Consider It Done

Five DIY projects to knock out this weekend

By Cathy Cassata
CTW Features

Image courtesy istockphoto

That's it. You're ready to tackle those tasks you've been putting off for way too long. Check out these five projects for inspiration:

1. Spice up your front closet

"Your front closet shouldn't be a storage facility, but another presentation of your home décor," says Jamie Gibbs, owner of Jamie Gibbs and Associates in New York City. Start by replacing boxes stored on your top shelf with decorative items. "You can wow your guests with a display of vases or candles on that shelf," says Gibbs.

To keep things neat, Julie Rooney, owner of Julie Rooney Interiors in St. Louis, says to consider closet organizers. "For the standard two-by-four foot closet, dedicate a place for short-hanging coats with shelves and baskets above or below, a long-hanging area for longer coats, hooks and an upper shelf above the hanging area."

2. Polish your silver

Go ahead, dig out Grandma's silver candlesticks and get polishing! To keep the polished look, Gibbs says to smear a thin layer of Butcher's Wax on the silver, let it dry and then buff it. "It keeps the air from affecting the look and value of the piece and it doesn't damage the silver," he says. Plus, you'll only have to reapply polish about once a year. If the pieces aren't your style, Rooney suggests turning them into something else. "You can find local providers who will take larger pieces like a bowl or vase and make them into another piece you'll use, like a lamp."

3. Reinvent your garden

If your flower plots are filled with a big blob of green, Gibbs says it's easy to add some color and life to them. "If you've got a bunch of people coming over, just quickly gather candles from around the house, light them and place them in your flower pots," he says. "This will cost you nothing and it will add a little sparkle to your yard." If it's holiday time, add some festive pre-made bows or gift wrap to the pots. "This is a fun, unique and inexpensive quick fix that won't destroy your flowers."

4. Clean your furniture

Rethink refinishing when cleaning is quicker and cheaper. "When furniture gets spotty and black, it's not because the finish is bad, it's because it's dirty," says Gibbs. Spray some wax-dissolving cleaner in small areas at a time and let it sit for a minute. Then wipe the area with a cloth in a circular motion. "You'll rub off years of grime and wax buildup and bring the piece back to its original finish," says Gibbs.

If you dread cleaning, Rooney says simply change up the décor. "For a wood framed chair, like an old dining chair, paint it a fun color, change the fabric on the seat and add a ball fringe along the edge. Then place it in an unexpected place."

5. Revive your flatware

If your tarnishing flatware hasn't turned black yet, Gibbs suggests placing it in the sink on top of a piece of aluminum foil. Then add a little bit of stain remover and 1.5 cups of window cleaner and cover the flatware with hot water. "You'll be amazed that the tarnish disappears within 10 to 15 minutes," he notes.

Now that's a weekend's worth of productive household chores!

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