12 DIY Projects to Do at Home this Winter

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Updated on January 11th, 2021

With winter in full swing, gone are the days of working on backyard summer projects or taking long walks around your neighborhood to enjoy some sunshine. So if you’ve found yourself searching for a DIY project to take on or DIY decor inspiration to fill your home with winter cheer, then look no further. Whether you’re living in Atlanta, GA or have a home in Portland, OR these 12 DIY projects to do at home will surely give you some inspiration for your winter design needs.

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1) Swap rich colors for light and bright. Winter decor is so often about rich, deep colors — think the traditional ruby and emerald of holiday decorations. While this adds a cozy element to your space, it’s a more effective technique if you already use these bold shades. If your approach to decor typically has a lighter, airy feel to it, you can still up the winter ambience. The key here is a warm, soft glow. Lamps that put out a warm yellow light, and plenty of flickering candles, will offer a soothing contrast to the stark conditions outside. – Kelly Dall Antonia, Owner of Walls By Me

2) Trade greenery for metallics and whites. Garlands and wreaths of greenery are typical design embellishments during winter. You can take your seasonal decor to another level by focusing on objects made from luxe metallics such as gold and silver, crystal-clear glass and brilliant white. These kinds of decorative accessories add refined elegance to your home. Plus, they also seamlessly answer the question of how to transition from Christmas to winter decor. – Alan Weiner, COO of Elegant Strand

3) Use winter wreaths beyond the holidays. You can make an easy DIY winter wreath that is perfect for the post-holiday season. It’s made from an upcycled Christmas wreath, which is especially handy during lockdowns. – Sarah Ramberg, Sadie Seasongoods

4) Incorporate log slices for your winter decor. Using an electric saw cut one-inch thick slices off a log. You will have to sand it down and apply a finish to it – which can be done with baking soda. Depending on the thickness of the log you can use these log-slices throughout your home to give a warm, rustic, wintery feeling. Smaller ones are great for cup coasters, larger ones can hold hot saucepans on your dining table. You can use them as part of a display or centerpiece, topped with pinecones. They last a very long while, are resistant to heat, and are the organic option to home decoration. – Trond Nyland, Founder and CEO at Cordless Drill Guide

5) Rustic centerpieces last all winter long. There are decorations that you can keep up for the entire winter season, including gorgeous rustic centerpieces. All you need is a few strands of garland if you want it to last, or you can use a few pine bows. Bend them into a circular shape and secure them. Add a candle to the middle. You can dress it up with festive flannel bows or red berries to make it pop even more. – Jen Stark, Founder of Happy DIY Home

6) Try a DIY winter-themed pallet box. If you love mason jars and rustic wood, consider merging the two for a weird and straightforward piece of winter decor. Turn reclaimed wood from an old pallet into a rustic box. Add mason jars decorated with twine and tiny chalkboard pendants, then finish the display with fir sprigs. You can use this box to boost any surface, such as your dining table, cocktail table, mantel, or bedroom dresser. – Amira Johnson, Emerald Doors

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7) Add new life to your home with café lights. Now with so many decorating options on the market, and entire seasons dedicated to decking the halls, cafe lights are one way to show off your family’s personality. Lights add flair and personality to your house, as well as curb appeal and add warmth to your décor. Choosing LED lights instead of incandescent will also save you money. It may cost more for the lights upfront, but you can save money on energy costs. – Alisha Kesler, Product Manager at Jasco Products

8) Twinkle lights add magic. The right lighting for your decor will give your home the magic it needs during the winter months. Twinkle lights placed inside hurricane jars or strung along a door frame give off a soft glow that welcomes cozy nights. Another great option is adding string lights to existing decorations. – John Barnes, Design Editor at Lamps Plus

9) S-hooks might be the key to your home decor. As pegboards are growing in popularity, S-hooks make life easier all by themselves and in a lot of different places around the house. S-hooks can help hang towels, plants, macrame art, office and craft supplies, kitchen utensils and pots, Edison bulbs — anything you can think of, really. They’re truly a do-it-all home decor tool. – Cara Salvatore, Founder at duskshaped

10) Storage shelves are a great winter project to do at home. After the holidays are over and the gifts have been unwrapped, you’re left with a pile of decorations and new items that need to be put away. January is a great time to get organized and build some storage shelves for your garage or basement! You can customize the size and configuration to fit everything into one compact space to make it easier to access next year. – Vineta Jackson, The Handyman’s Daughter

11) A DIY cabinet refacing project is easier than you think. Reface your kitchen cabinets (or bathroom vanity, laundry room, media unit) with custom manufactured painted cabinet doors shipped right to your home. With more time now than ever spent in our homes, if you’re looking for a project to tackle, updating cabinet doors is a simple project for most DIYers and has a huge impact on the design of your space. – Teri Simone, Marketing Manager at Nieu Cabinet Doors

12) The winter is a great time to reevaluate your home security needs. The long winter nights often bring an uptick in home invasions and burglaries. It’s a good idea to be proactive about finding a home security solution — before it’s too late. There are more affordable options than ever before that come in at a fraction of the price of a full-scale home security system. They provide an effective security layer to your home safety and are fast and easy to install. – Kristen Bolig, Founder at Security Nerd

Alison is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about housing affordability and home interior design ideas. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef's kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records.
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