DIY Home Decor Ideas: 8 High-End Projects With Materials, Costs and Steps

The best DIY home decor ideas are the ones that end up looking bought, not made. That means choosing projects that copy the materials and shapes of high-end pieces, such as plaster, fluting, oversized canvases, upholstered panels and solid brass, and finishing them carefully. You do not need a workshop: every project below can be built at a kitchen table or on a balcony with a few basic tools.

Each idea includes a materials list, an approximate cost, the time it takes and step-by-step instructions. Costs are typical ranges and assume you are buying supplies new; thrifted bases and leftover paint bring them down further. Most of these DIY apartment decor projects are also renter friendly, because you are making objects rather than changing the apartment itself.

DIY Projects at a Glance

Project	Approx. cost	Time	Skill level
Oversized textured canvas art	$40–$90	3–4 hours plus drying	Beginner
Plaster-effect vases from thrifted glass	$10–$25	1–2 hours plus drying	Beginner
Floating frame for canvas art	$15–$35	1–2 hours	Beginner to intermediate
Fluted nightstand or side table	$30–$70 (plus base)	Half a day	Intermediate
Dresser makeover with new legs and hardware	$60–$150 (plus dresser)	A weekend	Intermediate
Upholstered headboard panel	$70–$150	3–5 hours	Intermediate
Framed pressed botanicals or textile art	$20–$60	1 hour plus pressing time	Beginner
Recovered pleated lampshade	$15–$40	2–3 hours	Beginner to intermediate

DIY Wall Decor: Oversized Textured Canvas Art

Large, minimal, textured art is a signature of high-end interiors, and it is one of the easiest pieces to make yourself. The texture comes from joint compound, which gives a plaster-like relief.

Materials: one large stretched canvas (30 x 40 in. or bigger), a small tub of premixed lightweight joint compound, a putty knife or palette knife, a sample pot of matte paint in a warm neutral, a wide brush, fine sandpaper, painter's tape.

Approx. cost: $40–$90. Time: 3–4 hours of work plus overnight drying.

1. Prime the canvas with a coat of your paint color so no white shows through later.
2. Spread joint compound in sweeping arcs, ridges or a simple geometric shape. Keep it under about 1/4 inch thick so it does not crack.
3. Let it dry fully, usually overnight. Lightly sand any sharp peaks.
4. Paint over everything in one tone, or dry-brush a slightly lighter shade over the raised areas to catch the light.
5. Paint the canvas edges, or add the floating frame below for a gallery finish.

Plaster-Effect Vases From Thrifted Glass

Chalky, stone-like vessels cost a lot in design shops, but you can make a set from secondhand glass in an afternoon.

Materials: two or three thrifted glass vases or bottles in different heights, matte acrylic or latex paint, baking soda, a disposable cup, a foam brush, fine sandpaper.

Approx. cost: $10–$25. Time: 1–2 hours plus drying.

1. Wash the glass and wipe with rubbing alcohol so the paint grips.
2. Mix paint with baking soda, starting with about 2 tablespoons per half cup of paint, until it is thick like yogurt.
3. Dab it on with the foam brush, building a slightly rough texture. Let dry, then add a second coat.
4. Sand gently for a weathered, stone-like finish.
5. Use them for dried stems or branches. The coating is not waterproof, so put fresh flowers in a glass insert inside.

DIY Floating Frame for Canvas Art

A floating frame leaves a small gap around the canvas so it looks suspended inside the frame, the finish galleries use for canvas work. It makes DIY art, or an inexpensive printed canvas, look custom.

Materials: 1 x 2 in. pine or poplar boards (or L-shaped trim), wood glue, brad nails or short screws, wood stain or paint, a miter box and handsaw, sandpaper, clamps.

Approx. cost: $15–$35. Time: 1–2 hours plus finishing.

1. Measure the canvas and add about 1/2 inch to each side for the gap.
2. Cut four boards with 45-degree miters to those dimensions. The boards should be slightly deeper than the canvas.
3. Sand, then stain or paint. Black, walnut and natural oak all suit high-end interiors.
4. Glue and clamp the corners, then reinforce with brad nails.
5. Attach the canvas from the back with small screws through spacer blocks, keeping the gap even all around.

High End DIY Decor: Fluted Nightstand or Side Table

Fluting, a series of vertical rounded ribs, is a hallmark of luxury furniture. You can add it to a basic flat-front nightstand, cabinet or round side table using half-round wood dowels or pole wrap.

Materials: a flat-fronted nightstand or side table (new basic or thrifted), half-round wood dowels in 1/2 or 3/4 in. width, or flexible tambour sheet, wood glue or construction adhesive, a fine-tooth saw, sandpaper, primer, paint or stain, new knob.

Approx. cost: $30–$70, plus the cost of the base piece. Time: about half a day plus drying.

1. Remove hardware, clean and lightly sand the surfaces.
2. Cut dowels to the height of each surface you are covering. Dry-fit them side by side before gluing.
3. Glue the dowels on one by one, keeping them tight and vertical. Use a level on the first one.
4. Once dry, prime and paint the whole piece in one color, or stain wood dowels to match.
5. Add a single solid brass or ceramic knob.

Dresser Makeover With New Legs and Hardware

Adding tapered legs and substantial hardware to a plain, low-slung dresser can make a budget piece look like a designer one. This is the most transformative project on the list.

Materials: a solid dresser, bonding primer, cabinet-grade paint in satin, a foam roller and quality brush, four furniture legs with mounting plates (6 to 8 in. tall), new pulls, a drill, sandpaper (120 and 220 grit), degreaser.

Approx. cost: $60–$150, plus the dresser. Time: a weekend, mostly drying.

1. Remove drawers and hardware. Clean with degreaser and scuff-sand all surfaces.
2. Apply bonding primer. Let it dry, then sand lightly with 220 grit.
3. Roll on two thin coats of paint, sanding lightly between coats. Allow the full cure time listed on the can before heavy use.
4. Screw mounting plates into the base corners and attach the legs.
5. Fill old hardware holes if the new pulls have different spacing, then drill new holes and install the pulls.

Deep greens, warm whites, black and greige all read as high-end; for color ideas, try the room color palette generator.

Upholstered Headboard Panel

A tall upholstered headboard is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to an apartment bedroom. Building one is mostly measuring and stapling.

Materials: a sheet of 1/2 in. plywood or MDF cut to size (the width of the bed plus a few inches on each side, and 24–36 in. tall above the mattress), 2 in. foam, batting, upholstery fabric (linen, boucle or velvet), spray adhesive, a staple gun, a French cleat or two sturdy wall hooks.

Approx. cost: $70–$150. Time: 3–5 hours.

1. Have the board cut at the hardware store. For a queen, a width of about 64–66 in. works well.
2. Glue foam to the front of the board with spray adhesive.
3. Wrap batting over the foam and staple it to the back.
4. Lay the fabric face down, set the board on top, and staple from the center of each side outward, pulling taut. Fold the corners like a gift.
5. Mount with a French cleat, or simply wedge it between the bed frame and the wall.

Framed Pressed Botanicals or Textile Art

Pressed leaves, a vintage scarf or a remnant of beautiful fabric look like collected art when framed with a generous mat.

Materials: leaves or flowers, heavy books and parchment paper (for pressing), or a fabric piece; a frame with a wide mat or a float-mount frame; acid-free tape or archival glue dots.

Approx. cost: $20–$60. Time: about 1 hour, plus 1–3 weeks pressing for botanicals.

1. Press flat leaves or flowers between parchment in a heavy book for one to three weeks.
2. Arrange on the mat or backing board, leaving plenty of space around each specimen.
3. Secure with small dots of archival glue or acid-free tape.
4. Frame and hang as a pair or series of three for the most polished look.

When it is time to hang your work, our guide on how to hang wall art covers heights and spacing.

Recovered Pleated Lampshade

Pleated and fabric-covered shades are back in high-end interiors, and they soften a room's light. Recovering a plain drum shade costs very little.

Materials: a basic drum or empire shade, lightweight fabric (cotton or linen), fabric glue or double-sided fabric tape, clothespins, an iron.

Approx. cost: $15–$40. Time: 2–3 hours.

1. Cut fabric about 2.5 times the shade circumference and 2 inches taller than the shade.
2. Press even pleats about 1 inch wide with an iron.
3. Glue the pleated fabric around the top rim, folding the excess inside, then repeat at the bottom.
4. Hold with clothespins until dry. Use LED bulbs, which run cooler, and keep fabric clear of the bulb.

How to Make DIY Decor Look High-End

• Go bigger than feels natural. Oversized art and a tall headboard look intentional; small DIY pieces can look crafty.
• Use matte, tonal finishes. Avoid glitter, gloss and bright multi-color palettes.
• Do not skip prep. Cleaning, sanding and priming are what make paint finishes last and look smooth.
• Invest in the touch points. Solid metal hardware and quality fabric are worth the extra few dollars.
• Repeat finishes. If the dresser has brass pulls, echo brass in a frame or lamp.

Not every update needs a project. For no-skill styling moves, read our easy home decor ideas, and for the bigger picture, see how to make your apartment look expensive. To plan your project spending across a room, try the decorating budget planner.