15 Awesome DIY Life Hacks
Updated on May 30, 2019
Every once in a while, when we’re doing something totally normal and uninteresting at home, a stroke of inspiration hits us and we realized there’s a crafty, interesting way to do that same thing using our DIY skills to make life a little quicker or easier! It’s a great feeling and always makes us wonder whether or not there are similar crafty ways to do other things around the house too. That’s how we found ourselves looking up all kinds of DIY life hacks in the last month! We were pleasantly surprised to find out just how many awesome, crafting skills based life hacks there really are out there.
1. Terra cotta pots to protecting outdoor dishes
Now that summer’s here, are you finding yourself wanting to eat outside just about every meal you can because you and your family are so glad to be able to get fresh air more often now? We love a good patio meal too but there are lots of bugs where we live in the spring, so we’re always worried about flies and things landing on the food. That’s why we loved this concept from Martha Stewart that suggests making outdoor dish covers from painted terra cotta pots with handles made from loops of rope put through the bottom holes.
2. Recycled storage box to store soup cans
Have you ever looked at the cardboard in your recycling bin and wondered whether or not you might be able to make something practical or useful out of it, rather than just putting it at the end of your driveway to be picked up on garbage day? Then we have a feeling you’ll really appreciate the way Then She Made created some simple soup can storage from a 24 pack box of pop cans!
3. Use BBQ tongs to squeeze lemons
Now that summer is fast on its way, are you already finding yourself looking forward to all the refreshingly cold lemonade you’re going to make for your friends and family, just like you do every year? We love fresh homemade lemonade more than just about anything as well, but we like to squeeze the lemons ourselves, so we were very pleased indeed to discover the way Martha Stewart made the process a little bit easier by clamping their halved lemons into a pair of tongs!
4. Hat cleaning stand from a salad spinner
Are you the kind of DIY enthusiast who is always looking for more ways to improve the process of cleaning just about anything in your house? In that case, we really think you’ll appreciate the way Petit Elefant made a simple hat stand for cleaning (or perhaps even decorating and embellishing) a ball cap by turning the inner basket of a salad spinner upside down and popping the hat right on top.
5. DIY pressing toothpaste dispenser
Perhaps it’s not actually you that you’re trying to make things a little bit easier around the house for but actually your kids instead? We love finding DIY tutorials that help us make our house even more kid friendly because it gets our kids excited about learning how to do things themselves. That’s why we thought this simple press-down toothpaste dispenser made from a thoroughly cleaned soap pump was such a good idea! Get the full details for making one of your own on Sisters With Aprons.
6. Build a trellis to grow cucumbers and shade another plant
Perhaps you’re an avid gardener who has been hoping to come across some kind of awesome solution for making planting your new plots a little more space efficient this spring, since you have quite a small yard? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at the way Gardeners.com suggests growing a climbing plant like cucumbers on a screen like a trellis, positioning it over another crop that needs some shade to thrive properly. The leafy trellis will provide it!
7. Distinguish your headphones with nail polish
Do you come from a big, busy family that’s always trying to figure out whose electronics are whose and getting things mixed up and you’re tried of your siblings or kids stealing your headphones? Then we think you’ll really enjoy the way Creme de la Craft marked theirs with some colourful nail polish blocking to make them stand out a little. The nail polish clings well to the plastic of the cord without chipping off.
8. Make a workout band for your phone from a sock
Are you the kind of person who loves going on a run around the block in the morning but you don’t like leaving the house without your cell phone, even though you prefer not to carry anything while you’re running? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at the way Hot Glue and Sparkle made a simple hands free arm band from an old sock! All you need to do is making a few cuts and slip it on. It’s perfect for a short, occasional morning run if you’re not a person who thinks you do it often enough to invest in the fancier store-bought bands.
9. Make a multi-device charging station from a desk organizer
Did we actually really catch your attention when we started talking about the idea of a family with lots of devices with all kinds of phones, tablets, charging cord, and accessories to manage, but the painted headphones idea only solves part of your problem? In that case, we think you might get along a little more effectively with something like this charging docking station made from a desk organizer that will do the whole family’s devices all at once without getting things snagged! See how it’s done in more detail on Driven by Decor.
10. Make a phone holder from a toilet paper roll and tacks
Perhaps we really piqued your attention when we started talking about some kind of stand to put your phone on but you just need it to stand temporarily upright when you’re doing things like following a recipe or looking at a knitting pattern, rather than actually charging or staying for a long period of time? In that case, we think you’ll get a kick out of the way Easy Peasy Creative did it a little more affordably using toilet paper rolls, washi tape, and thumb tacks!
11. Keep a door from latching with a rubber band
When you had the idea of figuring out DIY life hacks in your head, were you actually picturing something more along the lines of a really simple solution for a common problem around the office? In that case, we have a feeling you’ll get along a little better with something that only uses the things you probably already have in your desk already! This idea from The Art of Education that shows you how to wind an elastic around door handles to stop the latch from clicking and locking is the perfect example of what we mean.
12. DIY phone GPS mount from rubber bands
Did you get a real kick out of the concept of using something as simple as an elastic band to solve a small problem but you don’t need to keep any doors open any time soon? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at the way Make, Mod, Hack used them to make a simple GPS mount for their phone by putting them around either end of their rear view mirror!
13. Make a phone tripod from a mason jar and rubber bands
Have we actually intrigued you with the concept of using elastic bands to mount your phone places in order to make life a little bit easier but it wasn’t your GPS that you had in mind? Well, if you’re the kind of person who loves to use your phone’s camera to take photos or videos but you don’t have the proper kind of tripod for it, then we think you’ll enjoy the way Five Gallon Ideas use elastic bands stretched around a mason jar weighted down with something like spare change to make a moveable phone camera stand.
14. Use magnets to organize makeup
Are your favourite kinds of life hacks always the ones that help you with some kind of organization or storage solution that helps you declutter your space a little bit? Then here’s a really simple one for the makeup lovers that will do just that! We’re in love with the way The Carbon Magazine used magnets and a metal board to create a cool, accessible wall storage.
15. Use pool noodles to keep your boots upright when you store them
Maybe your favourite thing in life is shoes and you’re always looking for better ways to store them so they stay organized and don’t get damaged? Then we think perhaps Bles-id has the perfect idea for you! Check out their tutorial to see how easily they turned cut sections of pool noodles into inner boot stands to keep them upright.
Do you have another awesome crafty or DIY life hack that you’d recommend to anyone but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about what you created and how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!