DIY vs. Splurge: Home Décor

Have you been eying that empty space in your place? There’s a way to add nice pieces to your home without breaking the bank. Doing it yourself is not only eco-responsible, but it’s also fun, especially because you get to forge a special connection with that unique and original piece.

In the spirit of reuse, these projects will challenge you to use that which has been pre-loved or which you can find easily and cheaply around the house or in the surrounding environment.

Here are a few fresh ideas of the home décor persuasion. You decide: DIY, or spend the cash and splurge?

The splurge: Pier 1 Imports' Seashell Mirror. But don't worry, you can make it for a fraction of the cost.

1. Seashell Mirror

The splurge: Pier 1 Imports’ Seashell Mirror, $99.95

Taking a day-cation at the beach? If you’ve got the itch to collect all those pretty shells, give in! (This is a great way to get kids involved.)  Pay a visit to your local thrift shop to pick up a mirror to create the foundation. When finished, this mirror will create a beachy, nautical feel wherever you place it and is sure to evoke memories of summers passed. Hark! it’s the call of the sea in your home year-round!

What you will need: A mirror with a wide, flat wooden frame; assorted seashells, broken glass and bottle caps; a glue gun; tape or paper; spray paint (optional); craft pearls (optional)

How to make it:

Step 1: Start with your framed mirror. Apply tape or paper to the mirror to avoid a mess on its surface.

Step 2: Using the glue gun, add and layer shells, broken glass and bottle caps around the frame. Lay them out first to make sure you are creating the pattern you want. You can glue larger objects to the corners for a “heavier,” more balanced look.

Step 3 (optional): Spray paint the frame. This works best if you are only working with shells, as the glass and bottle caps add interesting colors into the mix. Consider sand-colored spray paint to stay consistent with the beachy feel. Lightly spray back and forth until the frame is coated.

Step 4 (optional): Using the glue gun, add craft pearls in the spaces between shells for a nice shine.

Step 5: Remove the tape or paper, and voilà!

Bonus reuse tip: Collecting broken glass and bottle caps from the beach for use in your project cuts down on litter, while helping to protect birds and other sea critters from ingesting them. It’s also great because while glass is infinitely recyclable, it is heavy, so if your recycling program doesn’t accept it, you’re helping keep it from the landfill.

2. Cylindrical cup table lamp

The splurge: Crate & Barrel Zak Table Lamp, $219

For more than $200, you can be the proud owner of this Crate and Barrel lamp. Or, you can put on your creative hat and make your own.

This is a unique idea and a great way to give new life to reusable plastic cups, while having an excuse to upgrade to some fancier ones in the future. With this project, you can transform those inexpensive plastic cups you have stashed in the cupboard into stylish retro lamps.

What you will need: Reusable plastic cups (colored works best); a small drill; a heat gun; lamp plugs (included in lamp kits); CFL bulbs; conduit hangers; X-acto knife

How to make it:

Step 1: Drill a small hole in the bottom of the plastic cup. Use the X-acto knife to widen the hole so that the socket can eventually fit through.

Step 2: Using an X-acto knife, cut the plug and separate the wires. (This is so the plug will fit through the hole in the conduit hanger.) Thread the heat shrink tubing over the side with the socket.

Step 3: Thread the piece of wire with the socket through the hole in the conduit hanger, with the socket resting inside of the hanger.

Step 4: Match up the cut wires. Use the heat gun, on low, to fuse the wires again. Slide heat shrink tubing on.

Step 5: Feed the cup through the conduit hanger, pull the socket through the hole, and tighten it so that the cup fits snugly.

Step 6: Twist a CFL bulb into the socket and plug it in!

Step 7: Repeat to make a chain of cool, atmospheric lamps.

Bonus reuse tip: What about those oversized novelty cartoon character cups from McDonald’s or Chuckie Cheese? If they’re collecting dust on the top shelf, make them into lamps for your child, or a child you know.

3. Dried rose centerpiece

Splurge: Target’s decorative Rose in a Bottle, $39.99

Target's $40 Rose in a Bottle is a simple idea you can execute at home.

Want something pretty and long lasting to put in the middle of your kitchen or dining room table? Save those Valentine’s Day roses from going to waste with this DIY tip. Dried roses are simple, classy and elegant. What’s not to like?

When you’ve had a hand in its creation, your new home furnishing will harbor many more memories than one you purchased at the store. Even better, this also means that you won’t be creating any more waste (the classic greenie condition), but rather giving someone else’s trash another chance to be treasure in your home. Save-on-crafts.com explains how to easily dry roses.

What you will need: Responsibly harvested roses (as many as you like); a container (vase or bottle); a piece of string or a rubber band

How to make it:

Step 1: Take a bunch of fresh roses and tie a string or rubber band around the bottom of the stems.

Step 2: Hang roses upside down (to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between the flowers) in a warm, dry and dark place with good ventilation for about two weeks, until fully dried.

Step 3 (optional): If you’re feeling really artsy while waiting for your roses to air dry, add personality to your glass bottle vase with paint or paper-mâché.

Step 4: Removing the string or rubber band, transfer the dried roses into a vase. Handle with care, because they will be brittle.

Bonus reuse tip: If you’re not cutting them from your personal garden, then buy organic or at least certified sustainably grown roses. You can also use an empty wine or champagne bottle as a vase for a romantic feel, if you don’t already have one lying around. This will give the glass bottle a second life before disposal.