Cheese-Proofing your DIY Decor

I love making things.  DIYing something, for whatever reason, is infinitely more satisfying to me than simply buying a similar piece.  Knowing that I can make more of what was less (and save loads of money in the mean time) gets me all excited and jittery!

But… I really appreciate classy (and sometimes ‘high-end’) looking decor.  Let’s face it, a majority of the time DIY projects do not fall into this decorating category.  In fact they could, at times, be classified as….well, plain cheesy.  When someone walks into your house, you don’t exactly want to them to say, “That’s some great artwork, did you make it?” …. You’d rather them ask where you found that awesome piece and get to tell them you’re so incredibly awesome that you actually made it! 😉

So, how do you effectively cheese-proof your DIY home projects?  I believe the key is to let the design emphasize the material.  By this I mean, focus on the wood, metal, fabric, etc: by letting the design draw out it’s texture and not distracting from it with too much ‘home-made-y’ details the natural beauty can shine through.  Let’s explore some DIY ideas that work and talk about what keeps them classy and cheese-free.

Let’s start with this headboard.

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Technically, this wasn’t a DIY project.  But think how easy it would be!  Cut your fancy design out of plywood with a jigsaw, add some foam and staple fabric over it.  So simple, yet super classy!

This would work because the emphasis is on the details on top and the fabric.  By choosing a rich fabric in a neutral color and pattern, you can be sure this project will look gorgeous without screaming ‘I MADE THIS!’  Now, you could totally get a classy look with bold colors and patterns too, it just get’s trickier.  Neutrals are usually a safer bet when you’re trying to achieve classy.

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This art silhouette is for sale at Wayfair, but looks like another simple, yet classy, DIY to me.  Create a stencil of an animal or object and spray paint gold.  Instant art!

The key to making this work is it’s neutrality.  The black frame and beige paper provide a neutral palette and texture for your art.  The bird silhouette is also neutrally appealing to all, guaranteeing classy artwork.  Animals and nature are almost always a safe bet.  ‘Knock-off’ projects such as these are great because you are copying a look that sells.

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This was a white IKEA rug that was hand painted by a blogger.  It totally looks just like some of my favorite rugs from the store!  Again, this project works because it achieves a ‘sellable’ look.  The simple, geometric design and clean lines make the rug pop and allow a home-made project to look extra classy and store-bought.

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I ADORE these glitter heart cake toppers.  The are so precious!  This DIY project works so well because of it’s simplicity and its focus on the elements.  Glitter and wood are all you see in this project, and clean, simple lines serve to emphasize the two.

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This wooden crate was purchased unfinished at a craft supply store.  The DIYer stained it and added hardware and pretty throws and pillows to give it an ultra-classy PB-esque look.  Again, the focus here is on the wood and hardware.

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I would love to make these some day!  These votives celebrate the look of raw concrete and add a little interest with a lace design.  It’s classy because it’s made from a beautiful medium.

And finally, here is a DIY art project i did recently (that I hope is classy ;)).  I hot glued shells from our honeymoon into a thrifted shadow box. I used a white background so it wouldn’t distract from the shells and their natural beauty.

What do you do to cheese-proof your projects?  Let’s keep it classy DIYers! 😉