5 DIY Ways to Go Mad for Plaid This Winter

Give your style a cozy (and inexpensive!) boost using this season's hottest pattern.

By: Chelsea Faulkner

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Photo By: Jalynn Baker

©Marko Metzinger

Make a Plaid Tile Table Runner

For the cost of a few inexpensive ceramic tiles, you can craft a gorgeous plaid table runner that also doubles as a trivet for hot dishes. Keep reading to learn how!

Step 1: Place Center Tiles

For this project you'll need 29 4"x4" ceramic tiles: 10 black, 7 white and 12 gray. To make the plaid pattern look authentic, we painted white hatch lines on each gray tile using a toothpick and white acrylic paint. Once you've gathered all your materials, start the pattern by placing a single white tile diagonally in the center of your table, then surround it on four sides with gray tile.

Step 2: Add Black Tile

Fill in the four empty corners with black tile until the pattern forms a diamond.

Step 3: Continue Pattern

Continue the pattern down the length of your table, until you have 3 diamond shapes connected end to end. Fill in the empty spaces between the diamonds with the remaining white tiles.

Step 4: Pretty It Up

If you aren't planning to sit food on the table, give your tile table runner a touch of holiday flair with evergreen clippings and winter berries.

Step 5: Set the Table

Finish off the look with neutral, stoneware-inspired plates, farmhouse napkins and tartan chargers (learn how to make these next).

DIY Plaid Chargers for Less Than $2

These plaid chargers may look expensive, but they're actually made from plastic dollar store chargers, inexpensive tartan fabric and decoupage glue! Keep reading to learn how.

What You'll Need

For this project, you'll need a piece of plaid fabric, an inexpensive plastic charger (we found this one at the dollar store for $1) and a salad plate roughly the same diameter as the inside rim of the charger.

Step 1: Trace the Charger

Place the charger in the center of your fabric and trace slowly around it with a permanent marker, being careful not to snag the fabric.

Step 2: Trace Salad Plate

Place the salad plate in the center of the large circle and trace with permanent marker.

Step 3: Cut Around Perimeter

Using sharp fabric scissors, cut away excess fabric from the perimeter of the outside circle.

Step 4: Cut Out Inside Circle

Cut away the fabric inside the smallest traced circle, leaving an "O"-shaped piece.

Step 5: Brush on Glue

Brush a thin layer of decoupage glue onto the rim of your charger, allowing it to dry for about 2 minutes or until the glue is tacky. Make sure the glue spreads all the way to the outside and inside edges.

Step 6: Add Fabric

Carefully place your cut fabric on the glued rim, adjusting until it sits flush with the inside edge of the rim and covers all around the outside edge. If you have excess fabric hanging over the rim, no worries! We'll fix that later.

Step 7: Glue It Again

Seal the fabric by spreading another thin layer of glue along the surface, paying careful attention to the edges.

Step 8: Seal Outside Edge

Turn the charger over and use your brush to glue down any overhanging fabric to the underside. Let dry for about 5 hours or overnight.

Step 9: Show It Off

Put your gorgeous creation on display at your next shindig and bask in all the compliments you'll get! Keep reading to learn more ways to deck your halls with plaid.

Use Up Leftover Wrapping Paper

The easiest the way to go mad for plaid? Fill an old picture frame with plaid or holiday-themed wrapping paper in dark reds or moody blues, then use a chalk marker to sketch your favorite design or phrase on the glass. Once the holidays are over, simply wipe away the marker with a wet paper towel and swap out the paper with picture-perfect memories from your holiday parties!

Pretty + Festive

Mix and match designs, colors and frames for a look that's uniquely you.

Wrap Your Books

Turn your bookshelf into a plaid showstopper by wrapping your tomes (temporarily, of course) in leftover gift wrap.

Step 1: Measure to Cut Horizontally

Place a book in the center of a piece of wrapping paper, making small marks 2 inches above and below each corner of the book.

Step 2: Cut

Use the guide lines on the back of your wrapping paper to cut away the excess paper below and above the markings.

Step 3: Mark + Cut Vertically

Open your book and mark 2 inches out from the right side. Make a straight vertical cut at this mark.

Step 4: Cut on the Other Side

Flatten your book so that the front cover lays flat on the paper. Mark 2 inches out from the edge of the cover. Make another vertical cut at this mark.

Step 5: Mark to Fold

Make a short horizontal mark out from each corner of the book, then set the book aside.

Step 6: Fold

Fold the top and bottom of your paper in at the fold lines, creasing the edge sharply with your finger.

Step 7: Fold Vertically

Place your book back in the center of the paper. Fold excess paper in toward the spine of the book on both sides. Remove book and sharpen the creases with your fingers. You should now see two small sleeves into which you can slip the book cover.

Step 8: Slide Book Into Sleeve

Slip the front and back covers of the book into the sleeves, shut the book and place it back on the shelf.

Eye-Catching Display

Mix and match different colors of paper and finish with festive bookends for a gorgeous display. If you plan to keep the covers on long-term, write the name of each book on the spines in eye-catching gold or white marker.

Patch Your Jeans With Plaid

Have your favorite jeans seen better days? Give them new life by filling unsightly holes with chic plaid fabric.

Step 1: Prep Fabric

For this project, you'll need stretchy plaid fabric, iron-on hem tape, scissors and an iron. Turn your jeans inside out and cut the fabric in a rectangle just wide enough to cover all sides of the hole.

Step 2: Add Tape

Measure and cut four pieces of hem tape to the length of each side of the fabric.

Step 2 (cont.)

Step 3: Flip + Iron

Flip the fabric square over so that the tape is sandwiched between the jeans and plaid fabric. Following the hem tape instructions, iron the fabric until it adheres completely to your jeans. Let cool, then turn them right side out.

Plaid + Fabulous

Rock your new seasonal look with confidence!

Make Cafe Curtains From Plaid Napkins

Upcycle unused plaid napkins into stylish cafe curtains for your kitchen or bathroom. All you need for this project is a tension curtain rod, 2 plaid napkins and a dozen curtain clip rings.

Step 1: Clip Rings to Napkins

Clip rings 3-4 inches apart along the length of the napkins. For a unique look, you can create different types of pleats by pinching the fabric together between the clips.

Darling DIY

Place a small tension rod in the middle of your window, just high enough so that the napkins kiss the window sill. Enjoy your plaid curtains all year long or swap out the napkins for a new look each season.

From: HGTV Magazine