The Best of Q1 2023


Every quarter, I share a bit of the behind-the-scenes of what performed well during the previous three months, and Iโ€™m back at it for 2023. These are the most popular blog posts, the bestsellers, and the items that really resonated with you.

Not only is it helpful for me to see what you guys like, but I figured it might be helpful for you in case you missed some of these well-received products or posts. So letโ€™s take a look at the best of Q1 2023.

Your Favorite Posts from Q1 2023

Our basement transformation
Our Basement Transformation

As a content creator, itโ€™s so funny because I often have trouble predicting the success of individual posts. There are some posts that I think are going to do very well and then they flop. Then there are others Iโ€™m not even that excited about, which become hugely successful! I never can predict what will really resonate with people! Here are the blog posts that you really loved this quarterโ€ฆ

How to Paint Interior Doors

my best tips to paint interior doors

This blog post was a good one, chock full of tips and tricks for painting interior doors. This was actually my first time painting interior doors and I learned so much along the way, including the fact that it takes way longer than you think! I’m happy to report that my doors still look fantastic in the basement.

The Year of Us

Wow, this post about 2023 being our “Year of Us” really resonated with you guys! It was fun to have some meaningful conversations about relationships and how they can change so much throughout the years, especially if kids come into the picture. I was thinking it might be fun for Finn to write our 6-month progress report on how things are going, so stay tuned for that next quarter.

I Tried On 30+ Pairs of Non-Skinny Jeans, Here Are My Winners!

The best non-skinny jeans to try

I can tell my audience is just as confused as I am when it comes to keeping up with the latest jeans trends because this post was crazy popular. Ha! In an attempt to tip-toe outside of the skinny jeans world, I did a big try-on and ended up finding some great pairs of jeans. This post breaks down my favorites along with the no-gos…

Our New Stairwell Accent Wall

Our new stairwell accent wall

I tackled lots of projects this past quarter, but this was a BIG one! I added this accent wall of wood to our stairwell and it involved scaffolding, the use of a protractor for tricky cuts, and a week of chipping away at this project during nap time. In the end, I adore this new look for our stairwell. Oh, and if you missed it, this blog post dives deep into our entire staircase transformation since we bought our home.

10 Years of The DIY Playbook

The Year of Casey

On March 4th, I celebrated ten years of The DIY Playbook. Such a milestone for me! In this blog post, I chat about what has changed over the past decade (Spoiler alert: everything!) and my plans for the future of the business. I also dive into a few reader questions about my writing process, hiring staff, and more.

Best Home Products from Winter 2023

Okay, now letโ€™s move on to some of the bestsellers. First up, these home items sold like crazy!

My home decor bestsellers from winter 2023

Sofa Bed // Indoor Planter // La Jolla Basket // Terrazzo Bath Tray // Leather Swivel Chair // Photo Frame Set // Home Therapy Book // Landscape Art // Jute Doormat // Faux Topiary

Sofa Bed: This blog post about stylish sofa beds is pretty popular right now and this particular sofa bed is selling like crazy. I think many people are working from home and converting guest rooms into home offices. But it’s nice to have the option of a bed for potential guests, too, hence the sofa bed!

Indoor Planter: I bought this planter so many years ago back when we lived in our condo and it’s now in our living room. It’s a beautiful planter that works indoors or out!

La Jolla Basket: We have a similar basket in our living room from HomeGoods, where we store our extra couch blankets. It’s so nice to have a pretty spot to keep these items handy.

Terrazzo Bath Tray: Here’s the perfect way to corral your bathroom countertop items. I love the terrazzo detailing on this one.

Leather Swivel Chair: I used this leather swivel chair in a recent Reader SOS post and it’s the most gorgeous piece of furniture.

Photo Frame Set: These photo frames were featured in an old blog post about my best tips to decorate built-in shelves and I still think they’re awesome all these years later. They’re a great duo to add some interest to your shelves. Plus, a great price.

Home Therapy Book: Sure, this would make for a beautiful coffee table book. But what’s even better is the content inside! Anita shares her expertise as a therapist to dive into the ways small changes in a home can improve your mental health.

Landscape Art: This is such a cute piece of art that could be layered on a bookshelf or hung in a bathroom.

Jute Doormat: I need to update our front doormat after a long winter and l want to grab this one!

Faux Topiary: While I impatiently wait to plant our summer flowers (usually the second week of May around here), I love the idea of adding some faux greenery to our front porch. This topiary is so good!

Top 10 Overall Bestsellers

My bestsellers from winter 2023

Mid-rise Perfect Vintage Jean // 90s Slim Straight Jean // My Favorite Leggings // Blending Brush // Sorel Sandals // Swimming Suit // Crew Sweater // Good Genes // Caulk Cap // Year of Us Book

Mid-rise Perfect Vintage Jean: These were a favorite from my jean try-on earlier this year. Comfy, stylish, and a great addition to my wardrobe for spring.

90s Slim Straight Jean: I didn’t end up getting these on my jean-shopping day, but now I think I should! A good price point for a really nice pair of jeans.

My Favorite Leggings: I have these in the blue and the rose color and they are outstanding! Plus, only $40 for such quality material.

Blending Brush: I recently added this bronzing balm and this highlighter to my makeup routine and I use this blending brush to apply it all. Wow, my skin has never looked so glowy!

Sorel Sandals: I’m on my second pair of these sandals because they’re just so good! I’ll be packing them for my upcoming trip to Italy. Super comfortable and easy to slip on.

Swimming Suit: I purchased this suit for our family trip to Florida and it was perfect for a vacay with the kids. A hint of sexy, but also easy to throw on and chase after my two little ones.

Crew Sweater: So many of my favorite items are from this brand. Their products look so high-end, but the price point is phenomenal. I have this sweater in navy and I wore it at least once a week this winter.

Good Genes: This product has changed my skin and I don’t want to ever go without it! The texture of my skin has greatly improved, along with any dark spots. It has a permanent spot in my skincare lineup.

Caulk Cap: This is such a funny one on the list, but I’m happy it made it! I use these caulk caps to keep opened tubes of caulk fresh. I’ve been able to use caulk that is over 6 months old because of this saver cap. Just buy them. You’ll thank me later!

Year of Us Book: So many of you also purchased this book for your own relationship and I’m here for it. We’re having a lot of fun deepening our conversations with the help of this.

What’s To Come in Q2?

Adding beadboard to our basement bathroom

In a few weeks, I head to Italy for my ten-year DIY Playbook celebration! I’ll be sharing all about that here on the blog. Plus, there are more projects to come in the basement, including the bathroom reveal, our stairwell gallery wall, and toy organization. It should be a fun quarter ahead…

Casey


The Year of Casey

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Casey Finn, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. I’m a Chicago gal teaching you how to design, DIY, and maintain your home…by yourself! Learn more about me right here.