Pinterest is full of home decor do-it-yourself projects. Sometimes, though, when you actually try one yourself, the end result looks nothing like the picture.
That’s why I put together this list of doable Pinterest DIY projects that provide detailed, step-by-step instructions you can follow. I’ll also include a list of the materials you need for each with links to hard-to-find items. If you’ve got the holiday decorating bug, or just want a fun gift idea, I’ll share a couple of those too!
Let’s start with something simple for the bathroom.
Mason Jar Bathroom Organizer
Difficulty: Intermediate
You’ll need:
- 8, 12, or 16oz. Mason jars (available on Amazon)
- Hose clamps
- 2 ft by 7 in. piece of wood
- Wood stain
- Picture hanging kit
- Drill & screws
If you’ve spent any time browsing the home decor section of Pinterest, you’re probably no stranger to mason jars. They’re not just for food storage anymore. This farmhouse chic organizer is a handy way to store all those bathroom knick knacks you can never find a good place for.
Do you have Q-tips, cotton balls, or makeup products stuffed in a drawer or cabinet somewhere? This is a clever alternative.
There’s some drilling involved, but the tutorial from DIY Playbook is easy to follow.
Wine Cork Board
Photo: Andrew Smith on Flickr
Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
You’ll need:
- 170 corks (or more)
- 12″ x 12″ shadow box
- Super glue or other quick-dry, heavy duty glue
If you buy wine regularly, all you have to do is start saving the corks, and you’ll be on your way to your own unique cork board. Ask your friends to save their corks, too! And if you’re in the Portland area, stop by Scrap, a great place to find affordable materials for DIY projects, including corks!
According to Pinterest users, it works just as well whether you glue the ends of the corks to the box (as the A Beautiful Mess blog suggests) or glue them down longways like the picture above shows.
Once you’re done, you can use it just like any other bulletin board by tacking up pictures, reminders, or shopping lists!
Make Your Own Linen Spray
Difficulty: Beginner
You’ll need:
- 30 drops essential oil
- 1.5 cups Distilled water
- 3 oz. Vodka
- Spray bottle
- Funnel
You can use linen spray to freshen up bed linens, soft furnishings, and clothing between cleanings. You can even spray it on fabrics while ironing to for a fresh, calming scent. It works as an air freshener too.
A bottle of linen spray can cost anywhere from $5 to $50– or more! But it’s usually less expensive (and more fun) to make your own. You can even create your own combination of essential oils to make your own scent.
This tutorial from Apartment Therapy has been a huge Pinterest success.
Travel-Themed Gallery Wall
Difficulty: Intermediate
You’ll need:
- Plywood cut to 12×14
- Polyurethane
- Rags or Brush (to apply polyurethane)
- Tim Holtz Metal Hinge Clips
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- 4×4 photos
- Sawtooth Hanger
- A bunch of other fun wall art, photos, and frames
You don’t really need all those materials to make a travel-themed gallery wall. This project is pretty open ended — you can make it however you like! You only need those exact supplies if you want to make the same DIY Instagram photo frame that the blogger, Kelly Rowe, did. She shows you how to do it in this post.
If you have a lot of photos, this is a great way to showcase your favorites someplace you’ll see every day. It’s a creative way to remind yourself of your favorite, trips, memories, or family moments.
Rustic Bathroom Storage Ladder
Difficulty: Intermediate
You’ll need:
- 2 long boards & 2 short (length will depend on your toilet and bathroom dimensions)
- Sander or sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Drill & screws
The rustic look really lends itself to DIY projects!
This one is really convenient for hanging towels and washcloths. If you add a metal basket, like the blogger did, you can also store toilet paper, tissues, hand lotion, and other bathroom supplies.
You can find more detailed instructions in this post from the Jenna Sue Design blog. (It’s the first of the 3 projects she walks you through.)
Lemon Candles
Difficulty: Beginner
You’ll need:
(Makes 24 candles)
- 1 dozen lemons
- Knife
- Melon baller
- Candy thermometer
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon oil
- Wicks
- Wick holder
- 1 pound beeswax
- Small paintbrush
Want to add a pop of color and warm up a dark room this winter? Lemon candles are bright and easy to make from hollowed-out lemon skins and beeswax. Pinners say they actually smell like lemons!
This article from Martha Stewart shows you how to make them in 5 steps. These make great little holiday gifts too.
Speaking of the holidays, keep reading for a couple more seasonal ideas.
Holiday Decor: Glittery Branch
Photo: Momtastic blog
Difficulty: Beginner
You’ll need:
- Tree branch
- Plasti-Kote Metallic Silver Spray Paint
- Silver glitter
- Color Fill Vase and Decorative Accents (for an clear, icy look) OR Epsom Salt (for an opaque, snowy look)
- Elmer’s Glue
- 3M Spray Adhesive
- Paint brush
- Pruning shears
- Cookie sheet
Sparkly branches are a great addition to regular holiday decorations like lights, candles, and holly. They’re great around a door frame or in the corners of the living room. Hosting a holiday party this year? Put them on the porch to welcome guests as they walk inside.
The bloggers at Momtastic put together a nice, detailed tutorial you can use to create your own.
DIY Gift: Hot Cocoa Kit
Photo: Kirtsy blog
Difficulty: Beginner
You’ll need:
- Plastic tubes
- Sticky labels
- Wooden stir sticks
- Marshmallows
- Drinking chocolate
- Crushed candy canes
- Malted milk powder
- Mini shortbread cookies
- Chocolate dipped candy cane sticks or mini candy canes
- Wafer cookies
Almost everyone likes hot cocoa. These homemade kits are delicious gifts or stocking stuffers, and you can save yourself a lot of time on gift shopping by making a bunch of them at once.
The Kirtsy blog has a quick rundown on how to put these together. The great thing about this gift is you can make it however you want. Know someone who likes cinnamon in their cocoa? Include some!
Ready to DIY?
Are you planning to try any of these Pinterest DIY projects? Do you have a favorite home decor or holiday-themed project I missed? Let me know in the comments!
And if you want to see all these ideas (and more) in one place, follow my DIY Home Decor Projects board on Pinterest!