Friend, I took a long break for the holidays and it felt amazing! My husband took off work too and we got to hang out with our three boys every day – playing games, watching movies, and just enjoying each other. It’s my favorite time of year. Plus I knew January would be crazy because our new house will be done within a month and we have so much to do!
So I’m a little overdue for sharing my “Best of 2022” DIY posts, but it’s all good, we can celebrate together now. 2022 was a little different for me – we broke ground on our home last February and I’ve been very much involved in designing and planning every single detail of the house. So I’ve been doing fewer makeover projects, but have learned oh so much about what it’s like to build a new house during/after a pandemic and in an unsteady economy. I will share some of that experience here at GITG soon.
Let’s start this Top 10 countdown! Be sure to visit the links to learn more and see lots more photos.
10. Gorgeous Green Painted Furniture Ideas – I shared a cute little table makeover along with lots of other green furniture inspo. Green is such a popular color right now for furniture!
9. Black and White Painted Furniture Ideas – This is such a classic color combo, and much of our new house interior is black and white. There are some really creative makeovers in this curated post – click the link to see them all.
8. Beautiful Blue Painted Furniture Ideas – Blue is a favorite color of mine, and I’ve used various shades of blue on many projects. The makeovers shown in this post are stunning examples of how you can use blue paint to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces.
7. Glazing Furniture: Lessons Learned and What Not to Do – I thought I’d try glazing furniture for the first time, and it didn’t exactly go as planned… learn what happened and what I should’ve done differently, and then how I fixed it in the end.
6. Repurposed Goodwill Art – Upcycling thrifted frames is a great way to try new techniques on a small scale, and there are so many unique ideas. This one from October was pretty popular this past year.
5. How to Paint a Bookcase White and Stencil it with Multiple Colors – My Furniture Fixer Upper friends chose this project as their favorite makeover of mine for 2022. I really love how it turned out!
4. How to Paint a Desk – This yard sale desk was completely updated with a chic, glam look. It’s so stylish now and looks nothing like the Before!
3. How to Paint a Cheetah Print Box – This Goodwill box got a much needed makeover with a fun animal print. You can go bold with a funky accent piece even if the rest of your decor is pretty neutral.
2. The 2nd most popular post was all about creative ideas for painting baskets in September. In it, I shared a large basket makeover and also featured this painted basket idea from February. Baskets are another common item to score while thrifting and then paint in unique ways!
Finally, the #1 most popular post from the year was…..
1. How to Paint and Wallpaper a China Cabinet – I’ve had this cabinet for years waiting for a makeover. Since we’re moving soon, it had to be updated so I can let it go. And it turned out pretty fabulous!
These didn’t quite make the Top 10, but they also have some great inspiration:
But one of the most thrilling things that happened this year was celebrating TEN YEARS of Girl in the Garage! When I started this site back in 2012, life was completely different. I had two babies, I had just quit my full time job to stay home, and I felt this pull toward a creative outlet. I needed something for myself, even just for small pockets of time. I never could have imagined all the amazing things that would happen. If you’re in a similar situation like I was, painting furniture and decor might be the perfect hobby or work-from-home business for you too! Learn more about your next steps here.
I’m so thankful to have you here following along with me – cheers to the next 10 years! ❤️ Jen