Life hacks
Get creative at home with these DIY ideas
With a little lacquer, an old piece of wooden furniture becomes a vintage eye-catcher.
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If you want to bring a breath of fresh air into your own four walls in lockdown, you don't have to buy something new right away. The best DIY ideas.
Because the corona pandemic is changing a lot and people are spending more time in their own four walls, do-it-yourself is currently the trend. Many rediscover hobbies or revive old ones and beautify their home with DIY solutions. From renovated furniture to hip candles: These are the best craft ideas for the home.
Twisted candles
So-called twisted candles have been an indispensable part of Instagram and Co. for months. The eye-catching, colorful spiral candles are THE eye-catcher and originally come from the Danish design brand Hay. To imitate the Kerzentrend at home, all you need is long stick candles, a tall container and warm water.
This is how it works: Place the taper candles in a tall container with warm (not hot!) Water and remove them after a few minutes. Then place it on a smooth surface and carefully press it flat, leaving out a few centimeters above and below. Then shape as desired and let the finished product harden in cold water.
Trash to terracotta
"Trash to Terracotta" is currently the DIY trend on TikTok: Stylish terracotta vases can be conjured up in no time from old vases, unloved planters and jars stacked in the kitchen. What is needed for this is: a neutral color, such as wall paint, baking soda and a brush.
This is how it works: Mix the color with a little baking powder and stir until a fluffy mass is formed without lumps. Then brush the selected vessel with the brush – you play it safe with two layers – and let it dry.
Upcycling: beautifying old wooden furniture
Old pieces of furniture can really make a difference. Upcycling allows old vintage pieces to shine in new splendor – and you don't have to be a talented handyman for that. For a simple upcycling process of wooden cabinets, chests of drawers or chairs, you need: hand sander or sandpaper, varnish, brush or small roller, and possibly wooden filler.
This is how it works: Remove grease and dirt residues from the piece of furniture with a cloth and sand the surfaces to roughen the surface. If the piece of furniture has dents or cracks, you can fill them with wooden filler – then sand again. Then (depending on the opacity) apply one to two layers of varnish or glaze to the dry wood – paint larger areas with a roller, smaller areas with a brush. The finished piece of furniture should dry for at least three days before it is ready for use.
Shibori batik
The hippie trend meets ancient Japanese dyeing technology: In the 6th century, poor people in Japan used Shibori to conjure up new effects on old clothing with fabric dye – especially in the form of geometric patterns that are created by folding and tying. Pillowcases, kitchen towels or blankets are also given a new coat of paint. The main color used in Japan is indigo blue, which is obtained from the indigo plant. Boil-proof textile paint is ideal for the DIY project. Avoid synthetic fibers when choosing the fabric – cotton, linen or viscose are best.
This is how it works: Fold the fabric into triangles several times and secure with cords or elastic. The places where the fabric is fixed will remain lighter during dyeing. Mix the textile dye with water in a bucket according to the dosage instructions. Then place the bound fabric in the liquid. Coloring takes between 20 minutes and an hour – depending on the desired color intensity. Then wring it out over the sink with gloves and wash in the washing machine with fixing salt.