Designer Michael Garvey, known for his sophisticated interiors, happens to be a scrappy DIY genius at home. His cozy Brooklyn digs are a showcase of clever solutions that bring a ridiculous amount of elegance for the buck. Real Simple popped in for a peek—and for the secrets to Garvey’s 10 most inventive upgrades.An epic spring break vacay sounds great and all, but sometimes you can’t beat the rest and relaxation that comes with a staycation. Just think: You’ll have time to check off those remaining to-dos, get started on that oh-so-necessary spring cleaning *and* whip up a few spring decor DIYs to brighten up your home. The modern, beautiful and pattern-filled home decor DIY projects below are just what you need to get going and are a cinch to make. Plus they’ll leave you with plenty of time to catch up on that Netflix queue before the warmer weather rolls around. DIY Spring Break 2016 FTW! 1. Tissue Paper Watercolor Mug DIY: All you need is a little tissue paper and some dishwater-safe Mod Podge to give those mugs in the kitchen a colorful springtime makeover.

Brainstorm a few color combinations before you get started, and you’ll have a brand new look in no time. (via I Spy DIY) 2. Round Hanging Shelf DIY: This shadowbox-inspired shelf is great for displaying your favorite books, knick-knacks and succulents. Accent it with a neon string for a sweet pop of color. (via A Pair & A Spare)cheap easy christmas decorations diy 3. Wooden Wall Clock DIY: If you’re still using that $5 wall clock in the kitchen, it’s time for a change. perfect way to decorate a christmas treeCustomize a wooden wall clock to match your current kitchen color scheme, or go wild with a bold pattern. diy modern decor pinterest

Either way, you’ll enjoy checking your clock on the way out so much more. (via Brit + Co) 4. Catch-All Wall Pocket DIY: Shelves are great and all, but these catch-all wall pockets will add something a little different to a cozy corner in your living room. They’d be perfect for those magazines and art supplies, or even as book storage right next to that reading nook of yours. room decor stickers online shopping 5. Wooden Bead Light Pendant DIY: This DIY is great for a reading nook, kid’s bedroom or wherever else you can think of. cheap metal wall art canadaPick your favorite spring color palette — primary colors encouraged! exterior home color combinations— and get to threading for this seriously seasonal lighting.

6. Brushstroke Mini Glazed Bowl DIY: Skip the clutter and never lose your delicate jewelry again with this gorgeous glazed bowl project. Talk about a great start to the beginning of your spring clean 2016. 7. Copper + Pine Magazine Rack DIY: If clutter is your arch nemesis — but you’re still reading through a few of those monthly subscriptions — glam up your storage with this metallic-accented rack. It’ll take practically no time at all and will add some minimalist-chic vibes to your 2016 decor. (via Fall for DIY) 8. Wooden Key Fob DIY: This fun key fob DIY pretty much guarantees that you’ll never lose your keys at the bottom of your bag again. The hardest part will be deciding on a color and pattern combo. 9. Wood + Leather Hat Rack DIY: Suns out, hats out! Assemble a cute minimal hat rack for that lonely corner of the room so your guests will feel welcome as soon as they cross the threshold. You could even customize it with a colorful leather to match your existing decor.

(via A Pair & A Spare) 10. Monogrammed Ring Cone DIY: These ring cones make adorable gifts, but they also deserve a spot on your own dresser! Make a whole set, and customize them with different patterns and monograms for yourself and your lucky recipients. 11. Indigo Curtain DIY: Give that decor a springtime refresh with the simple change of a curtain. This DIY can also be customized to make different patterns, so no two will end up the same. 12. Concrete Diamond DIY: This gorgeous paperweight diamond project is a must-try for any design enthusiast. While you’re at it, go ahead and make this copper and concrete lamp to take your decor game to the next level. (via A Merry Mishap) 13. Key Rack DIY: Key racks can make for super chic art. This minimalist DIY that’ll look right at home next to the door. You’ll be too obsessed with keeping your art piece intact to lose any keys. 14. Wall Hanging DIY: Just because the weather is finally starting to get warmer, doesn’t mean you have to put your knitting needles away yet. 

This wall hanging DIY will keep those idle hands busy and warm up your wall decor. 15. Watercolor Planter DIY: Wake up your office desk with this quick and easy project. Whether you choose a cool or warm palette, the added greenery will help your brain (thanks, oxygen!) stay focused and on-task for an uber-productive staycation. Looking for more DIYs to add to your list? Follow us on Pinterest for more tip and tricks to try!Color of the Month, February 2017: Hazelnut Warm and buttery, this neutral lives up to its namesake One of my first posts to Bromeliad back in 2008 was about the dumbness of craft kits. Above, you see the results of, yes, a craft kit. In general, I still think craft kits are dumb. The kind people at Darby Smart asked me to try one of their new DIY kits on the house, and I immediately dived for the magazine clutch.  I've been wanting to make one for years but lacked a clutch form. The kit came in a cute blue box and included instructions, a fabric clutch, superglue, a little bottle of Mod Podge, a foam brush, and a current issue of Vogue - everything you need in one spot for less than it would cost to buy all this stuff separately.

The Vogue cover featured Kate Upton, who is adorable in general but involved too much cleavage for me in this specific instance. I instead chose a favorite issue of Harper's Bazaar. After opening the box, I lost the instructions and the photos I took of the cute unopened box. But it's pretty simple. Trim the magazine cover, superglue it to your clutch and Mod Podge the cover. For extra credit, I tucked the edges of my cover under the metal trim of the clutch. The Mod Podge left brush marks. My friend Donatella at Inspiration and Realization overcame this by painting a second coat in the opposite direction for a leather-like look. I subjected my clutch to five coats of Mod Podge clear acrylic sealer. Below you can see the brush marks toward the left and the smoother sprayed surface toward the right. It came out looking shiny and not remotely like a magazine cover glued to a purse. I probably could have skipped the Mod Podge all together since my magazine cover paper was already coated.