Favorite DIY House Projects

Nothing like looking back and reflecting on previous home projects. Most of my big projects really started in 2020 and since then, there have been so many good ones! I’ve lived in a few homes and still settling into my post divorce house where the updates are moving slower than maybe I hoped. But you know, that’s ok! When I’m feeling disheartened, I think back on some of these updates and am reminded how much things can change. So, I’ve gathered some of favorite DIY house projects over the years and hope you find them inspiring too

From gallons of black paint to budget makeovers, there’s a little of everything in here.

1. Painted Black Front Doors

You might know about my love affair with black paint. It runs deep. Well, it’s no surprise then that the painted black front doors are one of my favorite projects. The dark contrast really made this front porch stand out. Using my favorite, tried and true black paint and with a little styling, the front porch went from farmhousey to more organic modern. I am convinced black front doors instantly update almost any home.

2. Kitchen Shelves

This list would not be complete without my DIY wood shelves. During the kitchen remodel, I created the shelving with my brother using salvaged white oak shelves. Then I mounted with black metal shelf brackets (that he makes!). Not only did these look incredible in my kitchen, making them with my brother was so special.

Over time, they became even more of a treasured part of the home as I styled them and changed them with the season. They became a way to express my personality and style. This home project is one of the most frequently asked about updates on my page, I wrote a full tutorial How to Make Shelves and walk you through all the steps!

3. Budget Bathroom Refresh

I’ve remodeled a few bathrooms -one even a complete renovation. However, home design is a tricky balance of compromise and getting out of your comfort zone. This recent budget bathroom refresh had plenty of both! Hands down it’s one of my most rewarding DIY house projects.

Since a complete remodel was just not in the cards, I compromised by framing the builder grade mirror and swapping out the hardware.  I took a leap of faith by painting the tile floors a deep black – and am so glad I did! Overall, this budget project was a complete win.

4. Painted Brick Fireplace

There have been many fireplace updates over the years and each one kind of has a special place in my heart. Typically, they are a major aspect of a room and so any change feels like a massive improvement. I mean hopefully, right 🙂

Tackling the big red fireplace in my home very rooted in the 80’s felt like a risk. I know many folks were not happy about painting brick at all and I get it. But you know, I love contrast and the brick was just too red for my comfort. It made me anxious. In hindsight it might’ve been fun to try and see if I could tone down the red and keep the natural stone look. But, ultimately I went with black and don’t regret it. So, this painted brick fireplace takes it’s rightful place as one of my favorite DIY house projects.

5. Boho Bedroom Refresh

While this bedroom update was not exactly earth shattering, it makes the list because initially, I really struggled to find hope for this space. As a primary bedroom it was pretty small, had a bunch of weird quirks like offset windows, soffits, random nooks, strange lighting locations, and a concrete subfloor. Just when I solved one design issue, I would encounter another.

Ultimately, I came up a with a design that made this one of my favorite, coziest of spaces. Using a bit of creativity, I came up with some workarounds to those building dilemmas making this one of my favorite DIY house projects. It really includes a lot of little projects, so click through to see the full bedroom refresh project. It has only gotten better with time!

Final Thoughts

As I look back on all these projects, I’m reminded that sometimes our favorite DIY house projects aren’t the most eye catching or well planned out. Sometimes, they hold a special place in our heart for other reasons or feel rewarding because they posed such a challenge. I hope this list of gives you some inspiration for your own updates.

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out My Favorite Updates Under $200 and Your Design Questions Answered. Lately, I’ve been focused on house exteriors and am inspired by landscaping articles.