DIY PROJECTS & TIPS
You might discover, like I did, that a handful of well-chosen smart devices can quietly handle life's little annoyances without turning your home into a complicated tech project.
Creating faux wallpaper with a stencil and paint is drastically cheaper than wallpaper, and it’s completely customizable. If your interest is piqued, here’s what to consider before you start.
Angela and Tyler transformed an 800-square-foot plot into a custom raised-bed garden. The whole project was quite an ambitious DIY undertaking that had us truly running to take notes.
Have you ever wondered what other DIYers are listening to while they tackle their latest projects? Team ORC recently launched an extensive research study (a few polls on our Instagram story).
When it comes to maximizing the impact of your kitchen renovation without breaking the bank, few materials offer as much bang for your buck as paint. Kathleen’s finished kitchen is absolutely incredible, and it’s mind-blowing how much she was able to do with paint alone.
Seasoned ORC vet Erin Zubot tackled a major mudroom overhaul during the Fall ‘22 event, during which she DIYed the most charming built-in storage bench. It looks incredible and is a vastly more efficient use of space.
As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to celebrate the hands-on creativity that not only left us genuinely awe-inspired, but are also getting our gears turning for next year. This year’s ORC participants showcased an abundance of talent that deserves a moment in the spotlight.
As we wrap up the year, it's time to give credit where credit's due—the unsung heroes of our DIY endeavors. These six tools played a starring role in turning ideas into tangible creations this year.
Adrian of Addy Does It achieved quite a feat by gutting her powder room and transforming it into this lavender gem, 100% DIY. The amount that she was able to accomplish is completely nuts, so buckle up.
Selene had reached the DIY level where she had accumulated enough tools and supplies that she needed a dedicated spot for storage (if you DIY you know this struggle—it starts with one electric drill and gets out of hand fast).
Although DIY built-in elements are becoming a more and more popular way to upgrade and customize, in builder-basic spaces especially, banquettes are a much less common project. This completed dining nook completely makes the case for DIYing a built-in banquette.
When Carrie asked her 3 and 4 year old sons what they wanted in their new bedroom, they told her they would like space, dinosaurs, robots, and dump trucks.
Jourdan Fairchild and her husband hadn’t planned to tackle their daughter’s closet so soon after moving into their home, but the temporary wire shelf falling down one morning before school caused a change of plans.
When Rachel of sister duo Well She Tried tackled her screened in porch during the spring ‘23 ORC event, paneling the ceiling was not part of her original plan. However, when she went to do a light round of sanding on the old, flaky paint on the ceiling, it continued to flake off in layers and Rachel realized it wasn’t salvageable.
This project and Van’s step-by-step tutorial could not be more straightforward and beginner-friendly, so the possibilities for creating a creative and totally custom headboard for your space are endless.
Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just getting started, keeping yourself safe should always be a top priority.
Before you grab your tools and dive into your next DIY project, check out our DIY safety guide and make sure your DIY adventures are not only fun and rewarding, but also hazard-free.
Although Steph is a lifetime DIYer, she considered herself a beginner woodworker and had never made anything of this scale. She was kind enough to share what she learned along the way of creating this gorgeous, mammoth built-in.
Lizzy Powers and her husband Zach made this built-in window seat themselves as part of their ORC office transformation. Lucky for us, they gave all the details, including what may be the smartest cushion hack ever.
From covering popcorn texture to creating an artistic masterpiece, these five One Room Challenge® participants have some terrific answers to the eternal question: “what should I do about the ceiling?”.
These 5 ORC® participants created absolutely killer DIY workspaces where they can flex their skills with ease thanks to their ingenious storage solutions.
Sometimes the star of a space was found on the side of the road, or Facebook Marketplace for $25, or even already in your own house. There are so many wonderful gems out there ready to be rescued and put to good use.
Whether you’re interested in trying your hand at making your own built-ins or you just want to look through some truly impressive projects, this is the article for you. Here are a whopping 16 DIY built-in projects from the most recent ORC® that will knock your socks off.
Whether you’re interested in redoing your fireplace yourself or you just love having your mind blown by amazing DIY projects, here are 6 ORC rooms that include a fireplace revamp.
You don’t have to be an experienced DIYer with a big collection of power tools to start making big visual improvements to your space.
Assembly is only the first step to a cost-effective yet truly unique piece of furniture.
Slat walls bring a lot of texture and depth to a room in an incredibly cost effective way.
You don’t need to be an artist to make a DIY art piece that looks great and fills your wall space on a budget.
DESIGN STORIES & IDEAS
Some of the most satisfying home improvements are the tiny ones that take less than an hour but somehow never make it to the top of the to-do list.
Last week, on the very first day after the time change, I could already feel myself getting sluggish and blah as the sun started setting at 5:30pm. This year, I'm deciding to be proactive and set myself up for success, and I've learned some genuinely interesting stuff that I'm sharing here.
We're officially halfway through the fall '25 ORC, and wow, what a season it's shaping up to be! We've been absolutely loving watching everyone's progress unfold. In case you missed the first few weeks, here are just a few of the MANY highlights from this season so far.
Welcome back, now comes the fun part! It's time to use design to finish creating a dining space you'll enjoy. The aesthetic choices you make should support and enhance the functional plan you created in Part 1.
If your Instagram feed is anything like ours right now, you're probably drowning in jaw-dropping fall vignettes that look like they took a full weekend (and a small fortune) to create. Not everyone has Martha Stewart's budget or her team of stylists, though, and that's absolutely okay.
As we head into October and November, we're sharing our strategy for bringing seasonal charm into your home in an economical, thoughtful, and refreshingly low-effort way.
When it comes to creating a dining space, the most crucial (and the oft skipped) step of the process is figuring out how you actually live and how the space where you eat can fit or enhance your existing routines.
It is SO tempting to jump straight into decor, but unfortunately even the most beautiful dining room in the world won't serve you well if it doesn't match how your family actually eats, entertains, and uses the space.
When it comes to window treatments, there's an overwhelming number of options available, each with its own benefits and best-use scenarios. Let's break down every major type of window treatment, when to use each one, and how to choose what's right for your space.
Luckily, you don't need to learn a bunch of technical terms. You just need to know which paint works for your project so you don't have to repaint your kitchen cabinets in six months. Let's figure out paint together, shall we?
Although I'm staunchly anti-popcorn ceiling, I am willing to admit that they have exactly one thing going for them: their sound dampening ability.
The past few decades of interior design trends have indeed been steering us towards an acoustic nightmare, trading the sound-absorbing qualities of our homes for sleeker, shinier hard surfaces.
If your home has a bad case of “boring hallways,” fear not! There are so many ways you can make them feel just as special as every other room.
We were so excited to see so many community members interested in tackling mini projects. With help from ORC folks on Instagram, we’ve put together this mini project guide that should answer any questions and give you lots of ideas.
Think you don’t have space for a garden? Think again. Container gardening makes it possible to grow flowers, herbs, and even vegetables just about anywhere—balconies, patios, windowsills, or tucked into a corner of your yard.
Looking to go green? Green continues to be one of the most versatile and beloved colors in interior design. There are so many gorgeous shades, though, that it can be difficult to know where to begin choosing the best green for your space.
Having an office space that energizes you and makes you feel inspired can be such a game changer.
Whether you prefer a bold space that excites you or a more neutral space that makes you feel calm and focused, there’s no better place to work than one that makes you happy.
As 2025 kicks off, our feeds have been wall-to-wall trend forecasts. The trend we’re rooting for the most this year, though, has been ongoing for years now, and has been embraced most widely by none other than Gen Z.
There’s no one-size-fits-all method for organizing your kitchen and pantry, but there is a right way, which is the way that works best for your daily cooking and cleaning routine.
Bathrooms, being small and functional spaces, have precious few ways to bring in pizazz.
Just as it takes skill to be on the cutting edge of design, it’s no small feat to create a space that blends classic and current, and we think the following 22 rooms are phenomenal examples.
When it comes to architectural detail in your home, there are a number of key terms you’ll encounter, many of which can be a bit mystifying (looking at you, wainscoting).
A crash course on knowing whether or not that FB Marketplace gem is salvageable, if it's worth the time, and where to begin.
When you think of “warm colors” vs “cool colors,” chances are you imagine a color wheel that’s split in half, with warm colors on one side and cool on the other. End of story, right?
Pattern is absolutely everywhere. Materials like wood and marble technically have a pattern, so even the most devout minimalist still has to balance and mix patterns in their home.
Have you ever wondered what other DIYers are listening to while they tackle their latest projects? Team ORC recently launched an extensive research study (a few polls on our Instagram story).
While we may not rely on these cutouts to keep our butter fresh, they still add heaps of charm and whimsy to cabinet fronts.
Have you ever happened upon a DIY video while scrolling through your social media feed, and felt a sudden urge to start tackling a new project in your home? Research has shown that watching our peers DIY on social media is like a lightbulb moment.
The One Room Challenge® Spring ‘24 event has officially come to a close, and what a spectacular season it was. Here at ORC HQ we’ve been zealously browsing the reveals. Here’s our breakdown of what we saw making waves this season.
Apparently, hitting your mid-to-late-twenties can cause one to become suddenly and profoundly obsessed with all things organization, which I found out when it recently happened to me.
Since the decade so far has been huge for both natural wood tones and collected decor, mixing wood is absolutely a skill you should have in your arsenal, and it’s a piece of cake once you know the basics.
A lot of the info online about curb appeal is specifically for people getting ready to sell their homes, which isn’t necessarily helpful if you want to spruce up your house’s exterior just for your own enjoyment of your home. There are plenty of smaller tweaks you can make that will make a surprising difference to your home’s facade.
Have you ever stepped into a room and immediately felt a sense of warmth and comfort wash over you? It takes thoughtful design to make a space feel like a hug.
If you’re hankering for a little extra warmth in your space, here are just a few ways you can infuse a bit of coziness into any room of your home.
BEFORE & AFTER
Olaniyi and her husband tackled bringing fresh style and functionality to this space completely DIY, and the finished project has to be a contender for the world’s swankiest basement.
Some homes have a charm you can’t replicate, and Laurie’s vintage Vermont farmhouse is one of them. Her challenge now was to finish renovating the kitchen and breathe new life into the space, without sacrificing any of its historic character.
Tracey turned an uninspired laundry room into a gorgeous green space where working on laundry would put anyone in a fantastic mood.
Galley kitchens get a bad rap for being cramped and impractical, but this one is proof that a carefully planned and well designed galley kitchen can be just as gorgeous and functional as other layouts.
Although Tracy’s (@4009decorates) 11-year-old son’s bedroom was already fantastic, it had a kid-like, playful vibe that he had outgrown. Micah expressed his desire for a more grown-up room that reflected his current interests and personality, or, more specifically, hunting lodge themed decoration and "cool old stuff" (aka vintage finds).
First time ORCer Mary (@whiskandkeyhome) tackled a very familiar problem during the spring ‘24 event—an uninspiring home office gathering clutter due to lack of storage space.
Husband & wife DIY duo Norman and Iesha set out to clean the dryer vent and ended up with what are quite possibly the world’s most beautiful stock cabinets.
While her music room was already lovely, Xin was ready to give the space another pass now that she’s a seasoned DIYer.
The recent spring ‘24 ORC was Brielle of Brielle Interiors’ first crack at blogging, DIYing, and ORCing, and she completely knocked it out of the park with this space.
Laura of Love Living Here Co. put care into each of her design choices, and the finished bathroom is incredible. Oh yeah, and did we mention she did it all DIY?
Linda’s big renovation project has been eight years and two hurricanes in the making, and the result is absolutely incredible.
ORC vet Samantha of Signed Samantha embarked on another room transformation this past fall ‘23 event, this time creating her home office 2.0. You may remember her gorgeous green home office from the fall ‘21 event—with a second child on the way, the need for a dedicated nursery meant saying goodbye to home office 1.0.
During the fall ‘22 ORC, Princess of Noire Motif tackled a gut renovation of her kids’ bathroom. Her goal was to create a bathroom that her kids would love, but that also felt mature enough to grow with them and eventually be used for guests once her kids have flown the coop.
When Shawna and her husband purchased their house a decade ago, they had planned to turn the unfinished basement into a playroom, but the arrival of their third child put the project on the backburner.
Tiffany’s goal was to turn this storage area into to a cozy space with more visual interest where daughters could read and enjoy spending time.
The second “after” was a result of a fire sprinkler bursting in the bathroom and flooding the downstairs of their home, forcing Joannie and Mike to do much of their work over again, along with a few changes and upgrades.
Jana Donohoe gave her builder-basic white box kitchen and breakfast nook a dose of character and charm. A few small changes in the kitchen go a long way, and the DIY IKEA hack steals the show.
Christin of My Homier Home tackled her garage during the fall ‘22 ORC event, and wow are the before and after photos satisfying.
It’s hard to believe this is the same bathroom she began with, let alone that the entire project was DIY by Jenni and her husband.
When she moved into the house a year and a half before the event began, she had already started mentally planning the changes she wanted to make to the builder-basic kitchen.
The biggest undertaking of the project was definitely the DIY faux-wallpaper. Yes, you read that right—that’s a stencil and paint, baby.
Her sun room was in need of a subfloor repair and other repairs, so she had yet to decorate it and make it her own. During the 8 weeks of the ORC she tackled all the repairs, as well as a multitude of DIY projects to bring the room to life.
Originally, the bright yellow space in the before photos wasn’t actually connected to the inside of the house. Rather, it was a storage area at the back of her garage— a less than ideal space for laundry.
Tim’s project had an extra special, very sweet twist: this living room and foyer are in his family home, and he would be transforming them secretly as a surprise for his father while his father was out of the country on vacation.
Makenzie and Matt did almost all of the labor themselves in order to save money for their upcoming wedding, including stripping the room back to the studs, drywalling, tiling, and wallpapering.
This incredible loft transformation is by Dorsey Designs from the spring ‘20 One Room Challenge® event. That built-in is to die for, and Sarah’s styling is masterful.
The den started out with a great stone fireplace and gorgeous wood floors, but the room had no exterior windows and overall felt very dark and uninviting.
Kourtni had already spent a little time updating the laundry room, but wasn’t quite satisfied. She took the ORC plunge, and the finished product is stunning.
Some major elements stayed the same, like the cabinets, countertops, sink, and window treatment— if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The changes Dee did make take this kitchen to a whole new level.
Sarah Gunn started with a great but generic base, and really made it her own without doing any demolition at all.
WHAT’S TRENDING
Furniture brand Wovenbyrd has been a One Room Challenge sponsor for more than five years now, and we are thrilled to have them on board Team ORC.
While we can’t tell you why the majority of Black Friday roundups all have the same 20 products, none of which you want or need, we the ORC editors CAN offer you our handpicked list of 35 Black Friday home deals that are truly worth your attention.
Architectural Digest and Ruggable have joined forces with a collection of 16 rugs, designed by 8 rising star designers from AD’s New American Voices.
If you’re not keeping an eye on Target’s brand collaborations, especially in the home decor section, you’re missing out.
Adding a home collection is de rigueur for brands presently, and Banana Republic has just launched theirs. The look is for those who want global, textural, luxe, and sculptural pieces that still look minimal and neutral.
A special offer from Spoonflower, plus three recent ORC projects that feature Spoonflower peel-and-stick wallpaper.
As we perused all the amazing projects from the recent spring ‘22 ORC®, there was one color that kept catching our eye. The definitive color trend from the most recent ORC event was… drumroll please…
Original art is one of the absolute most enriching things to collect, but for non-artists, it can be challenging knowing where to start. There’s so much amazing art out there, so a little guidance can go a long way.
We’re in the middle of one of the hottest summers ever and aside from being incredibly unpleasant for us, this heat is also very hard on your plants.
Here are some tips and ideas to help you get your plants through this heatwave.
The quintessential coastal grandma is all about neutral tones, understated but beautiful linen clothes, and reading a novel on a chaise lounge with a glass of wine in hand.
Crochet is hot right now, for good reason. Check out these home project ideas, as well as our tips for beginners.
A great rug pulls a room together — and it definitely doesn’t have to be neutral to do so.