14 fun DIY home project ideas to try

Paint the floors: While it's not a look for everyone (and it's difficult to reverse if you change your mind), white floors pack a massive punch. Preparation is key – so don't skip the sanding and priming. Photo: Maree Homer

Statement lighting: Even if you're locked into a pre-existing lighting plan, you can easily change the look and feel of a room with a new pendant light. New lights should always be installed by a qualified electrician, but you can get involved in the assembly and hanging. Photo: Maree Homer

DIY feature wall: Got an unsightly wall that needs hiding? Cover it with a wall of plywood panels secured in place with a nail gun. You can keep it simple like in the example above, or arrange smaller panels in a more decorative stretcher bond or herringbone pattern. Finish by painting it your favourite shade. Photo: Chris Warnes

Gorgeous grout: Often we put so much thought into our tiles and don't give the same consideration to the surrounding grout. But the right shade of grout (think beyond the standard white or beige), can Make a real feature of neutral-coloured tiles. And it's not as tricky as you might think, thanks to grout stains and colourants that paint onto your existing grout for an instant refresh. Photo: Derek Swalwell

Refresh your joinery: Give your joinery a modern update without spending a truckload by replacing any tired and outdated door and drawer handles with stylish leather pulls. All you need is some leather strapping and metal studs in your chosen finish, and voilà!

Wall storage: Round wooden wall hooks provide a stylish spot to hang those miscellaneous, hard-to-store objects like bags, scarves and hats. Grab some sample pots of paint in bright colours from Bunnings and make a feature of them.

Disguise your TV: While we all love a night in front of the tele, when it's not in use, it can stick out like a sore thumb. Help your TV camouflage into the background by drawing the eye elsewhere – think a textured finish on your walls – or hide it away behind some sliding doors.

Get arty: Gallery walls are a great way to showcase a bunch of smaller artworks. Try to have one common thread that ties them all together – colour, subject matter, frame style – and lay them all on the floor to get the arrangement just so before using paper cut-outs to place them on the wall.

Hang a shelf: Make better use of your walls with some classic bracket-style shelving, which can be used in myriad ways. Most shelves come as kits with all the necessary screws, but you'll also need an electric or battery-powered drill, some wall plugs if you're securing your shelf to a masonry wall and a spirit level to make sure it's not wonky. Go one step further and paint your shelves the same colour as your walls for a streamlined look.

Style up a storm: Breathe new life into those empty corners by creating an inviting "nook". Cover the walls with a roll or two of wallpaper in a fun print, add an eye-catching artwork in an inexpensive frame, then create a vignette of items atop a hall table or bar cart. Photo: Maree Homer

DIY bedhead: If you're handy with a hammer and nails, you'll make short work of this timber bedhead. Have the timber cut to size by your hardware store to save time. Not handy? Use a rustic old door left natural or whitewashed.

Bathroom refresh: It's one of the first rooms in the home to start showing wear and tear, but it's also one of the most expensive to renovate. So in between renos, why not give your bathroom a quick update with just a few simple changes – think new tapware, towel rails, drawer handles, door knobs, mirrors, hooks or a flashy new shower curtain. Most, if not all, of these ideas can be ticked off in a day.

Simple styling: For an alternative and effective way to display artworks, simply lean them against the wall. It's cool, it's casual and you can change it up as often as the mood strikes. Cluster pictures of different heights, using the floor or any raised, flat surface as your base. Photo: Felix Forest

Paint a door: Breathe new life into your home by repainting the doors. A brightly coloured door makes a lovely feature and can be completed in a weekend. Start by choosing a water-based gloss or semi-gloss paint (for durability and easy-cleaning) in the colour of your choice. Paint your door in its frame or lay it on a flat surface, remembering to remove any hardware like knobs and hinges. Photo: Maree Homer

Article by Real Living