Table of contents for Spring 2021 in Do It Yourself

Senior Editor BRIAN KRAMER Senior Associate Editor NATALIE DAYTON Associate Art Director JESSICA ENO Assistant Art Director EMILY BUTTERWORTH Editorial Apprentice RACHEL O’BRIEN Contributing Copy Editor NANCY DIETZ Proofreader MARTHA COLOFF LONG Administrative Assistant RENAE MABIE HOME & GARDEN Executive Editor SAMANTHA HART Senior Editors BRIAN KRAMER, SALLY FINDER WEEPIE, KRISSA ROSSBUND, NICOLE DEAN TEUT Senior Associate Editor NATALIE DAYTON Design Directors KIMBERLY MORGAN METZ, MICK SCHNEPF Associate Art Director JESSICA ENO Assistant Art Director EMILY BUTTERWORTH Senior Graphic Designer BRITTANY MUELLER Administrative Assistants RENAE MABIE, KATIE MORT, KIM O’BRIEN-WOLETT Photography Coordinator ALYSSA RICHARDSON Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden® Manager SANDRA GERDES FOOD Executive Editor JAN MILLER Senior Content Manager JESSICA SAARI CHRISTENSEN Senior Editor CARRIE BOYD Style & Design Director STEPHANIE HUNTER Associate Art Director RAE DANNEMAN…

GLOW UP Use a wax metallic finish to give an old lamp a distressed look, this photo. Choose a lamp base with a raised pattern like our dotted design. Use a rag to apply the finish (ours is Amaco Rub ‘n Buff in Gold Leaf) to the surface, inset photo, then rub it off the higher points while still wet. Let dry. POLISHED PILLOWS Put your own metallic touch on plain pillowcases, this photo, with foil transfers and glitter gels. To add defined rectangles, as seen on the square pillow, cut strips of iCraft Deco Foil Hot Melt Adhesive and iron onto pillowcase. Let cool, then peel off paper backing. Cut strips of iCraft Deco Foil Transfer Sheets slightly larger than the adhesive sections and iron atop adhesive, following…

MAKE IT CANVAS TOTE MATERIALS • ¾ yard faux-leather vinyl (handles, bag bottom)• ½ yard canvas fabric (front and back bag exterior)• ⅞ yard cotton fabric (lining)• 1¼ yards fusible fleece interfacing• Fabric shears or scissors• Sewing machine• 90/14 heavyweight sewing needle• Pins and clips• Thread• Ruler or sewing gauge• Iron• Ironing board Step 1 Cut your fabrics (A). From the faux leather, cut two 6¾×22½-inch rectangles and two 3×22-inch strips. From the canvas, cut two 12½×22½-inch rectangles and two 1¾×22½-inch strips. From the lining fabric, cut two 18¾×22½-inch rectangles with 22½-inch length parallel to the selvages. From fusible fleece, cut two 18¾×22½-inch rectangles. Step 2 Fit your machine with a 90/14 heavyweight sewing needle. Make handles by folding two long sides of two 3×22-inch vinyl strips to center, overlapping…

DRAWER SCORE With five 15-inch-deep drawers crafted from solid steel, this cabinet is a utility superstar. A label holder and sturdy handle on each drawer make it easy to sort and access small household items. Bisley Blush 5-Drawer Cabinet, $100; containerstore.com STYLISH STASH Keep oft-used cleaning supplies, linens, or laundry necessities in this wide-woven metal bin. Wood handles make it a sophisticated, sturdy solution you won’t mind seeing on the counter on cleaning day. Tosca Slim Storage Basket, $35; theyamazakihome.com SPACE SAVER Free up valuable junk drawer space with this effortless organization idea: Install dividers inside the drawers of a small cabinet, then sort frequently needed items like office supplies, batteries, and postage stamps into each space. Add labels to drawer fronts for easy access, and swap them out…

WANDERLUST T17-12, BEHR; BEHR.COM JUST A TRIM Deep blue boldly envelops Savannah Kokaliares’ master bedroom, while monochromatic trimwork adds subtle sophistication, opposite and above. For this focal wall, Savannah used 4- and 5-inch-diameter round wood plaques and half-round polystyrene molding cut into 13¼-, 18¼-, and 28½-inch lengths. Using a level, she first marked the vertical center of the wall. To begin creating this fretwork-style design, she cut a 5-inch plaque in half, centering it on the center line at the ceiling and attaching it with a brad nailer. She then worked in square sections with 4-inch-diameter circles placed at a square’s center and corners and 5-inch circles placed at the center of each side. The 18¼-inch lengths connect the circles horizontally and vertically, while the 13¼- and 28½-inch lengths…

[P] Paint Color Because of the magazine printing process, paint colors depicted on our pages might vary slightly from manufacturers’ colors. Use paint color names or numbers, when provided, as a starting point. To get a color as it appears in the magazine, take the page to a paint retailer for matching. [T] To the Trade Contact a design professional to find more information about this product or service. ON THE COVER Wall paint Behr Ultra Pure White 1850—Behr; 800/854-0133; behr.com [P]. Cabinet paint Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Furniture Paint in Sea Glass, Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Furniture Paint in Fluff, refrigerator paint Dixie Belle Slick Stick Adhesive Primer, Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Furniture Paint in Soft Pink, countertop paint Dixie Belle Slick Stick Adhesive Primer, Dixie Belle Chalk…

Well, hello, crocuses! I can’t remember a moment when I’ve been more ready to shake off the old and welcome the new. Spring has always been a time to refresh, but this year I’m motivated to revise, repair, and reboot. I’m eager to revitalize everything in my home and yard—and, by extension, my life. That’s why we’ve packed this issue with projects and ideas to give your style a wake-up call. Start with needle punch, one of the easiest, most satisfying crafts Team DIY has ever tried. All you need is a punch, yarn, monk’s cloth, and five minutes of practice to begin creating texture-rich pillows and rugs (“Pleased As Punch, page 49). Then take a shine to the metallic trend with the latest sprays, pastes, and foils that…

AFTER EXPERIMENTING WITH VINTAGE MACRAMÉ KITS, LISE SILVA GOMES DEVELOPED HER OWN UNIQUE STYLE OF KNOTTING. HISTORICAL KNOTTING PRACTICES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE HER WORK. THE MAKER: LISE SILVA GOMES Sacred Knots not only sells its unique crafts, but also uses its site to build community within the crafting world. Q: What inspires your work? A: A lot of my inspiration comes from dreaming. I allow myself space to close my eyes and meditate or visualize things I want to make. Inspiration sometimes can just be an energetic thing. I like to surround myself with things that inspire me on the highest level. It really invigorates you to become a creative powerhouse. Q: Why was creating a community through your platform important to you? A: I…

TIME WILL TELL Create your own clock, opposite, and mini memo boards, above, from a ½-inch-thick cork sheet cut into hexagons or other desired shapes (A). Tape off geometric sections (B), and apply two coats of paint in a few colors, allowing drying time between coats. (Paint sample pots are perfect for this project.) Once dry, remove the tape. If desired, tape off and paint adjacent sections. Poke a hole at the center of one shape, and install a clock movement mechanism, following manufacturer’s instructions. Clock kits can be found online—look for one that’s compatible with the thickness of your materials. Hang the shapes on the wall using adhesive hanging strips. PASSING NOTES Cork leather, also known as cork fabric, is lightweight, pliable, and perfect for a notebook cover,…

DO IT BETTER TO ENSURE GOOD AIRFLOW AROUND SEEDLINGS, POST AN OSCILLATING FAN NEAR YOUR SHELVING UNIT FOR BROAD, CONTINUOUS COVERAGE THAT WILL MINIMIZE FUNGUS AND PROMOTE STRONG ROOTS. MAKE IT SEED STATION MATERIALS • 48×72×18-inch five-tier shelving unit• Four 4-inch industrial casters• Seed-starting trays and domes• Seed-starting soilless mix• Seeds• King-size heating pad• Two 48-inch shop light fixtures• Four 40-watt fluorescent bulbs (2 warm, 2 cool white) or full-spectrum grow-light bulbs• Electrical timer• Waterproof trays Step 1 Following manufacturer’s directions, assemble the shelving unit where you will use it, such as a basement or other heated room. Add casters so you can easily reposition it to add trays or make watering easier. Step 2 Fill the seed-starting trays with the soilless seed-starting mix; plant seeds. Plant two or…

VERTICAL APPEAL Set amid the intense blue-green wall (Benjamin Moore Dollar Bill Green 2050-20), the natural wood shelving provides architectural interest and ample storage for books, art, plants, and other accessories, opposite and above left. Provide a light source by screwing a wall-mount fixture to the side of the unit. The yellow pillows and throws complement the warm brass of the fixture. MAKE IT VERTICAL WOOD SHELVES MATERIALS • 1-inch-thick birch plywood• Table saw• Fine sandpaper• Nails• Nail gun• Wood filler• Semigloss polyurethane• Cordless drill• Screws• Wall anchors Step 1 Measure and cut wood to size. Cut three vertical pieces 15×96 inches. (These instructions are for standard 8-foot ceilings; if your height is different, adjust the length.) Cut seven pieces measuring 15×15 inches and three face frames measuring 1½×96…

WELL GROUNDED “We kept the floors anywhere they weren’t rotted or destroyed by animals, and those were few and far between,” says Clint Harp of the renovated home in Waco, Texas. He patched, sanded, and stained them to reach their original beauty. A TRUE FIXER UPPER Clint and Kelly Harp, above, and their kids—Holland, Camille, and Hudson—on the porch of the home they lived in for two years and now run as an Airbnb rental. They saved money by creating a short (rather than long) front porch and gave it more prominence by adding a top railing above using 2×6s and 2×4s, squaring the rounded edges. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A VISIONARY TO FIND VALUE IN REFUSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE RUBBISH IN QUESTION IS A TUMBLEDOWN HOUSE SO HAIR-RAISING THAT RATS…

FLEA MARKET DIYS TRANSFORM YOUR FLEA FURNITURE FINDS WITH THESE CLEVER DIY STORAGE IDEAS. BHG.COM/FLEAMARKETSTORAGE DISTRESS WOOD Use our guide for all the best tips and tricks when distressing wood. BHG.com/DistressFurniture MAKE OVER A DRESSER Take a peek at some of our favorite DIY rehabs and pick one to try! BHG.com/DIYDressers STENCIL A CHAIR A stencil and spray paint are all you need for this fun, fresh chair makeover. BHG.com/VinylAccentChair…

FRIENDS, STAYING HOME IS WONDERFUL— but it can be hard. So we’re focusing on little fixes that can help you be less exasperated. That way, one day in the future, when you leave for work, vacation, or school, you’ll come home again with ease. SO YOU NEED A SHOP VAC IT’S A DIY TOOL WITH LITTLE EQUAL. IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE, IT’S A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT. WHY? BECAUSE IT WORKS FOR BOTH SPILLED WATER AND CONSTRUCTION DUST AND DEBRIS. IF YOU’RE READY TO MAKE A PURCHASE, THINK ABOUT … 1 Tank size. The bigger the tank—generally 2–14 gallons—the more you’ll be able to scoop up before you have to empty it. 2 The overall weight. Don’t just consider it when it’s empty, but also when it’s full; you’ll have…

FRINGE BENEFITS Light up the room with a boho take on a traditional shade, this photo. Create this punchy piece with monk’s cloth, yarn, and a plain drum shade. Determine the amount of monk’s cloth needed by rolling shade across fabric and marking the length and height, then add ½ inch to all sides before cutting. Transfer the punch needle design template, available at BHG.com/PunchNeedle, to reverse side of fabric. Secure fabric in embroidery hoop, then punch needle. For tassels, pull 3 inches of each punch loop through fabric and hold as you punch the next loop. Tuft lines by trimming loops with scissors after punching. Attach punched fabric to lampshade rim with hot glue. Fold vertical edge of punched fabric under itself at seam and glue to shade. Finish…

SAVING SPACE Homeowner Brittany Goldwyn Merth, above with husband Mike, designed an outdoor living space for their townhome. “DIY is a great way to go because most outdoor furniture pieces don’t cater to smaller spaces.” With limited floor space for furnishings and her beloved plants, Brittany turned to vertical options, opposite. “We hung painted clay pots along our deck posts to make more space for high-sun herbs and flowers,” she says. “And I have at least seven hooks for hanging baskets and one plant that vines up a corner deck post. This helps fill in the space with greenery.” BRITTANY GOLDWYN MERTH’S HAPPY PLACE? HER OWN BACKYARD. DESPITE LIVING IN A TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT WHERE shared walls and neighbors within literal reach might make privacy seem unattainable, Brittany and her…

FOUND OBJECTS Repurpose a variety of mugs, bowls, and saucers for a playful display, this photo. Choose pieces with a similar color scheme and style to unify the look. This assortment of vintage Mexican pottery holds a mix of tropical houseplants—a great option as almost any will work. Shown here clockwise, from top left: Schefflera arboricola (dwarf umbrella plant), Alocasia (elephant ear), Calathea vittata, Hypoestes (polka dot plant), cushion moss, variegated spoonleaf peperomia, Plectranthus ‘Limelight’, and Peperomia caperata. DO IT BETTER SHALLOW CONTAINERS USED AS POTS LACK DRAINAGE HOLES, SO WATER WHEN SOIL IS DRY. PLACING GRAVEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER PROMOTES HEALTHY ROOTS. LET THERE BE LIGHT Natural light streaming through windows creates an ideal habitat for cultivating these plant varieties indoors. Some plants thrive in…