Looking for an easy, budget-friendly way to update your decor? A trip to the dollar store is all you need to make this stunning, unique string light fixture that’ll look lovely anywhere in your home. And whether you want to add a fun workspace to your child’s room or your home office, this simple bookcase hack will give you a Pinterest-worthy double-duty desk.

DIY String Light Fixture

What you’ll need:

• an inexpensive inflatable beach ball
• 2 balls of crochet thread*
• 2 bottles of fabric stiffener (Stiffy brand, or your favourite)
• a paint brush (at least 1.5″ wide)

Hint: Crochet thread comes in a wide variety of weights from 3 to 100 and beyond: the higher the number, the thinner the thread. Medium-thin weights seem to work for this project, but use whichever you like best.

Directions:

1. Cover your working surface.
2. Inflate your beach ball.
3. Start winding your string around your beach ball, making sure to cover all angles and sides. This will take a while, so make sure you have some entertainment (movie, radio, audio book, amusing friend, etc.). Don’t wind it too tight, or you could squeeze your beach ball and end up with a wonky sphere. Don’t be too loose either, or the thread could slip off.
4. When you’ve got the level of coverage you want, secure your thread. Apply the fabric stiffener all over your yarn ball with your paintbrush (the brush will be ruined, so use cheap ones).
5. Hang somewhere and allow to dry overnight. You may get some dripping, so protect the floor.
6. When dry, cut a small hole at one end of the lantern. Deflate your beach ball, and remove it through your hole. The beach ball will likely stick to your thread, but you can poke it loose through gaps in your lantern.
7. Hang and enjoy!

 

Double-Duty Bookcase Desk

• Customize Your Bookcase

Line the interior with paint or wallpaper that will remain in favour for more than one semester. cheat: This Billy Bjasta bookcase from Ikea already has a pretty postmodern pattern. It’s limited-edition, but you may be able to find one on eBay or through another online seller.

• Add a Desktop

Measure the interior of the bookcase, allowing th of allowance on the back and sides. Cut an appropriately sized surface. cheat: Trim a small kitchen table to size.

• Fasten the Legs

Paint table legs found at a hardware store. Secure by gluing first and then mounting an L-bracket on the interior of each leg and desktop corner. Drill screw holes through the sides and back of the bookshelf to assemble the unit. cheat: Find cute vintage table legs at a thrift shop.

• Make it Safe

Secure the bookcase to the wall with an anti-tip bracket.

Limited-edition Billy Bjasta Bookcase, Ikea. Baby Pea Backpack, Crumpler.