10 Do-It-Yourself Home Decor Resolutions

Like most 20-something females, I have far too many photos and doodads that I want to hold on to. Letting them sit in a shoebox is a space-saver, but these sentimental objects deserve more. Last year I tried to remedy the problem by way of my love for vino. I made a little corkboard out of actual corks. It may look adorable in the photo, but this project was a failure. Shockingly enough, I did not have enough corks to make my first board big enough. This year, I will make it about quadruple the size so that it's actually useful.

I have a lot of shoes. A lot. (As in 150 pairs.) I usually know exactly which pair I want to wear, but the challenge is digging through the pileup to find said pair. For 2012, I've resolved to put some decorative molding into my wall to make a shoe display that doubles as fun interior decor! Blogger Aimee Jenny Song of SongofStyle.com has an adorable version of this with white molding on a sky blue wallpapered wall. Pretty and practical!

I made a set of custom-trimmed curtains for my boyfriend in 2011 with just $75 worth of materials. We were so happy with them that I'm planning to make a set out of inexpensive paint drop cloth for his kitchen window. Because the kitchen window is small, I will be busting out the sewing machine to stitch a proper rod pocket. (The prior curtain project was done with indispensible fabric tape.)

I was walking through BoConcept when I discovered an extremely simple flap for holding food and drinks that rests on the arm of your couch. I took one look at it and decided I wanted to make one of my own. I intend to use 15 pieces of 14-inch-by-1.5-inch wood and wrap around them with a piece of bright green leather or sturdy fabric. Perhaps I will alternate chopsticks and wood pieces to make it even more pliable. Either way, with the NBA back in full swing, I want to make sure I have multiple coaster-friendly surfaces.

I misplace my sunglasses as often as most people misplace their keys. The difference is that I rarely find my sunglasses—until I sit on them… or someone else does. (I've lost far too many pairs due to my inability to keep track of them.) However, the idea of having one of those acrylic convenience store sunglass racks in my apartment makes me cringe. Instead, I want to find an antique metal wine rack like this one, spray paint it a brassy color, and make a decorative sunglass rack.

I saw this gorgeous hand-painted mug from Wit & Whistle and fell in love. All you need is porcelain paint, a simple white porcelain mug, and a steady hand. I plan to make these in the accent colors of my apartment and hang them in on hooks. This way, not only are you always ready for a cup of coffee, but you get some decor in the process.

I love making pillows, not only because they are relatively easy to assemble, but also because they make such a huge difference in a room. This year I am planning to make a set of these adorable ring-bearer pillows by DIY aficionado Jenny from HankandHunt.com. But instead of tying a ring to the ribbon, you can tie pretty much anything. Whether it's a locket with a family photo or a couple charms from my old charm bracelet, little trinkets add a personal touch.

Barstools are a great way to create extra seating in a kitchen or living room. With a fringe-y bathmat and an old stool, you can make yourself an inexpensive custom stool. Chris from DesignHazards.com recovered his piano stool with a chenille bathmat, adding some interesting texture to the room. Aside from the stool and the mat, all you need are some scissors and an upholstery stapler.

I have a huge, empty wall in my bedroom, and I've been meaning to get some art to fill the space. After visiting the Museum of Modern Art in New York, I decided that all I need is fingers and paint to create my own masterpiece like this one from Sketch 42. I want to buy three large-sized stretched canvases, crisscross over them with masking tape, and then paint over that with accent colors. Once I rip the paint off, the effect should be a semi-artistic and geometric piece of work.

Last year, I saw an amazing post on the blog Adventures of an Almost-40-Year-Old Intern and was immediately moved to buy some fabric medium—a formula that transforms ordinary acrylic paint into textile paint—and my favorite bright green shade of paint. Unfortunately, life (as well as the small size of my apartment) gets in the way of my latest project. However, in 2012 I resolve to get it done, converting an inexpensive white rug into something more dramatic.