Eco-DIY Home Improvements
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | November 3, 2009
I’ve been making small improvements around my apartment lately; I think it’s kind of a nestling in preparation for the cold winter months ahead. Of course, my first priority is to have as little eco-impact as possible while I do this– just because I want things to look prettier doesn’t mean I need to cause pollution or send otherwise useful objects to the landfill.
First up: the TV stand which just never really worked in my living room. I bought it on Craigslist for $40 when I moved into my place 4 years ago. It was lovely– solid pine, on casters, modern Ikea style– but it was too big for a too-small space. So I found a replacement, also on Craigslist– it retailed new for $175 and I bought it for $40 (plus $20 to cab it home). Then I sold my first one, yes, on Craigslist, for $40. Total spent: $20 cab fare.
Next: my interior hallway doors which were all fingerprinty and gross. Upon closer inspection it turned out they had only ever been primed and not painted, so they needed a few coats of semi-gloss to cover the unscrubbableness. I went to Lowes and looked through the “Shelf of Mis-Mixed Paints”, and found a lovely golden wheat hue for $2/quart. By choosing a mix which the original customer didn’t buy, I rescued it from hitting the trash bin. I also saved a lot of money. It also helps me to have fewer color choices; when faced with a vast array of paint chips I usually end up leaving the paint store with nothing but metaphorical tears.
Still to come:
- My bedside brass swinging-arm lamp which I love, but which desperately needs a shade makeover (will post pics when I find the right paper for the job)
- Kitchen cabinets about to be painted white and which I hope will defy all opinions that they should be replaced. They’re solid wood! And work fine! Not so pretty, sure, but they hold my dishes and spices remarkably well, which is all cabinets actually need to do.
- A curtain rod for the living room, which I know I’ll find second-hand eventually. There have been approximately a billion curtain rods produced thus far in history, so my chances of finding one which works for the space are actually pretty good.
Have you tackled an eco-DIY home improvement lately? Tell us about it!
[Image by booleansplit via Creative Commons]
Topics: Home | 12 Comments »
I want to paint our kitchen cabinets too. I love the lines of them and they are still perfectly good, but the finish is seriously worn.
Hey Allie! Ok, you go first, then tell me all the tricks you wish you’d known beforehand… :) I’ve been collecting before and after pics of painted cabinets, for inspiration… it really does change the whole look of a room! Only thing is, it has to be done well (which means, no shortcuts, which means, that’s not how I usually rolll)…
I painted my kitchen cabinets a couple years ago, a bright sunny yellow. I love them. Like you, my cabinets are solid just not so pretty. My advice would be to make sure you label each and every hinge (I missed a few and had to go back and figure it out later…) use a glossy paint, it’s so much easier to clean! And lightly sand the fronts beforehad, it helps the paint adhere so much better. And yes, do not make shortcuts or you’ll regret it later! :) Good luck!
The last time I got sick of waiting around for a used curtain rod to show up on Craigslist, I bought a shower rod instead. I did buy it new (a used one would probably come pre-rusted and gross), but it was a LOT cheaper than a new curtain rod and worked exactly the same. Plus, since it was designed to get wet all the time and withstand it, it still looks new and shiny after a few years; I have no doubt it will still be holding up curtains when I’m in my grave. If your windows are large enough to warrant it, I highly suggest going this route.
Thanks for the suggestion, Lawral!
I painted my kitchen cabinets once in a place where they were solid, functional but dark. It was a crazy amount of work but I had more time than money. My mom passed on all her tips for a flawless finish and while it may sound like overkill, you do want to make sure that the next person that encounters your cabinets thinks they look nice and not like a tear out…
1. Sand, 2. Vacuum, 3. Wipe down with a barely damp rag, 4. Let dry completely, 5. Just before you’re ready to prime, wipe the whole thing down with tack cloth, 6. Prime, 7. very lightly sand down the primer using a sanding screen, 8. start all over at #3 only this time with paint thinned ever so slightly with mineral spirits so that it has the opportunity to “melt” out the brush strokes as it dries.
Best of luck.
Hey Steph! Yea, this is pretty much the plan I’ve outlined for myself, and it’s not at ALL the way I usually work… I’m actually thinking of seeing if a cabinet shop can professionally paint the doors for me, as they’re the really important part. The frames are somewhat less worrisome…
For your lamp shade.. some homemade paper with dried flowers can look super pretty. You make the paper peices to fit the size you would like.
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Eco-DIY Home Improvements
Thanks for sharing
You better be careful when you open those electrical switches.
Just a word of caution!