Life is hard enough. Why shouldn't you make things easier for yourself when you can? Sure, you can't take shortcuts when you're filing your taxes or doing your job, but you can absolutely find simpler ways to keep your space clean, organized and beautiful – and we can show you how. From delicious recipe tricks to out-of-the-box crafting projects, these life hacks include a little something for everyone, and every home.
Kitchen/Cooking Hacks
Video of the Day
Getting Started
Your kitchen should be one of your favorite rooms in the house, but it's easy to get stuck in a kitchen rut. One day you look around and realize that all you do in there is throw together the same meals, wash the same dishes and wipe the same counters, over and over again. Or, if you've never been much of a cook, the kitchen might be a room you avoid altogether.
Video of the Day
It's time to reclaim your kitchen and make it a place where you actually want to hang out and enjoy yourself. Cooking should be fun – and it can be, even if you're not completely comfortable in the kitchen. All you need is a few basic tools, a recipe that interests you and the willingness to get your hands dirty.
Supplies You Need
Easy Projects for Beginners
Cleaning Hacks
Getting Started
Love it or hate it, cleaning has to get done. Until you win the lottery and hire someone to do it for you, cleaning will continue to be a necessary part of your everyday life. But it doesn't have to be a miserable chore that you dread. It doesn't have to take hours, or end with you having a headache from the fumes of chemical products.
There's an efficient and eco-friendly way to clean everything in your home, from your scummiest shower corners to your smelliest shoes. Prepare to start a love affair with vinegar and baking soda – they're about to become the most powerful tools in your cleaning arsenal.
Supplies You Need
Easy Projects for Beginners
Closet Hacks
Getting Started
They say that a cluttered room is a sign of a cluttered mind – but what are cluttered closets a sign of? If you're like most people, your closets are some of the most disorganized areas of your home. Maybe you shove things in there and close the door before anything can fall out. Eventually, you dread even going near that door.
Wouldn't it be nice to actually admire your closet instead of cringe at it? It's possible, and well worth the effort. Once your closet is organized, keeping it that way is easy. The trick is to make sure there's a designated place for anything that might need to get stowed in there. All you'll really need is a variety of storage containers and a few hours of free time.
Supplies You Need
Easy Projects for Beginners
Sewing Hacks
Getting Started
Sewing is part practical life skill and part relaxing hobby – but before you get to the relaxation part, you're going to need to learn the basics. The first lesson? There's no reason to be intimidated by sewing, even if you've never picked up a needle before. This is one skill that almost anyone can develop through practice.
If you want to only do hand sewing, you don't even need much special equipment beyond fabric and needles. Hand sewing is useful for doing delicate or precise work, like sewing on buttons or hemming a sleeve.
Machine sewing is much faster and makes it easier to create uniform stitches than hand sewing. But if you're new to machine sewing, you'll need to familiarize yourself with your sewing machine first. Refer to the owners' manual for your specific model, or study the labeled sewing machine diagram on this post. Next, set up the machine on a table. (Check out this video for a basic overview of how to set up your sewing machine and how to wind a bobbin.)
Finally, you're ready to install a needle and thread the sewing machine; again, refer to your owners' manual for specific guidance. Grab some thin, non-stretchy fabric like cotton and start practicing with a super-simple project like a basic handkerchief. Your skills will improve with every new sewing project you attempt – and you won't believe how many adorable and useful things you can create with fabric and thread.
Supplies You Need
- Cotton fabric
- Sewing machine
- Sewing machine needles (size 80/12 or 90/14 is appropriate for sewing cotton fabric)
- Sewing needles (for hand sewing)
- Spools of thread
- Bobbin cases
- Sewing scissors
- Measuring tape
- Straight pins
- Iron
- Seam ripper
Easy Projects for Beginners
Decorating Hacks
Getting Started
You're constantly changing, so why should your home always look the same? Keeping your space fresh and visually interesting makes it a pleasure to walk through the door each day. You can't replace the furniture every time you're bored, but you can make smaller upgrades that pack just as much punch.
There are dozens of ways to revamp your space with minimal cost or effort required. For example, forgo pricy store-bought art and hack your own wall art using simple items like yarn, wooden dowels and even free paint chips. Engage the senses by making your own air fresheners and meditative mini Zen garden. Depending on how ambitious you're feeling, you may even be up for the task of building your own customized, Instagram-ready light box.
The best decorating hacks don't necessarily require tools, artistic talent or a lot of time. Adding plants to your space takes just minutes, and it's a surefire way to brighten up any space. And when in doubt, do as the interior designers do: Bring in more throw pillows.
Supplies You Need
Easy Projects for Beginners
