DIY Project Test Lab Results: We Tried 3 Vinyl Upholstery Spray Paints and Here’s What Happened
So what’s the deal with vinyl spray paint: does it work, or is it a waste of time? I put three different paints to the test on three of the exact same chairs and was pretty surprised with the results. Hint: as it turns out, vinyl and fabric spray paint can actually work! There are some pretty impressive Before & Afters floating around of old, ugly vinyl furniture having been given new life with paint.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 13, 2022
How to Plump Up an Old, Saggy Sofa for Around $40
Get more mileage out of your well-loved basics.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 9, 2022
Learn How To Spray Paint Plastic the Right Way
How to paint plastic without it chipping, cracking or flaking.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 8, 2022
I Used Car Wax to Prevent Messes on My Stovetop — Here’s How It Went
I'm just mad I didn't know about this sooner!
Ashley Poskin
Jul 4, 2021
This $7 Cleaning Goop Is for Everyone Who’s Been Eating Over a Laptop
Crumbs galore! But not anymore.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 22, 2021
I Added a Power Drill to My Kitchen Cleaning Caddy
And I haven't looked back!
Ashley Poskin
May 23, 2021
B&A: I Turned My Mom's Office into a Cozy Hangout for Mother's Day
I wanted to give her a space that made her happy — and I think I nailed it.
Ashley Poskin
May 9, 2021
Here Is Every Single Project I Tackled at Home Over the Pandemic
Making small upgrades helped give me some distraction, and made me feel more in control.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 30, 2021
Before & After: I Redid My Cabinets Using Marie Kondo Organizers
In true Marie Kondo style, the products are simple, beautiful, and serene.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 3, 2021
Can You Clean Your Vacuum in the Dishwasher? I Tried It to Find Out
Warning: Satisfyingly gross images within.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 2, 2021
This $30 IKEA Find Helped Me Pack a Whole Home Gym into 2 Square Feet
It's portable, affordable, and oh so cheery.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 17, 2021
I Tried the $0 Hack to DIY the Internet's Favorite Candle—and You Should, Too
This DIY took less than an hour, and you can probably do it with materials you already own.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 3, 2021
28 Tiny Home Makeovers for the Shortest Month of the Year
These little projects will give you big happy vibes.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 1, 2021
How to Give Gifts in Cardboard Shipping Boxes (and Actually Make Them Cute)
Skip wrapping this year, and repurpose your shipping boxes instead.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 21, 2020
I Let My 4-Year-Old Rearrange Our Living Room—and It Was Surprisingly Fun
This totally free activity was fun for our entire family.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 23, 2020
47 DIY Christmas Gifts to Make, Not Buy, This Year
DIYing your own gifts might sound intimidating, but here’s the truth: You don’t have to be an expert-level maker to craft something stylish and useful.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 9, 2020
I Gave My Rental's Plain Doors Expensive-Looking Architectural Charm for Just $5
Looks: $$$$$. Cost: $
Ashley Poskin
Nov 3, 2020
I Re-Created the Look of a $900 Lamp for Just $4—Here's How
It involves at least one material you certainly have on hand.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 25, 2020
Try This Laundry Recipe for the Softest Pajamas You'll Ever Sleep (or Live) In
It just requires a few small tweaks to your normal laundry routine.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 2, 2020
16 Home Skills You Should Know by the Time You're 30
How many can you confidently check off this list?
Ashley Poskin
Aug 8, 2020
How to Hang a Hammock for Ultimate Summer Vibes
This easy four-step project is one that you can knock out in 15 minutes.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 25, 2020
This Method is the Secret to Cheap, Easy, No-Mess Tie-Dye Projects
If mess has scared you away from DIYing your own tie-dye, we have just the fix.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 21, 2020
Why You Should Put Baking Soda in a Salt Shaker
The spillage is real.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 17, 2020
Host with the Most (House Guests, That Is): How To Find Space For Them All
It can be a challenge to host more people than your guest room can handle. Instead of turning on your No Vacancy light, consider some creative options to offer your friends and family when your guest room is full to capacity. During our first month in Denver, my husband and I hosted 13 people (singles and families) in our 700 square-foot 1 bedroom shotgun. We were always happy to take in our friends but made sure to let them know about the size of our accommodations ahead of time.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 16, 2020
Best Upholstery Fabric Options for Cat & Dog Owners
When that luxurious velvet sofa catches your gaze for the first time, it’s easy to think, “I can totally do this, Fido will learn that he is not allowed up. Simple as that.” We’ve all been there, but let’s get real. Even if you become the dog whisperer and are indeed successful in keeping him off the sofa, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will stay clean.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 15, 2020
How to Make a Modern DIY Bird Feeder for Only $10
And it only takes about an hour.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 13, 2020
The Efficient Toilet-Cleaning Method Everyone Should be Using
If you learn how to clean the toilet properly—and how to keep it that way—you'll be able to enjoy that fresh commode feeling around the clock.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 10, 2020
Before and After: I Made My Plain Rental Dining Room Look Seriously High-End
I got tired of my boring "blank slate" dining room—so I made it a colorful haven.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 10, 2020
How to Make a Simple Wood Picture Frame
This DIY is easy and budget-friendly, so you can fill your whole home with gallery walls without breaking the bank.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 8, 2020
How to Replace a Light Fixture
With a few safety precautions and a little DIY know how, you can swap out your own light fixtures.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 30, 2020
Before and After: A Bold Renter-Friendly Paint Job That Will Wow You
The after will make your jaw drop.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 16, 2020
The Luxury Home Upgrade You Can Fake with Command Strips
The results look seriously high-end.
Ashley Poskin
May 22, 2020
How to Totally Transform Your Current Furniture—Without Paint
Get ready to embrace one of the best trends of the '90s.
Ashley Poskin
May 15, 2020
Before and After: This “Awkward Corner” Laundry Closet Gets a $150 Organizational Overhaul
Five hours of work and $150 later, this fresh new laundry space was clean and organized, and most importantly, fit her needs.
Ashley Poskin
Apr 14, 2020
10 of Our Favorite Home Office Redos to Inspire Your Work-from-Home Setup
Spoiler: You can make a home office almost anywhere.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 20, 2020
I Cleaned My Oven Door with a Dishwasher Tablet—And I Recommend It 100 Percent
I’ve never met a cleaning hack I wasn’t willing to try. And this one paid off.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 15, 2020
How To Make a Stencil For a Paint Pattern
Stencils are a fun and economic way to create a pattern or duplicate an image over and over again. They can be used on a vast array of items from rugs, and garden containers, to walls and ceilings. You can purchase them pre-made, but if you’re looking for something one-of-a-kind your best bet is to make it yourself. There are quite a few options when it comes to picking out the material for your plate.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 11, 2020
I Tried That Viral Essential Oil Laundry Hack and Here’s What I Thought
This could be a good option for those who choose to use free and clear detergent—but would like their laundry to be mildly scented and aren’t bothered by essential oils.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 2, 2020
One Laundry Essential I Happily Splurge On, and One Place Where I Save
Maybe this says more about me than I should admit, but at the age of 35, laundry has become a very big deal.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 2, 2020
Dryer Sheets Come Out On Top for Softer Towels—But I’ll Never Use Them Again
I recently tested name brand dryer sheets against two other fabric softening alternatives, and while the difference in softness was significant, it wasn’t enough to convert me to start buying dryer sheets. I know too much.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 2, 2020
How To Clean Hardwood Floors with Black Tea
It’s warm and soothing for your body, but did you know you can also use black tea to clean your hardwood floors? Tannins in the tea add a light, warm “stain” and help to bring out the wood’s natural warm tones. In addition to it’s beautifying qualities, black tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant contain polyphenolic compounds that prevent microbial growth.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 3, 2020
How To Clean and Remove Odors from a Garbage Disposal or Blender
A dirty garbage disposal is often the culprit for bad smells in the kitchen. Food bits can cling to the disposal and pipes and create extremely unpleasant odors. The best way to de-stink your kitchen is with a healthy dose of all-natural ingredients that will loosen tough food particles and get the pipes moving! Any time I’m cooking or baking with lemons, I try to squeeze out any excess or leftover juice down my drains for that added smell of freshness in the kitchen.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 2, 2020
How To Clean & Maintain a Gas Stove
The cleaning up part certainly isn’t as fun (or as tasty) as the cooking part, but it’s a job that must be done. Check out these handy tips for a stovetop your mother would be proud of! Cleaning as you go truly is the best way to save yourself from having to cleanup a disaster of a mess like the one above. But sometimes life gets busy and there just isn’t time between the cooking and the eating and the evening’s engagements to wipe down that stove.
Ashley Poskin
Jan 30, 2020
I Bought a $170 Vacuum From a Thrift Store for $20—And You (Probably) Can Too
These eight quick tests will tell you if a used vacuum works well, and if it had a rough past life.
Ashley Poskin
Jan 12, 2020
Before and After: A Bold $70 IKEA Hack Is Just What This Entryway Needed
You'll want to steal this clever idea for your home ASAP.
Ashley Poskin
Jan 3, 2020
How to Remove Stickers & Labels From Glass
Depending on your personality, peeling a label off could be the best or worst possible way to spend a half hour. If it’s your worst nightmare, we’ve got a great tip for you that will have your vessel sticker-free in just a few short minutes! Turn your hairdryer to high heat and hold it over the sticker for about 45 seconds. After 45 seconds of direct heat, test a corner of the sticker and see if it peels away easily.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 20, 2019
How To Grow Cucumbers
Cucumbers are one of the most refreshing things to eat straight out of the garden. Technically a fruit, this hydrating treat is made up of 95% water and can help keep you going on a hot day. Cucumber seedlings can be planted outside two weeks after the last spring frost. They love the hot sun, so be sure to make room for them in a bright area with fertile, well-drained soil. Plant a second crop one month after the first. Cucumber seedlings Organic compost Organic fertilizer Garden tools 1.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 20, 2019
How To Spray Paint Vinyl Upholstery
Sometimes, chairs come into our lives. It’s all very casual: we don’t really love them, but we kind of like them, and they were just there at the yard sale, and they were cheap and we could kind of see potential… So we bring them home with us only to realize that we will never actually pay the price to have them reupholstered—they get stashed away in the basement or the garage. But if they are vinyl, it doesn’t have to end there!
Ashley Poskin
Dec 20, 2019