easy diy project Archives - A Dabbled Dwelling

I love being able to include my kids in DIY so when my daughter and I were eyeing this LED wall light from Pottery Barn, I just knew I had to make one. I wasn’t about to spend $150 on one so check out how I DIY’d this for just $25!

Scroll to see what my dupe looks like!

Wall light shaped like a half sun from pottery barn product image — The Inspiration Photo from Pottery Barn

What You’ll Need:

LED Strip lights
1×2 primed pine board
Scrap wood or wider board
Spray Paint
Table Saw (optional)
Miter Saw
Jigsaw
Electrical Tape
Nail Gun and/or Hammer and Nails
Wood Glue
Wood Filler

How To Make The LED Wall Light:

First, we taped out the design above her headboard where we planned on putting it. In other words, doing this gave me a guide to determine overall size and the cuts I would need to make. My longest pieces were 17″ and my shorter ones were 12.5″. Next, I ripped a 1×2 in half to get some skinny pieces. You don’t necessarily have to do this step, the 1×2 would look great as is, however this also allowed me to use less wood and achieve a thinner design.

sun taped out on wall above bed with blue painters tape — Planning with a photo bomb from Hobbes

white 1x2 board on table saw — Ripping a 1×2 to 2 .75″ pieces

Next, I cut the long skinny pieces of wild to the desired lengths with my miter saw. These will end up being the “sun beam” parts of my LED wall light. This was a great opportunity to get my 10 year old to put down the electronics and pick up a tool!

The hardest part of this project was cutting the curved semi-circle portion of my sun. I grabbed some scrap plywood, traced a bucket, and cut it out with my jigsaw.

mother and daughter using miter saw together

Then I assembled the sun using my brad nailer and wood glue, filled my nail holes and seams, and then had my daughter give it a coat of white spray paint.

Adding the LED Lights:

Finally, I nailed the finished wooden sun to the wall and began attaching the LED strip lights. They have sticky tape on the back so this was easy. I just made sure to go all the way around the inside and outside of the sun and return to the same place I started.

There were some lights than ran down the wall to the outlet and I really wanted this to look like a stand-alone fixture. Therefore I covered it with black electrical tape and then painted it the same color as the wall. Its like it was never even there!

woman stands on bed and puts led lights on sign shaped like a sun

black electrical tape covering led lights and paint brush getting ready to paint it

This Pottery Barn Dupe turned out SO CUTE and my daughter loves the color changing LED lights. In addition, the LED strip lights come with both a remote and phone app so she can customize the colors and light patterns.

Let me know what you think!

Finished sun shaped wall light with white lights above headboard. Blue room with gold frames, pink pillows, and a surf board photo

Finished sun shaped wall light with aqua colored lights above headboard. Blue room with gold frames, pink pillows, and a surf board and palm tree photo

Finished sun shaped wall light with orange lights above headboard. Blue room with gold frames, pink pillows, and a surf board photo

white half sun shaped sign above tan bed with led lights streaming from it. Pink throw pillows styled on bed.

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Want to try a DIY with NO power tools? Check out this easy Bathtub Trim!

What You’ll Need:

PVC Trim

Liquid Nails

Caulk

Measuring Tape

Level

Scissors

The best part about this project is how inexpensive the trim is. Cheap projects that pack a big punch are my favorite! I got 2 pieces of PVC trim for about $5, its completely waterproof, and you can cut it with scissors! You can find it in the trim section at any hardware store. Its plastic rather than wood and comes in many different styles.

How to Add the Bathtub Trim:

First, I measured how big I wanted my boxes and then marked my trim. To create a more “professional” look I cut my trim pieces at a 45 degree angle for “mitered” corners. You do need a good pair of scissors to get the cleanest cut. You can also use a utility knife for a “score and snap” method.

close up of measuring tape and scissors cutting plastic trim

Next, simply use Liquid Nails to affix the trim to the front of your tub. It has a working window so that you’re able to slide it around and get your boxes level before it dries. Make sure to clean up any access glue.

I gave my glue a little bit to dry and then caulked around the edges (inside and outside), as well as the corners. This just gives the trim a more seamless or “built-in” look. It also protects and hide your glue.

woman using liquid nails on the front of bathtub

arrows pointing to edges and corners of trim where you should caulk

Before and After!

Thats it! The difference is incredible with such a simple update! My bathroom looks more expensive and more complete with hardly any effort or money with this easy bathtub trim.