If you spend time crafting or doing DIY projects around the house, you probably have a lot of extra materials lying around. For instance, you might have extra scrap wood, nails, screws, corner braces and many other spare parts tucked away in drawers or cabinets. Instead of gathering dust, put these scraps to good use!
Summer is a great time for large projects, but winter is a time to tidy up and do smaller scale projects indoors. Not to mention, doing DIY winter projects is a great way to keep you busy in the cold, snowy months.
Here are 15 awesome winter projects that make use of spare parts and put your hands to work:
(source: www.makinghomebase.com)
Rustic Wall Shelving
There is nothing better to bring life to a bare wall than shelving. Rustic wall shelving takes a few spare boards and walnut stain and transforms them into unique rustic shelving for your wall. Using some rope as trim adds to the rustic feel.
(source:http://modpodgerocksblog.com/)
An Outdoor Serving Station
If you love entertaining outdoors in the summer, this winter project will enhance your outdoor space so that when next summer rolls around, you will be ready. This serving station contains shelves and a fold-out table platform that you can serve from. With just a few boards, a small wood panel, and some chain, you can easily construct this stylish piece.
(source: www.everydayoriginals.com)
Easy Corner Shelves
Corner shelves are great options for hard-to-use spaces. With some pre-cut particle board, some scrap wood and some basic tools, you can adds some very functional shelves to your living space. If you don't want to use pre-cut boards, you can try an even simpler design with basic boards and corner braces.
(source: www.handymantips.org)
Dog House
If you want to pamper your pooch, then try your hand at building an insulated dog house. With some plywood and styrofoam insulation, you can build a dog house that looks just like Snoopy's. Or you could try a doghouse with a different design.
(source: www.homedepot.com)
Bed Frame
You can build a bed frame with the headboard and footboard made from tongue and groove boards. This beautiful piece of furniture will be the highlight of your bedroom.
(source: http://blog.creativelive.com)
Light Table
If you have a home office and need a light table, this DIY design is perfect for you. It’s lightweight, mobile, and does not take up a lot room. Best of all, it only costs $60 to build compared to $500 for a commercial light table.
(source:http://design-milk.com)
Coat Rack
This simple coat rack made from a few spare boards, creates a trompe l'oeil effect that makes it appear three-dimensional. It is a stylish, space-saving solution that you can create with common spare parts.
(source: www.ovisonline.com)
Cabinet Door Organizer
If you are tired of rummaging through your cabinets for supplies, then this is a great winter project for you. With just a few pine boards and tools, you can bring order to your kitchen or bathroom cabinets by creating these shelves that attach to the door. You can even add a magnet to hold your bobby pins.
(source: http://thekolbcorner.com)
Upholstered Bench
This is a great upcycling project. Take an old coffee table and transform it into a stylish bench. With some tools, stain and nice fabric, you won't have to take your old coffee table to the dump.
(source: http://www.infarrantlycreative.net)
Stacked End Table Shelf
In another upcycling project, you can take an old end table and turn it into a stacked shelf. If you have an end table that has outlived its usefulness, you can cut it apart with a jigsaw and create stacked shelves on a wall. Add a bit of paint to make it a thing of beauty once more.
(source:http://www.hometalk.com)
Pergola
A pergola, or a wooden archway, is a great addition to your backyard garden. If you have recently built a deck and have extra posts and boards, this is a great project to try. This is a larger project that you might want to tackle over the course of a weekend when the temperatures start to warm up in late winter.
(source:http://uncookiecutter.com)
Industrial Coffee Table
This project uses 2 x 4 planks to create a sturdy top for the table. Adding wheels allows you to move the coffee table around the room. This rugged industrial-style table will be a beautiful addition to your living room.
(Source:http://www.homedit.com)
Rolling Storage Carts
Storage space is at a premium, so these beautiful, industrial-style carts are both useful and beautiful. The bottom of the cart is made from plywood and the sides are made from boards. Attach castors to make it roll.
(source:http://rainonatinroof.com)
Drink Bar
This project re-purposes an IKEA Tarva chest of draws into a drink bar. Assemble the frame, but use the wood from the drawers to make doors instead. Add shelves and paint. You've got yourself a beautiful place to store your finer beverages when company comes over.
(source:http://www.designsponge.com)
Chalk Board for Your Kitchen
Use chalkboard paint to create a communication center on one of your kitchen walls. This will help your family communicate better by leaving notes in a central location. If you don't want to paint on a wall, you can also utilize a frame, door panel, or cabinetry.
Have Fun with DIY Winter Projects
These great DIY projects will help you recycle your extra parts and give you something to do during the long winter months. When summer comes along, you'll be happy you completed indoor projects while the weather was poor. Have fun!