DIY Projects for Teens to Beat Boredom

Most teenagers are inherently creative, so it's no surprise that there are dozens of cool DIY projects for teens on the internet. While there are some new trends in crafts, some common themes span multiple generations. Fun DIYs for teens tend to be colorful, whimsical, and easy to make in an afternoon.

It's interesting to think that something your grandmother made when she was sixteen might resonate with your sixteen-year-old daughter. However, it's also important to remember that each kid is an individual with their own unique tastes.

There are plenty of fun crafts for teens to explore here, so scroll through and pick out something that speaks to your teen—or your inner teenager!

01 of 15

Use Yarn to Make a Rainbow Wall Hanging

Lia Griffith

Rainbows might seem childish to some teenagers, but this rainbow wall hanging from Lia Griffith is refined enough to be both whimsical and mature. This DIY project would look charming in a childhood bedroom or dorm room and can be customized with different colors. Check out the tutorial for more details.

Yarn Wrapped Rainbow Wall Hanging from Lia Griffith
02 of 15

Make an Inspiration Board for Your Favorite Photos

Damask Love

If it feels like your teens (or your entire family for that matter) have been glued to their phones lately, this project will take the focus off of Instagram for a moment. Instead of seeing these visuals on a feed, they can see their favorite photos up on their wall instead. They might find that having an inspiration board in their bedroom inspires them to take on even more craft projects.

DIY Copper Wire Inspiration Board from Damask Love
03 of 15

Learn Different Tie Dye Techniques

By Stephanie Lynn

Tie-dye has been around since the sixties, and the craft is still popular among the younger generations. There are some shibori dyeing techniques that are trendy right now, but classic tie-dye techniques are much more colorful and can be more forgiving to complete. It's an easy craft for learning new skills in this thorough tutorial.

Tie Dye T-Shirt Folding Techniques from By Stephanie Lynn
04 of 15

Design Some Temporary Tattoos

Persia Lou

Temporary tattoos appeal to tons of teens whether they're 13 or 18. If they like to mix up their forms of self-expression and don't like the idea of permanence (or can't legally get a tattoo), check out this guide from Persia Lou and make some temporary tattoos at home.

DIY Maker Tattoos from Persia Lou

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05 of 15

Get Colorful with One of a Kind Wall Art

It's Always Autumn

This teen DIY project is similar to tie-dye in that every outcome is unique and wonderfully colorful. Be advised that this tutorial might not be appropriate for young teenagers without supervision since it uses a lighter.

How to Make Gorgeous Fired Alcohol Ink Art from It's Always Autumn
06 of 15

Repurpose a Candle for Make Up Brushes

Dwell Beautiful

As teenagers get older, they acquire more and more stuff. With all the makeup tutorials on Youtube, it's unsurprising that they might have as many makeup brushes as they have paintbrushes or pencils. Instead of purchasing yet another item, consider repurposing an old candle jar for much-needed teen storage.

How to Make a Make Up Brush Holder from Dwell Beautiful
07 of 15

Use Pom Poms to Make Jewelry

Polkadot Chair

There are several pom-pom crafts that will appeal to teenagers, but this one from Polkadot Chair is a fan favorite. The end result is a necklace that is elegant and playful and could even pass for an expensive designer piece.

Felt Ball Necklace Tutorial from Polkadot Chair
08 of 15

Update an Existing Accessory with Paint

Delineate Your Dwelling

Really easy DIY projects for teens involve giving existing items a face-lift to make them fit in more with your personality. In this case, a basic neutral purse is elevated using gold foil paint and some simple ingenuity. Get inspired and help them make their own by visiting Delineate Your Dwelling.

Gold Foil Brushstroke Clutch from Delineate Your Dwelling

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09 of 15

Rethink Adult Coloring Books

Hello Little Home

Sure, adult coloring books are marketed toward adults to relieve stress, but they can be fun for teenagers, too. Instead of simply coloring, which might get boring for a teen, this blog post shows you ten different ways to repurpose adult coloring book pages. The coaster idea would make a creative addition to any coffee table.

10 Easy Ways to Use Coloring Pages from Hello Little Home
10 of 15

Turn a Frame Into an Earring Holder

House of Hawthornes

Making a DIY earring holder is straightforward, but not all earring holders are ideal for a teen. To make the piece look more fun, add a bright, unexpected color to an embossed frame. To find out more, head over to this tutorial from House of Hawthornes.

DIY Earring Holder from House of Hawthornes
11 of 15

Put Together a Peaceful Dream Catcher

A Crafty Mix

Dream catchers might not appeal to all teens, but they are popular nonetheless. This dream catcher tutorial from A Crafty Mix is hard to mess up and leaves a lot of room for creative expression and colors. Have fun with it!

How to Make a Silky Bohemian Dream Catcher from A Crafty Mix
12 of 15

Whip Up Something That's Gift-Worthy

A Beautiful Mess

It's one thing to make a bath scrub with a teen, it another thing entirely to make a bath scrub that looks like a fantastical unicorn. Any teen might quickly jump on board and want to make these cute scrubs as gifts for all their friends.

Make Your Own Unicorn Sugar Scrubs from A Beautiful Mess

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13 of 15

Perfect Weaving Skills by Making a Throw Rug

A Piece of Rainbow

There are simple weaving kits that are marketed to kids and tweens so they can make little things like jewelry. If your child was into loom kits as a kid, they will likely love this more advanced project as a teenager. A Piece of Rainbow explains how to make a loom and then weave together this colorful and eclectic throw rug.

Weave a T-Shirt Rug from A Piece of Rainbow
14 of 15

Paint Simple Frames With Bold Patterns

Elise Engh Studios

If you want a teen DIY project that is fun and functional, pick up some cheap frames and then paint them to your heart's content. Check out this tutorial from Elise Engh Studios to find out how she reimagined these frames into something more cheerful.

Messy Frames Tutorial from Elise Engh Studios
15 of 15

Try Out a Modern Wall Hanging

Homey Oh My

If you're a teen that is not partial to bright bursts of color, consider this project from Homey Oh My. The wall hanging is bohemian in nature but has a very modern feel with simple lines and neutral colors.

DIY Modern Yarn Hanging from Homey Oh My