My Favorite DIY Products

These are the products I reach for again and again when doing DIYs. Click the image or product name to view the item.

Most Used Products

Citristrip

My go-to for removing old paint or finishes. It works well, doesn’t have overpowering fumes, and makes stripping furniture much easier.

White Wax

This finishing wax is easy to work with and adds a soft light tint while helping protect and seal your project.

Brown Wax

This brown finishing wax is great for adding depth and dimension while sealing your piece.

Affordable Paint

When working on smaller projects, I often reach for this craft paint. It’s inexpensive, comes in tons of colors, and has transformed many pieces on my channel.

Rub-n-Buff

This has excellent coverage, dries quickly, and works on so many surfaces. My go-to color is Antique Gold.

Buying these in bulk saves so much. I use chip brushes on many of my projects — they’re affordable, get the job done, and I don’t feel bad tossing them afterward. Just give them a quick tug before using to remove any loose bristles.

More Frequently Used products

Shellac

This shellac spray dries quickly and is great for sealing pieces before painting to prevent tannins or stains from bleeding through.

Spray can handle

This simple tool attaches to a spray paint can and makes spraying much easier on your hand — especially during larger projects.

Disposable Gloves

My go-to disposable gloves. They’re thicker than most, which makes them more durable and less prone to tearing.

Cutting Board Oil & Wax

My favorite for restoring and conditioning wooden cutting boards.

Spackling

Whether creating textured art or thickening paint to cover imperfections, this lightweight spackling is my current go-to.

Wood Glue

This wood glue has about a 30-minute open time. It works great for normal wood projects, but I also often mix it with paint, spackling, or baking soda when creating textured art pieces.

Quick Dry Wood Glue

A thick wood glue that sets up quickly and holds extremely well.

All Purpose Adhesive

These attach to the sanding block above or an orbital sander (linked in DIY Tools). They use a hook-and-loop backing and last noticeably longer than many other brands we’ve tried.

Palette Knife Set

Try go-to tools for creating textured art.

Wood Filler

Stainable, sandable, and paintable. I prefer this tub version over squeeze tubes because it’s less likely to dry out and it’s easier to use all of the product.

Mod Podge

This works as an all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish. It goes on white and dries clear. I typically use the matte version, but gloss works well too.

Butcher Block Stain

A food-safe stain designed for butcher block and other food prep surfaces (like cutting boards.

Leather Recoloring Balm

I’ve restored many faded leather pieces with this recoloring balm. It works beautifully on many types of leather, though results can vary. I usually follow it with the conditioner below. Always test in a small, inconspicuous area first.

Leather Conditioner

My go-to leather conditioner for keeping pieces soft and hydrated.

Charcoal Spray Paint

If you’re looking for a rich charcoal spray paint, this is the one I keep going back to after trying many others.

Sanding Sponges

These washable sanding sponges are great for sanding and shaping around curves or detailed areas. They’re flexible, reusable, and last a while.

If you’re sanding large flat surfaces (like dresser tops) or need something more aggressive for removing high spots or distressing, I recommend checking out the sanding block below.

Sanding Block

Great for sanding flat surfaces (like dresser tops), knocking down high spots, or distressing pieces. See suggested abrasives below.

Sanding Discs