DIY trends of 2006

Firstly, on behalf of the DIY Together team, I’d like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year!

2006 looks like being the year of re-discovering the pleasure of making things. It seems that we’re getting fed up with mass-produced items, global brands, designer labels & so on, and prefer to have unique things around us that not only represent our individuality but are made of sustainable materials and resources. So we’ll be buying more things that are made locally, by hand or by small manufacturers to our specification. Or we’ll be making them ourselves. More and more people are learning wood-working, knitting, embroidery, painting and other crafts. The shortage and high price of good quality craftsmanship have pushed many of us to renovating or remodeling our homes ourselves..

Style-wise we’ve also got fed up with the designer looks & themes that magazines and TV shows have imposed on us. There is a tendency towards an eclectic approach  – mixing old and new, customising mass-produced items and collecting objects with personality.  Given the uncertainties and insecurities of our present world, we look to the past for inspiration and comfort. However, the new trend is not about surrounding ourselves with antiques and old items but more of using modern materials in traditional shapes –  such as hand-crafted elegant armchairs but in a silver finish; traditional wardrobes covered with mirrors; Victorian lamp-stands but with modern shades; antique bed-frames dressed with contemporary fabrics and so on. The most important element is to have objects that are unique and interesting.

Of course you can get everything made by a specialist – but you can do so much yourself! Not only could you save yourself a lot of money, but only by doing it yourself can you make sure that your things truly are one-offs! And this doesn’t require you to be a DIY expert. Just go to a few antique markets, second-hand shops, flee-markets etc and find interesting objects that you can update with some contemporary materials or finishes.  If you’re a DIY enthusiast you can make furniture out of modern materials and decorate it with vintage details – knobs, legs, curves, beading etc. If you’re not, why don’t you sign up to a course on knitting, sewing, woodworking, pottery etc?

During the winter months it’s difficult to motivate ourselves to do anything – although this is the perfect time to do some arts & crafts such as small woodworking projects, artworks, making bed & cushion covers and so on.. This is also the time to start putting together ideas for spring redecorations and remodelling – start collecting images, materials, color swatches & so forth and put them together into a scrapbook. 

Happy home-making, decorating and DIYing in 2006!!!