We all fancy ourselves DIYers around here, but I can admit it: selecting a room color, I am happy to do. Choosing bathroom tile, can’t wait. But figuring out how much I need of any of it? Oy. No wonder I was so happy when Charles and Hudson tweeted about B&Q Online — it’s truly a wealth of resources for those who want to put a little more D in DIY — calculators on everything from how much paint you need to how many BTUs your radiator puts out, plus a whole slew of how-to guides and buying guides. Now I just have to decide what dormant project to tackle first… — Mary T.

As I write this, the ceiling in my micro-bedroom is fixing to fall in on my bed (eek!) due to some sudden water damage and it got me thinking about renter’s insurance. We rented an apartment in a very old building, so for me, buying insurance was as much about planning for the inevitable as it was for the unexpected, but the debate over its value seems to rage on among my peers. Some friends have used it to replace big ticket items after break-ins and thus sing its praises, and others argue that it’s just a scam, and that the odds that one will ever need it are slim. We entertained a similar debate on pet insuranceand the verdict seemed to favor putting money in savings over purchasing a policy. In my case, I paid less for my policy than it will cost to replace my bed if reality does come crashing down, so the gamble may be worth it, but tell me, do you have renter’s insurance? — Sarah C.

I was reading a story in New York Magazine, “The Urban Woodsman,” and found myself drawn to this gorgeous tool from the Tribeca, NYC-based Best Made Company. I immediately wanted one because of its sleek curves, bright color, and elegant “courage” stamp, but the price ($250) set me back. I’d love to hang it above our fireplace, but that seems silly — especially when there’s a tree in our backyard that my wife is convinced I cannot cut down by myself.

The Best Made Co. shapes and masks off the handle, “then we prime it and spray on multiple layers of high-quality graffiti paint.” High-quality graffiti paint?! Sorry, Best Made Co., you had me at “courage” but lost me at “graffiti paint.” (I do give them credit for out-sourcing the important part — the ax head — to a 100-year-old company in Maine, where they make the fine-grained steel heads by hand.)

I now find myself Googling “wood axe,” which strikes me as one of the most un-manly things I could be doing. I could pick up a simple, cheap axe from Lowe’s (Kobalt 3-1/2 Lb. Michigan Axe with Hickory Handle, $30). But I think the best compromise would be the Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe, $120.

It’s made by a small, Swedish family-operated company formed in 1902, and is as beautiful as the trendy one from Tribeca. And besides, I could always paint my own orange handle. Timber! — Chad H.

My goal was to spend less than $100 redoing our daughter’s room for her birthday. Since we weren’t replacing the bedding (Grandma made her a beautiful quilt with scraps from her mother-in-law’s quilt bag), the bed, or my college dresser, it seemed more than doable. In the end, I spent closer to $150:

- $80 for three gallons of Tinker Bell and Cabbage Green paint
- $45 for two Daisy drapery panels
- $2.39 for lime green grosgrain ribbon to make new ties for the panel
- $15.72 to redo a rescued chair

My daughter’s favorite part? It’s a tie between the quilt rack from her baby room that I repurposed as a curtain rod/shelf to hold my old Breyer horses, and the “Cinderella” storybook art by Fern Bisel Peat. Although the illustrations deserve to be in better frames, right now I’m sticking to my (revised) budget and using what I have. — Sarah L.

See more photos on Shelterrific’s Facebook page!

Related:
Easy DIY canopy bed
Memory pillow from your child’s sleeper
Big-girl bedroom, tiny budget
Cheap house makeover: the dining room

What You’ll Need:
*Drill with 1/4″ bit
*2 Lag Eye Bolts 3/8″ X 4″
*2 Spring Snap Links 5/8″ (carabiner style)
*Broomstick
*Saw
*Sandpaper
*Shower Curtain Hooks

1. Drill 1/4″ pilot holes at the same vertical height into each side of your window frame.
2. Screw a lag eye bolt into each hole and hang the spring snap links from the lag eye bolts.
3. Measure and mark your broomstick at a point slightly smaller than the width of your window frame and saw it at the mark.
4. Sand the cut end until smooth, then hang the broomstick from the spring snap links.
5. Use shower curtain hooks to hang your pots and pans from the broomstick.

But getting my pot-turned-coat rack on the wall took more work. After seeking guidance at the local mom-and-pop hardware store, I came home with a bag full of various brackets, bolts, screws and clamps, still not sure how it would come together. And after putting six huge anchor holes in the wall, I wasn’t sure it would even work at all.

But it was at that moment of despair when I had my “a-ha moment” — I took the galvanized pipe hanger strap I had purchased, unscrewed the posts on the rack, threaded the tape, cut it to fit, and re-attached the posts. Then it was as simple as drilling a few screws into the wall in a few spots to make sure it was well anchored. I love the result, and it cost a mere $7! — Megan B.

For the chair seat and pillow, I found a yard and a half of fabric that picked up the wall and chair colors and the colors from the curtains. Total cost? $15.72 for three cans of spray paint and the fabric. (To be fair, I’ve been stocking my own sewing closet since college, so I already had padding and a pillow form.) I still have a few more things to get up on the walls, then I’ll share the rest of the budget-friendly refresh. — Sarah L.

The chair, before:

More from Sarah’s daughter’s room re-do: zippered memory pillow from a sleeper, easy DIY canopy bed.