Are you tired of how your home appears? It may be time to change things up a bit. However, it can be hard to think of something creative on your own. Browsing through catalogs usually doesn’t help because a lot of the items there are generic. What you can do to make your home feel more unique is to get hands-on and create the design you want yourself. With these new hobbies to take up, you can start making your own items and become your own interior designer.
Upcycling
You’ve heard of recycling, but how about taking it a step further and upcycle your old items. Upcycling is basically taking an item and turning it into something new that is of higher quality. Unlike recycling, you don’t need to destroy an item to transform it into something else. This is a great way to make use of old furniture.
If you are to be reusing old metal equipment or items, you have to remove the dirt and rust on them first. This can be easily done with a baking soda and water solution. Then, scrub down rust areas and tight spots with a welder’s cleaning brush, often made with steel bristles to scrape rusty parts. Wooden items may need some varnishing as well to hide discoloration. In some cases, there may be parts that are already rotten and need to be removed.
The best thing about this hobby is that you can be as creative as you want. The result is a unique and one-of-a-kind item that only you have. Some people take down old baby cribs and turn them into shelves, tables, or outdoor chairs. Others turn old picture frames into mirrors or vanities.
Painting
Every homeowner has thought about changing up their walls now and again. However, plain colors and wallpaper designs can get boring and redundant. If you really want to try something unique, why not try painting your wall yourself! This is a simple and fun hobby, and even your kids can decorate their rooms.
Before you start painting, make sure you have the right materials first. For large areas, you will definitely use a paint roller to cover more space, but you can also get individual brushes for adding finer details. The wall needs to be prepared for repainting as well. Most would need to scrape the walls with sandpaper to remove the old paint markings.
Aside from having more personalized walls, this hobby can also be a form of art therapy, especially during the pandemic. Studies found that cancer patients often turned to visual arts and painting because it serves as a distraction from their illness. It also helps you focus on positive life experiences and reinforces your self-worth.
Woodworking
For those that want something more hands-on, woodworking is a good hobby you can get into. It has a lot of uses for a homeowner. You can learn how to make items from scratch that would fit your design. This also teaches you how to repair broken items without having to replace them. As an average person, the least that this hobby does is help make assembling IKEA items easier.
Getting into this hobby with little to no experience is simple. Start with finding a simple project, such as a toolbox or a shelf, and then get the materials needed. You can work your way up to the more complicated items as you go along. All the equipment needed is pretty universal for all projects. It is usually just a saw, hammer, nails, screws, and measuring equipment.
Gardening
Landscaping and plants are not just meant for the outdoors. A lot of modern designs today incorporate plants and indoor gardens in their homes. There are a lot of benefits to this, and it includes better air quality and reduced pollutants. People who have many plants at home are usually familiar with basic gardening ideas and grow their own plants on the side.
Those who get into this hobby usually start with easy plants such as cacti and succulents. These do not need much care and watering, but it also teaches the basics of gardening. Some of them require more maintenance, and others have specific sun needs. Succulents generally reproduce quickly as well, so you will also learn how to properly replant a sprout.
Sometimes, our lack of knowledge of other skills keeps us from having cool home designs. Incorporating your hobbies and skills into your design gives it a more personal touch. It also gives you more control over the final output because you can directly create the items in your mind.
