Easy ways to give your space a fresh unique look

Home decor trends come and go pretty quickly and it can be expensive to try to keep up with the latest styles. Skip the stores and create your own custom versions of the furnishings you see on TV or in magazines.

With our Arts & Crafts kits and our vast collection of books, we're here to help you learn new skills to create your own custom furnishings. You'll be able to get exactly the style you want and when someone compliments you, you'll have the satisfaction of saying, "I made it myself!"

There are many ways to update your home decor without spending a lot of money. Changing the curtains in a room or adding custom throw pillows can really change the look and feel of a space, while personalized kitchen towels and colorful washcloths will brighten up everyday tasks.

Learn hand sewing

One of the easiest ways to update your home decor is to make new throw pillows. Simply switching out the pillows on your couch can give your space a whole new vibe. Fabric stores follow decorating trends so you can find the latest styles to update your look.

Our Learn Hand Sewing kit gives you instructions to make two small pincushions or sachets. The kits include fabric to create two projects, a sewing needle, cotton thread, pins and fiber fill polyester stuffing.

Once you've practiced with the pincushions, you'll be ready to try other sewing projects. You can buy pre-made pillow forms so you can make pillows without worrying about stuffing them. Then tackle larger projects like curtains or go small and try coasters.

If you're looking for ideas, I really like the book Home-sewn Home by Vanessa Arbuthnott. She has 50 projects designed for all skill levels, from simple curtains and napkins to more complex things like chair slipcovers. If you decide hand sewing isn't your speed, the library has plenty of books to help you learn to use a sewing machine.

Learn to knit and crochet

Another inexpensive way to update your home decor is to knit or crochet blankets and throws. Yarn is  available in a wide variety of fibers and colors, so you're sure to find something to fit your new style. If  making a blanket seems a little overwhelming, start with something smaller like potholders or washcloths. These small items add a colorful personalized touch to mundane everyday tasks.

Our Learn to Crochet kit includes an instruction book, crochet hooks in three different sizes and two small balls of yarn. You'll need to return the book and hooks, but you can keep whatever you make from the yarn. We include enough yarn for you to practice and get a feel for the craft by trying out the different hooks.

If you're looking for small projects, check out 35+ Potholders to Crochet by Eveline Hetty-Burkart. You probably don't need that many potholders, but if you leave off the loop for hanging them up, you'll have washcloths. While you still might not need 35 of them, you can use quick patterns like these to practice new techniques before deciding to take on a larger project.

Our Learn to Knit kit has a book and pairs of size 6 and size 8 knitting needles, which need to be returned. We include two small balls to practice your stitches and see if knitting is the right craft for you.

A home decor knitting book I really like is The Knitted Home by Sian Brown. The book is organized by room so you'll find projects for every part of your house. The felted baskets can help you corral loose items and the knitted mug cozies will keep your hands and drinks warm.

Learn to macramé

Macramé has come a long way since the 1970s. Scratchy jute cord has been replaced by cotton blend cords that are much easier on your hands. Using white cotton cord gives modern macramé projects a clean, minimalist look whether you're making a plant hanger, wall hangings or rugs.

Our Learn to Macramé kit includes a how-to book, instructions for making a keychain, macramé cord, an S-hook (for holding your project in place while you work) and two metal rings. The book needs to be returned but you can keep the rest.

Learn more about the craft of macramé in our Macramé-king a Comeback article.

Learn counted cross stitch & embroidery

Another way to update your home decor is to modify or embellish what you already have. Add decorative elements to kitchen towels, cloth napkins, placemats and pillowcases. If you're a fan of thrift store shopping, you can add custom stitching to your finds. A plain tablecloth can look like new with a colorful embroidered border.

Our Learn Counted Cross Stitch kit contains a booklet of designs, instructions, an embroidery hoop, Aida cross stitch fabric, embroidery floss and tapestry needles. The booklet and hoop need to be returned but the rest is yours to keep.

Our Learn to Stitch Embroidery kit includes an instruction booklet, an embroidery hoop, needles, embroidery floss and fabric and felt to practice your stitches. Just bring back the instruction booklet and hoop.

If you've never done any decorative stitching before, I recommend giving both kits a try. You can decide whether you like the structured grid of cross stitch or the more freeform lines of embroidery. Or maybe you like both! Whichever you choose, we have plenty of books to get you started on your stitching journey. Check out the booklist below for a few of my favorites.

Creativebug video classes

If you're more of a visual learner, head over to Creativebug. Log in with your library card to watch all kinds of videos on different aspects of home decorating. You can learn how to sew pillows and curtains, make a macramé plant hanger, arm knit a throw pillow, refinish worn out furniture and much more.