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5 Fun and Easy DIY Projects for Your Modern Home

by | Aug 31, 2016 | Living Urban | 0 comments

Model homes may be fun to look at, but nobody wants to live in one. Rather, you want your living space to reflect your personal style. Here are just a few fun and easy DIY projects that can turn your modern house into a home.

1. Industrial Lighting

DIY lighting projects have always been a great way to infuse Portland lofts and condos with a personal touch. These days you can start by heading to the Saturday Market in search of old industrial fixtures and oddities like yokes (for draft animals), winches, and other structural elements. The sky is the limit so use your imagination.

From there you could cut the bottoms out of cool liquor bottles, seek out colored glass globes, or pick up some Edison bulbs to complete your one-of-a-kind lighting project.

2. Built-ins

You don’t have to be a carpenter to create the custom built-ins common to homes in upscale Portland neighborhoods. Just measure your space, buy a few suitable shelving units, and attach them to your walls. Paint or wallpaper the back before putting shelving in for a truly custom look.

3. Wallpaper

One of the easiest ways to revamp modern Portland condos is to add a touch of color with paint. These days, the newest trends allow you to toss the Frog Tape and rollers and paper the walls instead.

You can find websites and stores offering a wide selection of the latest wallpaper trends in terms of color, pattern, and even textures.  Take advantage of modern advances like easy to use peel-and-stick wallpaper or even paintable paper (like color by numbers for adults).

Don’t want to go all the way with wallpaper? Consider wall decals instead. They’re smaller and easier to apply, more affordable, and can allow you to dabble with design without the commitment of wallpaper.

4. Faux Stone Fireplace

Even if you’re on the prowl for Portland modern homes that match your style sensibilities, your budgetary restrictions could put you in an outdated property. Luckily, there is no shortage of DIY projects you can undertake to update your space.  Considering home is where the hearth is, you might want to focus on the focal point of your living room.

Believe it or not, you can easily knock down outdated tiles and replace them with a faux stone look with minimal cost and hassle. If brickwork and tiling is too tough, look for products like sheets of faux stone veneer that can be easily installed. Faux wood panels (in rustic grays) are also of the moment.

5. Kinetic Art Mobiles

Your home exists in three planes, so don’t forget about the space over your head when it comes to decorating. Skip outdated paper lanterns in favor of creating mobiles that add some visual appeal to the upper third of a room.  When I first saw that this type of decoration was trending, I had no idea what to think.  Typically mobiles are associated with babies, but these modern danglers are quite striking.  Check out CB2, All Modern and West Elm for ideas and even kits!

Photo credit: Bruce Gray