Summer's Hottest Home DIY Décor and Paint Tips

Tips and tricks for fast, inexpensive ways to freshen up your home in a flash

By The LifeMinute Team

May 26, 2016

Taniya Nayak from HGTV and Food Network's Restaurant Impossible helps punch up a drab space in no time.

Looking for a way to upgrade your space? Painting tricks are your new secret weapon!

Prep For Paint

Nayak suggests that homeowners forget about painting every single wall of your house, instead simply focusing on one accent wall. "This is a great way to bring new life into your space. But it is so important that you prep properly. I use FrogTape's Painter Tape because it has PaintBlock technology. As soon as you lay it out on the trim, baseboards, or window mouldings it creates a micro-barrier that seals in color so you get a crisp, clean line every time the paint hits it," she says.

Pick Personal Accents

If you're a little nervous or shy of big, bold colors, find your perfect wall color on sample paint strips. "Balance two to three, maybe even four shades darker than your existing wall color. It's foolproof, it works every time and you're going to love it," Nayak says.

Next, consider adding personal effects to your space. "My husband and I love beachy places so we go to Nantucket every summer. I love to collect shells and store them in a box with a candle. It's a great way to display them and it makes me smile and think of really special times," says the host, who also recently traveled to India where she collected some decorative shawls.

"Not only can I put them out as décor, I can throw them over my patio furniture to help soften it up, and wrap myself up in it when it starts to get a little chilly at night."

Be Smart About Art

Finding the right artwork for your space can be difficult. Take matters into your own hands! Nayak did, creating a canvas using Frogtape Painter's Tape. "I created geometric patterns which are really in right now and is a nice bold, foolproof way to do really cool art. You really cannot mess it up. They key is getting those sharp and crisp lines."

The key for a successful piece? Peel the tape while it's wet for the cleanest, sharpest lines; don't wait until the paint dries to peel it off. "I also did one that looks like a mosaic tile, like a Morrocan tile. I love it because you really can do just about anything," she says.

Get Distressed

Many People think distressing furniture can be really complicated and hard to do. Not so, according to Nayak. "If you have petroleum jelly and some paint in your house all you want to do is dapple the petroleum jelly around the edges of a piece of furniture. Then you're going to paint it. Once the paint is completely dry you're going to pull that petroleum jelly right off whether you use a grocery bag or a newspaper or a rag and it's going to give you this perfectly distressed look every time. You're going to end up distressing literally every single thing in your house because it's so much fun and so easy!"

Find A Repurpose

Another smart decorating idea involves finding a new purpose for objects you already have in your home. "I've actually taken trays and painted the inner section with chalkboard paint. I suggest using an erasable chalkboard paint pen that allows you to change the menu for every meal." Go from backyard barbeque to kids' night or use a fancy vintage silver tray for a more formal dinner. Another option: A cheese board; label the types of cheeses you're serving for a fun appetizer course.

For more home décor tips, check out frogtape.com.