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    30 stylish DIY home decorating projects

    By | Work + Money – Tue, Jan 18, 2011 8:17 PM EST

    Freshen up your living spaces with these cool DIY projects.


    1) Shadowbox wall vase
    Turn a shadow-box frame into a vessel for your favorite things from the garden or flower shop. Flowers or cuttings ― such as these leucadendron blooms ― extend through the opening of a picture mat to create an organic work of 3-dimensional art. Group two or three frames on the wall or use one for a tabletop display. Change the background and cuttings for a new look any time you like.
    > More: How to make a shadowbox vase


    2) Fake a Roman shade
    In rooms where privacy isn't important, you can give windows all the dressing they need with shorter faux Roman shades.

They aren't full-length, so these tricksters require far less fabric than the real McCoy and can often be made from inexpensive remnants.
    > More: How to fake a Roman shade


    3) Paint a floor canvas
    A cool floor covering made from painted canvas is simple to make and surprisingly durable―and it adds instant graphic punch to your room.

You can paint one freehand or work with a favorite printed design.
    > More: See how to make this floor canvas


    4) Makeover a dresser
    Remake a dresser with paint, a little wood putty, new drawer pulls, and fresh detailing.

We found this one on Craigslist, painted it black with grey accents, and added Mission-style square oak knobs.
    > More: See how to remake a dresser


    5) Turn CD cases into frames
    Castoff CD cases are the perfect size for creating a quilt-like grid collection of landscape photos. 

From the book Photocraft: Cool Things to Do with the Pictures You Love: Scan or crop your images to the size of a CD case (5 3/8 in. wide by 4 5/8 in. high) then print on good photopaper and trim. We recommend using standard (not slim) cases. Discard plastic inserts.

Back each photo with cardboard or foam board and snap the cases shut. Attach them to the wall with 3-inch strips of sticky-back hood-and-loop fasteners (such as Velcro).

    SEE ALL 30 DIY HOME DECORATING PROJECTS

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