Top DIY & Gardening Projects of 2013: Relive An Oregon Cottage’s Best Home & Garden Transformations

As another year gracefully draws to a close, it’s a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect on the journey we’ve undertaken. Here at An Oregon Cottage, the end of the calendar year isn’t just a marker of time passing; it’s a cherished tradition of looking back, celebrating achievements, acknowledging lessons learned, and anticipating the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. This annual review offers a moment to appreciate the creative endeavors, practical solutions, and community connections that have enriched our shared experience throughout the year.

This week on An Oregon Cottage is dedicated to exactly that: a comprehensive look at the most popular posts from 2013, a candid review of the goals set last January, and an eager gaze towards the prospects of 2014. We believe in transparency and growth, and this yearly ritual is a vital part of our commitment to fostering a vibrant community of DIY enthusiasts and garden lovers.

In a world brimming with blogs and endless lists, you might wonder what unique value our end-of-year recap brings to your inbox. We’ve honed this tradition over the years, reviewing our progress and sharing insights since 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Here’s what we hope you’ll discover and enjoy in this special retrospective:

• Uncover Hidden Gems: Dive into some of our most popular articles from 2013 that you might have missed when they were first published, offering fresh inspiration and timeless advice for your home and garden.
• Spark Your Creativity: Find motivation to tackle a new DIY project, experiment with a garden idea, or create something beautiful that you’ve seen here. This inspiration is always one of our biggest reasons for sharing our journey!
• Dream Big & Set Goals: Be encouraged to formulate your own aspirations and make plans for the upcoming year, whether they involve home renovations, gardening endeavors, or personal growth.
• Embrace Imperfection: Realize that it’s perfectly acceptable not to achieve every single goal you set. Life happens, and progress, not perfection, is what truly matters, inspiring a more relaxed and joyful approach to DIY and living.

Today, we are thrilled to unveil our most celebrated DIY and gardening-related posts published throughout 2013. This list represents the projects and ideas that resonated most deeply with our community, providing practical solutions, creative decor, and sustainable living inspiration. For those curious about our past successes, you can explore 2012’s top DIY posts here, 2011’s favorites here, and 2010’s beloved projects here. We’ll count down from number 10 to reveal the year’s biggest DIY triumph. We’d love for you to join the conversation in the comments below – let us know which of these projects were your personal favorites, or if there’s a beloved post that didn’t quite make this year’s list!

An Oregon Cottage’s 2013 Top DIY & Gardening Posts:

10. How to Easily Ripen Tomatoes at the End of the Season

As summer transitions to fall, many gardeners are left with an abundance of green tomatoes. This highly practical post offered tried-and-true methods for successfully ripening those end-of-season tomatoes indoors, ensuring a bountiful harvest long after the first frost. It’s a fantastic resource for maximizing your garden’s yield and enjoying homegrown flavors into the cooler months, showcasing smart solutions for common gardening challenges.

9. Burlap, White & Gold Fall Mantel

This stunning fall mantelpiece design captured hearts with its elegant blend of rustic burlap, crisp white accents, and a touch of glamorous gold. It provided readers with inspiration for creating a sophisticated yet cozy seasonal display, demonstrating how simple materials can be combined to achieve a high-end look. This post highlights the beauty of thoughtful home decor and seasonal styling on a budget.

8. DIY Thrifted Canvas Word Art

Transforming old thrift store paintings into personalized word art proved to be a popular and accessible DIY project. This post showed how to give new life to forgotten canvases, turning them into meaningful and stylish decorative pieces for any home. It’s a perfect example of upcycling and creative expression, offering a unique way to add character and personality to your living spaces while staying budget-conscious.

7. Easy DIY Antique Dresser Restoration

Breathing new life into an antique dresser can seem daunting, but this post demystified the process, offering simple steps for a quick and impactful restoration. Readers were eager to learn how to revive a vintage piece, preserving its charm while making it functional for modern homes. This project highlights the satisfaction of furniture flipping and the enduring appeal of quality craftsmanship.

6. The Master Bedroom One Room Challenge

Participating in a “One Room Challenge” to transform a master bedroom proved to be a highly engaging series. This particular post outlined the plans and initial steps, inviting readers to follow along on the journey of creating a serene and personalized retreat. It demonstrates the power of focused renovation efforts and the joy of seeing a vision for a space come to life, providing inspiration for tackling your own home improvement projects.

5. DIY Tiered Vintage Pie Tin Stand

This creative upcycling project showcased how to turn old pie tins into a charming tiered stand, perfect for displaying desserts, organizing small items, or adding a touch of vintage flair to any kitchen or party. It appealed to those who love transforming thrift store finds into functional and aesthetically pleasing decor. This DIY project is a testament to resourceful crafting and unique home accents.

4. The Easiest No-Fail Tried-and-True Shrubs and Perennials

For both novice and experienced gardeners, this post was a goldmine of information on robust, low-maintenance shrubs and perennials that thrive with minimal fuss. It helped readers choose dependable plants that add beauty and structure to their gardens without demanding constant attention. This guide is ideal for creating stunning landscapes that are both beautiful and sustainable, simplifying gardening for everyone.

3. Ikea Butcher Block Counter Cutting Technique {Video}

Installing IKEA butcher block countertops can significantly upgrade a kitchen, and this post, accompanied by a helpful video, provided crucial techniques for precise cutting and installation. It empowered DIYers to confidently tackle this home improvement project, demystifying a task that many might find intimidating. The practical, step-by-step guidance made achieving professional-looking results much more attainable for readers.

2. How to Turn a Vintage Window Into a Mirror

This ingenious project offered a brilliant way to upcycle an old window into a stylish, vintage-inspired mirror. It combined the charm of antique architecture with practical home decor, appealing to those seeking unique accents with character. Readers loved the detailed instructions for transforming a discarded item into a functional piece of art, adding depth and light to any room.

And the #1 DIY post for 2013 was….

1. How to Make a Desk with Ikea Trestle Legs and A Salvaged Wood Top

Taking the top spot for 2013, this project brilliantly demonstrated how to construct a beautiful and functional desk using affordable IKEA trestle legs paired with a character-rich salvaged wood top. It celebrated the blend of modern practicality with rustic charm, offering a highly customizable and aesthetically pleasing workspace solution. This post truly resonated with readers looking for unique furniture builds that are both budget-friendly and full of personality, making it a standout favorite for its ingenuity and achievable results.

As we conclude our look back at the most beloved DIY and gardening projects of 2013, we hope this journey through the year’s highlights has provided you with fresh ideas, renewed inspiration, and practical insights for your own home and garden endeavors. These posts are a testament to the enduring appeal of hands-on creativity, sustainable living, and making our homes truly our own. Thank you for being a part of the An Oregon Cottage community. We eagerly anticipate sharing even more exciting projects, challenges, and learning experiences with you in 2014!