Earlier this week, I compiled the Top 10 Blog Posts of 2018…the ones you loved according to my analytics. I was so surprised by the results {click HERE if you missed it}. But guess what? There weren’t many DIY projects on that list. It kinda made this DIY-loving-gal wonder if she even did any projects last year. Yes, yes, I know that I did…but all of those projects were overshadowed by our move. And I get that. But, I thought that I would put a little twist on a top 10 post and this time, I am sharing “My Top 10 DIY Projects of 2018” with you! Let’s get started and see if your favorites made the list! {Post contains affiliate links. You can read our disclosure here.}
10. Small Space Laundry Room
I love when my home and family runs smoothly. It keeps my stress level down and I’m a happy momma then. So, when even a small area doesn’t function well and I know that it can, I reach my frustration limit and then figure out a solution. In our farmhouse, the washer and dryer were situated in an alcove within our first floor full bathroom. I tried to hide the mess behind a curtain, but guess what? That curtain was always open because: laundry. Using items that I already had on hand and in just a few hours, this space was pretty and the perfect solution to the laundry mess. {click HERE for this post}
9. How to Create a DIY Stencil Wallpaper
I loved the front entryway in our farmhouse, but I could never figure out how to add some texture and interest to the space. It was very narrow and it needed to be very functional. I was quite smitten with some temporary wallpaper options, but they just weren’t in the budget at the time. That’s when I came up with the solution of creating my own wallpaper with…a stencil! It was a little tedious to do, but I knew that the few hours spent stenciling would be worth it. And guess what? My faux wallpaper solution fooled so many people in photos…and in person! {click HERE for this post}
8. A DIY Painted Dresser: Before and After
This dresser. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Maybe it’s the story behind how I came across it. Or maybe it’s the hours I spent in a cold garage stripping and sanding veneer off the top of it. Either way, this dresser and I are bonded. And…I may kick myself for many years to come for not bringing it with us. I did sell it to our farmhouse buyer’s and they were excited about it, so that does make me feel better. {click HERE for this post}
7. Farmhouse Mud Room Makeover
This was my very first $100 Room Challenge makeover and it was a big space to transform with such a small budget. It caused me to be very creative and to watch my spending (Mr. Little by Little Home was happy about thar). This room stretched me and it was a good solution to getting over the winter blues as I brightened up and organized our mud room. {click HERE for this post}
6. Our Chicken Coop
It took us almost three years to get to the point where we had the time and budget to add chickens to our property. The coop and run were a labor of love as we tried to mostly use items we already had on hand. Most of the budget for this project went towards 2×4’s for the coop and chicken wire for the run. Friends gave us 10 hens and we have so many fond memories of “the ladies.” {click HERE for this post}
5. Our Farmhouse Back Porch Makeover
The summer of 2018 will always be ingrained as the one I spent painting beams white and stripping a wood deck. At the time, it was exhausting work, but the thought of what it would look like when it was complete, kept me motivated. The bittersweet part of the story is that the dream of summer nights sitting out here won’t happen for us as we moved away soon after this project was completed. But I imagine that the new farmhouse owners are looking forward to doing just that. {click HERE for this post}
4. Our Farmhouse Dining Room Table Makeover
A friend gave us this table and it was the designated homeschool room table until I realized that my kids were getting big and outgrowing the current dining room table. I looked around and re-imagined this table in our dining room instead. The only issue: it wasn’t big enough either. But…there was the option of opening it up and creating a leaf. I just knew we hit a home run with this piece when I listed the rug in this room online and everyone kept asking to buy the table! {click HERE for this post}
3. Our DIY Refinished Floors
The first big project we tackled in our new home was to refinish the wood floors. It began the morning after we closed on the house and took over 10 days to complete. I’ll be honest: it was one of the biggest projects I’ve ever taken on. The days were long and literally back-breaking. But, I kept thinking about how the house would look when it was said and done…and that is what kept me going during 12+ hour work days. {click HERE for this post}
2. Our Farmhouse Master Bedroom Makeover
This right here. Our master bedroom. I could kick myself for ignoring it for the 3 years that we were living in our farmhouse. It finally made it on the room makeover list in right before placing our farmhouse on the market. I know, I know, I’ve learned my lesson. After seeing how wonderful our master bedroom could be and enjoying it for a few months, I am determined to create a cozy room for my husband and I much sooner in our new home. {click HERE for this post}
1. A Painted Stone Fireplace
Painting our dining room stone fireplace was the boldest DIY project that I’ve ever done. After giving the rest of the room a makeover, the fireplace stuck out like a sore thumb. It took me almost a year to admit that maybe I should do something about it. After that, it was another 6 months of contemplating actually painting it. And then one day I pulled out a paint brush and started painting the stone. I never looked back. {click HERE for this post}
Looking back is such a fun way to see how far we’ve come. It also gets my creativity going as I look towards the future and all that 2019 holds for us here at The Little by Little Home. Thank you for blessing us with your encouragement, love, and support. xo, Leigh
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