DIY and the dynamics of Decoration craft Ideas for home and office

DIY and the dynamics of Decoration
craft Ideas for home and office
By Sophia Luxton, 2017
Abstract
Studies of ordinary (as distinct from spectacular) forms of consumption have
generated new questions and new ways of thinking about mechanisms and
processes of change and about the conceptual status of consumer goods. No
longer exclusively framed as semiotic resources deployed in the expression and
reproduction of identities and social relations, products are increasingly viewed
as essential ingredients in the effective accomplishment of everyday life.
Renovating is costly, but inexperience can make the process a lot pricier and
more stressful than it needs to be. It is possible to shave tens of thousands off
your budget just by sticking to some of the tried and true advice below. Here we
will be sharing some cool DIY ideas for you.
1.0 Introduction:
Everybody wants to have a beautifully decorated home. Imagine
impressing family and friends with your exquisite décor and have them
wondering how you did it. Adding your own personal touch to your décor
can make your house feel even more like home.
Unfortunately, the costs of decorating a home can be expensive.
The houses you see on TV and in magazines costs thousands of dollars to
decorate. You want a beautiful place to call your own, but you don‘t want
to go bankrupt in the process. However, you are embarrassed to have
company over because of the way your home looks! Luckily, there is a
solution.(Justdestinymag, 2016)

Figure 1
We have gathered the 18 best DIY home decor projects and put
them into this simple lists. These projects are easy, affordable, and most
importantly look fantastic. These projects will make the most
inexperienced home decorator into an expert, or make an expert look
even more creative. You have been thinking about adding some new flair
to your home for years.
With these affordable projects you now have no excuse. Save your
money for more important things, and decorate your home beautifully on
a budget!(Eva, 2016)
2.0 What is DIY:
Do-it-yourself is a broad term that can enclose everything from
home renovations to crafts. Here, DIY refers to a subculture encouraging
the idea of personal projects and creations, particularly focusing on crafts,
fashion and self-publishing.(Vienneau, 2011)
Until the development of dedicated DIY stores in the 1970s, people
who wanted to decorate, repair or modify their own home had to venture
into the specialised world of the traditional builders‘ merchant (Roush
1999). The very idea of DIY was undoubtedly promoted by companies
making and selling tools and materials to amateur rather than professional
customers.

Although power tools were widely used in the building trade long
before, they did not find their way into the domestic market on any scale
until the mid-twentieth century. In recent years the range available to the
home DIYer has expanded dramatically. At the same time, prices –
especially of basic items like the ‗entry level‘ power drill have dropped
spectacularly. Although the general trend remains one in which
professional models are adapted for less demanding domestic use, some
power tools have been substantially re-designed from the bottom up with
the amateur consumer explicitly in mind (see, for example, Black and
Decker‘s multi-functional ‗Quattro‘ or B&Q‘s ergonomic and
zoomorphic ‗Sandbug‘).
Innovations in materials like fibreboard (MDF), in plastic
(plumbing) and in fixing technology (especially glues) have since
extended the range of tasks the average handyperson is willing and able
to take on. New product ranges and methods of retailing have helped
establish DIY as something that ordinary people might do, but as we
indicate below, sources of consumer competence and confidence are also
critical. Woodwork, sometimes metalwork and more recently, craft,
design and technology have figured on UK school curricula – at least for
boys – since the nineteenth century. Schools continue to teach children
how to handle materials and tools and have equipped at least some of
them with the confidence to tackle DIY projects and to use power tools at
home. Home improvement and makeover shows on day time and prime
time TV further reinforce the idea that properties can be customised and
values enhanced and that renovation is both normal and legitimate.
Our industry respondents were not convinced that these
programmes transmit meaningful knowledge or impart the skills required
to do the jobs they represent. Even so, they are impressively effective in
inspiring householders and giving them the (possibly misplaced)
confidence to embark on relatively ambitious projects. Besides these
more or less institutionalised channels, our own research demonstrates
that personal networks of family, friends and neighbours are crucial for
individual experiences of DIY and so, cumulatively, for its development
as a recognised area of social practice.
Being inspired by what the neighbours have done, depending on a
friend to provide an extra pair of hands, or being able to phone a

knowledgeable parent when things get stuck featured prominently in our
respondents‘accounts, all of which suggest that DIY would be much less
widespread if it really meant doing jobs entirely alone. These separate
influences (manufacturers, retailers, media, family and friends) have
arguably combined to make DIY what it is today. Around 62% of the UK
adult population now claim to participate in DIY, including decorating a
separate category defined as ―internal and external painting, staining or
wallpapering‖ (Mintel 2003; 2005).
Their motives for doing so undoubtedly vary, some seeing it as a
form of work others as an arena for self-expression and creativity; some
being driven by economic considerations, others by notions of quality,
care and control. According to Mintel‘s consumer research (2005) over
25% of UK adults enjoy DIY and 8% go so far as to identify it as a
hobby. These figures raise interesting questions about what makes DIY
rewarding - is it the process itself, the exercise of existing competence,
the challenge of learning new skills or the satisfaction of the result?
2.1: Practices and Projects:
Respondents used the notion of ‗a project‘ frequently and
fluidly. Putting up a shelf counted as a project and so did knocking down
a wall. In talking about his attic renovation, Will referred to moving the
radiator as ‗a project‘, even though this task was but one step in the larger
scheme of creating a space in which the children could play. For the most
part, people used the term to describe planned, temporally bounded
episodes or sequences of activity resulting in an observable outcome.
What counted as a project varied widely yet the notion was uniformly
important as a way of structuring the otherwise boundless flow of daily
life (Zerubavel 1985). Time was set aside for projects, tools and materials
were acquired or assembled with the project in mind, and projects were
the basic building blocks of individual DIY careers. Used in these ways,
the project stands somewhat outside the streams of practice and the
momentary conjunctions of tools and skills that characterise the doing of
DIY. (Watson & Shove, 2008)
3.0 DIY Cultures: HISTORIC OVERVIEW

One of the earliest ―modern era‖ DIY communities formed among
amateur radio hobbyists in the 1920‘s (Figure 1). These hobbyists relied
on amateur handbooks, which stressed ―imagination and an open mind‖
nearly as much as the technical aspects of radio communication. Ham
radio enthusiasts often met in person to discuss their work as well as
unrelated social subjects.
Figure 2
They continued to thrive rebelliously during World War II, when a
ban was placed on amateur radio communication. Rebellious attitudes
continued to pervade pirate radio stations of the 1960‘s and handmade
‗zines‘ expressing the punk aesthetic in the 1970s‘ (Figure 1). Later in the
1980‘s, low-cost MIDI equipment enabled people without formal training
to record electronic music, evolving into the rave culture of the 1990‘s
[26]. During this time, computer hobbyists also formed communities to
create, explore and exploit software systems, resulting in the Hacker
culture.
Today‘s DIY cultures reflect the anticonsumerism, rebelliousness,
and creativity of earlier DIY initiatives, supporting the ideology that
people can create rather than buy the things they want.

Figure 3
4.0 Modern DIY Communities:
Recent breakthroughs in technology afford sharing such that
anyone can quickly document and showcase their DIY projects to a large
audience. An emerging body of tools allows enthusiasts to collaboratively
critique, brainstorm and troubleshoot their work, often in real-time [e.g.
1,11,32]. This accessibility and decentralization has enabled large
communities to form around the transfer of DIY information, attracting
individuals who are curious, passionate and/or heavily involved in DIY
work. Thousands of DIY communities exist today, varying in size,
organization and project structure. Some allow members to contribute
asynchronously on a variety of topics, while others focus on specific
projects such as knitting, crocheting or hip craft. Some revolve around
smaller in-person gatherings and some enable hobbyists to trade or sell
their projects. (Kuznetsov & Paulos, 2010)

5.0 Where is the modern interior?
The special role played by the HDB's notions of domestic interior
in the modernisation of post-independence Singapore echoes the central
place the interior held in early theorisations of modernity more generally.
For example, Benjamin (1999) saw the ornamented 19th-century
domestic interior as an emblematic space of modernity, against which the
ideals and aesthetics of modernism formed.
In what follows we take as a starting point Benjamin's reflections
on the relationship between the domestic interior, modernity, and
modernism. In doing so we do not wish to imply that a modernity
(including architectural modernism) that originated in Europe was simply
applied to, or poorly imitated in, Singapore. To do so would be to entrap
Singaporean modernisation and modernism within a developmentalist
model (Robinson, 2006). But we do not wish to dislodge modernism
entirely from the specificities of its production such that its `international'
aspirations outrank the situated nature of its making (and remaking).
The stylistic and ideological shape of the modernism in which
Singapore invested in so enthusiastically through its housing programme
was, in the first instance, generated in Europe (although see Vogt, 1998).
The post-independence Singaporean interior, although made and lived
within the context of quite localised agendas and aspirations and, as we
shall see, reshaping modernism quite dramatically, was at the same time
inevitably in conversation with this other history and geography.
This framework for delivering design principles placed everyday
interpretations and innovations centre stage of the HDB's interior design
story, such that modernist design principles were drawn into more
ordinary interiors shaped not only by design ideals, but also by the
pragmatic limits set by residents' budgets, DIY abilities, and existing
furniture. Following are the element for interior DIY:
Colour
Use of colour was an important part of the advice
given to residents through the de¨cor articles in Our
Home. Considering the indebtedness of the highrise to
modernist design principles, it is unsurprising that
much advice was about the dangers of heavy colour''

and the practical ``sense'' of using lighter colours,
especially white (1978, pages 21 and 24). As we noted
above, within modernism whiteness operated to reveal
the true function of architectural form, delivering a
transparency and clarity of purpose that was without
disguise. This vision of architectural clarity was
entangled with wider notions of modernisation, itself
expressed through codependent notions of civilisation
and cleanliness.
Clutter
As noted, the inaugural phase of housing provision by
the HDB was undertaken in the name of a diagnosed
housing crisis such that many of the earliest HDB
provisions were very small one-bedroom (23 m2) or
two-bedroom (37 m2) `emergency' flats. Even the
earliest `improved', `standard', and `new generation'
flats could be relatively small. Internal space was
always at a premium in early HDB offerings, and
much of the advice given by way of Our Home was
directed at solving the space problem with limited
financial outlay. For example, almost all the articles
on interior decoration in the first two years of Our
Home advised readers to create a simple, low-cost,
and uncluttered look in their newly acquired flats.
Ornament:
Although obsessed with the `problem' of clutter, the
HDB de¨cor advice did not consistently promote the
elimination of ornament. Indeed, ornament was seen to have
the power to deliver to domestic interiors a sense of
``personal touch'' and ``atmosphere'' in a manner that
resonated quite remarkably with the very 19th-century
European interior that modernism shunned. Our Home
articles encouraged residents to create, in modest and
controlled ways, a range of theatrical and phantasmagorical
effects.(Kuznetsov & Paulos, 2010)

6.0 The Evolutionary Nature of the Home:
The research associated with the developments in the previous
section seeks to transform our everyday homes into interactive
environments. Although many technologies appear to be revolutionary in
nature it is important that we realize that technology will need to find a
place within our homes and that our homes will need to change to
accommodate this technology. Domestic environments evolve. They are
open to continual change and the need to understand and support this
change will be important to ensure the successful uptake and management
of digital devices in domestic spaces. For example, previous studies have
highlighted how inhabitants continually reconfigure domestic spaces and
the technologies within them to meet particular demands.
7.0 Domestic Environments and Infrastructures:
As we have already stated the work on developing environments
and infrastructures has tended to focus on SERVICES. As Kidd et al put
it when discussing the development of the aware home at Georgia
Tech[18] ―we need to provide the capability for computational services to
take advantage of these soon to be ubiquitous sensing capabilities‖ We
also need to understand how these emergent services may relate to the
SPACE PLAN and STUFF. Existing views of interaction has focused on
the development of ―smart environments‖ where inhabitants live in a
space that monitors their actions and invisibly reacts to their demands. A
number of researchers have already highlighted the need to make
interaction intelligible to inhabitants of sensorial environments. We
would add to this a need to consider the diversity of stakeholders and
representations involved.(Kuznetsov & Paulos, 2010)
Kick off spring in style with our savvy storage options, easy DIY
decorating projects, and the best cleaning tricks.(―5 Cleaning Mistakes
That Make Tenants Lose Their Bond Money - Bond Cleaning Perth,‖
2014)

8.0 Why Decorate Homes – The Importance of Decorating Homes:
Home decoration such as interior décor is very important in life. It
does not just cater for the home‘s aesthetic beauty but also improves its
functionality. Whether a home is being remodeled or built from scratch,
decorating it cannot be overlooked. It is essential when decorating homes
to ensure that the interior spaces are not just enhanced for beauty but are
very realistic. Different homeowners have distinct personalities, needs
and lifestyles, hence what a particular owner might consider attractive
and beautiful might be quite awful to another. This shows that homes
should be decorated to suit an individual‘s needs and lifestyle while
reflecting their personality.
Decorating homes can assist conceal design flaws and even
customize homes to suit a homeowner‘s lifestyle and needs. It is also
possible to give interior spaces a perfect layout during interior design and
decoration. There are several elements of design and décor that aid the
decorating process of homes ranging from accessories like throw pillows
and rugs to paint colors, to furniture and lighting to different design
styles, among others. Although it is possible to hire professional interior
designers to transform the look of homes, DIY ideas for interior décor
allows homeowners to go about this task on their own.
There are various design ideas to borrow a leaf from for inspiration
whether one is decorating kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms,
garages, kid‘s room, toy room or even guest rooms, among others. With
the right theme for the whole house or individual rooms, one can easily
pick or purchase the right items to complement or contrast for an elegant
and beautiful look. The manner in which small homes or interiors are
decorated totally differs from those with larger spaces. Whatever room
one is looking to decorate, there are endless interior design tips that they
must consider.
Interior decoration makes use of tastes, style, and personality of the
homeowner to come up with a stunning home that will leave guests and

family gaping with admiration. It is possible to learn so much about a
person from the look of their interior spaces because décor allows
homeowners to express themselves through this medium. This also makes
it essential for one to know what their space could be telling guests about
them in order to avoid portraying a bad image. The use of color is one
great way that this can be achieved.
The decoration of homes helps keep rooms clean and organized
and thus alleviating stress and depression that usually result from having
clutter. Moreover, one can easily create a desired mood and tone within
their home. For instance, the use of the color blue in the bathroom would
definitely create an environment that is cool and relaxing. There are
various design styles that can be implemented when decorating homes in
order to achieve a certain look and feel within the home. Some of the
most popular styles include modern, contemporary, Mediterranean,
Asian, Moroccan, eclectic, country, vintage, retro like Art Deco, Feng
Shui and Hippie styles among others.
It is also possible to incorporate a mix of styles within the same
home. Considering the tastes, likes, and dislikes of every family member
living in the home are the key to a successful decorating project that is
accepted and loved by all. It is important to make the family house feel
like the home one wants to be irrespective of what they feel at any
particular time through design. It is the place homeowners want to be
after a long day‘s work or day out.(Hannah Timms, 2017)
9.0 Most Popular Interior Design Styles Explained:
Modern, industrial, shabby chic….and the list goes on. A
significant challenge many of our clients face is a lack of understanding
or vocabulary to describe and define their personal interior design style.
With an abundance of unique design styles, it can be daunting to decipher
which style will work best for you. Some also enjoy combining elements
of several styles to create their ideal look.
A great starting point for an interior design project is to learn a bit
about each of the styles and how they differ from one another.
1. MODERN:

Modern is a broad design term that typically refers to
a home with clean, crisp lines, a simple colour palette and
the use of materials that can include metal, glass and steel.
Modern design employs a sense of simplicity in every
element, including furniture. A word that‘s commonly used
to describe modern style is sleek, and there is not a lot of
clutter or accessories involved with a modern style.
Figure 3
2. CONTEMPORARY:
Modern and contemporary are two styles frequently
used interchangeably. Contemporary is different from
modern because it describes design based on the here and
now.
The primary difference separating modern and
contemporary design style is that modern is a strict
interpretation of design that started in the 20th century.
Contemporary on the other hand, is more fluid and can
represent a sense of currency with less adherence to one
particular style.

Figure 4
For example, contemporary style may include curving
lines, whereas modern design does not. You can refer to
modern vs contemporary article for more information.
3. MINIMALIST:
The minimalist concept is one that‘s popular here in
Australia. It takes notions of modern design and simplifies
them further.
Colour palettes are neutral and airy; furnishings are
simple and streamlined, and nothing is excessive or
flamboyant in accessories or décor. Minimalism is ultimately
defined by a sense of functionality and ultra-clean lines.
4. INDUSTRIAL:
Figure 5

Industrial style as the name implies, draws inspiration
from a warehouse or an urban loft. There‘s a sense of
unfinished rawness in many of the elements, and it‘s not
uncommon to see exposed brick, ductwork and wood.
An iconic home with an industrial design theme would
be a renovated loft from a former industrial building. Think
high ceilings, old timber and dangling metal light fixtures
with sparse functional furniture.
Figure 6
There may possibly be one or two pieces of abstract
art or photography to add a dash of colour to an otherwise
neutral colour scheme derived from the primary materials of
wood and metals.
5. MID-CENTURY MODERN:
Mid-century modern is a throwback to the design style
of the mid-1900s—primarily the 1950s and 60s. There‘s a
retro nostalgia present in Mid-Century Modern Design, and
also some elements of minimalism. Functionality or ―fussyfree‖
was the main theme for Mid-century design.

10.0 DIY Decor Ideas:
Figure 7
It emphasis on pared-down forms, natural or organic
shapes such as ―egg-shaped‖ chair, easy-to-use
contemporary designs and simple fabrications. It easily
complements any interior and also helps with seamless
transition from interior to exterior.(Hayley Weatherly, 2016)
Here are some simple and super cheep DIY decoration ideas.
Chalkboard Wall paint:
Put a chalkboard anywhere you can paint.
Works great for kitchens and kids rooms. These paints
are also magnetic, giving you more opportunities to be
creative.

Figure 8
Mantel Decoration Piece:
Using a base board and metal signs from any
hobby store, you can create this elegant
decorative piece for your mantel. Great for
holiday parties!

Figure 9
Mosaic CD Mirror:
Take a mirror and place broken CD‘s around
the frame. You can use different types of CD‘s
to get the appearance of different colours.
Looks incredible!(DIY Cozy Home, n.d.)

Figure 10
Don’t assume you can buy everything cheaper
yourself:
This is a mistake many people make. Rushing
out to buy all the light fixtures and plumbing
essentials in the belief the best deal is the one
you find yourself. Two words to keep in mind:
trade discount.
This is what allows professional tradies to buy
supplies at discounted prices and, very often,
it‘s going to be cheaper than even the best
specials you can find. So check with them first
before you go on a shopping spree.

Figure 11
Don’t move plumbing and electrical:
It‘s one of the oldest rules in the book. If you‘re
renovating a bathroom or kitchen, try to keep
key plumbing fixtures where they are.
Figure 12
The only two trades you legally need to employ
for these two major renovations are your

sparkie and plumber, and given they ain‘t
cheap, you want to keep their work to a
minimum. That even extends to the type of
fixture. Seemingly minor things like changing
from a floor-mounted to wall-hung vanity
requires new plumbing.
Relocating fixtures like toilets, sinks and
showers will invariably require old pipes to be
removed and new ones installed – and you
never quite know what that is going to uncover.
Figure 13
Look for economical ways to add natural light
There are cheaper and easier alternatives to
installing bifold doors and windows if your aim
is to bring in more natural light.

Figure 14
If you have a window that looks out onto a
fence or wall, if you are able, paint it white or
another pale colour. You will get more reflected
light inside. Skylights and light tubes are a costeffective
option and generally do not require
planning approval (although always check with
your local council first). A small light tube like
a Solatube costs as little as $370, comes in a
DIY kit, and can flood a dark bathroom with
light.(ISOBEL KING, 2012)
11.0: Conclusion:
Home decor is quickly becoming an ―it‖ industry in 2015. Once
dominated by big-box retailers and independent interior designers, the
home decor industry is undergoing a sea change and a few innovative
startups are leading the charge.

Home furnishings shoppers used to start with the likes of Ikea,
graduate to, say, West Elm and eventually dabble in Williams-Sonoma or
Restoration Hardware. Now with tools like Pinterest and design blogs
providing endless inspiration and access, there are a lot more choices,
variety and experimentation. And creating a coherent, polished yet
personalized aesthetic no longer requires an expert eye, bundles of free
time or a hefty disposable income.
Entrepreneurs have entered the decor game and things are heating
up. Home furnishings is a $79 billion industry, according to IBIS World
as of December, and that space is attracting innovators and investors
alike. Last month housing starts reached their highest level since 2008,
according to the Department of Commerce, demonstrating growing
consumer confidence and a renewed interest in home investment.

12.0 References:
DIY Cozy Home. (n.d.). 18 Unbelievably Cheap But Awesome DIY Home Decor
Projects | DIY Cozy Home. Retrieved May 12, 2018, from
http://diycozyhome.com/18-unbelievably-cheap-but-awesome-diy-home-decorprojects/
Eva. (2016). 18 Unbelievably Cheap But Awesome DIY Home Decor Projects |
Chicago‘s North Shore Real Estate :: The Spaniak Team. Retrieved May 24,
2018, from https://www.spaniakteam.com/blog/18-unbelievably-cheap-butawesome-diy-home-decor-projects/
Hannah Timms. (2017). Why Decorate Homes – The Importance of Decorating
Homes | Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance. Retrieved May 24, 2018, from
http://www.hlta.org/why-decorate-homes-the-importance-of-decorating-homes/
Hayley Weatherly. (2016). 14 Most Popular Interior Design Styles Explained -
Rochele Decorating. Retrieved May 24, 2018, from
https://rocheledecorating.com.au/14-most-popular-interior-design-stylesexplained/
ISOBEL KING. (2012). DIY: Renovation budget busters. Retrieved May 24, 2018,
from https://www.domain.com.au/news/diy-renovation-budget-busters-
20120625-20x6u/
5 Cleaning Mistakes That Make Tenants Lose Their Bond Money - Bond Cleaning
Perth. (2014). Retrieved May 25, 2018, from
https://www.bondcleaninginperth.com.au/5-cleaning-mistakes-make-tenants-losebond-money/
Justdestinymag. (2016). 18 Unbelievably Cheap But Awesome DIY Home Decor
Projects | DIY Cozy Home. Retrieved May 24, 2018, from
http://diycozyhome.com/18-unbelievably-cheap-but-awesome-diy-home-decorprojects/
Kuznetsov, S., & Paulos, E. (2010). Rise of the Expert Amateur : DIY Projects ,
Communities , and Cultures. Proceedings of the 6th Nordic Conference on
Human-Computer Interaction: Extending Boundaries, (Figure 1), 295–304.
https://doi.org/10.1145/1868914.1868950
Vienneau, C. (2011). What is D.I.Y. YA Hotline, 0(89). Retrieved from
https://ojs.library.dal.ca/YAHS/article/view/209
Watson, M., & Shove, E. (2008). Product, competence, project and practice: DIY and
the dynamics of craft consumption. Journal of Consumer Culture, 8(1), 69–89.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540507085726