Bre | DIYs & Crafts (@averagebutinspired)

2025 was filled with paint, paint, and more paint! And a side of garage mudrooms, too. 😉 While it was the most challenging year of my life thus far, there were amazing high points, too! Some of those highs were because of this community, so THANK YOU for the support, joy, and laughs you brought me. In 2026 I am planning things like: ⭐️ my cottage kitchen makeover ⭐️ finally painting the rest of my oak trim downstairs ⭐️ revamping the loft bathroom at the cottage ⭐️ facelifting my interior mudroom area (the garage drop zone cannot be nicer than the indoor area!) ⭐️ and, of course, whatever thrift flips and crafty crafts I can come up with! I hope you will enjoy those projects and that you’re inspired to tackle some of your own, too! xoxo -Bre #diyhomeimprovement #budgethomediy #crafter

The look for less.🎄 I’ve had my Christmas tree for 20 years and really want a new one, but Mr. Scrooge said no. So I was THRILLED when I found the EXACT lights used on the viral Home Depot Grand Duchess Christmas Trees! Details: 💡 They’re warm white AND colored (all on the same string) 💡 8 modes- from solid to twinkling to fade in and out, and more. 💡 3 brightness levels 💡 Controlled from your phone- SO EASY. 💌 Link is in my bio - order them early! 💌 LMK any questions. Hope this helps! #homedepotchristmastree #homedepotcreator #christmastreelights

Double duty decor - love it! 🎃 🎄 When I saw this unfinished wood house set, I knew exactly what to do! And PS- this craft is so easy that it would make a perfect project with friends. DIY reversible haunted house to gingerbread house: you can leave it up for so long! #halloweencrafts #christmascrafts #diyholidaydecor

#ad What do you think of the color . . . of the door? 😉 A few years ago I DEFINITELY would’ve painted these wood kitchen cabinets, so I’m really glad I didn’t own this house back then! @Lowe’s made it easy to update things like the hardware, backsplash (with a peel and stick tile!), lighting, and appliances. All these changes went a long way to refreshing this kitchen in a short amount of time and on a budget! And guys, I’m just so happy to not have the equivalent of a mini fridge in here anymore! 🤣 Questions? Ask me anything! And, shop via my Lowe’s Storefront linked in my bio! #lowespartner #lowesproject #kitchenmakeover #cottagestyle

How much longer should I wait, guys? 😂 It’s been 2.5 years now. This was my first time tiling, and the peel and stick backer made it so much cleaner and easier! 5/5 stars - highly recommend. Product is in my bio, and so is my blog post with the pros and cons of the product! #diytileproject #musselbound #peelandsticktile

This is the easiest, boo. 👻 a little yarn, a little scrapbook paper, and a little glue. Perfect Halloween craft to make with friends.

So easy, so cute! Turn an iconic plastic pumpkin bucket into a pretty hanging planter for the mums you’ll kill by next week. (Wait- is that just me? ☠️) Walmart has these pumpkins candy pails for $1.97 in orange, black, and white! 🎃 Share this TikTok with someone who would love this idea, and follow along for more crafts & DIY! #diyhalloweendecor #pumpkinbucket #halloweendecoration

I disagree. Definitely not a waste of time! Fixing up my basement laundry area is one of the best things I’ve done! I’m ALWAYS doing laundry, and having a space that’s clean, brighter, and has a few decorative touches has made it so much better. And I’m obsessed with the DIY laundry countertop o built. :-) So if you’ve got a dingy and yucky laundry room, think about fixing it up! This was a total budget makeover and it made such a difference! #basementlaundry #laundryroomdiy #diyhomeimprovement

Replying to @Michelle here’s how I built my rolling laundry countertop with wooden crates, lumber, and a laminate countertop! With storage, portability, and a large folding surface, this countertop is the perfect addition to my laundry room. 😍 #laundrycountertop #laundryroomideas #laminatecountertops

Normalizing “normal” spaces. 😊 Don’t get me wrong: if I could have one of those beautiful laundry rooms with cabinetry and wallpaper, I’d take it! But I can’t, so I’m gonna make the best of what I have. And my unfinished basement laundry room is so much better now, so I’m happy! (But not so happy that I enjoy laundry- let’s be honest.) ⭐️ Curtain walls ⭐️ Repurposed hanging organizers ⭐️ DIY laundry folding countertop with storage ⭐️ Shelves hanging from joists ⭐️ Cute accessories PS if you don’t understand the “treat yoself” reference, please watch Parks & Rec. 😂 #laundryroommakeover #basementlaundryroom #diyhomemakeover

I didn’t need those fingerprints anyway. (HOT GLUE PROBLEMS 😉) OK aside from that, how easy and cute is this DIY lighted felt leaf garland? I used colors that look like fall, but you can swap the felt colors for any season. The xTool F2 Ultra UV was incredible at cutting all of the felt leaves quickly and cleanly. I am loving this machine, which xTool gifted me! #xtoolf2ultrauv #feltcraft #diyfalldecor

Please don’t be mean to me about the original sink. 😂 It wasn’t my fault- I swear! We have awful well water here, and a system we use to remove iron from the water flushes into that sink. It built up over decades and I couldn’t get it clean. Now I have to clean the new sink all the time to keep it from turning orange. 🤦‍♀️ BUT I’m so happy that this part of my basement laundry makeover is finished! It’s a huge upgrade for me! What do you think of my pipe shelf? And my terribly-sewn sink curtain? ALMOST at the finish line! I saved the best part for last and I’m working on the finishing details. Then this makeover will be complete! I can’t wait to show you! #basementlaundryroom #laundryroommakeover #utilitysink

Sunflower Season 🌻 Fabric scrap sunflowers are the perfect late summer or early fall craft to make in August or September. Best part: they won’t die. #fallcrafts #sunflowerdecor #scrapfabricproject

I didn’t know what these were when I got them, but I thought they looked cool. And now these antique wooden return vent covers are the perfect hanging organizers in my laundry room! I think they’re interesting and useful, so I love them! When I found the wire baskets (from a bathroom storage piece in my old house) and hanging clips (that I purchased at the Magnolia Market so many years ago), I knew they could be more than just decor. I can’t wait to hear what you think! Check out my laundry room makeover and my other upcycle project videos in my feed! #thriftflip #goodwillfinds #upcycling

Start saving your glass jars from the recycling bin now so you can make these for fall! These are adorable upcycled pumpkin jars for decor, or fill them with treats like candy corn and Halloween candy. #fallcrafts #pumpkincraft #upcycledcrafts

The basement laundry room makeover is rolling along! A ceiling mounted curtain rod made that curtain wall behind the washer and dryer possible. Curtains let me access the outlet and pipes behind the machines. Essential! And how cute are the hanging antique register vents turned decor? I think I’m going to have to bust out the sewing machine again to make a cover for the ironing board. The fabric is left over from the sink skirt project I shared in stories last week. Using the same fabric will tie everything together! I’ll be sharing the utility sink area next! 💭 Let me know what suggestions you have for this unfinished laundry area, and what you think of my progress so far! #basementlaundryroom #laundryroomideas #basementmakeover

Nobody’s going to believe these vintage-inspired engraved mirrors started with $1.25 mirrors! Aren’t they so pretty?? I found the florals on Canva and engraved the Dollar Tree beveled mirrors on my xTool F2 Ultra UV laser, which xTool so generously gifted me. I’m having so much fun coming up with ways to use this laser in my thrift flips and dollar store makeovers! Let me know what you think of this project, and if you have any suggestions on what I should do next! #xtool #xtoolf2ultrauv #dollartreediy

No straight lines were actually sewn, I might add. 😂 Oof. I had the great idea to transform an outdoor tablecloth (water-resistant), into a skirt for my new utility sink! But the thing is I haven’t really used a sewing machine in 13 years. So notice how I didn’t show you a finished sink skirt? I’m making slow and steady progress on my laundry dungeon makeover. Stay turned!

@HARIBO can we make this happen, please? 🐻 🐻 🐻

DIY ladybug laces for the Noah Kahan concert 🐞 Because I will be comfy and cute while having one of the best nights of my life 😉 See you soon, @Noah Kahan ! 🎶 #creatorsearchinsights

Before you judge me for that utility sink or laundry sink - we have terrible well water here and our iron curtain system drips into the sink all day and night, causing the heavy rust and mineral discoloration. I’m not filthy - I swear. 😂 I am SO excited to transform this unfinished basement laundry room into a brighter, cleaner, and lovelier space! Give me your ideas for what you think I should do to make this area better. First up: I’m hiding the cinder block walls. I think I will try curtains but am open to suggestions! Stay tuned for more! #basementlaundryroom #laundryroommakeover #basementmakeover

Using an $8 paint sample instead of buying a quart or gallon of paint saved a bunch of money, too! ⬇️ Ask any questions in the comments. I’m happy to help! #fauxwallpaper #stencilwall #wallstencil

You can buy similar top of stove spice racks online, but do they have scallops? Nope! 😉 Here’s how to DIY your own stovetop spice storage: 📏 Measure the top of the back of the stove, length, depth, and height. 🪚 Cut wood to size. A hand saw will work just fine- no power tools needed! 🧷 Fasten the pieces together with super glue. 🧲 Attach magnets to the bottom to hold the spice rack in place on top of the stove. I transferred my spices to matching containers so that they looked nicer on full display. But obviously that’s optional. 😉 What do you think? This is a great addition to my tiny cottage kitchen! Freed up a good amount of space in the cabinet, so I’m happy about it! #kitchenstorage #magneticspicerack #smallkitchenideas

Saved from the recycling bin and repurposed into an adorable magnetic vase that’s perfect for the side of the fridge, metal filing cabinet, and more! An easy upcycled craft that turns empty spice containers into mini vases. I love it! Complete supplies and instructions are posted in my Board on my profile. Join us in there! #recycledcrafts #smallcraftideas #homedecorcrafts #creatorsearchinsights

Although my husband hasn’t said this out loud, what I know he’s thinking is, “Oh-em-gee, I love these lights so much. They’re so pretty. And I’m so glad I didn’t have to spend all weekend running low-voltage wiring and not really knowing how to do that and messing it up and making a bajillion trips to Home Depot.  Thank goodness Bre nagged me, I mean lovingly brought this up, enough that I finally gave in and let her install these solar lights.” ✨Even he can’t deny that the glow up was immediate. ✨ These are the perfect solar lights for decks, fence posts, and stair railings.  Not only do they add light and ambiance, they add style! ⭐️ I put them in my bio! ⭐️ Don’t you think they added instant curb appeal to my cottage? #solarlighting #landscapelights #postlights

Modern LED lighting in minutes! Was I the last to know it’s so easy to switch dated can lights or recessed lighting to the sleek LED lights? I wish I would’ve have done this can light conversion sooner! #easyhomeupgrade #diyhomeimprovement #canlight #recessedlighting

To be fair - I forgot about it all winter. In Wisconsin. It was fine until it was buried by snow for months on end. 😂 I actually think a new coat of paint is all it needs to be an adorable planter again. Should I try to save it?

If loving a vacuum is wrong, I don’t want to be right. 😂 #ad My garage was FILTHY, but the @Vacmaster Beast Series FLT+ wet/dry vacuum cleaned it up in no time. ⭐⭐ Get one at the link in my bio and save 15% with code AVERAGEBUT-15OFF! A professional-grade shop vacuum at a great price is a no-brainer: every house needs one. ⭐⭐ Here are some of the features I most enjoyed (but trust me: there are too many other bells and whistles to list here): Use it for liquids and solids without changing a thing. It goes from one substance to the next seamlessly. It has a 10-gallon capacity, which is a ton, but it was still so easy to maneuver and it isn’t heavy. The filter is unlike other utility vacuum filters because it isn’t cylindrical, and it’s placement allows for stronger suction. Also, it’s a HEPA filter AND self-cleaning, so it’s super efficient and one less thing to have to worry about. The multiple cleaning tool extensions and attachments not only clean anything you can think of, but also work great as a microphone (j/k sorry I’m such a dork with that video opening - lol). #MasterAnyMess #diyhomeprojects #garagecleaning #vacuumcleaner

Curb appeal a year in the making. We started this hardscape and landscape project at our cottage last spring when we replaced the old stairs with new and added a handrail. (Um yeah- not me who almost slid down the entire way the winter before.) And this spring we picked it back up again by softening all the straight lines with a gentle curving rock border and lots of low-maintenance plants. I transplanted most of the perennials from my yard, but I did buy some others to fill in as well! Extra special thanks to my mom who came down to help me plant a couple of days. I’d still be planting if it weren’t for her! What do you think of the new look? I seriously can’t get over how pretty it looks! #curbappeal #diylandscaping

The death march 😂😂😂