Let’s talk pipe fitting projects! You will probably never experience the satisfaction of having a perfect home. The minute you think there is nothing left to do to improve your home’s value and appearance is the minute you need to take a deeper look around.
A recent survey found that nearly two-thirds of American consumers are planning on renovating their homes in the future. But as any dedicated do-it-yourself-er knows, these renovation projects don’t need to involve major construction crews or cost a fortune. Simple crafts and DIY projects can produce tremendous results.
And since industrial decor has been one of the most popular home stylings in recent years, this article will explore some of the exciting projects that can be done with extra pipe fittings. With just some elbow grease and a careful touch, you can install all kinds of cool and original additions inside your home with pipe fittings. There are five different types of alignment clamps on the market today that can cover every aspect of pipe and fitting alignment, but you don’t need to be a master welder to tackle these projects.
Here are some amazing DIY projects that involve pipe fittings that you should consider giving a go this year:
Industrial chairs
You don’t have to change all the furniture inside your home, but upgrading two or three can be great — especially for the shed, basement, or garage! All you need to do is gather a few pieces of piping and a wooden pallet or two. Use the pallet as the seat and the back holder, then use the piping to hold it together and keep the chair upright and study.
Open shelving
One of the best ways to improve the look and feel of your home is to free up some space. Shelving can work great but can also be quite expensive. Rather than spending cash on a costly kitchen shelving piece, simply layer some boards onto a few pipes that you attach to your kitchen walls. You’ll be able to store all kinds of household items and plants on this great-looking pipe shelving unit.
Pipe lamps
Take a look at the desk lamps you have spread out across your home. Are they boring or are they creative and original? If you enjoy them, fine, but if you want to improve their look, consider an upgraded pipe lamp. Simply screw a half-inch floor flange pipe into a nice-looking chunk of wood. Then wire the lamp through the piping as you assemble it, attach the socket, connect all the wires, and enjoy the new industrial lighting fixtures you have in your home!
Pipe fencing
Depending on how much extra piping you have, you can use pipes to construct all kinds of cool fences. You can use piping to construct a small fence to install inside your home bordering the wall of your kitchen or office to provide a cool industrial look. Or you can actually install this innovative fencing around your property. Keep in mind, however, different jurisdictions may require your residential fencing to be set either two, four, six, or eight inches away from your property line.
Cabinet hardware
Traditional drawer pulls and cabinet knobs are perhaps the most unforgettable aspect of any home. Consider ripping them off and installing some upgraded sleek and industrial piping knobs, handles, and pulls. Don’t let any part of your home go ignored; use some standout piping to improve the appearance and functionality of all your cabinets and drawers.
Outdoor tiki torches
Another great use for piping is to use single pipes as tiki torches. Be careful when installing and lighting them, but once you do, your backyard will look so much cooler (they’ll keep bugs away, too)!
Zigzagging bookshelf
Pick a corner of your room and construct an amazing industrial bookshelf that zigzags on each side of the wall, creating exciting new shelves. Go as high as you can, but creating four levels should suffice for just about any home. Keep each level the width of at least two horizontal books and you’ll be able to store up to 40 books on this creative piping bookshelf.
Related: How to make a copper pipe chime
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be especially crafty or experienced with pipe fitting or other metalwork, you’ll be able to create all kinds of cool additions for your home if you do some basic research online. It’s important to note, however, that you need to be extremely careful when handling pipes around your home. For instance, you should never attempt to solder any pipe inside your home to avoid potential fire hazards.
Don’t ever feel like there isn’t more you can do to improve your home. And, as with any DIY project, have a little fun with your piping!
