16 craft ideas to try at home: easy makes, bakes and more

These easy craft ideas will knock boredom on the head and maybe give you new skills to make pieces for your home. From crochet to upcycling and everything in between, these are our favourite ways to keep busy

craft ideas
(Image credit: Wool Couture)

These craft ideas are not only only a great way to keep yourself occupied on a quiet night in, but could bring so much more to your home life. Be it knitting something to wear, upcycling a piece of furniture to decorate your home on a budget, or learning to make soap that you can give to friends – crafting is perfect for personalising a space or gift.

And even if you are a well accomplished baker, knitter, crocheter or gardener, we have loads of extra ideas to add to your crafter-maker arsenal. Staying in and crafting is the new going out after all.

Check out our favourite craft ideas below and while away the hours indoors or even out in the garden. These easy crafts will let you up your crafting game, take your resourcefulness to the next level and hopefully, each will leave you feeling positive and productive too.

If you are after more craft tips and inspiration, make sure you check out our hub page. 

1. Use washi tape to transform furniture

(Image credit: James Gardiner/CICO Books)

This HAS to be the easiest craft project to try EVER. Use these washi tape ideas for tons of ideas an easy instructions – but it's all just about working out your design, picking your colour scheme and transforming plain furniture and even walls with tape you can easily remove if you don't like/bore of the result. 

2. Learn how to cross stitch

Cross stitch

(Image credit: Etsy)

Yep cross stitch is cool now. And you can get some really lovely kits from places like Etsy and Not on the High Street. It's relativity easy to learn too and really relaxing once you get into. We love this little spring pattern, it would look so cute wall-mounted once you have finished.  

3. Start your own sourdough culture 

how to make soda bread: a loaf of soda bread with raisins on a chopping board

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Not sure this would technically count as a craft but we've seen loads of people getting into bread making over the last few months. How wholesome. So if you want to jump on the bandwagon might we suggest starting a sourdough culture. It's really easy. 

Find a clean empty jar and pour in 75g of flour, it can be plain flour, wholewheat flour, rye, whatever you fancy. Then pour in 75ml of warm water. Stir it and leave in a warm place. Each day add 75g of flour and 75ml of water. After a few days you will start to see bubbles. You can use it as soon as this happens but the flavour won't be as strong. After a week is good, you can move it to the fridge now too until you want to add it to your baking. 

Try these bakes, too:

4. Try bead work to totally relax

If you have never tried beading before, let us tell you, it is the most relaxing craft. You can make some really lovely jewellery too that you might actually want to wear. Again Etsy have loads of kits to get you started. You can buy beads on Amazon too once you feel confident enough to start making your own creations.  

5. Crochet or knit some cute clothes  

Wool and the gang

(Image credit: Wool and the gang)

Imagine when we are out of all this and you can swan outside wearing a cute crochet jumper and everyone is like 'Oooooh where did you get that?' 'I made it my friends, I made it.' Wool and the Gang have loads of great kits that result in very stylish, not at all grannyish clothes. 

6. Or knit a stylish chunky blanket 

How to knit a chunky blanket using arm knitting

(Image credit: Wool Couture)

Chunky knit blankets are still a massive trend and you can really easily knit your own. Ever heard of arm knitting? It's really quick to learn and you don't need any needles, just some chunky wool and well... your arm. You can have a blanket finished in just three hours too – check out our guide to how to knit a chunky blanket to get started.

7. Jump on the macrame trend 

Aldi offers of the week

(Image credit: Aldi)

Macrame has been taking Instagram by storm over the last year or so. You can't scroll through without seeing some cool retro living room complete with macrame wall hanging and plant pot holder. It's a really easy craft to master too, far easier than knitting, just head to our guide to how to macrame to get started. 

8. Try painting by numbers 

Painting by numbers kit

(Image credit: Etsy)

Yes, painting by numbers can be an adult activity too! There are loads of lovely books available that are filled with prints that would be great to frame after you have finished. Painting is such a relaxed way to spend your time and take your mind off everything that is going on in the world. We love this kit from Etsy, easy to do and very chic.

9. Upcycle old furniture by painting it

dining chairs upcycled with painted patterns

(Image credit: Chalk paint, £5.95 for 120ml, Annie Sloan)

Learning how to paint furniture is easy – but you can use your guide for expert tips if you're a beginner. Preparation is key to ensure the paintwork stays in good nick, as is using the right type of paint – find the best furniture paints in our guide. The beauty of this type of craft is that you can really let your imagination run wild – choose a muted, plain finish if that's your thing, or try free-hand or stencilled decorations to give each piece a unique look. Be inspired by these projects:

10. Make a terrarium

(Image credit: Debbie Patterson)

Such an easy, calming, rewarding craft idea – perfect for this time of year but one you can try at any time. Find out how to make a terrarium in our dedicated guide, but know that you need very few basic bits of kit to create a simple, pretty display that can sit on a dining or kitchen table, the hall table, in a bedroom or bathroom. Love it!

11. Learn how to tie dye 

How to tie dye

(Image credit: Getty)

This craft idea has really taken over the internet, it would seem everyone is desperate to return to their hippy roots and tie dye everything in sight. Of course we are fully on board, anything that kills an hour or two and upcycles all your white t-shirts sounds good to us. Just head to our guide to how to tie dye to get started. 

12. Get creative with leftover paint 

kids bedroom with rainbow painted wall by dulux

(Image credit: Dulux)

If you want to give your rooms a quick update but struggling to get your hands on paint, go and have a look in the shed or the loft or wherever you keep your half used cans of paint and see what you can put to use. Over on their Instagram, Dulux have loads of fab easy to follow videos, including how to mix your leftover paint to create colours you love.

We have loads of paint ideas over on our paint hub page too so be sure to check that out. 

13. Plant up a herb garden 

Mason jars can be used to create a herb garden

(Image credit: Mason Jar Crafts)

Does gardening count as a craft? We are saying sure, especially if you are planting herbs in a mason jar. All you need to create a blooming herb garden that's small enough to keep in your kitchen or on a windowsill is some old jars, top soil and either herb seeds or starter plants. Head it our guide to how to plant a herb garden for more tips and advice. 

14. Decorate your home (and garden)  with homemade bunting 

shepherds hut writing retreat with vintage furnishings

(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby / Styling Pippa Blenkinsop)

Good old bunting. It just lifts your mood doesn't it, gives your home and garden a sense of occasion, makes a space feel more lovely and homey instantly. And now you might have a bit more time on your hands why not learn how to make bunting yourself? It's really easy and you can make it with fabric scraps you can find around your home. 

Just head to our guide to how to make bunting for all the steps. 

15. Make some nice soap

The Little Soap Company starter kit

(Image credit: The Little Soap Company)

Making washing your hands every two seconds more enjoyable by making your own soap at home. You will see exactly what goes into it so you know what you are putting on your skin, plus guaranteed whatever soap you make at home will smell amazing. You can buy soap making kits from Amazon and Etsy. The Little Soap Kitchen is a great place to check out too you can also get bath bomb making kits over on their site. 

16. Brew your own beer

Beer Hawk beer brewing kit

(Image credit: Beer Hawk)

Is this a craft idea? Well they call it craft beer so.... we are going with yes. Beer Hawk make homebrew kits that come with everything you need to live out your hipster dreams. And if you fancy just drinking beer while you get on with your other crafts, check out their fab mixed cases and treat yourself to brews made by the pros. 

Read more:

Hebe Hatton

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.

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