Let 2016 be the year you finally become a DIY guru. There are so many easy home hacks you can use to make your life more productive, organized and efficient — and most of them require knowledge and supplies you already have. Here are 25 DIY hacks to solve everything from tangled cords to slow Wi-Fi.
1. Banish Clutter
Keep odds and ends organized in a muffin tin slid into a desk drawer.
2. Color-Code Keys
Nail polish is a cheap and colorful way to make your keys easy to identify.
3. Corral Chargers
Attach a binder clip to the edge of your nightstand, string your phone or tablet charger through the metal loops, and you’ll never fumble to find a charger again.
4. Add Ambiance
Whether you rent or own, it’s easy to set the right mood in any room by installing a dimmer switch.
5. Make It Rain
Swap out your boring shower head for an upgraded one that can give you an in-shower massage or wake you up with a gentle rainfall.
6. Makeover a Room
A fresh coat of paint or a creative washi tape design can breathe new life into your digs for a minimal investment and just a little bit of elbow grease.
7. Expand Your Space
Hang mirrors to make a small room seem bigger. Make the illusion even better by strategically placing mirrors to reflect the view from a window.
8. Download an App
You can find an app to streamline nearly every aspect of your life. Whether you want help with home repair, productivity, organization, or how to get out a stain, there’s an app for that.
9. Protect Your Tablet
Transform an old planner or comp book into a clever, stylish case for your Kindle, Nook, or iPad.
10. Hide Cords
Tuck away unsightly cords by hiding your power strip in a bedside table drawer.
11. Keep Keyboards Clean
Before tossing a post-it note in the trash, run the sticky edge along your keyboard to clean up errant dust and other detritus.
12. Bedazzle Chargers
Never fight over which charger belongs to whom again. Use nail polish or stickers to personalize your family’s chargers.
13. Turn It Up
Transform your phone into a party speaker by placing it in a cup. Glass, plastic, and paper all do the trick.
14. Super-Charge It
If your phone or tablet is at critically low power, put it on airplane mode before charging. By turning off the things that suck the most energy, your device will charge faster.
15. Wrangle Ear Buds
Wrap those unruly cords around an empty spool and get to enjoying your tunes or podcast faster.
16. Fix Your Wi-Fi
Before calling an expensive IT guru, try to solve your slow Wi-Fi issues on your own. Test your speed, switch channels, and make sure no walls or solid objects are obstructing the router.
17. Upgrade Your Cookbook
Mount your tablet onto a kitchen cabinet or wall for easy access (and no worry about spills) while whipping up a delicious feast.
18. Try Smart Meal Planning
Use an app like Yummly to find recipes, plan meals, and automatically create a shopping list that includes everything you need.
19. Upcycle Old Corks
Create a stylish bulletin board by gluing corks to an old window frame.
20. Organize Unmentionables
Add old shoe boxes as dividers for your lingerie drawer to keep everything untangled and easy to find.
21. Get the Message
Use a picture frame instead of a boring whiteboard for family messages and keeping lists.
22. Unclog a Drain
Plop. Plop. Fizz. Fizz. Use Alka Seltzer and vinegar to dissolve grease and hair and get a clog moving.
23. Make Scuffs Disappear
Use an old sneaker or tennis ball affixed to a broom handle to remove unsightly scuff marks from floors.
24. Repair a Window
Clear nail polish is a quick fix for small cracks in glass and screens.
25. Bookmark It
Find a few DIY websites that you can go to for instant help when you need it, and bookmark them. It will save time and sanity the next time you need a quick solution to an urgent problem.
Go ahead, put on your DIY hat and get started!
Featured photo credit: nemke via istockphoto.com
The post 25 Home Hacks to Make 2016 Easier, Less Cluttered, and More Productive appeared first on Lifehack.
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