Upgrade your home with these easy craft projects

When it comes to sprucing up your home, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money and time on complicated renovations or expensive improvements. You can easily upgrade your living space with some simple craft projects that can be completed in a weekend or less. Check out a few do-it-yourself ideas that will inspire you to get crafty.

Decoupage a Table

Try decoupage techniques on a table top to add color to your living room. Choose a coffee or accent table for this project, and start by painting the top a background color. For extra pizzazz, pick a finish that has a metallic sheen. Two coats of paint are recommended to cover the table completely, and finish the prep work with a coat of durable glaze.

Wallpaper acts as the decorative touch on top, and decoupage glue adheres it to the surface. Start by spreading the glue on the table, and then place cut-out scraps of the wallpaper. Finish with several coats of decoupage glue and a layer of spray sealant to protect your new table.

Reupholster a Chair

You don’t need advanced sewing skills to reupholster a chair. Remove the seat by taking out the screws and discard the existing fabric. Place the seat face down on your new material while you draw a line about 3-4 inches around the edge. After cutting out the new seat top, set the fabric on a flat surface with the wrong side up.

Now you’ll need to grab your staple gun to attach the new cover your chair. Center the seat on top of your fabric, and pull the material taut as you staple it around the perimeter. You can add a decorative finish such as cording or ribbon with a glue gun.

Memo Center

If you need a place to gather your family’s notes and important reminders, create a memo center by covering some cork board with colorful fabric. Cork bases are available with or without a frame at craft stores, and you can use your choice of material to cover the surface. Simply cut the fabric about two inches larger than the size of your corkboard, and then use your glue gun to adhere it to the back of the base.

To finish off the memo center, crisscross layers of ribbon over the material and glue the ends to the back of the cork. These will serve as a spot to stow notes if you don't want to create a hole with a thumb tack.

Frame Tray

Serve refreshments to your guests in style by re-purposing a picture frame. Transform it into a tray with a few simple touches that will make it a beautiful accent piece in the living or dining room. You'll need a rectangular frame, two cabinetry handles, paint, and a piece of pretty fabric or scrapbook paper.

Paint the frame in the color of your choice, and then attach the handles to the short sides with screws. Insert your paper or material behind the glass, and you’ll have a handy tray that’s both functional and attractive.

Holiday Wreath

With the holidays here, it's fun to upgrade your home with some crafts that celebrate the season. A wreath is the perfect way to welcome guests to your home, and you can create one with a couple dozen glass ornaments and a glue gun.

Place your foam wreath form on a flat surface, and remove the hanging apparatus from the ornaments. Now, grab your glue gun and start affixing the ornaments to the surface of the foam. Evenly distribute the ornaments to make sure you cover the entire wreath, and finish off the look with a brightly colored bow.

These are all great ways that you can upgrade your home in a fun and budget-friendly way. And with a plethora of DIY sites out there, you can be sure you’ll never run out of ideas.