filler is dry, sand it smooth.

9. Finally, prime and paint.

Finished Federal Colonial Style Fireplace Molding

I love how this fireplace makeover turned out! And even better, the style matches the colonial style of our house, so it all feels cohesive together.

Since I had to choose the paint color in a hurry, I didn’t realize how light this color Behr Even Better Beige would be. I thought it would be a tad darker, but I like how it subtly stands out against our white walls (painted Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee).

Of course we couldn’t wait longer than 2 seconds to start styling it up for Christmas with my favorite pine garland.

I don’t know if I have the heart to cover up these pretty details with stockings, so those might end up relocated to the media room fireplace this year.

I’m thinking maybe I should paint our fireplace screen with high heat gold spray paint next. What do you think?

Living Room Decor Sources

More DIY Molding Ideas

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18 Painting Ideas for Home to Transform Your Entire House with Just Paint

Lauren — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:55:16 +0000

To be honest, I’ve lost count of how many paint projects Robert and I have done after over a decade of DIY makeovers.

But every single one always takes my breath away. Paint is the best way to make a massive visual impact for often not a whole lot of money… that is, as long as you know the “rules” and tricks of paint.

So I rounded up 18 of our best tutorials and tips for choosing the right color, when to use primer, and how to paint all sorts of materials in your house like brick, vinyl siding, concrete patios, cabinets, light fixtures, furniture, doors, showers & tubs, and more.

Seriously, it’s a lot.

Paint is magical. It can make a small room look bigger, make old fixtures look new, set the mood in a home with the right color palette, and even influence our emotions.

It can inspire how you perceive your home in an entirely new way. And most of the time, it only takes about a day with the cost of a few gallons of paint to create.

This post is a gold mine of huge money savers to transform just about everything you can think of in your home. We’ve tested all of the paint methods over the years to find out what works so you don’t have to…

1. How to Choose the Perfect Paint Color Every Time

Follow these tips about how to choose paint colors for your home interior rooms like a pro interior designer. And learn the 3 biggest paint color mistakes most people make so that you’ll know how to avoid them yourself.

Plus, see how lighting affects paint colors so that you choose the right one for every room and love how it looks any time of day.

2. How to Paint Furniture

If you’re a beginner, this furniture painting guide will show you all of the supplies you need and how to know the right type of paint to use for each piece.

Plus, you can find tricks for scoring the best secondhand furniture on a tight budget.

3. Paint Your Concrete Patio or Pool Deck

We painted our concrete patio and pool deck back in summer 2020 and it’s still going strong! This concrete patio painting tutorial recommends all of the supplies you need, the type of paint, and the prep work you should do to make yours last for years.

We also included our favorite gray paint color that looks just like freshly poured concrete. It made our stained 40+ year old concrete look brand new in our backyard! This method works on concrete walkways and garage floors too.

4. Transform Floors with a Stencil

This painted stencil floor tutorial was an easy solution for updating our dated porch floor, but it works beautifully on bathroom tile floors too!

There are so many stencils out there to choose from that we shared in this post to inspire your own flooring update.

5. Know When You Should Use a Primer

Don’t trust the can called paint-and-primer-in-one. There are a lot of times you still need a primer even if your paint claims to have primer already in it.

These 5 important paint lessons will show you everything you need to know to do your prep work correctly so that every paint job lasts longer.

6. Paint Your Vinyl Siding

We painted the vinyl siding on your shed in summer 2019 and it still looks amazing! But you can’t use just any paint, so this tutorial will show you what supplies you need and all of the steps you should know to paint vinyl siding to last for years to come.

7. Paint Your Interior Doors

For the love of everything, paint your interior doors a color other than white! You would be amazed what a difference painted doors make to customize your home. It’s one of our best tricks for making a house look more expensive than it really is.

8. Use This Trick to Paint Windows and French Doors

I wish I had known this French door and window painting trick when we first moved into our house. It saves so much time and frustration and results in perfectly crisp paint lines every time.

9. Limewash Your Exterior Brick

There is pretty brick and there is not-so-pretty brick, and we have zero regrets in doing this limewashed brick exterior back in December 2017.

It’s not technically a paint project, but we love this method because it is so much easier to maintain limewashed brick and allows the material to breathe.

10. Use a Grout Paint Pen to Transform Old Tile

If you want to transform an ugly tile floor, sometimes the best way isn’t necessarily painting the tiles but painting the grout instead!

Re-grouting can be a massive pain, but this grout pen method takes just an afternoon to do. Bonus points: it’s inexpensive!

11. Paint Your Tubs, Showers, and Sinks

I did not have high hopes for this DIY painted tub, shower, countertop, and sink project. But it lasted incredibly well!

All it took was a weekend and a few paint kits to transform our entire bathroom from dirty looking beige to a clean, crisp white.

12. Paint Your Faucets & Bathroom Fixtures

We did this spray painted tub faucet project nearly a decade ago, but it held up perfectly! Sometimes it’s intimidating to change out a faucet, and if all you want is a color change, spray paint can be the easiest solution.

But there is some important prep work involved, so make sure you follow the tutorial to make it last.

13. Paint Wall Paneling

If you have retro wood paneling and you don’t love the look, you can still do a painted plank wall.

It’s not at all like painting drywall, especially if yours has real wood stain, so it’s important to follow the prep steps in this tutorial to prevent bleed-through.

14. Spray Paint Hardware and Light Fixtures

I have painted SO many light fixtures and furniture pulls over the years. As a result, I went on a hunt to find the best gold spray paints. Or to create a finish with even more depth, try this Rub n Buff guide.

15. Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets Like a Pro

You absolutely do not need a professional to paint kitchen cabinets! I painted all of our kitchen cabinets when I was in 6 months pregnant back in 2018. (Except I definitely recommend painting yours without a baby crammed against your spine.)

The secret to success is in the prep work and choosing the right paint for cabinets, so this DIY cabinet painting tutorial will help.

16. Color Drench Your Rooms

See the difference between this gray bathroom and pink bathroom?! Color drenching is when you paint the ceiling, trim, and walls all the same color. It’s a great trick for making a small room look bigger, and it creates a ton of wow factor for just the cost of paint.

17. Add a Pop of Color on the Ceiling

For the cost of a gallon of paint, you can add a lot of drama in a room just by painting the ceiling with a pop of color. It adds so much personality and is a great way to hide ceiling texture too. We painted our younger daughter’s ceiling a blush pink for a whisper of warmth in the room.

18. Color Block the Walls

If you don’t have the budget to add wainscoting to a wall, paint half of the wall with a pop of color instead. We used this color blocking method in this little boy’s nursery.

The trick is to apply a line of caulk to the edge of your painters tape, wipe clean while it’s still wet, and immediately paint your color of choice on top. The end result is a sharp, clean paint line.

Got any other paint home project ideas you’d add to the list?

What crazy thing have you painted? Anything is fair game around here as long as it’s standing still.

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40 Cheap Decor Ideas to Improve Your Home for Under $100

Lauren — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 22:58:11 +0000

You know what’s crazy? A box of cereal costs roughly the equivalent of an hour’s wage nowadays. What is that about?!

I don’t have to be the one to tell you that when funds get tight with groceries and utilities, the home decorating budget is usually the first thing to go.

I mean, the birth of DIY blogs directly correlates with the housing bubble burst of 2008. That’s not a coincidence. That’s just proof that when times get financially tough, homeowners find ways to achieve the homes of their dreams. It just might take a little more creativity than usual.

How to Keep Home Decorating Affordable

It seems like a good time for me to dive into my favorite ways to improve a home for under $100. Because even when finances get tight, it is especially important to lean into creating a peaceful environment at home.

Life is stressful! So you need a place that relieves your stress, right?!

Reselling

The first few years of this blog literally started because Robert and I were newlyweds barely scraping by to pay our bills. I had to refinish and sell thrifted furniture to help us make it paycheck to paycheck.

Repurposing

I looked at what we had and would brainstorm every way possible to reuse items in some new way.

I would move items to new rooms, find ways to reuse leftover paint or scrap wood, and I would scour Facebook Marketplace for free items to give them new life.

Focusing on Order

I would get so stressed out asking myself, “Are we going to make it?” My solution was usually to set a timer for 20 minutes to clean and tidy as much as possible in my path. I called it my “rage cleaning” sessions.

And do you know what happened? I fell in love with the process of making big changes in our home for as little money as possible!

Not only did the creative process help me with mental burnout, but the end result of a peaceful home helped me emotionally too. It doesn’t have to cost much to make that happen.

If you’ve been feeling stressed lately but you crave a peaceful haven for your family, the list in this blog post is for you.

I hope it helps you find peace and excitement and even more appreciation for the home you have.

1. Paint a piece of furniture

Get the full beginner’s guide to painting furniture with all of my best recs. I swear it’s not as scary as you think it is. Walk around your house and see what furniture you already have that could benefit from a facelift.

Budget Tip: If you’re short on supplies, check with your neighbors to see if you can borrow them or if they’re willing to do a supply swap.

2. Clean out your closet

This printable closet clean-out flow chart makes it a lot easier to guide you in purging the clothes you really don’t need anymore. Sometimes it’s hard to get started, but this guide asks the ultimate questions you need to get you motivated.

Budget Tip: Resell your gently used clothing on Facebook or in nearby clothing consignment shops for a little extra pocket money.

3. Rearrange your furniture layout

It takes less than an hour and costs $0. And you can always move it back if you hate it. 😉

4. Spray paint a light fixture to update the look

If the color doesn’t look great, you can always spray paint it again. Paint color is an easy fix.

5. Build window boxes to add curb appeal

Bonus: use any scrap wood you might have lying around already. Check Facebook Marketplace for wood palettes. Scrap fence boards work well too.

Tutorial: DIY Window Box from Repurposed Scrap Wood

6. Declutter & organize your kitchen cabinets

Decluttering does wonders for improving mood and lessening anxiety, which is just a big bonus for making life run a little smoother in your kitchen every day.

Budget Tip: Make an inventory of what ingredients you already have that you might have forgotten about hidden in your pantry. See what meals you can make using what you already have. (A packet of Ramen noodles is easy to jazz up with a soft boiled egg and condiments you probably have in your fridge.)

7. DIY some large wall art

Find a pretty poster you like, use this method to mount art on scrap plywood with a skinny DIY frame, and you’re done. It’s way cheaper than buying wall decor from Target.

8. Paint a room

A couple of gallons of paint can ring in at just under $100 and definitely can make the biggest impact.

Budget Tip: Visit the “oops” section of the paint aisle to see what colors they have that you can use at a deep discount (just make sure you’ll have enough to cover the entire room).

9. Change your shower curtain

That one piece of fabric can make a big statement in your bathroom. And it’ll only cost you about $20-30 to change.

Budget Tip: If you have a tablecloth or window curtain you like, repurpose it as a shower curtain instead. Or keep an eye out in the linen section of thrift stores.

10. Swap rugs from another room

Play musical rugs! (Okay, music is optional but you have to admit, that’s fun.) Swap your living room and dining room rug. Or swap your master bedroom rug with your guest bedroom rug. You might love it!

This rug that used to be in our living room is now in our home office.

11. Swap out a light fixture

I see inexpensive light fixtures and chandeliers at the Habitat for Humanity Restore all the time! Some of my favorite light fixtures around our home were ones I found for a steal on Facebook Marketplace.

If you find one you love but the color isn’t right, spray paint can fix that right up.

12. Change your bathroom mirror

Take down the big builder grade jalopy. (You know you want to.) I found a vintage mirror for our powder room on Facebook Marketplace for way less than I could have paid new.

13. Shop your house and rotate decor items from room to room

The perk of sticking to timeless, neutral decor with lots of great textures is it can be mixed and matched pretty much anywhere.

14. Add a Mural or Wallpaper Focal Wall or

You can get wallpaper that is removable peel-and-stick so you don’t have to commit long-term. I used wallpaper in the wall behind my daughter’s bed only inside of the molding to make a big impact without a major cost.

15. Change your window curtains

Curtain panels are magical because they draw the eye upward to make rooms feel larger and ceilings taller. Be sure to hang them “high and wide”.

If you want to jazz up curtains you already have, sew some curtain ribbon trim on the edge as a little grandmillennial embellishment.

16. Refresh your grout

I had my doubts about this grout pen, but it does a great job! I used it on our discolored bathroom tile grout several years ago, but I’ve been planning to use it again because I was so impressed.

Tutorial: Painted Tile Grout Refresh

17. Organize your linen closet

See what baskets you already have not being used to their full potential that you can repurpose for linen storage.

18. Utilize free printable art on the public domain

There are all kinds of free downloadable art files ripe for the picking on public domain archives! I’ve framed so many free art files around our home (using thrifted or dollar store frames of course) to fill up our walls.

Budget Tip: You can start an Etsy shop or Shopify site selling printable art using free images on public domain archives! If you’re tech-savvy, it’s a great side gig to make a little extra money.

19. Re-organize your bathroom

Even if it isn’t “pretty”, you’ll feel better and the day-to-day function of your bathroom will improve.

Budget Tip: Keep an eye out for lidded jars at thrift stores and repurpose them as elevated bathroom storage. It’s amazing how much nicer cotton balls and Q-tips look in a jar rather than their store packaging.

20. Paint your interior doors

It’s amazing how elevated a room can feel just by changing the doors from standard white to a pop of color.

21. Paint your shower, tub, tile, sink, or bathroom countertop

Word of caution: This project is fumey. But MAN it’s worth it! And it holds up beautifully!

We painted the beige shower, rub, sink, and countertop in our bathroom several years ago before we could afford to renovate it. I was absolutely amazed how well it held up!

22. Organize your laundry room

The prettier you make a laundry room look, the more you’re motivated to keep it that way.

Budget Tip: If you don’t have any cabinets or storage space, utilize pegboard for laundry room wall storage instead.

23. Lime wash your fireplace

I was so intimidated to limewash our brick fireplace, but it turned out to be so much fun! It’s the perfect afternoon project.

Tutorial: DIY Lime Washed Brick Fireplace – Easy Tutorial

24. Paint your bathroom vanity

I use this faux weathered wood look using paint on basically everything.

Tutorial: Weathered Gray Wood Look Vanity Makeover

25. DIY Pressed “Tin” Backsplash

No power tools required! If you have a tile backsplash you hate but no funds to replace it, cover it with faux pressed tin paneling or beadboard for an inexpensive, easy fix.

Tutorial: DIY Pressed Tin Kitchen Backsplash

26. DIY Faux Brick Backsplash

We installed faux brick paneling over our boring builder grade backsplash years ago too.

27. Paint your upholstery

Yep! You can paint upholstery. It’s been a long time since I’ve done this project, but it does work! If you have an upholstered bench or headboard that you can’t recover with fabric, paint can fix it right up.

Tutorial: Beginner’s Guide to Painting Upholstery

28. Add board and batten to a plain, boring space

I especially love it in dark hallways to brighten it up and add character.

Tutorial: Cheapest and Easiest DIY Board and Batten Guide

Here is what this nursery look like before:

29. Beef up your crown molding

This little trick is so simple and quick to do if you already have skinny crown molding or baseboards.

Tutorial: How to Quickly Beef Up Crown Molding and Baseboards

30. Repurpose tea towels into cafe curtains

This project is so easy and cheap! I love the charm these DIY cafe curtains added to our kitchen window.

Tutorial: How to Make Easy No Sew DIY Cafe Curtains

31. Clean up your wood furniture

If you have wood furniture that needs a little love, this method makes it look good as new! The best part is this doesn’t require any messy furniture stripping.

Budget Tip: Keep an eye out for wood furniture on Facebook Marketplace or at thrift stores that you can clean up and resell.

Tutorial: How to Clean Wood Furniture to Make It Look New

32. Make a wreath for your front door

A DIY wreath is the perfect way to reuse any faux greenery you already have in your stash.

Tutorial: DIY Blush and Sage Wreath

33. Trim out your windows with chunky molding

We ended up trimming all of our windows using this method at our old house. It completely transformed the rooms! And the best part was it required no tricky angled miter cuts.

Tutorial: DIY Window Trim Molding – Easy How To Without Miter Cuts

34. Make an industrial shower door

This project takes a day or two, but the results are worth it. I loved how this DIY shower door facelift turned out in our old house!

Tutorial: DIY Industrial Factory Window Shower Door

35. Add fringe to your sofa

If you’re a fan of grandmillennial style, adding fringe is so easy and inexpensive to change up the look.

Tutorial: How to Add DIY Fringe Trim to Sofas and Chairs

36. Deep clean your house

This whole house deep cleaning checklist is a big help.

37. Add potted plants to your porch

Adding plants is the cheapest curb appeal ever. I love getting planter pots at Walmart for around $10-20 each.

Budget Tip: Try to multiply your greenery for free by learning how to propogate plants.

38. Clean and polish your floors

If you’re like me, chances are it’s been a long time since your hardwood floors had a deep cleaning and polishing. But it really does make the entire room look so much better.

39. Hang mosquito net curtains in outdoor spaces

These add such an airy quality to a porch and also help keep the bugs out. They’re only $5 per pair at IKEA!

Tutorial: DIY Outdoor Curtains and Screened Porch for Under $100

40. Declutter & redecorate your kitchen countertops

Always with the #1 rule: Kitchen countertop decor needs to be pretty and functional.

Tutorial: Simplified Decorating: How to Decorate Kitchen Countertops

Do you have any other cheap decorating ideas under $100 that you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments so we can keep this post going as a helpful resource!

More Inexpensive Home Improvement Ideas

24 Free Home Makeover Ideas Using What You Already Have

The Secret to Finding Free Printable Wall Art

Free Ultimate Home Printable Declutter Checklist PDF

The post 40 Cheap Decor Ideas to Improve Your Home for Under $100 appeared first on Bless'er House.

8 Genius Ways to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling Without Removing It

Lauren — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

We have started tackling an area of our house that has always driven me crazy: the textured ceilings. They’re not exactly super chunky popcorn ceilings, but they’re definitely not smooth.

It’s just enough of a slight popcorn texture to bug me… and we all know after a few years of living in your house staring at something that bugs you, eventually you work up the gumption to do something about it. Which brings me to this…

What You Should Know Before Tampering With Popcorn Ceilings

Removing popcorn ceilings can be tricky in an older home though.

There’s always the possibility of asbestos or lead paint that could be lurking there if your house was built in the 1970s or prior. Always use an asbestos test kit and/or lead test kit before doing any ceiling work so you can take the proper precautions.

If you detect asbestos or lead, it’s best to leave it to a licensed professional who can either remove it with the proper safety gear or cover it with gypsum board ceiling panels.

If your ceiling passes the asbestos and lead tests, here is how to remove popcorn ceiling texture yourself.

But if you’re like me, you might want to consider skipping the messy process of removal and covering it with a ceiling material that has vintage character.

Last month, Robert removed the attic fan vent and patched the gaping hole with drywall in our upstairs hallway.

Now that the job is done, our heads are swirling with ideas to cover the popcorn ceiling with a beautiful vintage ceiling treatment.

If the goal was just to have a smooth ceiling, we would skim coat over it, sand it smooth, and call it a day. But I’ve always thought an interesting ceiling treatment would make a great design moment here. (Don’t forget that fifth wall, y’all. It has potential for wow factor!)

While Robert and I brainstorm pretty ceiling treatment ideas, here are 8 genius ways to cover a textured ceiling, if you have one that bugs you in your house too.

1. Pressed Tin Ceiling

This is one of the more expensive ways to cover a popcorn ceiling, but my gosh isn’t it stunning?! According to HomeAdvisor, a tin ceiling costs $2 to $15 per square foot on average. You can fake the look with a cheaper faux tin tile made from PVC. (But I’d personally choose the real deal.)

It’s not a look for everyone, of course. But if you love ornate details, it’s a beautiful way to add character to a ceiling while hiding the texture.

Tutorial: DIY Pressed Tin Ceiling

Source: Peony and Honey

2. Track System Ceiling

I’ve had this Armstrong Easy-Up track system ceiling idea saved for a long time. If you don’t want to glue anything to your ceiling, this is a simpler alternative.

There are several different ceiling designs and colors you can choose from, including faux pressed tin and faux planked styles. The price is approximately $2 per square foot.

Tutorial: How to Install a Track System Over a Popcorn Ceiling

Source: Farmhouse Living

3. Beadboard Ceiling

Beadboard is such a classic material, and it’s easy to install over a popcorn ceiling. Use pre-primed beadboard sheets to speed up the painting process. Or if you want make your ceilings feel a little more rustic, stain raw wood beadboard instead. On average, it costs about $2 per square foot.

Tutorial: How to Add Beadboard to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling

Source: Chris Loves Julia

4. Wood Paneled Ceiling

If you love the warmth of a wood ceiling, this DIY paneled ceiling using cedar wood planks is a gorgeous way to hide a popcorn texture. The panels are very lightweight and can be installed by 1-2 people to finish the job.

Stain the wood any color you like or just have some subtle texture by applying a white wash. On average, this project costs about $2 per square foot.

Tutorial: DIY Paneled Ceiling to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling

Source: A Beautiful Mess

5. Wallpaper Ceiling

Depending on how textured your ceiling is, you might be able to get away with applying wallpaper on the surface. This guide explains what types of texture can be covered with wallpaper. These types work for walls as well. Inspect what sort of texture your ceiling has to make sure it’s a good candidate for wallpaper.

Even if your ceiling is too textured to apply wallpaper directly to it, you can prep it with a skim coat instead.

We chose to skim coat over our popcorn ceilings in our media room and applied wallpaper on top of the newly smooth surface. It’s one of my favorite projects we’ve ever done in our house!

Tutorial: How to Wallpaper a Ceiling

See the tour of our media room

6. Plywood Ceiling

This project is very simple yet so impactful. Just cover your popcorn ceiling with a good quality plywood and cover the seams with 1×4 boards for a coffered look. Depending on the type of wood you use, this projects costs anywhere from $2 to $8 per square foot.

Tutorial: DIY Plywood Ceiling

Source: Woodshop Diaries

7. Painted Textured Ceiling

Paint won’t be the best route for every type of texture (especially large popcorn texture), but if you want a quick way to perk up a plain ceiling, paint it with a pop of color.

Regan’s bedroom has a very slight texture to it, but we gave it a little extra interest by painting it a blush pink using Romabio Barefoot Dance. We might smooth the texture one day or cover it, but painting it did the trick for now.

See the tour of our daughter’s room

8. Skim Coat or Drywall Over a Textured Ceiling

In some cases, you can skim coat over a textured ceiling to make it smooth. Depending on the type of popcorn or texture you have though, it’s not always possible.

Usually, you can install new 1/4″ thick drywall on top of the existing textured drywall, if you don’t want to remove the texture. Just keep in mind that this will lower your ceiling by 1/4 of an inch.

Envision that hallway ceiling without a gaping hole and a pretty ceiling treatment in its place. I’m torn over which we’ll choose, but whatever we pick will definitely make this plain white space more interesting.

Which ceiling treatment would you pick for this hallway and entryway area? We can’t wait to dive in whatever this project may be!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to cover a popcorn ceiling?

Beadboard is one of the cheapest ways to cover a popcorn ceiling since you can buy beadboard sheet panels already primed and ready to hang. Just patch seams, fill nail holes, and paint.

Is it cheaper to remove a popcorn ceiling or cover it?

It depends on what you cover it with, but generally you can cover a popcorn ceiling for less than the cost of removing it. This also depends on if you do the project yourself or hire it out to a contractor.

Should you scrape a popcorn ceiling or cover it with drywall?

Removing popcorn ceiling is a really messy job. Covering it with 1/4″ drywall is usually a faster, less messy process the scraping.

More DIY Ceiling Ideas

How to Quickly Beef Up Crown Molding

The Best Haint Blue Paint Color for Porch Ceilings

DIY Faux Block Print Ceiling Wallpaper Using Vinyl Decals

The post 8 Genius Ways to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling Without Removing It appeared first on Bless'er House.

How to Install DIY Stair Wainscoting the Easy Way

Lauren — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:55:34 +0000

We have lift off in the foyer/stairway/hallway makeover!

For years, I’ve envisioned pretty molding below the existing chair rail on our stairs. But geometry wasn’t exactly my strength in high school, so I avoided it. However, it’s not nearly as complicated as I thought it would be!

Why We Chose Picture Frame Molding for Stair Wainscoting

Robert and I chose picture frame molding for this wainscoting project because it is definitely one of the easiest methods for adding dimension without a lot of complication. (Plus, it’s perfect for our traditional style colonial house. We have picture frame molding in multiple rooms of our house at this point.)

Here are 8 DIY wall molding ideas, if you want other ways to add character to you walls if this more traditional style isn’t really your jam.

Types of Molding for Wainscoting

You could adapt board and batten or panel molding to continue up your stairs too, if that is the look you prefer.

After some other carpentry projects happen in this space, we plan to paint the trim a contrasting color from the walls.

But I thought it would be helpful to go ahead and share our process in case you ever want the tutorial broken down for you to use.

Supplies Needed

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5/16 in. x 11/16 in. panel colonial moulding
Finger joined chair rail moulding
Miter saw
Cordless brad nailer (We love our Porter Cable one.)
Carpentry pencil
2×4 board cut to 24″ long (to use as a spacer)
Wood filler
Paintable caulk
Fine grit sandpaper
Military protractor (the secret ingredient to make this project super easy)

Tool Alternatives

If you don’t own a miter saw or brad nailer, you can rent one from Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Sunbelt Rentals. You can use a miter box and hand saw instead of a miter saw, but it will come with some trial and error.

How to Install Picture Frame Wainscoting on Stairs

Step 1 – Install the Chair Rail

(Our chair rail was already on the wall when we moved in, but here is how we have installed chair rails in other rooms.) Mark 36″ from the tread (the floor) onto your wall to set the height of where you want your chair rail to be.

Following the angle of your baseboard, mark a pencil line all the way up the stairs at the 36″ height.

Using a miter saw, cut the first chair rail piece at a straight cut to the width of your wall. Position the chair rail onto the angled pencil line you previously marked on the wall, and pressed the chair rail in place.

Press the brad nailer at an angle in alternating directions as you attach the chair rail to keep it flush to the wall (this will allow you to remove the chair rail one day without much damage to your drywall if your style ever changes).

Nail the chair rail piece to the wall with the brad nailer. For the next chair rail piece adjoining the one you first hung, cut the chair rail piece to the width of the next wall at a 45 degree angle.

Then, using a coping saw, carve out the profile of the 45 degree cut on the chair rail to make it fit snug to the design on the already hung chair rail piece.

Step 2 – Mark the Box Molding

Plan how wide you want each picture frame box to be below your chair rail. Then, use a level to mark one side of the box on the wall so it’s plumb (straight up and down).

Repeat on the other side of the box to the width you prefer.

Using a 2×4 board as a spacer, press the board against the chair rail and mark the edge of the spacer connecting the 2 vertical pencil marks you made.

Use the 2×4 board again to repeat for marking the bottom of the box by pressing the board against the baseboard (called the wall stringer).

Repeat these steps to mark more boxes on the wall to place your molding later.

Step 3 – Calculate Molding Cuts for Angles

From the molding frame lines you made with your spacer and level, use your protractor to find the exact angle of your molding corners.

Obtuse Angles

Take your obtuse angle measurement (the largest angle) & divide by 2 then subtract that result from 90 degrees. This will give you your obtuse angle cut.

In our case, our calculations looked like this: 130 / 2 = 65 then 90 – 65 = 25 | So our cut setting on the miter saw platform was set to the standard 25 degrees.

Acute Angles

Next, find your acute angle measurement (the smallest angle) using the protractor.

Take your acute angle measurement and subtract it from 180 degrees. Then, divide that number by 2 to give you your cutting angle.

In our case, our calculations looked like this: 180 – 50 = 130 then 130 / 2 = 65 | So our cut setting on the miter saw platform was set to 65 degrees.

Step 4 – Make a Saw Guide

The tricky part about our miter saw is not every angle can be cut without some sort of guide. So we made one to get our cuts exact.

Making a guide will allow you to change the starting angle at the 0 setting on your miter saw from 90 degrees to 45 degrees.

To make the guide, take a 1×6 board and cut it into a 10”x6” 90 degree triangle.

Mark 10” on the 1×6 board, and then cut at that mark at a 45 degree setting on your miter saw.
Repeat this step for both sides of the saw platform.
Next, cut a 1×2 board at 10”.
Screw the 10″ 1×2 board to the 10″ side of the triangle.
Place the 10” side of the triangular guide on the miter saw platform with the 2” portion sticking up. Clamp the two triangular guides to the back of the miter saw platform (see photo below).

This will create the guide you need to make accurate angle cuts. The tips of the triangular guide should not cross under the saw blade, so be sure to leave a gap for the saw blade to pass during cuts.

Step 5 – Cut Molding Pieces

Once the triangular guides are in place on the saw, your new 0 setting angle becomes 45 degrees instead of 90 degrees. For determining your setting on the saw, subtract 45 degrees from your cutting acute angle you calculated in Step 3.

(In our case, our calculations for our first cut was 20 degrees.)

Robert placed the saw blade to 20 degrees, put the molding into the guide, and cut the molding on each side to create adjoining acute molding pieces.

Next, we cut the obtuse angles. (In our case, our calculations for our this cut was 25 degrees.)

Robert set the miter saw, starting from 0 to 25 degrees and cut each of the pieces. You will end up with the pieces meeting snug to form the obtuse angle you needed.

Step 6 – Nail Up Molding

Attach your newly cut picture frame molding to the wall using the brad nailer.

Place the nailer at an angle in alternating directions as you attach the molding to keep it flush to the wall (this will allow you to remove the molding one day without much damage to your drywall if your style ever changes).

Step 7 – Caulk and Wood Fill

Once all of your molding is nailed to the wall, apply wood filler to the nail holes and caulk to the cracks. (Do not use caulk in nail holes as it can crack overtime and expose the holes.)

After wood filler is fully dry, sand it smooth.

Step 8 – Paint

Finally, apply your paint of choice.

After a few more carpentry projects around here, we will paint this stair wainscoting soon. I still haven’t picked a paint color, but you can bet on the fact it will be a statement-making contrasting trim color.

Adding this molding makes such a subtle different on our stairs, but it does make the space feel a bit more upscale. It’s definitely one of my favorite ways to make a house look more expensive.

Envision it one day with a permanent traditional runner rug on those stairs too, but we’re not there quite yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of paint should I use on trim?

The best type of paint for trim is urethane alkyd enamel such as Benjamin Moore Advance because it cures to a harder finish than latex to prevent wear over time.

How high should wainscoting be on stairs?

Place the top of your wainscoting at 2 1/2″ lower than the height of your first floor wainscoting panel. Traditionally, wainscoting should be about 1/3 of the wall’s height.

Does wainscoting increase home value?

Adding wainscoting won’t necessarily increase the value of your home, but it will increase its appeal to home buyers to make it easier to sell.

More DIY Molding Ideas

Here are more DIY wall molding projects we’ve done in the past around our house with tutorials to help you install it yourself.

How to Wallpaper Inside Picture Frame Molding

How to Quickly Beef Up Crown Molding and Baseboards

DIY-able Wall Molding Ideas to Add Character to Your Home

You can follow along on our project progress here in our Instagram Stories! We’ll be working away on this staircase, foyer, and hallway for the next several weeks.

Or sign up to our email list to get more peeks at the progress with how-tos…

What do you think so far? Is this something you think you’ll try? Has geometry ever alluded you too? Believe me, we’ve had our fill of our 10th grade math flashback after this project.

If you try this yourself, ask any questions in the comments so I can help.

The post How to Install DIY Stair Wainscoting the Easy Way appeared first on Bless'er House.

DIY Painted Concrete Pool Deck and Patio That Lasts!

Lauren — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 21:04:37 +0000

A full step-by-step tutorial to paint a concrete pool deck and patio to make it last for years and save thousands by doing it yourself.

Painting our concrete pool deck surface was by far the best money-saving project we did in our backyard 4 years ago. And that’s saying something because we’ve done over 40 DIY backyard projects over the years.

After being quoted a few thousand over our budget by a contractor to paint our concrete deck and patio, we decided to take matters into our own hands.

It took a ton of research of pool deck coating options to find the right method, but we ended up with the best results that has proven itself over time in our pool area.

If you’re looking to freshen up concrete surfaces around your residential pool deck, this post will guide you through everything you need to know.

Painted Pool Deck Before and After

Mistakes are proof you’re trying, right? Welllllllll… we tried REALLY hard at our concrete patio / pool deck about a year ago. And not only was it a mistake, but it was a gigantically bad fail.

I mean… so bad.

The first time we attempted rolling a fresh coat of paint on our bare concrete, we learned quickly that not all pool paints are alike.

Proper surface preparation is key to make it last. (And you definitely shouldn’t try to paint your pool deck while still adjusting to being parents of an infant… that was our situation the first time we tried painting out here anyway.)

No worries though! We found a great way to create the look of a freshly poured concrete pool deck. (We’ll forget about that old paint job attempt the first time.)

Can you believe that’s our painted concrete patio below?!

UPDATE: See the final styled pool reveal here!

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: 4 years later, this pool deck and patio paint is still holding up perfectly despite corrosive salt water from the pool always splashing on it! No scuffs or signs of peeling at all. Score!

Costly Outdoor Concrete Painting Mistakes You Should Know Before Starting

A word of caution: Do NOT use bright white concrete paint. It will basically burn your retinas in the bright sun. Even though lighter colors will help you have a cool deck on hot days, white paint is a big no-no.

(To be fair, we were in the depths of wrangling an ear-infection/colic-prone baby not sleeping through the night back when we made that mistake and that didn’t help our willingness to fix our mistake right away.)

Do not skip the ever-so-important prep work and priming before jumping into the patio painting part to ensure a long lasting finish. That thirsty concrete will gulp that paint right up resulting in an even more time-consuming, costly project.

Always stir in a grip additive into your paint for slip resistance. If you don’t plan to make a slip-resistant surface, you will create a dangerous situation for yourself later.

After over a year of looking at the start of this bad paint job attempt, we finally decided it was time to remedy this for good!

How Much Professional Concrete Pool Deck Painting Costs

We got a quote from a paint company first just to see if it would be better to hire a pro for this big job, and it was estimated to cost $3,000 by a contractor.

We figured we’d give it the ol’ college try again and attempt to keep it under $1,000. And guess what?! We did it!!!

It really wasn’t a difficult project at all. Hot and time-consuming, yes, but not difficult. If possible, I’d make this a spring or fall project (though we managed in July in South Carolina).

DIY Painted Concrete Pool Deck and Patio Instructions

Concrete must be in good condition for this project to work. You can also use this method on most types of natural stone. The tutorial below will walk you through the general overview of the application process.

Tools

Supplies

Valspar Fast Prep Concrete Cleaner (We used 4 gallons)
DAP Liquid Cement Crack Filler
KILZ General Purpose Exterior Primer (We used 13 gallons)
Rustoleum Anti-Skid Additive (We used 10 packs)
KILZ 1-Part Epoxy Concrete & Garage Floor Paint – Slate Gray (We used 10 gallons)
Extra Large Rough Paint Roller Covers
3″ Angled Paint Brush

OUR TOTAL COST: $904.22 (not including our tools)

Ideal Outdoor Concrete Paint Weather

Be sure to check the weather forecast and plan to do this project in 4 consecutive warm, dry-weather days. This project takes 3 work days + 24 hours after work is finished for paint drying. The more high humidity you have, the longer the dry times will be.

Unless you want to experience peeling paint later, do NOT apply paint to damp surfaces. Ideally, you want to aim for surface temperatures between 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, if possible.

Our large concrete pool deck and patio required about 12 hours of total active labor time (not counting drying times between).

One more before and after to show how this painted concrete has held up after 4 years. 😉

Step 1 – Blow Off Debris

We used a leaf blower to remove any leaves and debris from the concrete first.

Step 2 – Clean and Etch the Surface

Work in 10 sq ft sections for this step: Use a garden hose to dampen a section of concrete. Be sure to wear shoes; bare feet are not recommended.

Fill a plastic watering can (do not use metal) with the concrete cleaner & etcher and pour it evenly on the bare surfaces of damp concrete.

Step 3 – Scrub Away

Let the concrete cleaner sit for 2-3 minutes. You should hear it fizz and bubble as it cleans. Scrub with the push broom in 2 perpendicular directions across the entire surface.

Step 4 – Rinse With a Pressure Washer

Use a pressure washer to rinse away the concrete cleaner and remove any excess dirt and grime from the porous surface. (We love this power washer.) Let the concrete fully dry before moving on to the next step.

Step 5 – Fill Cracks and Holes

Now that you have totally clean surfaces, remove any loose paint and fill any cracks and holes in the concrete. Liquid Cement Crack Filler is a great option for a quick repair.

Spread the crack filler with a putty knife until smooth and let dry completely.

Step 6 – Apply Exterior Primer

Apply 1 coat of the KILZ General Purpose Exterior Primer with an extra large medium nap roller for large areas and angled paint brush for edges, cracks, and hard to reach places.

Step 7 – Let Primer Dry

Let the primer coat dry completely up to 24 hours, depending on weather conditions and relative humidity.

Step 8 – Mix Paint and Anti-Skid Additive

In a large 5 gallon bucket, combine 5 gallons of the KILZ Concrete & Garage Floor Epoxy Paint with the Rustoleum Anti-Skid Additive and mix using a power drill with paddle attachment.

This is an important step to have a non-slip surface. We chose the color Slate Gray.

Step 9 – Roll On Paint

Apply the anti-skid mixed paint. We were very happy with the coverage of this paint as we only needed 1 coat! Woot! Seeing the swipe of that first coat was such a relief.

So much better already!!!

Step 10 – Paint Into Cracks and Edges

After allowing the paint to dry 24 hours, we painted cracks, edges, and details with angled paint brushes, but you could do that before rolling the paint actually.

We are SO pleased with how this turned out! The pool deck color looks just like freshly poured concrete!

It did feel a little slippery the first few times it got wet, but as the paint cures, the grip improves over time. So be especially mindful the first few days the concrete gets wet while you’re walking on it.

For any concrete surface around the pool, always caution swimmers that they should never run in case of falling.

Can you believe the difference in this painted concrete patio and pool deck over the last two years?! It breathed new life into our backyard!

How the Painted Pool Deck Held Up After 4 Years

This painted concrete pool deck and patio area still looks amazing 4 years later!

The UV rays haven’t changed the color at all. All of the prep work and the epoxy paint type were definitely the way to go.

We have a salt water pool, and our pool water that gets splashed all over it hasn’t caused any problems in the paint at all. I was worried the harsh pool chemicals might cause some damage, but it’s never been an issue.

We’ve never had to touch up or go over it later with any kind of protective finish.

UPDATE: Here are more photos of our concrete pool deck and patio 4 years later still looking good as new!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of paint do you use on a pool deck?

Epoxy paints are the best coating to use on concrete pool decks and patios because of its durability. However, it’s important to mix in an anti-skid additive before application to create a non-slip surface.

Do I need to prime my pool deck before painting?

Yes, you need a primer coat before painting a concrete pool deck to allow for proper adhesion and help your paint go further without seeping into the porous surface.

More Backyard Pool Ideas

How to Build a Luxurious DIY Backyard Pool Cabana Pergola

Our Walmart Patio Furniture Review Over 2 Years Later

Swim Party Checklist and Backyard Party Planning Tips

The Best Pool Toys for Kids and Adults This Summer

Easy DIY Outdoor Kitchen Kit Build – What You Should Know

See more DIY backyard home improvement ideas here.

The post DIY Painted Concrete Pool Deck and Patio That Lasts! appeared first on Bless'er House.

How to Build a Luxurious DIY Backyard Pool Cabana Pergola

Lauren — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 04:28:25 +0000

A DIY pergola built in 2 days and styled as a Serena & Lily inspired backyard cabana for less to provide extra shade by the pool.

If you’ve ever dreamed of bringing South Beach Miami vibes to your backyard pool, look no further than this DIY poolside cabana.

Okay, technically it’s just a DIY pergola kit we stuck beside our backyard swimming pool back in 2021. But it’s pretty darn fancy for a weekend home improvement project, right?

Now, several years later, it’s still one of the best decisions we made for our backyard pool. When there are no trees in sight and you’re desperate for shade, this project is the perfect solution.

It feels SO good to have this relaxing setup in our backyard to escape from it all!

I’ll walk you through what we used to make it happen so you can build one yourself in your own backyard.

Here’s what this spot looked like beside our pool before.

How to Make a Backyard Cabana Using a Tojagrid Kit

We never would have managed to build outdoor cabanas in our pool area if it were’t for using a Double Pergola Kit from Tojagrid. Okay, maybe we would have eventually managed by figuring out how to piece together decking hardware.

But we didn’t trust our engineering skills to this one and opted for a kit as a great way to have it already planned out for us.

The kit came with shade sails to perfectly fit the pergola structure so we could immediately start enjoying the shade in our new outdoor space.

Prep Work

We had contractors fill in a flower bed with new concrete to have enough concrete slab space for the structure.

The best part about the kit we used is it’s far more substantial and creates a stronger focal point than the store-bought metal and wood pergolas you find in the patio section at Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Traditional Pergola Uses

Aside from using it like a South Beach cabana, it’s a great outdoor entertainment space:

Shady spot for a hot-tub spa
Functional space for a dining table
Gathering area for a fire pit
Perfect spot for a potting shed
Intimate space for an outdoor daybed

Backyard Cabana Ideas

These 7 pool cabana ideas guided the whole vision with some Serena & Lily vibes for less.

All I need is a mojito and I’m set.

If you don’t follow us on Instagram, I shared the whole DIY pergola building process in my Instagram Stories using a kit gifted to us by Toja Grid. My brother and dad were a huge help in hoisting it up with us.

We made it 8’x24′ to give us plenty of shade space.

How to Avoid Assembly Mistakes We Made

To be honest, this project was WAY harder than we anticipated. That 6×6 pressure treated lumber is insanely heavier than it looks!

Hollow Posts

In hindsight, I strongly recommend that you use these hollow 6×6 cedar deck posts so they are easier to maneuver.

Labor

We definitely should have had at least 6 of us assembling this size of outdoor cabana because of how heavy the posts were.

We managed with 4 people, but that was 3 super strong men nearly injuring themselves (and little me setting posts into each base plate as they lifted).

Even though we might still be feeling the effects of it in our joints a little bit, at least we can rest on one of these outdoor lounge chairs in the shade by the pool.

P.S. I definitely stood squished against our fence inside of our bushes just praying no creepy crawlies would bite me while I took this photo. #WorthIt

Outdoor Living Space Inspiration

Robert and I have been so lucky to have visited a couple of really beautiful places in recent years – one was a company trip when he worked in annuities to South Beach, Miami.

We went to Montego Bay, Jamaica for our 10 year wedding anniversary where the dreamy pool pavilions there inspired our billowy curtains.

So it felt fitting to style the cabana to remind us of those vacations. It’s a little slice of vacation in our own backyard now.

Adding Outdoor Curtains

I added these UV blocking curtains and outdoor curtain rods all around to provide extra shade when the sun comes on from the sides of the pergola.

We attached these tiebacks so that they’d be easy to keep open and tamed from the breeze when not in use.

Open-Air Cabana Seating

I got these four outdoor lounge chairs hoping they’d be easier to keep clean than chairs with cushions. My only regret is I wish I’d bought two more since there’s definitely room for six chairs under this pergola.

I think these are sold out, but these are similar:

To have a place handy for setting drinks or a book, I used these garden stools. They’re my favorite kind of outdoor furniture because they’re so versatile in all kinds of places around the yard.

I got these outdoor pillows for a little extra support too.

These Turkish towels are so perfect for by the pool because they’re extra absorbent but they dry much faster in the sun than regular plush towels.

Best Patio Furniture for a Cabana

A couple of years ago, we added these Better Homes and Gardens Patio Furniture Sets from Walmart that double as seating and dining space. They’ve worked perfectly here!

This was one of the most physically challenging projects we’ve ever done, but we truly couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

Over time, we added string lights and solar pendant lights too. That’s my solution for everything outdoors. String lights always seem to be the cherry on top.

Eventually, we plan to do concrete stamping on the pool deck.

The DIY painted concrete is holding us over for now, but it’s proven to be really durable since we did it in 2020.

These outdoor projects always end up being way harder and more pricey than we anticipate, but my gosh they are so rewarding once they’re done.

Backyard Pool Before and After

Just for fun, remember when this spot looked like this when we first moved in?

After cleaning up the landscaping, dismantling the old wood rotted pergola swing, replacing the pool liner, painting the concrete, and building this DIY pergola cabana, here’s where we ended up.

After replacing the fence and adding more patio seating, our backyard pool now looks like this.

Cabana Decorating Sources

If you want to build your own backyard cabana, you can see lots of Tojagrid kit options here.

This pergola has held up perfectly since we built it in 2021 besides needing a little touch-up paint. We’re still so happy with it and practically live in its shade half the year from May until September.

More Backyard Swimming Pool Ideas

The Best Pool Toys for Kids and Adults This Summer

DIY Painted Concrete Pool Deck and Patio That Lasts

Easy DIY Outdoor Kitchen Kit Build – What You Should Know

How to Paint Vinyl Siding & Pool Shed Makeover

See more DIY backyard ideas here!

The post How to Build a Luxurious DIY Backyard Pool Cabana Pergola appeared first on Bless'er House.