If you look into your cabinet or drawer, you might see your old leather belt filling up the space. This may be because you gained some inches from your waistline and these belts will no longer fit your waist, or better yet, they just aren’t your style anymore. However, this doesn’t mean you should just throw them out. Your old leather belts can become a great component of a decorative wood shelf or bookcase, and today’s DIY project is perfect for you.

All images via Design Sponge

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Leather material is proven to be durable, natural and less maintenance. DIY projects that help you find a new use for old items in your home is always fun, and this one from Design Sponge is no exception. Take a look at this do it yourself project that will be sure to become a favorite in your home.

 Materials Needed

• 4” x 18” x 1” Wood
• 2 pcs Leather Belts
• 10 pcs Nail or Screw
• Hammer
• Steel Tape Measure
• Screw Driver
• Pencil

Directions

1. Prepare all the materials needed.
2. Measure two inches from the edge of the wood and draw a line. Do this on both ends. This will serve as your guide where you will place the belt.
3. Close out the belts. Ensure that both leather belts have the same length.
4. Align the leather belts into the line. After ensuring the alignment, secure the belts by nailing it on the wood. Start at the bottom part of the shelf. You may use screws or bolts as an alternative for nails.
5. After securing the bottom shelf, measure at least ten inches from the bottom to the upper wood shelf. Do this on both ends of the belts. Be very careful in ensuring the level of the wood.
6. Then, nail the topmost part of the belt on your wall or in any area you want it to be placed.

You can now decorate your recycled leather and wood shelf project with books, flower vases, figurines or anything that would serve you best. You can have this as your wall decor in the living room or kitchen where you can place condiments and other kitchen utensils as well!

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Your cabinets at home may be faded by time, or they are getting outdated. This is a common occurrence for outdated kitchen and bathrooms but you can give them a facelift. Of course you can replace your cabinets, reface them or paint them. There are quite a number of solutions that you can do to enhance your cabinet. The simplest and cheapest solution is painting, here are tips to get started on your DIY project:

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Thoroughly clean your cabinet.

Remove all your belongings inside the cabinets. For the meantime, you can place your things in a temporary storage box until the cabinet enhancement is done. Remove hinges and screws and keep it in a safe container if you are still going to reuse them. Take note of label if needed, where particular hinges and screws came from so that it would be easy for you to return it. Once these are removed, you can keep all the drawers and doors in one place.

Level the surface of your cabinet through sanding.

Wipe all surfaces which you intend to paint with a TSP solution. It will get scraped a little. Then rinse the surfaces with a wet sponge, and let it dry.  After dying, use a fine sand paper to remove scratches and stains. Then, remove the dust using a vacuum cleaner or wipe it with used clothes. This will make certain that the surfaces of your cabinet are leveled. It will give best result after painting.

Prime and seal it.

Before the actual painting, it must be coated with primer first. If you are painting your cabinets other than white then the primer has to be tinted to match the top coat. You may opt to paint only the outer part of the cabinet only. However, if you have enough primer paint, you can do the interior as well.

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Paint it.

Paint surfaces one after the other. Let it dry overnight for best result. It is highly recommended to choose a color that will match your theme at home. You may use a brush or roller in painting. Once the paint is dry, then attach the drawers and the doors by connecting through the hinges and screws. If new hinges and crews have to be replaced, you may do so provided it is the right size.

Doing a facelift on your cabinet will not only enhance the look of your cabinet but it can add value to your home if you considering selling your home. Regardless of your purpose enjoy these easy DIY tips to paint your cabinets.

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas