Active Interior Design Posts
How To: Remodel a kitchen in a rented apartment without damage
Looking to spice up your kitchen? Watch as old, boring cabinets are transformed into new ones! Items you'll need are contact paper, acrylic paint, masking tape, scissors, plastic lids, stencils, and drop cloths.
How To: Make your own DIY wall decal with contact paper
In this video, Elizabeth Gleeson shows you how to make a super cheap and easy wall decal using contact paper from your local supermarket or WalMart. This is a great way to save money and get creative while adding style and substance to your home.
News: Tiny Apartment Shapeshifts into 24 Different Rooms
Space is tight (not to mention expensive) in Hong Kong. What's the solution? Architect Gary Chang has come up with an ingenious design: a small, 344 sq. ft. "accordion" apartment that can transform into 24 different rooms, simply by employing the use of sliding panels and walls. Via the New York Times,
How To: Create an Entryway Using Ikea Billy Bookcases
Small studio apartment decorating can be challenging, especially when it comes to creating separate zones and keeping clutter at bay. In this video, you'll see how to create an entryway using Ikea Billy bookcases and natural jute grasscloth. This bookcase room divider serves many functions, including separating the bedroom from the rest of the space, and providing extra storage, crucial to organizing small spaces. And best of all, you can take your bookcase wall with you when you move out!
How To: Make a TRON style lamp
The key to this lamp is creating the luminescent shapes which represent electronic circuits or magic spells on the lamp surface. You could also do this on coffee tables or other objects you can make out of plexiglass - get creative!
How To: Make a Light Bulb Vase
How to Make a Light Bulb Vase. Great DIY craft idea.
How To: Decorate a Small Balcony
In this episode, see how to decorate a small balcony to add livable square footage to your apartment by installing a reed fence, and making a bench out of a few plastic storage containers and plywood. There’s even room to include a balcony garden with a raised planter. These balcony decorating ideas can also be used for small patios and decks and will inspire you to create your very own outdoor oasis.
How To: Make a Drum Shade
Do you like everything about your apartment, except for that unsightly ceiling light fixture? No need to replace it, just cover it up with a DIY drum shade – it will instantly give your room a more sophisticated and personalized look. See how easy it is to make a customized drum shade that will fit any décor, all with inexpensive and easily sourced materials. This is do it yourself lighting on a budget that’s perfect for renters and anyone looking for a quick upgrade to their lighting fixtures.
How To: Install a Hanging Room Divider - IKEA KVARTAL
Whether you own or rent, it’s not always easy to decorate a studio apartment to keep the bed out of sight. In this episode, you’ll see how to divide a studio apartment with an IKEA KVARTAL system. Panels, curtains and art hanging from the ceiling tracks give the illusion of a wall, creating a separate living room that’s easy to open up anytime. All it takes is a few simple tricks and you’ll see what an easy project this is for decorating a studio apartment or any space that could use a room d...
News: The 'Electri-City' Tables by Ben Yates
I have an interest in using recycled materials in sculptures, particularly circuit boards and other wasted electronic and mechanical components with which I put together sprawling cities lit with fairy lights. These cityscapes can conjure an image of a parallel society built from what we throw away. Utopian or dystopian, the ‘Electri-Cities’ remain a feast for the eyes and the mind. What makes them particularly intriguing is the population of tiny model railway people—they bring a host of nev...
How To: Choose the Right Color?
Welcome! Today I would like to share a few hints about picking the right color. So, if you do not know what color your today's outfit should be or your or which color you should choose for your room walls, please follow my suggestions.
How To: Hang small & large framed pictures on a wall
I bet you can't wait to hang that beautiful painting you just ran across. But before you try to hang it and damage your wall take a point from Barbara K. In this video she will demonstrate exactly how to hang small & large paintings on your wall.
How To: Re-cover a lampshade
Updating an old lampshade is a great way to brighten up a corner, freshen up a room, and lighten up your life. Learn how to re-cover your lampshade with this tutorial. All you need is fabric, spray adhesive, fabric glue, ribbon or cording to easily cover your lampshade at home.
How To: Upholster a dining room chair
Watch this video to learn how to upholster a dining room chair. Also learn how to keep strips strait while upholstering.
How To: Find the Perfect IKEA Product That Fits Your Space
Looking for some new furniture? Don't know what to do with that small corner in the living room? Do you need more room for storing and organizing, but that tiny gap of space gives you no real freedom of choice?
How To: Replace & Hang a Chandelier
Installing a chandelier can bring a whole new style to your home’s design. Even though it might seem like a job only a professional can do, it really is quite simple. This DIY video illustrates just how easy it can be to install the chandelier yourself.
News: Bedtime... Millenium Falcon Style
Another addition to WonderHowTo's collection of Star Wars mania. We've seen lots - the Star Wars wedding cake, the Sexy Stormtrooper, Star Wars moneygami, the 30,000 LEGO brick Star Wars droid control ship. And now the geek-sexy millenium falcon bed, created by Kayla Kromer (images by Heather Leah Kennedy).
How To: Make cheap curtain rods
Curtain rods can be pretty expensive especially if you need to hang curtains in eery room. This how to video gives you a great idea for making cheap, attractive curtain rods. You can make your home beautiful but still not spend a lot of money. Check out this tutorial and find out how to save money when dressing your windows.
How To: Create a couch slipcover
Creating a slipcover is a great way to change the appearance of your couch. Learn some tips for making your very own homemade couch slipcover with a few expert tips in this free video series.
How To: Make a dream catcher mirror
Are you looking to add to the Native American inspired decor in your home? This video crafting tutorial shows how to make a dream catcher style mirror. While this mirror is not a particularly authentic dream catcher, it's reminiscent of the American Indian traditional emblem. Learn how to make a dream catcher mirror by watching this instructional interior design video.
News: Bibliophile Dreamland
For most bibliophiles, a bookshelf-lined house as beautiful as the Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio's Shelf Pod house is a dream come true. The interior of the space consists of an endless grid of interlocking laminated pine-boards, which slot together to form latticed shelving units:
How To: Fight Mildew Formation on Your Home's Exterior
Mildew can be the bane of a beautiful exterior paint job, marring its appearance even when the paint is otherwise in good shape. And while there’s no way to guarantee that mildew won’t eventually rear its ugly head on any home exterior, there are ways to fight it. Here are six steps you can take to combat the problem:
How To: Build a ceiling grid and add tiles to your home
If you have a basement that needs some remodeling, one area that you should focus on is the ceiling. A bare ceiling can reveal wires and other things that bring down the look of a space. But adding ceiling tiles to the space can do so much.
How To: Mat a picture for framing and hanging
Matting a picture helps it look professional, and is a necessary step if you want to frame it yourself. If you have a frame that is too large for the picture, but you love it anyway, matting will help fill it all out.
How To: Hang a picture so it is perfectly straight and level
So you have a picture you're dying to get up on the wall, but don't want to risk hanging it crooked. This video is your answer! Learn a few tips and tricks to make sure that every picture you hang is perfectly straight and level.
How To: Dress up a room by adding a wall decal to your home
Wallpaper is so retro, but what if you want to add a little bit of extra color to a room? Wall decals are the answer! They're a great idea for renters or people who cannot make other permanent changes to their home.
How To: Select Home Exterior Paints
Find out if there are local restrictions on color Before you fall in love with “Brilliant Blue”, “Gauche Green”, or any other paint color, check to see if any local authority restricts the colors you can use. This is especially important if you live in an historic area, newer subdivision, or townhouse community. It’s not uncommon to find a list of “approved” colors in these types of neighborhoods.
How To: Paint perfect edges using painter's tape
Most home interior painters, professional and ameteur alike, rely on painter's tape to get around edges without splattering paint everywhere. But painter's tape allows for little air bubbles to form, meaning paint can easily seep below and ruin your work.
How To: Freeze wet paint rollers to save paint
If you've ever embarked on a room makeover mission all by your onesie (or with a nice buddy), then you know that when it comes to repainting a room, you generally have a lot of paint left over in your roller that you don't know what to do with.
How To: Tile a kitchen floor with a border
In this video, we learn how to tile a kitchen floor with a border. First, you need to remove the flooring that is currently on the ground and sweep it clean. After this, lay down the paste and then the filling for the middle of it on top of the paste. Make sure this is pressed down firmly, then lay down the white paste on top of it. From here, you will be able to la down the tiles in a pattern that will make all of them line up together. Place the border around the sides and you will be finis...
How To: Lay floor tiles
In this video, we learn how to lay floor tiles. Lay the tiles in a diamond pattern, using a tape measure to make sure you have enough of them. You will need to cut the corner tiles so they fit in with the rest of them. Lay the tile adhesive down first before you lay the tiles down and make sure they are pushed down into place securely. Continue to lay the tiles down until you have covered the entire area. After this, you will lay mortar in the middle of it and then wipe it off clean to finish...
How To: Paint a kitchen cabinet
In this tutorial, we learn how to paint a kitchen cabinet. First, you need to take the cabinets off from the base using a screwdriver and removing the hardware from them as well. After this, you will need to sand down the entire area of the cabinets and then number the door so you know where to put it back at. After it's sanded, you will need to paint the entire area of the door until it's covered. Paint on another coat if you need to. When finished, let dry and then paint the other side. Whe...
How To: Make a serving tray from a picture frame
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a serving tray from a picture frame. First, grab a picture frame in a larger size that comes with glass on it and a backing. From here, you will grab some scrapbooking paper or another type of paper and cut it to size to fit on the background of your paper. Then, find two handles that you have and screw these onto the sides of the picture frame. After this, glue your favorite pictures onto the paper and then let it dry. When finished, stick this under th...
How To: Become an interior decorating minimalist
Minimalists are the opposite of pack rats. Whereas pack rats thrive on the philosophy of "more is more," minimalists belive emphatically that "less is more." And if you're a decorating minimalist, that means using the fewest decorative objects possible to achieve a satisfying and cohesive room.
How To: Hang picture frames and posters on the wall with tips from Lowe's
Until you decorate, your house won't feel like a home, but when you start hanging picture and frame on your living room walls, you should watch this video from Lowe's for some pre-hanging tips!
How To: Install faux wood cathedral ceiling beams in your home
Just because you have a cathedral ceiling in your home, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the beautiful decorative texture of wood beams. Faux wood ceiling beams are a great way to add character and warmth to a plain room. Compared to real wood, they're cheaper, lightweight and easier to install. See how to install them in a cathedral ceiling. This video gives you step-by-step instructions for installing fake wood beams, including materials and tools list.
How To: Install suspended faux wood ceiling beams in your home
If you already have basic faux wood ceiling beams installed in your home, then you may still want to go a bit further, and suspended faux wood beams is the way to go. It's decorative, cheaper than real wood, lightweight and can add character and warmth to a plain room. This video gives you step-by-step instructions for installing fake wood beams, including materials and tools list.
How To: Install basic faux wood ceiling beams in your home
Let's face it— we'd all like to have some decorative wooden beams on our ceilings in our living rooms. It's a great way to add character and warmth to a plain room. But you don't need real wood to get this look. There's a lightweight and cheaper alternative— faux wood ceiling beams. This video gives you step-by-step instructions for installing fake wood beams, including materials and tools list.
How To: Apply faux finish trim to cabinets with the Home Depot
In this DIY guide from the folks at the Home Depot, we learn how to apply faux finish trim to cabinets. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the technique in about two minutes. For all of the details, take a look.
How To: Use color, texture & style in your home
In this tutorial, we learn how to use color, texture, and style in your home. When choosing a paint color for your walls, first make sure the color is something you don't mind seeing everyday. After this, choose furniture that has different textures on it. Use a combination of different flooring materials to create contrast in each of the rooms. Use plants and paintings for decoration, but have them in popping colors to make the room come together. Use area rugs on floors, this can bring the ...