DIY and home decorating ideas for the long weekend

Long weekends are the perfect time to tick off projects around the home that you’ve been putting off. As well as bigger home renovation projects, it’s the perfect time to do smaller home improvements. For example, decluttering spaces, adding pockets of style or even building your furniture (nothing too challenging, promise!). We’ve gathered 20 of our favourite DIY and home decorating ideas for the long weekend.

Related article: How to: Style a bookshelf
Related article: 21 decorating hacks for rental properties

1. DIY ladder shelves

Bookshelves can be one of the most challenging furniture items to buy. Generally not the right size, far too expensive or in a style that doesn’t suit our aesthetic. Overcome these issues by building your own!

How about this simple yet sturdy A-frame ladder shelf that Mandi from Vintage Revivals created?! Using pine boards and dowel, it adds plenty of additional storage and is the perfect way to display your favourite objects. Find this customisable DIY here.

A Frame ladder weekend renovation
Image via Vintage Revivals

2. Set up your home office

Working from home is kinda the continued norm these days, isn’t it? And that extra day off could be the perfect time to give your office space a deep clean. We’ve got a great article with 5 steps to create a productive home office space, or one on streamlining and styling your office to boost productivity.

If you just want to pretty up your space (and who doesn’t want to do that?!), why not check out this article with 20 fabulous and affordable office styling tips?

Style your office with our top picks

Metal and wood desk lamp
Metal and wood desk lamp
Grey office chair
Grey office chair
Rose quartz
Rose quartz
Personalised journal
Personalised journal
Office chair
Office chair
Vintage-look rug
Vintage-look rug
Succulents
Succulents
Artwork
Artwork
Ceramic pink pot
Ceramic pink pot
Metal and wood desk lamp
Metal and wood desk lamp
Grey office chair
Grey office chair
Rose quartz
Rose quartz
Personalised journal
Personalised journal
Office chair
Office chair
Vintage-look rug
Vintage-look rug
Succulents
Succulents
Artwork
Artwork
Ceramic pink pot
Ceramic pink pot
Create a home office things to do at home to keep busy

3. Hack your own renter-friendly curtains

Are you a renter looking to add curtains to your property but can’t drilling into the walls? Maybe you’re a homeowner who just wants to make a temporary curtain update? If this sounds like you, this may be the weekend renovation idea for you!

Out of all the weekend renovation ideas we have here, this may be the most interesting!

Instagram user @offliveoak used Command hanging hooks to hold her curtain rail, completely removing the need for curtain hooks altogether. It’s so clever, we’re almost jealous we didn’t think of it ourselves.

2. Floating corner shelves

Struggling to style that empty corner? Shelving is a great solution — a spot for decor and house plants, all while adding extra storage to your space.

This clean floating shelf DIY avoids the need for unsightly brackets. By following the DIY here, you can get the same look for your home!

DIY floating shelves
Image via A Beautiful Mess

3. Create photobooks or print out family photos

A job we never seem to find the time to do is create family photobooks or print out family photos to display around the home.

There are loads of websites that allow you to easily create photobooks or print family photos from the comfort of your home. So why not take the long weekend as a chance to finally get all those precious photos off your phone and camera SIM cards and print them out!!

If you’re based in Australia, you may like to try the Photobook Australia site for great quality and value for money.

Photobook
Image via Photobook Australia

4. Get stuck into the garden

Heading back out into the garden again, now you’ve got your veggie patch sorted, it’s time to tackle the rest of the yard!

There’s still plenty of fun to be had in the garden in autumn. We cover everything you should be doing in your garden NOW in our autumn gardening guide here.

Shop your gardening essentials here

Merry People boots
Merry People boots
Lawn fertiliser
Lawn fertiliser
Garden shed
Garden shed
Heirloom seeds
Heirloom seeds
Sandalwood mozzie diffuser
Sandalwood mozzie diffuser
25m retractable hose
25m retractable hose
2 piece gardening tools
2 piece gardening tools
Garden spotlight
Garden spotlight
Merry People boots
Merry People boots
Lawn fertiliser
Lawn fertiliser
Garden shed
Garden shed
Heirloom seeds
Heirloom seeds
Sandalwood mozzie diffuser
Sandalwood mozzie diffuser
25m retractable hose
25m retractable hose
2 piece gardening tools
2 piece gardening tools
Garden spotlight
Garden spotlight
Gardening things to do at home to keep busy

5. Curate a wine collection or stock up your home bar

There’s no denying that a long weekend is cause for celebration and a bit of over indulgence! Well… any excuse really, we say!

In all seriousness though, taking the time to research good wines and build up a home cellar has been something on our ‘to do’ list forever and it seems like now is the perfect time to do it. Plenty of websites have a great selection of wines available, such as Virgin Wines and Just Wines (use coupon code ‘FIRST’ to get $20 off your first order), and wine ratings/reviews to help you make your selections.

Epic pantry
Image via Nina Mayer Interiors

6. Start a compost

One of the boredom busters Gina recently ticked off her to do list, was starting an at-home compost. This is a great project to start while you have a bit of extra time at home so we encourage you to give it a go.

It’s also a fabulous way to reduce how much kitchen waste goes into landfill. And in return, you will be rewarded with rich, nutrient-dense compost your plants (including that new veggie garden you’ve just started!) will LOVE.

No idea how to get started? Our composting guide for beginners will take you through every step of the process.

Shop your composting essentials here

4 Piece composter set
4 Piece composter set
Compost accelerator
Compost accelerator
600L Compost Bin
600L Compost Bin
Compost mixing tool
Compost mixing tool
Compost bin kit
Compost bin kit
Compost starter block
Compost starter block
100L compost tumbler
100L compost tumbler
Compost Starter Kit 16L
Compost Starter Kit 16L
Bamboo fibre compost bin
Bamboo fibre compost bin
Static compost bin
Static compost bin
Twin compost tumbler
Twin compost tumbler
Porcelain compost bin
Porcelain compost bin
Worm farm
Worm farm
Tumbleweed compost bin
Image of Tumbleweed compost bin via Bunnings

8. Declutter your home

Ohhh a declutter is good for the soul, don’t you think?! Now is as good a time as any to clear out those un-worn clothes, toys the kids no longer play with, or just ‘stuff’ you’re holding on to for no real reason.

Have a read of our declutter article to help get started, or try your hand at a toy rotation system. Or scroll through our organising articles to see if anything sparks your decluttering fancy.

9. Organise your fridge

There is honestly nothing more satisfying than a beautifully organised fridge. When Gina did hers, it went from being the most embarrassing part of her kitchen to one of her favourites.

This is an easy afternoon project and can make way for more space, helping you to store more in your fridge and minimise how often you need to pop out to the grocery store.

Check out Gina’s tips for taking your fridge from disgusting to dreamy, here!

Get everything you need to beautify your fridge here

Bamboo lid container
Bamboo lid container
Veggie saver bags
Veggie saver bags
Tray
Tray
Fridge labels
Fridge labels
Drink dispenser
Drink dispenser
Fridge organiser set
Fridge organiser set
Bamboo lid container
Bamboo lid container
Veggie saver bags
Veggie saver bags
Tray
Tray
Fridge labels
Fridge labels
Drink dispenser
Drink dispenser
Fridge organiser set
Fridge organiser set
Bamboo lid container
Bamboo lid container
Veggie saver bags
Veggie saver bags
Tray
Tray
Fridge labels
Fridge labels
Drink dispenser
Drink dispenser
Fridge organiser set
Fridge organiser set

10. Organise your pantry

Another popular organising task in the kitchen zone is the pantry. We LOVE an organised pantry! If you are less fond of yours, why not spend some of your long weekend giving it a makeover?

We share our top pintrest-worthy pantry ideas here as well as tips and tricks to styling and organising your pantry. Trust us, this one is seriously satisfying once you’re done!

Get everything you need for a pintrest-worthy pantry here

Tea towel
Tea towel
Fridge labels
Fridge labels
Cereal dispenser
Cereal dispenser
Storage containers
Storage containers
Serving board
Serving board
Tea towel
Tea towel
Fridge labels
Fridge labels
Cereal dispenser
Cereal dispenser
Storage containers
Storage containers
Serving board
Serving board
Tea towel
Tea towel
Fridge labels
Fridge labels
Cereal dispenser
Cereal dispenser
Storage containers
Storage containers
Serving board
Serving board
Containers

11. Grow plants or expand your indoor jungle

Propagating plants is a fun activity and many of them are soooo simple to grow!

One of our favourite plants to propagate is the ever-so forgiving Pothos (aka Devil’s Ivy). Watch this quick video to get the know-how and be on your way to becoming a crazy plant lady!

And of course, succulents are also super simple to grow — either from a leaf or a cutting, and we share both techniques here.

Worried you’ve got a black thumb? Never fear! Our top tips for keeping indoor plants alive and hard to kill plant articles are some of our most popular articles ever!

Shop some stylish indoor pots here

Terrazzo outdoor planter
Terrazzo outdoor planter
Ribbed ceramic planter
Ribbed ceramic planter
Seagrass hanging planter
Seagrass hanging planter
Ceramic pink pot
Ceramic pink pot
Pot and plant stand
Pot and plant stand
Planter stand
Planter stand
Seagrass plant stands
Seagrass plant stands
Two set white pots
Two set white pots
Terrazzo outdoor planter
Terrazzo outdoor planter
Ribbed ceramic planter
Ribbed ceramic planter
Seagrass hanging planter
Seagrass hanging planter
Ceramic pink pot
Ceramic pink pot
Pot and plant stand
Pot and plant stand
Planter stand
Planter stand
Seagrass plant stands
Seagrass plant stands
Two set white pots
Two set white pots
Jars to propagate plants

12. Paint a pot

Now that you’ve extended your plant family, you might need some new pots to spruce them up! There are countless DIY tutorials online showing different ways you can decorate pots, such as the pic above from the Dream Green DIY site. Soon we’ll be giving a few pots in our front entry a makeover so stay tuned for that 😉

Painted pot DIY
Image via Dream Green DIY

13. Style your laundry

Often, the laundry is a neglected zone of the home styling-wise. It’s time to bring your laundry out of the shadows and make it a real statement room in the home. We’ve got all the tips and tricks to get you stylin’.

Shop everything luxe laundry here

Washing machine
Washing machine
Marble tray
Marble tray
Rose gold tap
Rose gold tap
Petal floor tile
Petal floor tile
Washing machine
Washing machine
Marble tray
Marble tray
Rose gold tap
Rose gold tap
Petal floor tile
Petal floor tile
Washing machine
Washing machine
Marble tray
Marble tray
Rose gold tap
Rose gold tap
Petal floor tile
Petal floor tile
Erskineville laundry_front view

14. Make use of an awkward or under-utilised space

Many of us have an awkward space in our homes or a room that’s just a dumping ground of stuff. You’d be surprised what’s possible in these small or oddly-shaped areas with a little creativity. For example, Gina had an area under her stairs that was used as a storage room (read: rubbish room) so she cleared it out to make an indoor cubby for her kids.

No matter how big or small, if you have a dead area in your home, why not take this time to find a new way to make use of it?! And if you’re not sure how to tackle it, check out this article where we share 11 ideas for styling an empty corner of your home.

Find all your under the stair cubby essentials here

Kids playmat
Kids playmat
Personalised height chart
Personalised height chart
Dinosaur lamp
Dinosaur lamp
Cube storage
Cube storage
Fairy lights
Fairy lights
Large basket
Large basket
Kids playmat
Kids playmat
Personalised height chart
Personalised height chart
Dinosaur lamp
Dinosaur lamp
Cube storage
Cube storage
Fairy lights
Fairy lights
Large basket
Large basket
Kids playmat
Kids playmat
Personalised height chart
Personalised height chart
Dinosaur lamp
Dinosaur lamp
Cube storage
Cube storage
Fairy lights
Fairy lights
Large basket
Large basket

15. Create your own Kmart hack

DIYs are some of the best ways to keep busy and have a bit of fun (we’ve got LOADS of ideas for you right here). But some of the most popular ones are the good old Kmart hacks.

From our very own Kmart concrete side table DIY article, to some amazing Kmart hacks for kids — we have got you covered!

Just looking for a bit of inspo? Take a look all our Kmart hacks articles that cover every room of the house!

Close up of side table

16. Give a room a stylish makeover

Styling (or re-styling!) a room is one of our favourite projects… ever! Perhaps you’d like to tackle your lounge room, or maybe your bathroom? Kitchen styling is always popular, or have a read of this article which gives you luxe ideas on a budget.

However, top of our list for rooms that are the most fun to makeover are kids bedrooms! Gina recently gave Alexander’s room a refresh and re-style over the course of a weekend. And the results speak for themselves!

Big boy bedroom

17. Style up your bedside table

Give your bedside table a makeover for another simple, easy to do project. Following some of our top advice here, you can create a clean, stylish and more inviting space within your bedroom sanctuary.

Shop your bedside styling essentials here

Rose quartz
Rose quartz
Beaded tassel
Beaded tassel
Ceramic lamp
Ceramic lamp
Tuscan fig candle
Tuscan fig candle
Passionfruit and lime diffuser
Passionfruit and lime diffuser
Namaste print
Namaste print
Glass table lamp
Glass table lamp
LOFT MARBLE TRAY
LOFT MARBLE TRAY
Rose quartz
Rose quartz
Beaded tassel
Beaded tassel
Ceramic lamp
Ceramic lamp
Tuscan fig candle
Tuscan fig candle
Passionfruit and lime diffuser
Passionfruit and lime diffuser
Namaste print
Namaste print
Glass table lamp
Glass table lamp
LOFT MARBLE TRAY
LOFT MARBLE TRAY
Bedside table

18. Join the #stylecuratorchallenge

Yes, we’re starting this round up with a shameless self-plug but honestly, our challenges seem more relevant right now than ever before. If you’re not aware, we run fun and free styling challenges throughout the year to connect our massive community of interior-loving enthusiasts and help us all in our pursuit of a stylish home. Of course, there’s the added bonus of having a fab prize up for grabs too!

We’ve got all the #stylecuratorchallenge info for you right here.

Close up gallery wall things to do at home to keep busy

19. Make some bath stuff

A long weekend surely means more time to relax, right?! Well, even if that’s not the case it should still mean you’re giving yourself a bit of pampering and ‘me time’.

Create your own at home day spa with our DIY pamper ideas. We have a super simple bath fizzies recipe the kids can help make. Or, how about luxe bath bombs or some beautiful bath salts?

DIY bath bomb

20. Have a go at making your own candles

A relaxing bath just isn’t complete without a gorgeous candle (and a glass of wine 😉 ). So before you jump into the bath, let us take you through a step-by-step candle making tutorial!

Just imagine how luxurious that bath is going to be after you’ve made your own bath products and soy candle?! You can thank us later!

Burning candle on shelf

So, what do you think of our list of things to do at home to keep busy? Are you keen to give any a go? Tell us in the comment section below or we’d love you to tag us (@stylecuratorau) on Instagram so we can check out your creations!

More DIY ideas

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links. This means, if you purchase an item we may receive a commission on that sale of the product at no extra cost to you. We promise we only work with brands we know, love and trust.

Gina Beschorner Style Curator

Welcome to Style Curator, your destination for daily interiors inspiration, styling tips, reno advice, home tours and DIY projects!

We're on a mission to help you create a home you love. And with plenty of tips and tricks, tutorials and other home inspo, we give you all the tools to achieve it!

I’m Gina, Founder and Interior Designer, and you can read more about Style Curator here.

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    2 COMMENTS

    1. Love love love those painted pots – really gorgeous! Lots of great ideas here for whiling away time in lockdown Melbourne. Thank you.

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