Love that bright, fresh, all white look but not the price tags that come with it? These 18 all white DIY decor ideas let you make it yourself! White is the easiest color to decorate with because it goes with everything, makes small rooms feel bigger and lets texture do the talking. Think chunky farmhouse window trim, a salvaged window mirror, a faux fur stool, giant paper flowers and a lacy cloth chandelier. You’ll also find practical builds, like a pillowcase laundry hamper and a desk supplies lazy susan, plus quick wins such as chalk painted mason jars and a peel and stick subway tile backsplash. Whether you’re going full farmhouse or soft and modern, there’s a project here for every room.
Table of Contents
- All White DIY Decor Ideas
- 1. DIY Farmhouse Candlesticks
- 2. Easy Clay Votive
- 3. DIY Giant Paper Flowers
- 4. Farmhouse Window Trim
- 5. Window Farmhouse Mirror
- 6. White Furry Stool
- 7. DIY Desk Supplies Lazy Susan
- 8. Whimsical Canopy Tent
- 9. White Plant Wall
- 10. Chalk Paint Mason Jars
- 11. DIY Hanging Macrame Chair
- 12. Faceted Pendant Light
- 13. White Subway Tile Temporary Backsplash
- 14. Ruffle Pillow Sham
- 15. DIY Modern Paper Ornament
- 16. White Pillowcase Hamper
- 17. Cloth Chandelier
- 18. White Plastic Animal Bookends
All White DIY Decor Ideas
1. DIY Farmhouse Candlesticks
DIY farmhouse candlesticks are about as easy as projects get, and old stair spindles do all the heavy lifting. Cut the spindles to the height you want, then screw a wooden craft store base to the bottom. Flip a round wood piece upside down so it tapers up like a real candlestick, and screw it to the top. One coat of linen white chalk paint covers them, then sand the edges here and there for that worn farmhouse look. Check Craigslist for cheap spindles!
Get the full tutorial at Sarah Joy.
2. Easy Clay Votive
An easy clay votive is a pet friendly way to get candlelight, because it’s made to hold a flickering LED tea light. Roll oven bake clay about 1/4 inch thick on a non-stick mat, using two rulers as guides so it stays even. Cut a circle for the base, then a rectangle as long as the circle’s circumference. Punch holes with straws, but not too many or it won’t stand. Wrap the rectangle around the base, smooth the seam gently until it disappears, and bake.
Get the full tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
3. DIY Giant Paper Flowers
DIY giant paper flowers make a dramatic wall for a nursery, a bridal shower or any soft, feminine room, and they won’t damage the paint like wallpaper can. Skip crepe and tissue paper here. Heavy 118 lb French cotton paper in a natural tone gives the petals real body, and a 50 sheet pack of 12 inch squares makes a whole wall. Choose your size, cut the petals, curl them around a pipe for depth, glue them in layered stacks with hot glue, and finish with a center.
Get the full tutorial at Maison de Pax.
4. Farmhouse Window Trim
Farmhouse window trim makes a tiny window look big and charming for about $10 in lumber and one afternoon. Pull off the old trim, but leave the sill if it won’t budge. Cut 1×4 boards for the sides to run from the sill to the top of the window, then add a wider header across the top. Every cut is a simple straight one, so there are no mitered corners to fuss with. Caulk the seams, then paint it all a crisp white to match planked walls.
Get the full tutorial at Love Grows Wild.
5. Window Farmhouse Mirror
A window farmhouse mirror gives a salvaged window frame a whole new job in a powder room or hallway, and it’s an easy afternoon project. Scrub the old window clean and let it dry overnight. If the glass is missing, clean a replacement piece with rubbing alcohol. Spray the back with mirror effect spray in light coats, five or six of them, so it doesn’t drip. Back it with flat black spray paint, set it in the frame with mirror adhesive and brad nails, then caulk the edges.
Get the full tutorial at The Weathered Fox.
6. White Furry Stool
A white furry stool from the store can cost hundreds, but this one comes together in minutes. Start with a 15 inch round wood board and screw four angled leg plates to the underside, about an inch in from the edge. Spray four 16 inch mid century legs gold and screw them in. Lay faux fur face down, set the board on top, and cut a circle with 3 to 4 inches extra all around. Staple it underneath between the legs, then fold and staple the rest.
Get the full tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
7. DIY Desk Supplies Lazy Susan
A DIY desk supplies lazy susan spins so every pen, brush and pair of scissors is in reach, and it costs under $20 against a $49 store version. It takes about three hours and is rated easy. The base is three layered plywood circles traced with a compass and cut with a jigsaw. Three plywood walls form six compartments, faced with clear acrylic panels and trimmed with thin strips. A 3 inch lazy susan bearing lets it turn, and a wood knob on top finishes it off.
Get the full tutorial at Build Basic.
8. Whimsical Canopy Tent
A whimsical canopy tent turns an empty corner into a dreamy reading nook. The secret is a small curved curtain rod that adjusts from 28 to 48 inches, about $15, so it fits snug in a corner and can grow with the room. Hang it right under the ceiling for the most drama. Three pairs of white lace curtains make the canopy, and simple screw-in hooks with a bit of jute hold the sides open. Hang tissue pom poms or a little chandelier inside.
Get the full tutorial at Thrifty and Chic.
9. White Plant Wall
A white plant wall turns a blank bathroom wall into a little indoor garden, and all you need is three simple IKEA LACK shelves. Hang them about 21 1/2 inches apart near a window. Spray paint every pot white, cheap Dollar Tree pots included, so the whole wall looks clean and fresh. Mix real plants with faux stems from the craft store, which cost far less than potted fakes. Put the faux ones up top where they’re hard to reach, and pick real plants that won’t drop leaves in the tub.
Get the full tutorial at House Mix.
10. Chalk Paint Mason Jars
Chalk paint mason jars are a quick way to get that soft, timeworn white look. If you’re using old jars, wipe them with rubbing alcohol and wash them in hot, soapy water first. Brush on two coats of chalk paint and let each dry fully. Acrylic works too, but give it 24 hours between coats. Then rough up the raised lettering and edges with 80 grit sandpaper so the glass peeks through. Finish with a clear coat sealant, then fill them with white carnations.
Get the full tutorial at It All Started With Paint.
11. DIY Hanging Macrame Chair
A DIY hanging macrame chair is a big project, but the boho payoff is worth every knot. Start with a round saucer chair frame, spray it white and cut off the legs. You’ll need lots of cotton clothesline, around 120 ten foot lengths for the walls alone, and taping each spot before you cut keeps the rope from unraveling. Tie square knots around the hoop, then alternating square knots all the way around. Knot the seat separately onto a smaller hoop, then hang it with braided rope.
Get the full tutorial at Classy Clutter.
12. Faceted Pendant Light
This faceted pendant light is covered in hundreds of folded paper fortune tellers, the same little folds you probably made in grade school. Start with a standard round paper lantern. Fold a big stack of fortune tellers from plain white printer paper, then attach each one with a single dab of hot glue on the center of its underside. There’s no need to glue all four corners, because they’ll fit together on their own around the curve. Hang it over a table and enjoy the spiky shadows.
Get the full tutorial at the 3 R's blog.
13. White Subway Tile Temporary Backsplash
A white subway tile temporary backsplash brightens a kitchen in just a few hours, with no tile cutting or grout. The secret is removable, repositionable wallpaper printed with subway tile, so it’s perfect for renters or anyone not ready to commit. Grab a tape measure, a small ruler, scissors and a fine-tip marker, plus a smoothing tool. A gift card works fine too! The paper stretches a little, which actually helps you line up the pattern. Work slowly and smooth out bubbles as you go.
Get the full tutorial at The Crazy Craft Lady.
14. Ruffle Pillow Sham
A ruffle pillow sham in white linen is one of the coziest things you can add to a bed. You’ll need about 2 yards of woven fabric, a pillow insert in any size and basic sewing supplies. Get the insert first, because the sham is sized to fit your pillow rather than a standard measurement. You’ll start with a simple envelope back cover, then stitch the gathered ruffles around it. A neat gathering trick keeps the ruffles even. Layer a few for a dreamy farmhouse bed.
Get the full tutorial at The Keeper of the Home.
15. DIY Modern Paper Ornament
This DIY modern paper ornament is a spiky starburst ball, a twist on the Polish porcupine ornament. Cut ten 5 inch circles from paper using a CD or jar lid, stacking sheets to save time. Snip eight slits in each, stopping about half an inch from the center. Curl each tab into a cone and dot it with glue. Thread five on face down and five face up between two bits of rubber band, then press them into a ball. It’s lovely for Christmas, but it’s pretty all year.
Get the full tutorial at How About Orange.
16. White Pillowcase Hamper
A white pillowcase hamper is a no-sew laundry sorter built from three 1×2 boards and two queen pillowcases, and it costs about $8. It takes roughly an hour and a half. Build two small frames with pocket screws and wood glue, then join them with a center support. Mitered legs cross in an X and attach with leg supports, so take your time getting it level. The pillowcases slip over the frames, giving you one side for whites and one for colors.
Get the full tutorial at Build Basic.
17. Cloth Chandelier
A cloth chandelier is a dreamy, lacy statement light made from torn fabric strips. You don’t have to cut every strip! Snip one end and tear the fabric straight down, which saves hours and leaves soft edges. Cheap white fabric does the bulk of the work, with creamy fabric and chunky lace on the outside. Skip the sewing and tie each strip in a knot around a big oval ring. Cut them all one length, then shape it at the end. Use warm lights, not LEDs.
Get the full tutorial at Beholden.
18. White Plastic Animal Bookends
White plastic animal bookends give you the look of $120 designer bookends for about $3.50. Hunt the dollar store toy aisle for a plastic animal you love, like a deer with big antlers. Then find something L-shaped for support, such as cheap metal picture frames. Cut the animal in half, which takes some muscle, and peel off any fuzzy coating. Pop the glass out of the frames, then spray paint the animal halves and frames white, about four coats over a few days. Glue the halves to the frames.
Get the full tutorial at artisan des arts.
