I’ve had this post in the queue for a while, and since I know many of you are now spending more time at home, here are a few lighthearted hacks / simple DIYs I’ve been using or doing around the house. Also check out my previous style hacks for some nifty gadgets that are more accessories focused!
1. Surfaces needing a spruce up
PROBLEM: A small old or unsightly surface that could use a spruce up.
HACK: Marble print sticker paper.
I wouldn’t do this on anything precious or large (seriously skeptical at some of the pics that have this applied over full kitchen or bathroom counters), but I’ve used this marble print sticker paper (more options) on a few projects before to glam up the look. This play kitchen isn’t the best example since the countertop edges are beveled, so I didn’t even attempt to cover them with the marble paper!
Some other DIY ideas using marble contact paper:
- Lining the bottom of organizers or makeup trays (or bigger trays; another example)
- Small boxes (like a brush holder), office organizers
- Wrapped around a planter
- Coasters (ideas here, here, here)
- Nightstands or end tables
- Wrapped around a lamp
- Applied to a large piece of cardboard for a simple product photo backdrop.
2. Slippery headband
PROBLEM: Headband keeps sliding off.
HACK: Use a hot glue gun to apply a zig zag strip of glue to the inside band. Also see two other ideas below!
I’ve been living for the resurgence of headbands, especially while my postpartum hairline developed a mind of its own. If you want to play it safe, picking a neutral hue closest to your hair color may be the most versatile since it’ll be subtle (love my basic black ones!).
One question I always get whenever featuring headbands is how to keep them from slipping when you move or lower your head. I noticed some of my hair accessories had nice grippy interiors and tried to recreate it with a hot glue gun. It takes under 30 seconds, and although it may not cure all slippery woes for fine hair, it definitely helps for me!
If the hot glue gun tip doesn’t do the trick for you, here’s 2 other options that may work better based on what I’ve seen inside kids hair clips:
- Silicone grip strips for hair accessories are peel & stick, so you can try sticking on a few along the interior of a headband.
- Non slip drawer liners which you can cut into small strips (like this) and then hot glue on.
3. Stove & counter gap
PROBLEM: Gap between stove and counter top becoming a black hole for misc. food and crumbs falling through.
HACK: Silicone stove top gap filler.
Some of you will feel me when I say … is it really an Asian household if there aren’t strips of foil lining the stove & counter cracks? I grew up thinking this was the norm until several of you saw my mom’s foil lined stove on IG stories and recommended these silicone strips that come in different colors and lengths. My mom was adamant about her foil working just fine, but has admittedly been quite pleased with the silicone strips after I ordered them for her!
4. Smelly silicone
PROBLEM: Silicone items have a residual food or fridge / freezer odor.
HACK: After washing thoroughly, let the items sit under bright direct sunlight for a day or two.
Our durable, pliable silicone products get heavy use in our home (i.e. reusable stasher bags, ice cube trays, and baby eating gear like our Beaba suction set) but they have the unfortunately instant ability to retain odors like no other!
Several of you asked how I remove this odor, and I was frankly clueless (googled & tested out some common suggestions that didn’t work for me) until a happy accidental discovery. I left some silicone pieces drying under bright sun on my windowsill, and two days later they were completely odor free! I’ve now been doing this deliberately after every wash now and it works like a charm – just make sure the items are under as much direct sunlight as possible.
I’m not sure exactly why this works (feel free to enlighten me), but I know friends who used cloth diapers would leave them outside to “sun bleach” away residual stains, so I’m thinking this is in the same vein!
5. Too high or low shower head
PROBLEM: Shower head is too high or too low and can’t easily be adjusted.
HACK: Suction cup shower head holder.
While renovating our bathroom, our contractor installed an unadjustable eight foot high shower head without consulting us, and I became exposed to a whole new short person problem I didn’t even know existed. We didn’t want to install a new system, so found this suction cup shower head holder that now allows me to indulge in petite friendly showers at my leisure. (For those asking on IG, our shower head is this Moen one and we replaced the tubing it comes with using this longer one)
When I shared this suction cup on IG, several of you mentioned it works great for tall folks as well, or for couples on opposite ends of the height spectrum! The suction on this one works great and I haven’t had to re-attach it at all. (Note: it probably works best on a smooth surface like glass or wide tile, not textured or rough)
I actually used the marble-look contact paper on a bathroom single vanity countertop (over laminate) and it looks great! It’s lasted for a few years. Not completely perfect, but way better than the laminate for only an hour of work!
Wow great to know. I couldn’t quite picture how it’d look in person on a larger surface!
I really appreciate these posts (hacks & life tips). I find them helpful. Thanks again!
these are great. thanks jean. that silicone stove top gap filler; i’m going out to buy that today. great idea!
Always lovely to hear from you, Val. Hope the silicone filler helps with pesky crumbs!
The showerhead suction cup thing is so smart!
Thanks for these home hacks! I like home and lifestyle tips, feel free to share them anytime! That green velvet headband is so pretty. I have a weakness for green velvet. And I totally feel you on the shower head thing. When we bought our fixer upper I picked out pretty fixtures and hardware. After the plumber installed the ones in the master shower I thought wow thats really high for me to reach to adjust! But its worked out ok, I just have to stand on tiptoe on the edge to take it down to use for weekly cleaning down the shower.
I have a serious weakness for green velvet as well! Dresses…headbands : )
I definitely have shower installation height on my “to discuss” list going forward so it won’t be overlooked in any future renovations. Glad to hear yours is still manageable!
How smart are these ideas!! I especially want to try the headband trick. 🙂
xoxo A
Hi! I hope you and your family are safe and healthy too!! <3
Thank you. We are definitely staying glued to the latest developments and cancelling future trips! xx
For the silicone, it’s probably the UV rays from the sun bleaching/killing whatever bits are trapped in the plastic. Same UV rays bleach fabric and kill underarm odors.
Good to know!
Jean! Thank you so much for pointing out the counter/stove silicone strips! I saw you mention them on Insta stories a while back, and ordered one. I was amazed! It totally solves the problem of food falling in the crack. And, even the white strip was more washable than I thought it would be (was worried it would stain, but it hasn’t).
I avoid head bands bc it always falls off my head. Will try this trick.
Lol on dyi kitchen remodel for your daughter’s play kitchen.
Hi Kitty – Hope it helps! I always have that problem with a select few headbands and this solves it.
So happy to hear that! I have others to thank on IG stories for the tip : )