15 Desks You Can DIY From Doors

 

Are you looking for a creative and sustainable way to add a new desk to your home or office? Look no further than this roundup post featuring 15 DIY desks that can be made from doors. Repurposing old doors is a popular trend in the DIY world, and for good reason. Doors provide a sturdy and versatile base that can be transformed into a unique and functional piece of furniture.

Not only is repurposing doors an environmentally friendly solution, but it’s also a budget-friendly one. Doors can often be found at salvage yards or thrift stores for a fraction of the cost of a brand new desk. Plus, the possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing your desk. You can choose from a variety of door styles, sizes, and finishes to create a desk that perfectly fits your space and personal style.

In this roundup post, we’ve gathered 15 DIY desk ideas that will inspire you to get creative with doors. From minimalist designs to more elaborate creations, these projects range in difficulty level and can be customized to fit your skill set. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY pro or just starting out, there’s a project here for everyone.

So why not give repurposing a door a try and create a desk that’s both stylish and sustainable? With a little bit of elbow grease and some imagination, you can create a desk that will not only be functional but also a conversation starter. Let’s dive into the world of door desks and get inspired!

DIY Desk Using An Old Six Panel Door

DIY Old Door Desk – Live Oak Nest French Country Cottage Home 

DIY Desk from a Door 

Desk DIY: Recycle old door into new desk – Handy Father, LLC 

DIY Door Desk | My Workspace – Celebrate Again 

DIY Home Office Desk From An Old Door – Shelterness

Old door to new desk | Upcycle DIY | The Pink Hammer Blog

How to Turn a Door into a Desk – TableLegsOnline

Hairpin Leg DIY Desk That Anyone Can Create – Do Dodson Designs 

DIY Kids Cupboard Door Art Desk Tutorial

DIY Desk: An Old Door Makes a Great Desk! – The Inspired Room 

DIY Office Desk from Affordable Recycled Door and Cabinets

DIY Work Table from a Repurposed Door 

DIY Weekend Project: Make a Desk out of a Door. – Kick Ass or Die

Door Desk – DIY + HANDMADE + VINTAGE 

Wondering how to strip paint from an old salvaged door? 

Stripping paint from an old salvaged door is an important step in preparing it for use in a DIY project such as a desk. The process of stripping paint from a door involves removing any old, chipped, or peeling paint or finish to reveal the natural wood beneath. This can be done using a few different methods depending on the size of the door and the amount of paint that needs to be removed.

One option for stripping paint from a door is to use a chemical paint stripper. This method involves applying a chemical solution to the surface of the door and letting it sit for a specified amount of time to dissolve the paint. The chemical stripper can then be scraped away using a putty knife or scraper tool. This method is effective but can be messy and requires proper safety precautions including gloves, goggles, and a respirator mask to avoid exposure to fumes. In my own experience, I prefer to just sand, unless I have a suitable work area where I can wash off the stripper. It leaves your project very sticky and if it was outside I would be able to wash scrub and the waste could go directly onto the ground. (it is a chemical so watch your plants and runoff)

Another option is to use a heat gun or infrared paint stripper. This method involves using heat to soften the paint or finish, making it easier to scrape away. A heat gun is a tool that blows hot air onto the surface of the door, while an infrared paint stripper uses infrared rays to heat the surface. This method is also effective but requires proper safety precautions including gloves and eye protection.

Before beginning the process of stripping paint, it’s important to protect the surrounding area with drop cloths or newspapers to avoid any damage from drips or spills. Once you’ve chosen a method, you can begin by applying the paint stripper or heating the surface of the door with the tool of your choice. Allow the paint to soften or dissolve before using a scraper tool to remove it from the surface of the door. Work in small sections and be sure to remove all traces of paint or finish before moving on to the next section.

After the paint has been removed, use sandpaper to smooth out any rough or uneven spots on the surface of the door. You may also choose to apply a wood conditioner or stain to enhance the natural beauty of the wood. With a little bit of patience and elbow grease, you can strip paint from an old salvaged door and transform it into a beautiful piece of furniture for your home or office.

* This article was originally published here

‘Get rid of your green waste bin and let leaves rot into the soil,’ says garden expert

RHS Wisley garden manager says composting at home saves money and creates habitat for hedgehogs and invertebrates

Get rid of your green waste bin if you want to make your soil more healthy and save money, a Royal Horticultural Society expert has said.

Sheila Das, a garden manager at the charity’s Wisley site, removed her garden waste bin “some years ago” in order to recycle nutrients into her garden soil, she told the RHS spring conference. She said: “I thought, why am I sending my stuff away? This [the grass cuttings and plant trimmings] is gold dust!”

Start composting. The RHS recommends that where space is limited, consider using a “Dalek” bin made from recycled plastic or a HotBin.

Make use of fallen leaves. These can be used as leaf mould which is a useful mulch, soil improver, and potting compost ingredient. Collect fallen leaves from lawns and paths in autumn, place them in a jute leaf sack, old compost bag or bin bag, and in about two years you will have a bag of leaf mould, often referred to as “black gold”. This can be shared with other gardeners around you if you don’t have the space to keep it all.

Felled trees and waste wood can be used to make mulch. Many arborists have mobile chippers and will be happy to leave you the wood chips. Woodchippers are also available for hire. Wood chips can be used as a surface for informal paths or as a mulch around established plants.

Matchstick mulching. With hand shears or a hedge trimmer, cut the old stems of grasses or herbaceous perennials into matchstick-length sections and spread them evenly around plants as a layer of mulch.

Use logs to create pathways, borders, seats and create homes for wildlife.

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* This article was originally published here

The plots thicken

The broad beans are in, our giant sunflowers sown. The growing year starts here

Mid-April Sunday morning, 8.30am, before breakfast. Howard and his terrier, Otto, are outside, waiting in the car. They have been away and we are meeting to sow flowers. The plot is tidy, pretty pristine, near ready now for spring.

I have cleared most of the overwintered greens. Faded chards and beets, home to colonies of ravaging snails, are pulled and carted away to the compost. The ragged Red Frills mustard is thriving, tall and beautiful so we will leave it alone. I’ll pick a few spiky, spicy leaves to take home.

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* This article was originally published here

All play and no work: a fun renovation in Mexico City

A home in an old office block clocks on a new look

How do Europeans live in such grey, beige places? I’m happy waking up in a pink room. Vibrant colours make you joyful; you will never be sad with pink and red,” laughs artist and gallery owner Carlos Rittner from his apartment in Mexico City.

From the exterior, the 1940s converted office block, which is a stone’s throw from the Zócalo plaza, the world’s largest city square, is modest, but step through the banana-yellow front door and you are instantly transported into an art installation.

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* This article was originally published here

My late husband’s colourful legacy | Brief letters

Farrow & Ball colours and names | Patriarchy chicken | Caroline Lucas giving up politics | Early Christmas emails

Emma Beddington’s article amused me (Let’s hear it for the true geniuses: the people who name paints, 22 April). My late husband, the decorative painter John Sutcliffe, who died in September 2022, collaborated very closely with Farrow & Ball to help mix the first batch of colours. He also researched and created the names for which the company became so famous, starting the trend that we all know. John even had one of the colours named after him, Sutcliffe Green, No 78, which just happens to be the age he was when he died.
Gabrielle Sutcliffe
Cambridge

• It’s easy to win “patriarchy chicken” (Digested week, 19 April). Without knowing it had a name, I’ve been doing it for years. When a man (or people walking three or more abreast) approaches, behaving as if they don’t see me, I just stop walking and stand still. Suddenly, I become visible and their options are to swerve or walk into me. They always swerve. Sometimes they may even think about why I stood still.
Peggy Sellers
Pickering, North Yorkshire

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* This article was originally published here

6 ways to make a small bathroom look and feel larger

Even if you can’t knock down walls to build your dream bathroom, designers say it’s possible to create the illusion of more space.

* This article was originally published here

LAKE HOUSE BEFORE AND AFTER

That was a fun fashion post with my good friends!  Cindy, Mary Ann and Annie always bring it so if you did not go check out their inspiration on spring fashion you need to.... I realize I have not posted about my project on Lake Keowee!  The client is one of my besties sister and it was so much fun as I really tried to work with a lot of what she had.  They downsized in

* This article was originally published here

Yes, eraser sponges are magic. No, you can’t use them everywhere.

These cleaning staples have an abrasive effect, so proceed with caution when using them.

* This article was originally published here

Putting on the pizzazz: a no-holds-barred home in Nashville

An exuberantly eclectic 1880s house in the musical heart of Tennessee

A humongous, cloud-shaped cream lampshade made from paper plates hangs over an ornate, hand-me-down antique concierge chair and a mishmash of dining chairs in the dining area of Vadis Turner’s funky Nashville home. “I wanted something extraordinary for the space, but that can be expensive,” says Turner, a multimedia artist who moved from New York to this 19th-century townhouse with her husband, Clay Ezell, and their first son in 2014, “so I was, like, instead of me trying to figure out how to buy some crazy chandelier, I could trade with a friend.”

She hadn’t seen Christopher Trujillo, a production designer, since they’d shared the same studio building back in New York. She suggested she pay him to fly out to see her and trade pieces – and that was how the lampshade came to be.

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* This article was originally published here

What even is mulch? 27 of the most basic gardening questions answered

How do I know what soil I have? Do bulbs come back? And how did people garden before Google? As the growing season gears up, our experts are here with a barrowful of advice

Few domestic gardens need work every weekend – whisper it, but they’re quite good at looking after themselves. Broadly speaking: new growth on twiggy, brown (or woody) stems is a fair sign to prune old growth back to encourage the new growth into a neater, fuller shape; a shift to spring and summer signals a need to feed plants; if your plants are romping away, your weeds probably will be too – pulling them out while they’re small is easier – and planting or sowing things late is better than not at all. Mulch whenever you think about it. Alice Vincent

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* This article was originally published here

‘I’m just a lawnmower man, I’m no one special’: Nathan Stafford, the Sydney gardener with a following of millions

He has amassed a huge international social media audience for videos of tidying, ASMR and helping out ‘legends’. Now he has a meeting with a housing minister. Who is he?

On a quiet street in Sydney’s Glebe, Nathan Stafford is standing halfway up a ladder balancing his child’s old shoe, with his phone wedged inside, on the ladder’s top rung. He’s trying to angle his phone to get a good shot of the yard of a public housing unit below. The weeds have run wild and the grass is threatening to reclaim the concrete footpath snaking through.

Moments ago the shoe and the phone were atop a yellow bin he’d dragged to the front door of the home to film the resident, Jo Lee, as she answers his loud knock. She’d asked him to come help.

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* This article was originally published here

7 ways to use wallpaper — without covering a whole room

Design pros share their favorite tricks for making a big impact with just a little bit of wallpaper.

* This article was originally published here

Gravel gardens save time and water. Here’s how to create one.

These low-maintenance and drought-tolerant beds are an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional lawn.

* This article was originally published here

What to do if you find a bird nest near your home

Birds make nests over front doors, on porches and patios, even on cars. If you can’t leave it alone entirely, here’s how to keep one safe.

* This article was originally published here

‘The courgettes were so good last year, I got a tattoo of one’: life on a Birmingham allotment

A city of welly-wearers, Birmingham has more allotments than any other UK local authority – some of its keen plotholders tell us why

On Dads Lane, where several Birmingham suburbs meet, there is a gap in the houses, no wider than a driveway. If you didn’t know what was hiding in there, you would walk straight past. It is a brisk, bright Sunday in late March, and behind the gate, a narrow road stretches out into a busy haven of growth and greenery. The city centre is less than four miles away, but it might as well be on the moon. After a long, wet winter, the sun is out, people are digging, mowing and cutting, and everyone has something to say about the badgers.

“Men’s piss!” I’m having coffee in the pavilion with John Beynon, a warm, 71-year-old Welshman, who has been chair of the allotments since last summer (“I’m not a president! That makes me think I’m a Trumpian!”), and secretary Bryan Foster, 60, who opens his jacket to reveal a COR-BYN T-shirt, in the Run-DMC font. The allotments got national lottery funding a few years ago, and they put up this hub, which will host the monthly Sunday afternoon poetry reading later, as well as a compost toilet next door. They also paved the road and built two disability plots. Apparently, the only thing that will deter a hungry badger from nibbling the crops is men’s urine. They joke that they might start selling it in bottles at the next open day.

Emma Rabbitt, 42, and her children Patrick, 14, Lydia, 12, and Seren, 11

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* This article was originally published here

White spirit: creating a minimalist home in London

Restraint and calm are the guiding lights in this stunningly sparse apartment

For couturier Anna Valentine, there is an overwhelming similarity between the principles behind her studio and the way she has designed her London apartment. Yet it is the sense of atmosphere at the core of this home’s refined DNA that leaves the strongest imprint. It is a graceful space, without pretence, where less is definitely more.

The first-floor Georgian apartment, which Anna shares with husband Jonathan Berger, who works in film and TV, had been untouched for 30 years when they moved in: “Despite the yellow Formica kitchen, boxy dark rooms and low false ceilings,” says Anna, “we were immediately drawn to the potential, proportions and location.”

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* This article was originally published here

Why are red clay stains so stubborn, and how can I get rid of them?

Red clay is similar to iron and difficult to remove. Here are step-by-step instructions for getting it out of clothes or concrete.

* This article was originally published here

SPRING FASHION

So I got roped into a spring fashion post...and I don't mean that in a bad way....just a "put off until the last minute way" Ha Ha. Spring in Georgia can last a month or 2 days.  No kidding...... If you want to wear cute linen jackets and light sweaters you better not save anything cause it will be 90 degrees before you know it. The reason I like spring and summer clothes is that they

* This article was originally published here

6 essential tasks for a stripped-down spring cleaning

Don’t have time to clean the whole house? At least do these things.

* This article was originally published here

18 Tiered Plant Stands You Can DIY At Home

DIY spirit? In this roundup, we’re going to explore 18 fantastic tiered plant stands that you can easily craft right in the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re a seasoned plant parent or, like me, struggle to keep your green friends thriving, these versatile plant stands offer a solution to both showcase and care for your plants.

Now I won’t give out too much plant advice as I do not have a green thumb, in fact I could kill a plastic plant if I tried hard enough; technically, I have (the birds ripped the plastic leaves from my faux olive tree on my patio) 

Here is my only tried-and-tested advice, not all dirt is equal. I have recently switched to this Potting Mix  and so far so good, I am having must better results with my growth and just the overall health of my plants.

If you love indoor plants, then you will find one little plants , that leads to a lot, and before you know it you need a whole shelf to accommodate all the little siblings, so these DIY Tiered plant stands are inexpensive to make with minimal skills required. A great way to show off your plant family.

 DIY Tiered Plant Stand: Easily Fit More Plants With This Solution

Mid-Century Inspired Plant Stand DIY – A Beautiful Mess 

Update Broken Glass Shelves with DIY Walnut Plywood Shelves | Dans le Lakehouse

DIY Ladder Plant Stand – The Merrythought

DIY Tiered Plant Stand | From SCRAP WOOD! 

Slatted Plant Stand – Charleston Crafted

DIY 2×4 Plant Stand with Build Plans 

DIY 3 Tiered Corner Plant Stand

Modern A-Frame Plant Stand – Handmade Haven

DIY Plant Stand – Handmade Haven

Ridiculously Easy DIY Plant Stand

Space-Saving Stepladder Plant Stands – Gardenista

The Easiest DIY Plant Stand Plans 

Plant parents will love this 3 tier plant stand with light – IKEA Hackers 

DIY Plant Ladder Shelf {A Renter Friendly Indoor Garden Idea!}

How to Make a DIY Cedar Ladder Planter | Our Home Made Easy 

Make a Ladder Plant Stand – Easy DIY – Only $20 for Lumber – My Bright Ideas

Here are some tips to help your indoor plants thrive:

Choose the Right Plants: Select indoor plants that are well-suited for your space and your level of gardening expertise. Some plants are more forgiving and require less maintenance than others. Common low-maintenance options include snake plants, pothos, and succulents.

Proper Pot Selection: Use pots with drainage holes to prevent overwatering and root rot. If you have decorative pots without drainage, consider using a plastic nursery pot inside the decorative one.

Lighting: Understand the lighting needs of your plants. Some prefer bright, indirect light, while others thrive in low-light conditions. Place your plants in locations that match their specific requirements.

Watering: Overwatering is a common mistake. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering. Water thoroughly, ensuring that excess water can drain away. Use a saucer to catch any runoff.

Humidity: Some plants, especially tropical ones, benefit from higher humidity. You can increase humidity by misting the leaves, using a humidifier, or placing a tray of water near your plants.

Fertilize: Indoor plants benefit from regular feeding during the growing season (typically spring and summer). Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, but be cautious not to over-fertilize, as it can harm your plants.

Pruning and Deadheading: Regularly remove dead or yellowing leaves and spent flowers to encourage new growth. Pruning can also help shape the plant.

Repotting: As your plants grow, they may become root-bound. Repot them into slightly larger containers with fresh potting soil. This should be done every 1-2 years for most plants.

Pest Control: Keep an eye out for pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. If you notice an infestation, address it promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Rotate Your Plants: To ensure even growth, rotate your plants every few weeks to expose all sides to light. This prevents them from leaning towards the light source.

Avoid Drafts: Keep your plants away from cold drafts, heating vents, and air conditioning. Sudden temperature fluctuations can stress them.

Carefully Monitor Watering: The amount of water your plants need can vary based on the season. In winter, most plants require less water due to slower growth.

Group Plants: Grouping plants together can create a microenvironment with higher humidity, as the moisture they release during transpiration benefits neighboring plants.

Regular Inspection: Check your plants regularly for signs of stress or disease. Early detection and treatment can save a struggling plant.

Learn About Your Plants: Take the time to research and understand the specific needs of your plants. Knowledge about their native environment and natural growth patterns can be very helpful.

Patience: Remember that some plants take time to acclimate to their new environment or recover from stress. Be patient and observant.

By following these tips and tailoring your care to the unique needs of your indoor plants, you can create a thriving indoor garden that brings beauty and a touch of nature into your home.

* This article was originally published here

How to keep your garden simple and fuss-free

Take a minimalist approach outdoors for a better-looking, lower-maintenance yard.

* This article was originally published here

In defence of wasps: a misunderstood insect with human-like qualities

Their use of large objects to geo-locate and love of sugary treats may make them a nuisance, but we can’t live without them

• Invertebrate of the year 2024: all hail Earth’s spineless heroes
• Nominate your UK invertebrate species of the year

When I am asked to choose my favourite insect, I have no hesitation in choosing the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris). I have been stung many times, having first fallen into a wasp nest at 5 years old – though the young me was spared many stings as the wasps became entangled in the thick sweater my great-aunt had knitted.

But the wasp gets your attention and causes a reaction. It is perhaps the Marmite of the insect world, you love it or hate it but you’re never indifferent and that gives me something to work on.

Paul Hetherington is Director of Fundraising and Communications at the charity Buglife.

Welcome to the Guardian’s invertebrate of the year competition! Every day for the next two weeks we’ll be profiling one of the incredible invertebrates that live in and around the UK. Let us know which invertebrates you think we should be including here. And at midnight on Friday 12 April, voting will open to decide which is our favourite invertebrate – for now – with the winner to be announced on Monday 15 April.

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* This article was originally published here

I’ve always been a messy person. The situation was grim – but could I really change?

For Beth Knights, being a literal mess is a hindrance and brings on feelings of shame. But will decluttering improve her life – or can she accept the person she is?

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One star-crossed night some years back, a dashing young man found an excuse to visit my home. As I am the messiest person I know, impromptu visitors are almost always unwelcome. Generally, I manage my dirty little secret by attempting to confine my chaos to one area: my bedroom. Being single for much of my life helped. (Or did the state of my bedroom help keep me single?)

Just back from a festival, said interloper popped past to borrow some such thing. By the time I realised my good fortune, it was too late to “pretend tidy” by stuffing the wardrobes with the contents of my floor. I refused us entry to my room so many times, he became suspicious I was hiding a body in there.

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* This article was originally published here

Houseplants aren’t really meant for inside, so give them some attention

After a stuffy, centrally-heated winter, it’s time to repot, feed and refresh your green companions

There was a time when my houseplants got the best of me. Devoted care, weekend afternoons dedicated to careful propagation, gentle misting, regular watering. I’d carefully snip the brown bits off the edges of their leaves and delicately remove the buildup of dust with a microfibre cloth. My flat was a growing cornucopia of cacti and vines and succulents, all in a coterie of artisanal pots.

But that was in 2014, when I lived in a flat that was bleached with daylight and I had very few demands on my time. A decade on and the houseplant trend has ballooned (thank you, lockdown) but my tolerance and time for them has shrunk considerably.

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* This article was originally published here

‘We need to accept the weeds’: the Dutch ‘tile whipping’ contest seeking to restore greenery

National competition has goal of helping Netherlands reach environmental targets by removing garden paving

Tineke Menalda sits in the sun on her front step, nursing a cup of coffee and idly plucking out the odd weed. Three years ago, the front of her terrace house in Amersfoort was completely paved. But now, sitting in a lush garden of trees and green, she is an official ambassador for the strangest new sport in the Netherlands: tegelwippen, “tile whipping”, or “whipping away” the paving stones.

“A lot of people think that tiles are easier, but actually when you have larger trees, you get very few weeds underneath them and you can make it really easy,” she says. “When I had paving I would never sit here, but now it’s a garden, it’s cooler in summer and in the spring, it’s lovely.”

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* This article was originally published here

In defence of slugs and moths: the pesky invertebrates Britain loves to hate

Largely considered unwelcome guests in our homes and gardens, their bad reputations are – mostly – undeserved

• Invertebrate of the year 2024: all hail Earth’s spineless heroes
• Nominate your UK invertebrate species of the year

Slugs eat our lettuce. Moths eat our jumpers. It seems pretty unlikely that either will win the Guardian’s invertebrate of the year competition, and yet …

This newspaper has a venerable history of standing up for the underdog and it turns out the national hatred for slugs and moths may be largely unfounded.

Welcome to the Guardian’s invertebrate of the year competition! Every day for the next two weeks we’ll be profiling one of the incredible invertebrates that live in and around the UK. Let us know which invertebrates you think we should be including here. And at midnight on Friday 12 April voting will open to decide which is our favourite invertebrate – for now – with the winner to be announced on Monday 15 April.

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* This article was originally published here