Portrait by Mark J. Thiboldeaux Photography
Jake and Janelle Stoltzfus renovated their own personal homes on a dime long before they became general contractors as the husband and wife design/build firm JKS & Co (jksandcompany.com). “We have some DIY's that have consistently worked,” Janelle says.
Here are 10 of her tried and true favorites.
Photo by Donovan Roberts Witmer
1. Wallpaper Accents
Even if you don’t want to commit to wallpaper, “there are many wonderful peel and stick products out there for weekend warriors. You don’t need to do an entire wall,” Janelle says. She suggests thinking outside the box and putting some behind a bookcase or inside a large frame for a pop of unique wall art. “You can line your drawers or shelves with it, too, for a fun, expected little visual treat.” Janelle likes wallsneedlove.com.
2. Ask Your Grandma
“Chances are your mother or grandma has some old furniture that is meaningful to them. Instead of ignoring it, embrace it. Repaint it, give it a second chance at a life, put it in an unexpected place, and write a new story for it. Pinterest has some great resources and inspiration for styling old furniture. She might have some pretty dishes too...ask for a nice bowl or plate that she would consider giving to you; you can place your jewelry or perfume on it,” Janelle suggests.
3. Clean Out 21 Items
“It’s overwhelming feeling like you need to or should clean out an entire space, but perhaps if you started with a simple goal of removing only 21 items from a single space, it would feel attainable and might get the organizational fires burning!”
4. Empty Your Room
“It might sound a little crazy, but take out every single thing from your room, clean it deeply (including the windows), and start fresh, almost like the first day you moved in. Don’t move anything back into your space that should be placed somewhere else, leave out the things you don't love anymore, and enjoy the clean slate,” says Janelle.
5. Wash your Front Door
“Most doors never see the light of day! We just go in and out of them without a care. Get a bucket of super hot water, a small amount of soap, and some heavy-duty rags and scrub that thing down.” Janelle adds, “You’ll notice that clean door everyday and feel satisfied for the time invested.”
Photo by Italian Lane Photography
6. Print your Pics
“Ok, we know you won’t print 4,000 pics in one weekend, but you can print four,” says Janelle. “If you really want something fun, you can get your pics printed into engineered prints at a local home office store. Just Google ‘engineering prints DIY’ for a few great tutorials. There are great options for one-hour photo development as well.”
7. Spray Paint
“Don’t be afraid of it. You may not wish to redo your entire kitchen cabinetry,” Janelle warns. “But you can repurpose an old piece of furniture, a small chair, a frame, or a table.” Useful site: krylon.com
Photo by Italian Lane Photography
8. Create a Corner ONLY for you
“We all know we pay the rent or the mortgage for our homes, and yet we have very few spaces that are JUST for us!” Janelle suggests. “Take a weekend to find a pretty chair (in your home, on Craigslist, at a local store) and clean out a corner of your home that will become your little landing spot...your nest, so to speak. Include a lamp, a basket for your own books, a throw blanket, and a little table for your coffee. You’d be surprised how welcoming this little corner will feel just waiting for you.“
9. Home Decor Exchange Party
“We all have lovely things in our home that we’re just kind of sick of looking at, but we know we spent some good money on them and may not want to just donate them,“ explains Janelle. “That’s where the fun begins! Welcome some friends to gather 10-15 nice items from their homes, bring them over to your living room, pick a number and take turns picking something from the collection. However many items you bring reflects how many items you leave with. And while you’re at it, clean out your closet and purses and have another party with all your pretty clothing and accessories!“
10. Use your Senses in Each Room
Walk into any given room and tap into your senses. What are you seeing? Gather some branches from your property or a friend’s home. Find some free printables online and get them into a frame. What are you feeling? Is there a soft throw blanket nearby, or a plush pillow? What do you smell? Air out your room, open the windows for a few hours, light a candle, purchase some room spray. What do you hear? Put on some relaxing music or anything that helps cultivate rest in your soul. Take the time to tap into your senses with each individual room...they will guide you into getting a feel for your space and leave you feeling refreshed.
How to Know When to Call a Pro? “Basically anything having to do with electrical or plumbing is best left to a professional,” Stoltzfus says. “Even the best tutorials can leave you in more trouble than it’s worth!”
