Even little do-it-yourself projects can make a big difference. Maybe it’s the style they bring to you home. Maybe it’s the saisfaction of seeing a hand-picked project through. Or maybe it’s just that sometimes you want a little pick-me-up that won’t break your bank. But where to begin?

Well, lucky for you, the design mind of Nina Freudenberger, founder of Haus Interior can help. Here a few of her favorite projects to add a little more style to your life.

Customize Your Kitchenware
We can’t believe we found such a genius company. Freddy and Ma helps you create custom bags, pillows and yes, plates. Just choose your favorite pattern, or mix and match for your own custom set of melamine plates. The patterns are varied and interesting — and there are hundreds for you to choose from. So whether you want to order a set for daily use, serving plates, or simply decorative plates to hang on your wall, you should have no problem picking one you love.

Stitch Things Together with Style With help from Amy Butler’s Sewing Kit, you can sew tons of great projects — from cases to decoratively cover tissue boxes, to pillows, to your next favorite tote bag. What’s unique about this guide, is it teaches you how to sew, without a sewing machine. The chic and crafty directions include simple patterns, as well as necessary sewing materials for each project.

Get Shady – Lamps can be expensive — and sometimes more bland than you’d wish. But we can show you the light. If you’ve purchased a lamp and you just don’t care for the shade it came with, you can switch things up. Just take any fabric you love and make it your own! Use any light weight fabric, and merely use the shade which comes with your purchase as the template; measure the width and diameter, and just glue fabric on with a simple fabric glue where the welt ends on the inside!

Stick it to Them – Take advantage of one the newest design trends — tile stickers. Whether you’re updating the home your own, or are dying to alter the look of your rental, these stylish stickers can help. Find a pattern you like then cover all the tiles in a prescribed area, or simply use the decals as accent design. –Nina V. Freudenberger

Nina V. Freudenberger is the founder and principal of Haus Interior LLC, launched early 2007 in New York City.

After attending Rhode Island School of Design and graduationg with her Bachelors of Architecture, she worked as senior designer at Kondylis Design for four years.

With a prestigious client list of over 25 projects, Nina opened her own firm to continue the vision of elegant and sophisticated design while retaining the experimental energy of the contemporary world.

For more of Nina’s fabulous do-it-yourself ideas, see her website thecultivatedhome.com or check out these articles: Do It Yourself Decor — Add Style to Your Space, and Do It Yourself Decor — Innovative Wall Art