Nowadays people must spend a lot more time at home, so DIY has become very popular. There are so many benefits of DIY – not only do creations feel personal and unique, but you’re able to appreciate them more than something you buy on a whim. DIY projects can be therapeutic too – and I think we all need to be doing more things that help us relax and feel good!

DIY will save money compared to buying ready-made. To save more money, these DIY ideas use products from the nation’s favorite 100 yen shop, Daiso. Daiso is loved for so many reasons, you only have to search ‘Daiso organizer ideas’ to see how well Daiso caters to DIY. There are so many reviews of Daiso goods, including many DIY apartment ideas using products from the 100 yen shop.

Daiso goods for DIY

The size of the 100-yen shop chain varies, some stores have more variety than others. When you’re looking for Daiso goods please bear this in mind!

Some things you’d find in a DIY store are available at Daiso for a fraction of the price. Though don’t rule out the DIY store completely, they offer reasonable prices and a DIY shop will probably stock more specific products. Visit a Keiyo D2 DIY store to find anything else you need. Tokyu Hands is another DIY shop great for all DIY needs.

DIY terrarium

Terrariums are a fun and low-maintenance way to bring nature into your apartment. Nature-based DIY apartment ideas breathe life into an apartment! If you create the right environment, the plants look after themselves!

Open terrariums

Open terrariums are a safe choice as they work well with most small houseplants, particularly succulents and cacti. If you are using more than one plant (which I recommend), group together plants that like similar conditions. For example, you don’t want to put cacti with a plant that loves moisture.

The glass planters are one of those Daiso goods that you’d never guess came from a 100-yen shop.

Closed terrariums

Closed terrariums are kept sealed. They’re a bit trickier to keep in check, but once you’ve got the right level of moisture in the terrarium you shouldn’t have to water it again. To do this take the lid off when there is a lot of condensation to air it out, and only ever add small amounts of water.

You’ll find glass jars with wooden lids for your DIY closed terrarium in the kitchen section of Daiso.

Small foliage plants that like moisture work best in closed terrariums, ferns and nerve plants are great and are available at a lot of Daiso shops. Avoid succulents and cacti for closed terrariums – they’ll probably get root rot.

Closed terrariums will thrive with a layer of activated charcoal to remove toxins and any unpleasant aromas. Activated charcoal (or activated carbon) is used in aquariums so you might find it in the fish and aquarium section. If you can’t find any at a 100-yen shop, you’ll be able to find it at a DIY shop, such as DCM Daiki, for a reasonable price.

There are plenty of Daiso goods you can use to personalize your terrarium; search the toys and décor aisles for accessories to put to create a personal touch.

Terrarium materials:

• Glass container (Daiso sells open terrariums in an assortment of shapes and sizes in the plant section. I’d recommend the larger wide-based planter)
• 1 or more plants (for specifics on what kind of plants work best, refer to the sections describing closed terrariums and open terrariums)
• Potting mix (use the Daiso succulent and cacti mix for better drainage)
• Decorative stones, gravel, or pebbles (available in the gardening section at Daiso, but for more variety try out a DIY store or see what you can find out in nature)
• Moss (you can find moss in a 100 yen shop in the gardening or craft areas. If you want more varieties try out a DIY store).
• Activated charcoal (recommended for closed terrariums, but beneficial for layering in open terrariums too)
• Décor (sea glass, figurines, shells, rocks)
• Colored sand or gravel (optional)
• Mesh (optional – if you want very defined layers, use some mesh to separate each section)

How to make your Daiso DIY shop terrarium:

1. Cover the bottom of your terrarium with pebbles, or gravel to provide some drainage.
2. If you want to add colorful layers of sand or gravel, add them here. Use cutlery to arrange the layers into a shape you’re happy with.
3. If you have activated charcoal add a thin layer on top.
4. Add a thick layer of potting mix.
5. Take the plants out of their pots and loosen the roots.
6. Use a spoon to dig holes in the soil where you want to arrange your plants. Think about how best to arrange the plants, bearing in mind the height and foliage of each plant. You don’t want the plants to be too close together – leave a couple of centimeters between.
7. Put the plants into their designated holes and cover the roots with the potting mix, gently pat it down. Plant your biggest one first so that you can arrange smaller ones around it.
8. Now you can get creative with the decorations. Small areas with thin layers of gravel or colored sand can create a nice accent. Add a layer of moss to go for a Japanese moss garden look, moss also helps retain moisture.
9. You can arrange some decorative stones, sea glass, or any figurines. And there you have it, your 100-yen shop terrarium!

Find your own inspiration for DIY apartment ideas at a 100 yen shop too! Daiso sells tools for easy DIY, like glue guns and tension rods. If you are don’t want real plants in your home, make a display out of Daiso’s artificial plants with a Daiso vintage-style birdcage and a glue gun.