DIY projects for around the home

Welcome to BetterLiving's collection of DIY projects.  Illustrated plans and step by step instructions are included for each project.  We are currently working on several more projects and will be continually adding to this page, so stay tuned.

Jump to:

• Detailed plans (for those who know how to swing a hammer)
• Simple plans (easy projects for around the house and garden)

We think that being handy with a hammer is one of the most life-enriching skills someone can acquire.  But even the most experienced handy-people need inspiration sometimes.  These plans are designed to be that inspiration for you.

Eventually we hope to have plans, tutorials, and tips for all kinds of projects, from the small (like a rabbit cage) through to more serious home building work.

We plan to ultimately have all our plans and tutorials available in both metric (centimeters, meters) and imperial (inches, feet) measurements. Basic plans generally have alternate measurements alongside the metric measurements.

Be sure to check out our DIY articles on the articles page.

Simple plans and tutorials

These are straight forward projects that will help you around the house and garden.

Fence and gate construction These plans will show you how to make a typical timber fence and gate for a suburban section. You can follow the plans exactly if you wish, but they are designed to be used as a guide for your own unique project. Greenhouse plans (miniature) Protect your tender seedlings from early spring temperatures with this easy to make mini greenhouse. Our free plan contains a list of materials and step by step instructions. Letterbox with stand Unfortunately letterboxes don't last forever. Because they are usually located out near public roads, they can fall victim to acts of vandalism or accidents. Whatever your reason for needing a new letterbox, why not try making it yourself this time. Newspaper pots for easy seedling transplanting Peat pots are a great way to give your young seedlings a head start. Seedlings hate having their roots disturbed, and transplanting can set their growth back by several days even under the best conditions. But peat pots are expensive. A great alternative is newspaper pots. Soil sieve plans This very simple project will see you building a handy tool for the garden.  Use it too sift home made compost or get rid of lumps and stones before planting tender root crops like carrots.

Detailed plans

These projects are a little more complex than our simple projects, but don't let that put you off. Our easy to follow CAD diagrams, photos, and step by step instructions cater to all levels of experience.

Whether you are a professional builder looking for inspiration, or you have never picked up a hammer in your life, we hope you find something useful here.

Walk-in bird aviary plans This might seem like a fairly ambitious project, but don't be put off. The biggest concern with an aviary is making the structure bird-proof. Unlike other small buildings you don't have to worry about making it 100% weather tight. This aviary is suitable for urban sections. Chicken coop and run plans (movable) This stylish chicken coop and run will be a feature in your garden. The compact design makes good use of space, making this coop ideal for smaller sections. There are wheels at the rear meaning you can move the coop around your lawn to give your hens fresh grass, or let them dig over your garden for you. Chicken coop plans (free range) You can really go all out when it comes to designing a chicken coop. But if you don't want your project to cost the earth, then this plan is for you. This coup makes very efficient use of yard space and building materials. It should comfortably house up to 20 chickens. Dog kennel and run (compact) This dog run features a compact design, a kennel elevated off the ground, a fully detachable kennel, and a timber floor on the run. the kennel and run are both a generous size, and would comfortably house 2-3 small dogs or 1-2 medium sized dogs. Dog kennel with attached run Dog runs are becoming a popular option for the times it is necessary to confine your dog. They are a good alternative to chaining a dog up, because the dog can move freely in the run without the risk of getting tangled up in a chain. In this plan, the run is detachable from the kennel. Garden shed This DIY shed plan is designed as a garden shed but would also be suitable for other uses, e.g. a workshop. The shed is a generous size, with over 3m2 of internal floor space and enough head room for people of above-average height to stand up straight in. Greenhouse (full size) Did you know that you can construct your own growing house for much less than the price of a kit set or commercial structure? Picnic table plans (traditional) This picnic table is similar to what you tend to find at your local park, possibly with a little extra leg room. Rabbit hutch plans This rabbit hutch can be moved around your lawn to give your bunnies fresh grass and stop them doing permanent damage by eating one spot down too much. This is a compact design, ideal for urban backyards.