11 Ways to Bring Your Home to Life with Handmade Touches
Add charm and personality by displaying original crafty elements around your home
Whether you’re crafty yourself or simply love the look, original handmade pieces are a simple way to introduce warmth and character to your home. It’s never been easier to source beautiful handcrafted pieces, whether they’re from local craft fairs, specialist websites or virtual marketplaces. Meeting the actual craftsperson can also make your pieces feel more special and is a great way to support the creative industries.
Handmade elements are an easy way to bring a room to life – whether it’s a découpaged cabinet or simply a shelf of bright buttons in jars. Here are 10 creative ideas for adding crafty touches to your home.
Handmade elements are an easy way to bring a room to life – whether it’s a découpaged cabinet or simply a shelf of bright buttons in jars. Here are 10 creative ideas for adding crafty touches to your home.
Get knitted
A chunky, hand-knitted blanket is timeless and practical, especially in winter. A neutral shade, as seen here, will work in any room. Use it on beds, sofas or armchairs for a touch of Danish-style hygge – this season’s key word for all things cosy and comforting.
So if you haven’t taken out your knitting needles for years, now’s the time to reacquaint yourself with them.
A chunky, hand-knitted blanket is timeless and practical, especially in winter. A neutral shade, as seen here, will work in any room. Use it on beds, sofas or armchairs for a touch of Danish-style hygge – this season’s key word for all things cosy and comforting.
So if you haven’t taken out your knitting needles for years, now’s the time to reacquaint yourself with them.
Patch it up
Handmade patchwork blankets, like granny used to make, have a vintage feel and add colour and charm. If you like the brightness of folk style but don’t want a second-hand vibe, consider displaying a smaller piece of patchwork that doesn’t dominate the space.
This blue, midcentury sofa has been brightened up by a mini blanket, which also complements the folksy-style cushions. A mini blanket is also a not-too-daunting project for honing your neglected sewing skills.
Handmade patchwork blankets, like granny used to make, have a vintage feel and add colour and charm. If you like the brightness of folk style but don’t want a second-hand vibe, consider displaying a smaller piece of patchwork that doesn’t dominate the space.
This blue, midcentury sofa has been brightened up by a mini blanket, which also complements the folksy-style cushions. A mini blanket is also a not-too-daunting project for honing your neglected sewing skills.
Tap into tile style
Traditional handmade tiles lend a quirky, slightly old-fashioned feel to kitchens or bathrooms. These simply textured tiles have clearly been made by human hand, not machine, and are all the lovelier for it.
Look out for ceramicists you like to source handcrafted, one-off tiling. Anything that’s handmade tends to be more expensive than off-the-shelf versions, so consider tiling just a small area, such as a splashback above a basin, if you can’t stretch to a whole wall.
Traditional handmade tiles lend a quirky, slightly old-fashioned feel to kitchens or bathrooms. These simply textured tiles have clearly been made by human hand, not machine, and are all the lovelier for it.
Look out for ceramicists you like to source handcrafted, one-off tiling. Anything that’s handmade tends to be more expensive than off-the-shelf versions, so consider tiling just a small area, such as a splashback above a basin, if you can’t stretch to a whole wall.
Perk up with pompoms
What could be simpler than a mobile made from pompoms? They’re one of the first crafty techniques many of us learn – and they can look fun and colourful as this bright hanging shows. Make a personalised version, choosing a rainbow of your favourite colours in different sizes.
What could be simpler than a mobile made from pompoms? They’re one of the first crafty techniques many of us learn – and they can look fun and colourful as this bright hanging shows. Make a personalised version, choosing a rainbow of your favourite colours in different sizes.
Introduce pottery
Handmade pottery has a lovely, homely feel, with the uneven shapes and imperfections adding to its character. In this striking barn conversion, shelves of glazed earthenware in rich colours add a cosy, arty touch. If you’ve built up your own collection of ceramics, try copying this effect and group similar shades together.
Handmade pottery has a lovely, homely feel, with the uneven shapes and imperfections adding to its character. In this striking barn conversion, shelves of glazed earthenware in rich colours add a cosy, arty touch. If you’ve built up your own collection of ceramics, try copying this effect and group similar shades together.
Explore string theory
1970s-style macramé pot holders are back in vogue, thanks to the resurgence of potted plants in fashionable homes. A hand-knotted hanger is an easy way to add a homespun, bohemian feel to a space.
There are simple tutorials online if you’d like to have a go at crafting your own – all you need is some strong yarn (in any colour you choose), patience and a suitable plant in need of a home.
1970s-style macramé pot holders are back in vogue, thanks to the resurgence of potted plants in fashionable homes. A hand-knotted hanger is an easy way to add a homespun, bohemian feel to a space.
There are simple tutorials online if you’d like to have a go at crafting your own – all you need is some strong yarn (in any colour you choose), patience and a suitable plant in need of a home.
Display your materials
The handmade look isn’t just about the finished product. If crafting is your passion – or you’d like it to be – displaying raw craft materials themselves can add an air of creativity and colour to a room. Keep your bold ribbons, buttons or dressmaking materials on display rather than tucked away in a cupboard. In this kitchen, the rolls of ribbons and paper add some vibrant cheer.
Need your own crafting space? Here’s how to fit one in your home
The handmade look isn’t just about the finished product. If crafting is your passion – or you’d like it to be – displaying raw craft materials themselves can add an air of creativity and colour to a room. Keep your bold ribbons, buttons or dressmaking materials on display rather than tucked away in a cupboard. In this kitchen, the rolls of ribbons and paper add some vibrant cheer.
Need your own crafting space? Here’s how to fit one in your home
Recycle jam jars
Is your collection of spare buttons spilling out of your sewing kit? Don’t hide them away – display them in a jar. Simply recycle old jam jars, and, if you feel like it, paint the lids in bright colours. You can also use jars to display cotton reels, spare ribbons and sequins… In fact, any crafty bits that will fit inside.
Is your collection of spare buttons spilling out of your sewing kit? Don’t hide them away – display them in a jar. Simply recycle old jam jars, and, if you feel like it, paint the lids in bright colours. You can also use jars to display cotton reels, spare ribbons and sequins… In fact, any crafty bits that will fit inside.
Start small
If you can’t afford to invest in lots of handmade pieces, build up your collection slowly. A couple of crafty crackle pots can say so much more than a production-line vase picked up from the supermarket (though it’s OK to have both, of course). Buy things when you see and love them – handmade items tend to be unique, so you often only have one opportunity to buy.
If you can’t afford to invest in lots of handmade pieces, build up your collection slowly. A couple of crafty crackle pots can say so much more than a production-line vase picked up from the supermarket (though it’s OK to have both, of course). Buy things when you see and love them – handmade items tend to be unique, so you often only have one opportunity to buy.
Put up a pegboard
A big hit with crafty and interiors Instagrammers, the simple pegboard has a timeless utility feel, is ultra-practical and turns just about anything into a work of art. Use it to hang scissors, tape measures, ribbons, swatches – whatever you need to make your craft area organised and inspirational. Get a big piece cut to fit from a hardware shop and paint it in the colour of your choice.
Have you gone for a crafty look in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
A big hit with crafty and interiors Instagrammers, the simple pegboard has a timeless utility feel, is ultra-practical and turns just about anything into a work of art. Use it to hang scissors, tape measures, ribbons, swatches – whatever you need to make your craft area organised and inspirational. Get a big piece cut to fit from a hardware shop and paint it in the colour of your choice.
Have you gone for a crafty look in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Wallpapering the door of a wardrobe is a gorgeous way to add colour and pattern, as this super-pretty example shows. Choosing a patchwork of different florals means you can create a unique design.
Here, the owner has attached a collection of vintage wallpaper samples using double-sided tape, but you could try découpage if you want a more long-lasting effect, and you can buy small patterned papers specifically for the job.
Feeling crafty? Try these 10 easy weekend projects to give your home a stylish update