DIY Home Decor Categories

This just in! Kitchen decor, ceramics and accessories

Good day! We’re excited to share with you several new collections of kitchen decor, ceramics and accessories we’ve just added.

Sawmill dinnerware – Durable stoneware in a rich, espresso-colored, textured finish. Coordinates well with country, lodge, traditional and contemporary styles.

Enamelware

Wood and metal utensil holder

Wood and metal dinner napkin holder

Mason jars in chicken wire basket

Distressed wood caddy

Cheers bottle opener

Cheers bottle box

20 Best Budget Decorating Tips

Home decorating on a budget is totally doable! Get started with The Budget Decorator’s top 20 budget home decorating tips! Feature photo, above, from ‘Good Housekeeping‘.

Paint your world.

Paint is the cheapest, fastest way to dramatically change a room in just hours! This colorful living room by ‘BHG’ is a great example of how they used inexpensive furnishings and lots of paint to make this room shine.

Colorful living room

 



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Use a theme.

Choose a theme for every room, even if it’s a favorite color scheme or one you found in a magazine, it’s a place to start and plan. One that’s really now and easy to do on a budget? Modern farmhouse or vintage themes. See how one of our favorite bloggers ‘Liz Marie‘ does it! Can you just see all the DIY possibilities here?

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Change things up.

Rearrange…move things around until you find a pleasing arrangement that works for you, whether it’s your furniture or your bookshelves! Check out our post on furniture arranging tricks! Here is a great arrangement for awkward rooms from ‘Midwest Living‘.

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Reflect upon your home.

Use mirrors to reflect light, make a room look larger or just to double a pretty view like ‘BHG’ did with this bathroom. Or go even further, and turn a thrift store dresser into a vanity with this tutorial from ‘HGTV’.

Mirror over dresser

 

Picture this.

If you can’t afford larger pieces of artwork yet have a lot of wall space to fill, pick up numerous photo frames at the dollar shop and spray paint them all white. Hang them together as a large grouping. Try this DIY fabric in wall frames project by ‘Sincerely, Sara D’.

fabricART

 

Decorate with plates.

Hang decorative plates as wall art, from the kitchen backsplash to over the bedroom headboard for texture and interest. This example is by designer Kelly Wearstler at the ‘Viceroy Hotel’ in Santa Monica. The take away? Stay in a small color palette that coordinates with your room, and go big!

Decorate with plates

 

Think green.

Bring in live houseplants to any room of the home to add life and style. Learn how to root plants in water from ‘My Domaine’. Love this, it’s easy, inexpensive to add lot’s of greenery to a room, and if you choose a pretty and clear vessel, even the roots are part of the show!

20 best budget ideas-3

 

Use the fabric of our lives.

Flat sheets are an inexpensive and easy source of fabric for curtains, slipcovers and pillows. Rachel at ‘Smile and Wave’ shows us how to make these DIY cloth napkins and placemats. I love the fresh, happy colors and patterns!

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Use what you have.

There are so many items around the home that can be repurposed…learn to look at things in creative ways and see if they might meet a decorating need.

The art of disguise.

If you can’t afford to replace, disguise! Cover a sofa, lay a rag rug over that stained carpet, or use fabric to screen an unpleasant view.

Be a treasure hunter.

Use fabric from sheets and quilts, use yard sales to locate furniture to be painted to match your décor, and visit your dollar shop on a regular basis for picture frames and candles.

Kitchen creations.

Use paint to transform and customize your kitchen cabinets, knobs, counters and floors. Use good quality primer and sealer to make it last years! Jenna at ‘Jenna Sue Designs’ did an entire budget kitchen makeover! If you scroll down to the bottom of her post, there is a tutorial for all the DIY projects they did. Don’t forget to check out the “before” photos!

20 best budget ideas-6

 

K.I.S.S.

Use solid colors for your bedding and window treatments so that you can easily change out accessories to change the mood or style.

Bathing beauty.

Use fabric and your sewing machine to soften your bathroom with coordinating towel edging, shower curtains, throw rugs and window treatments. This pretty bathroom from ‘BHG‘ would be really cold and boring without the sunny curtains and towels.

Contemporary-Small-Bathroom-Decorating-Pictures

 

Make it shine!

A simple tip to make rooms look larger? Keep your windows and slick surfaces sparkling clean!

Style it.

It isn’t what you have, it’s how you use, what you have. Check out our post on how to style bookshelves. It’s easy, relatively fast, and inexpensive. Check out the tutorial on how to style a vignette by Yvonne of ‘Stone Gable Blog’. So pretty!

20 best budget ideas-7

 

Family tree.

Print out black and white photos of each member of the family, and then hang them in matching black frames gallery style as a grouping for an unforgettable focal point. ‘Pottery Barn‘ shows us how to do it. Remember, don’t hang the frames too far apart, you want them to feel connected in a grouping. Also, use a few different sizes for interest.

Family photo wall art

 

Welcome home.

Place a piece of furniture in the entry, such as a chest or cozy chair so that visitors will feel the welcoming comfort of your home.

Sew not? So what!

If you don’t know how to sew, pick up some iron on hem tape at your local craft store. You can create simple hems and rod pockets easily with your iron!

Get personal!

Inject yourself and your family in to your home with personal items…photos, vacation finds, or ball game tickets in a frame all bring interest and life to your rooms.

Image Credits: BHG, Sincerely Sara D, Designer: Kelly Wearstler, Smile and Wave, Niji, Stone Gable Blog, Pottery Barn

 



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Ask it: How to install tile backer board

How to install tile

Hey MyFixitUpLife—I have a question about how to install tile backer board. Can you help? Question: I know, generally, how to install tile but I could use an assist. I’m putting down backer board for a tile floor in our kitchen and want to make sure I apply the thinset … see more

Make a Perfect Boutique Hotel Style Bed

There is nothing that makes a bedroom look more luxurious or high end than a well made bed. It doesn’t take a lot of cash to get a boutique hotel style bed, either. What it takes my friends, are the secrets. No lie, it’s way more than making sharp corners! So we found some great blogs offering their tips for how you can make your bed look amazing every day of the week, every season of the year. And guess what? No one will be able to tell if you get your linens in Paris or at the discount store up the road! (Or better yet, that excellent yard sale on the corner!)

‘Style Me Pretty’ has a great basic guide on how to make the perfect bed. This covers everything to get you started, and  has the best tip we have found for finding the best sheet… It’s not all about thread count, although thats how they charge you! Steve and I heard this from an employee at Nordstrom once, and it is 100% true. It’s about the cotton. Not just any old cotton will do, the best is Egyptian or Pima cotton. If you buy sheets with that fabric, you can buy much lower thread count and still have the softest sheets around! Cha-ching! Also great step by steps on the basic bed. Must read for getting it down!

Make a perfect bed-1

 



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‘Pottery Barn’ has a quick video on how to fill a duvet (which I didn’t figure out ’till I was in my 30’s!), and a couple of graphics to help you with the basics to remember on how to make a bed look amazing, and also where and how many pillows to use for each size bed. Easy to just glance at these and “get it”!

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‘Trulia’ shows us how to buy bed linens so we can have that luxury feel to our bed, without wasting money on poor choices. We agree, cotton, good. Polyester, bad.

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From ‘Houzz’ 13 steps to a perfectly made bed has some great tips… including one’s that make all the difference, like ironing your linens, or using corner fasteners to keep the sheets smooth. Photo by ‘Normandy Remodeling‘.

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Ok, now that you have the basics all down, how about switch it up a bit? From ‘Style Me Pretty’, how to style a bed, 3 ways! A little glam, a little minimal, and a neutral bed with texture… Yep, they are all the same bed!

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Need someone to pull it all together for you? Steven Whitehead at ‘One Kings Lane‘ does a nice video for us, where you can see a professional actually do it, and make it all look amazing! Ok, so ready? Tomorrow morning, it all changes, right?

Image Credits: SLC Interiors, Style Me Pretty, Pottery Barn, Trulia, Normandy Remodeling, Style Me Pretty

 



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Living in a White Box: Savvy Studios

Living in a White Box Savvy Studios apartment rental decorating tips series The Decor Guru

Welcome to the latest installment of my Living in a White Box series, Savvy Studios. This series is all about how you can make the most of your white box, AKA apartment, dorm room, or other rental home. It can be challenging to deal with all the restrictions us renters have, but this series will show you a creative, unique home is very doable!

One of most challenging of rental homes is a studio apartment. Because most of these spaces lack defined rooms, the renter is left to his/her own creative devices. My first apartment was a studio. It was perfect for the time, as I had little furniture and little money.

Back then, my decorating style was not on point yet— I was just getting started. But, I did learn how to distinguish the living areas, like carving out a “bedroom.” Continue reading for my ideas and inspiration on how you can turn your studio into a savvy home.

Perhaps the biggest concern about living in an open floorplan is not having a separate place to sleep—and most people don’t want futons. My first apartment was L-shaped, so that allowed me to branch off space from the living room as my bedroom. It was similar to how designer Leslie Banker used curtains to separate the sleeping area in this studio. The curtains are great as they can be drawn for privacy (or to hide a messy bed when you have company).

Check out how Catie from Dronning Vintage used her apartment’s closet as a bedroom! It’s a tight spot, but I’d so do this if I were single and had this kind of space. Having the bed here makes this a truly separate space for sleeping and would feel so cozy.

Another method for creating a bedroom in an open floorplan is with freestanding structures. Head over to The Projectory to see how Maura and her dad built this box-like structure for her bed. An added bonus is how it’s added another area for her apartment, like the pantry area on the left.

Separate bed structure by Projectory Handcrafts Living in a White Box Savvy Studios apartment rental decorating tips series The DIY Homegirl

The Brooklyn Home Company carved out a bedroom in this studio using a platform bed and lath panels. I love how the wall coordinates in with the rest of the home’s decor– it adds sophistication to this studio.

Brooklyn Home Company freestanding wall platform bed Living in a White Box Savvy Studios apartment rental decorating tips series The DIY Homegirl

This apartment used plastic crates to create a partition between the living room and bedroom. I love how the partition doubles as storage and cubbies to add decorative elements.

Lucite and glass furniture are helpful for giving the illusion of more space in a small home. Jacqueline from York Avenue added extra seating to her NYC studio with this Louis ghost armchair.

 

York Avenue Expedit wall lucite furniture NYC studio Living in a White Box Savvy Studios apartment rental decorating tips series The DIY Homegirl

Bedrooms aren’t the only areas that need defining in a small space. While I no longer live in a studio, my current apartment lacks an actual dining room. To resolve this, I used a corner of the living room to assign as a dining area. The pendant lamp helps to differentiate this space, yet the decor blends in seamlessly with the living room.

Opal silk open floorplan dining room living room pendant lamp Living in a White Box Savvy Studios apartment rental decorating tips series The Decor Guru

Double-duty furniture is a great way to make the most of your small studio. Naseem used an Ikea Melltorp dining table for her living room workspace. This can easily revert to its original function when hosting company.

IKEA Melltorp dining table doubles as desk open floorplan Living in a White Box Savvy Studios apartment rental decorating tips series The DIY Homegirl

Have you ever lived in a studio, loft, or other open floorplan space? If so, did you carve out specific areas like a bedroom? What tips do have for making the most of a studio?

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Filed under: Bedroom, Decorating Tips, Furniture, Living In A White Box, Organizing & Storage, Rental Decorating, Repurposing

Living Room Makeover, Version 3.0

Living Room Makeover aqua gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor The Decor Guru

Within the last year, I’ve made over my living room 3 times. That’s normal, right?

This time, I truly feel like my living room is decorated at its best. So with that I’ll rationalize my compulsive makeover spirit for finally getting the living room right. The room now serves its purpose well as a cool but cozy, and relaxing space.

First things first, let’s get to what we love more than cheese on, well, anything— the before and after shots.

Living Room Makeover before after aqua gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor The Decor Guru

This “before” shot is actually from the 2nd living room makeover, but I included it to show the difference painting the TV wall made. Eliminating the L-shaped accent wall and enveloping the space with more heavenly aqua helped so much. I also swapped out the Expedit shelves with my hand-painted Rast dressers as a TV console.

Living Room Makeover before after aqua gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor The Decor GuruAfter trying out my original makeover plan, I nixed the idea of adding golden yellow since it felt overpowering. (Ironic for someone once nicknamed Rainbow Brite for her love of vivid colors.)

For warmth, I instead used lots of natural colors and elements like wood, linen, and stone. Doing this gave a stronger expression of the earthy, beachy design I love.

Living Room Makeover aqua gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor pillow blanket water hyacinth basket storage The Decor GuruMy favorite acquisition in this makeover: a vintage wood ironing board. I made it over with chalk paint and some distressing.

Vintage Wood Ironing Board houseplants glass dirt rocks natural elements wood Decorating Tips for Highly Sensitive Person by The Decor Guru

This chair was another consignment find. I love its curves, which play nicely with all the angles in the room.

Living Room Makeover secondhand sitting chair aqua gray silver gold white black abstract art natural beachy eclectic MCM decor The Decor Guru

I also incorporated my fave way to easily change up a room by sewing up some envelope pillow covers. On the linen pillows, I hand-painted a loose herringbone pattern with acrylic craft paint and textile medium. To balance the geometric decor in the room, I painted this abstract piece on canvas. The framed pieces are magazine cutouts, drawings, and sumi’e-inspired works.

Living Room Makeover aqua gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor abstract art black white prints painting sumi'e The Decor Guru

I also replaced my navy blue coffee table with one that’s more suitable to the room’s new style. This table is another DIY version, created with a plank of wood and taper legs. I stained both, but added white-washing to the tabletop after staining.

DIY whitewashed wood plank aspen coffee table tapered legs Living Room Makeover aqua gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor The Decor GuruThe tray was a variation of a past DIY and was easy to make. On the inside I added cork, which provides more natural texture and doubles as a coaster.

DIY coffee table tray cork modern whitewashed wood plank aspen coffee table tapered legs Living Room Makeover aqua gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic decor The Decor GuruOf course, I made actual coasters as well. These easy, DIY coasters were inspired by Kate Spade’s paper gem coasters.

Kate Spade designer inspired gemstone coasters DIY whitewashed wood plank aspen coffee table Living Room Makeover aqua teal gray silver gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor The Decor GuruTouches of glam were added by using gold and silver (like the coasters above). I was never a fan of gold until I discovered my perfect shade—champagne. It’s like a cross between gold and silver, which made it a great choice for mixing metallics in the room.

Living Room Makeover aqua gray gold white natural beachy eclectic MCM decor Gilver Snake Plant Pot sansevieria The Decor Guru

I’m so relieved this room is done. But mostly, I’m glad it’s now a streamlined, modern, yet cozy space to relax. Next on the horizon: my bathroom makeover.

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Filed under: DIY, Furniture, Living Room, Organizing & Storage, Repurposing, Reveals + Makeovers

Salt dough tips with recipe for huge and modest – seven excellent basement inspiration

Absolutely everyone has played as a little one at least once with the salt dough as an substitute to the kneading. If this is the situation with you, you will know what great enjoyable this is. If your kid has come to the age of handicrafts, or if you are looking for an employee for the…

Absolutely everyone has played as a little one at least once with the salt dough as an substitute to the kneading. If this is the situation with you, you will know what great enjoyable this is. If your kid has come to the age of handicrafts, or if you are looking for an employee for the afternoon of perform, this sort of homemade doll is so great. And the best thing is that the finished figures can even be stored afterwards. We have put together some excellent salt dough concepts that you can attempt out. However, you will also need to have a appropriate recipe for salt dough so that you can do well.

make salt dough-ideas-cups-fruits-simple-excitation tableware-yourself-

You ought to know that the dough or the tied figures can also get tough in the air. Given that the salt dough with out baking but for several days dries and most youngsters do not typically have this kind of patience, several prefer to go back to the excellent old oven, in which it requires only a couple of minutes. Let us now come to a straightforward recipe and the following salt dough ideas.

roll play dough-ideas-DIY-vase-flower-glass-bottle-dough-

For the salt dough instructions and concepts you require:

  • two cups of flour (or for smoother dough one 1/2 cups of flour and one/two cup of potato starch)
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 cup of salt
  • one teaspoon vegetable oil

All goods are blended together, mixing the dry ingredients initial, then including the water, kneading and last but not least incorporating the oil. Because the dough is quite elastic, you can also use a blender or a kitchen machine. If you put together the dough for the children, you can also offer you them to knead the salt dough. The minor ones will certainly have a whole lot of enjoyable. If the hole is too sticky, some flour and salt are necessary, if the dough ought to be ripped and too dry, you can add some oil. And you can start with the salt dough tips.

salt dough-ideas-apple-Pendants, idea-panel color-child-adultsalt dough-ideas-brush Paint watercolor-fir-inspiration-e1500454826822salt dough-ideas-color-paint-food color-rainbow-yellow-green-purplesalt dough-ideas-deaf-tinker-peace-and-white gift tagsalt dough-ideas-eat-donuts-painting-acrylic paint-brushsalt dough-ideas-figures-excitation-clown 3d modelsalt dough-ideas-guardian angel-gift-football-wing-precision-worksalt dough-ideas-handprint-child-papa-mother-gift ideas


Basement, Dough, excellent, Huge, Inspiration, Modest, Recipe, SALT, Seven, Tips, With

Filed under: Home Decorating

Yard Sale Decorating

Yard sale season is in full swing, and there is no better way to get budget home décor items for your home decorating that also have personality and style. Here’s how The Budget Decorator takes trash for little cash, and turns them into gold!

Furniture Finds

While finding furniture at great prices at a yard sale is a no-brainer, to get the best bargains look a little deeper. Furniture that is past it’s prime can be remade with paint, fabric and little elbow grease, but do you know what’s a find and what’s a dud? Here are some quick guidelines for making yard sale décor for your living room really work.

Buy only sturdy pieces that do not need repair. If one joint or leg is loose now, chances are it’s a short time before more problems appear. Also, look for lifting veneer. In some cases a table top can be covered with fabric or cork, but it cannot be easily repaired.

Need a project to make you a believer? Try this DIY dresser turned TV console by Domestic Superhero…

console11

 



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Finding outdated furniture that you have no idea what to do with? Just to show how far you can go, Deb at ‘Seeking Lavender Lane‘ turned this outdated patio set into a rustic custom look with her makeover! Wow!

Yard sale decorating-8

 

Don’t discount old laminate furniture. If it’s in good shape, it can be painted! Use a good quality primer like KILZ and you are on your way to having an original piece of furniture art from an ugly duck! Kim at ‘Sand and Sisal’ shows you how to paint laminate furniture, and while she was at it, totally made over this ugly credenza!

Yard sale decorating-1

Remember that a chair is not always a chair. Or in this case, a bed! ‘Just Jill’ turned this old bed frame into an amazing garden bench! It may be a yard sale find, but it’s up-cycled chic! Before, and after!

Yard Sale Decorating

Yard Sale Decorating

 

Realize that slipcovers have gotten trendy (and expensive, try Ebay!) Sometimes a sofa just needs the bottom cushions recovered, but is in otherwise good shape. Choose a coordinating fabric and color to cover just those cushions and pin underneath. Use that same fabric to sew a couple of throw pillows for the sofa to make it look purposeful and co-ordinated.

Want to know how to make slipcovers? Check out this video series by Miss Mustard Seed… Amazing DIY instructions!

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Fabric can also be used to recover beat up drawer fronts. Shirr fabric on tension mounted rods to replace cabinet doors. Recover dining chair seats with a trendy fabric to take a dated piece into now.

Fabric Expressions

I look for fabric at yard and garage sales, and not the “on the bolt” kind. You don’t need much yardage to create one of a kind pillow covers, table runners or to edge a pretty throw. Just make sure you choose fabric that fits into your color and pattern scheme for your room, and that can be washed and dried before use. Make sure they spend at least 20 minutes in a hot dryer. Some options for yard sale fabric?

• Dresses and blouses can be a great quality fabric for pillows.

• Sheets can be made into curtains or slipcovers.

• Pretty quilts/coverlets make wall hangings, table covers or window coverings.

Want ideas on what to do with sheets? Try Modern Kiddo’s post on “10 Great Crafty Sheet Ideas“.

Yard Sale Decorating

 

Make these DIY no-sew throw pillows from ‘Style Me Pretty’ with their step by step tutorial and video! Photo by Ruth Eileen.

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Lighting Your Room

Lamp kits available at craft stores make it possible to turn almost anything into a cool and creative lighting piece for your living room decorating. You don’t have to be an electrician to use these kits either! Great yard sale decorating finds that can be converted into lighting?

• Vases or Large Jars

• Stack of Books

• Teapots

• Industrial Metal Items

• Even Old Shoes!

Kristen Duke made this bright pop of color DIY colander light fixture… Check out the after photo!

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Or try this DIY hanging chandelier from ‘The Summery Umbrella’ via ‘Remodelaholic’. This is from a standard yard sale bathroom strip light fixture!

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And don’t forget, almost any accessory can be made new again with a can of spray paint and a Pinterest idea! Need proof? At ‘Sincerely, Sara D‘ you can see exactly how valuable those 25 cent yard sale knick knacks can be!

Before…

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After!!!

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Anyone can shop the yard sales and find great living room decorating ideas for very little money. Just open your eyes to creative possibilities!

Image Credits: Domestic Superhero, Seeking Lavender Lane, Sand and Sisal, Just Jill, Miss Mustard Seed, Modern Kiddo, Style Me Pretty, Kristen Duke, Remodelaholic, Sincerely Sara D

 



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Interior Design Tips For Any Home And Any Budget

Do you want to improve your home’s appearance, but are unsure of how to do so? Does the very idea of choosing colors paralyze you? Have no fear! With the advice contained here, your interior design plans will be a breeze. When designing rooms, everyone should consider the mood. Have a mood or theme in…

Yes, You Can: Make this On-Trend Terrazzo Clock

(Image credit: Amelia Lawrence)

It’s about time to try a new DIY project using a glorious old Italian technique: terrazzo-ing. Is that an official word yet? I think what makes terrazzo so appealing – aside from making great use of remnant materials – is its convertibility and variety. You can customize it numerous ways, from color choices to the scale of the pieces, to the materials you use, which is a dream for creative types. Before I begin, I might add that while this particular clock turned out great, it was not without trial – and errors. So learn from my mistakes, and let’s get ticking.

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Living in a White Box: Creative Headboards

Living-in-a-White-Box-Creative-Headboards unique innovative repurposing alternatives apartment rental home living decorating The Decor GuruMy love of unique headboards started in my childhood. I remember applying lots of stickers to my headboard as a young’un. I also remember my mother not being too fond of this bold move. She should’ve been more upset that it was a hideous look.

As a teenager, I shunned headboards and decorated my bed in other ways. Like taping pages from Tiger Beat and Bop on the wall next to my bed. (I’d still do a “headboard” made of yummy Keanu Reeves photos today… Vanilla Ice, not so much.)

My love of creative headboards still reigns—and why should it stop? Non-traditional headboards are a great way to spice up a boring apartment bedroom. Continue reading for the latest installment of Living in a White Box and for some wonderfully unique headboard alternatives.

Of all the headboards I’ve made, this one is my fave. I made this canopy-inspired “headboard” for my current apartment’s beachy-slash-bohemian bedroom. This was super simple to make and put all those beads in my stash to good use.

DIY-sheer-canopy-inspired-swag,-beaded-garland-and-bamboo-headboard-beachy bohemian bedroom Shrimp Toast accent wall salmonThe Decor Guru

DIY-sheer-canopy-inspired-swag,-beaded-garland-and-bamboo-headboard-beachy bohemian bedroom Shrimp Toast accent wall salmonThe Decor Guru

Kara Rosenlund fell for these salvaged windows and used them as a headboard, first removing the glass. These are so lovely and perfect for adding texture and pattern to a bedroom.

Glassless window headboard Kara RosenlundMacramé has made such a big comeback. What better way to usher it back in our homes than as a headboard? Check out how Mandi at Vintage Revivals created this custom headboard for a room makeover. I love how the copper pipe makes the macramé fresh and modern.

MacrameHeadboardandWallMountedTaskLightsvintagerevivals.com_2Another great use of basic craft supplies is this ribbon headboard that Sandra from Sawdust Girl created. Just nail the frame to your walls and you’ve got a sharp, geometric piece of art in your bedroom!

Ribbon headboard by Sawdust GirlHanging textiles on the wall to simulate a headboard is easy and provides lots of options. One way to do this is to hang a rug on the wall, like this hemp rug from Eco Chic. Psst: you can DIY a rug like this too. Google it.

I’m seriously contemplating making this next one. Technically, there’s a headboard here, but this look would be perfect on its own. Aimee from The Crazy Craft Lady used paper and molding to create a faux wood plank headboard.

Faux wood plank headboard The Crazy Craft Lady

If you can paint the walls in your rental home, you can easily create a “headboard” with color-blocking. Alexandra Angle made a simple yet snazzy headboard by painting a portion of the wall with a happy shade of coral.

Wall decals make great alternatives for a headboard because they’re easy to “install” and easy to remove. This geometric decal from Urban Outfitters is no longer available, but you could surely duplicate this look with some washi tape.

Colleen at Fresh Vintage hung an old school world map above her bed in lieu of a headboard. I’d have loved this as a kid!

What say you—have you tried any headboard alternatives in your home? Or do you prefer the traditional versions?
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VMG206: Brag About It Tuesday Linky Party

Domesblissity: Thriving on Thursdays

Up to Date Interiors: The Creative Circle

My Romantic Home: Show and Tell Friday

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Chic On A Shoestring Decorating: Flaunt It Friday

House of Hipsters: Found and Foraged Linky Party

2 Crochet Hooks: Snickerdoodle Sunday

DIY Show Off: That DIY Party

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Huckleberry Love: Much Ado About Monday

Filed under: Bedroom, Decorating Tips, DIY, Furniture, Living In A White Box, Rental Decorating, Repurposing, Tutorials

How to Win the Battle of the Boring Bookshelves

Boring-Bookshelf-Battle-decorating-tips-bookcase-accessories-decor-styling-The Decor Guru

Me, circa 1995: “Books? Check. Shelves? Check. Done!”

Me, 2015: “Do I want to organize my books by subject? By color? Do I need a lamp? Why do I have so many books? Why do I have so few books? Do I need all my accessories to match? How can I achieve bookshelf perfection?!”

As evidenced by today’s neuroses, I never really learned to properly style a bookshelf. In the past, I only sought function so I thought it was easy. I’d buy those inexpensive, wood laminate, ready-to-assemble bookshelves. You know the kind—really cheap yet totally practical.  Aside from the obvious use, I’d add a few tchotchkes and call it a day.

Total snoozefest.

Today, I’m waging a war against boring bookshelves. After years of having no bookshelves in my living room, I purchased three units from my happy place, IKEA. To arm myself through this battle, I compiled a collection of tips and ideas from other decorators and bloggers.

There’s plenty resources out there that tell you how to style a bookshelf. And many of those are quite lovely—if you don’t have many books. Kelly from View Along the Way has the best tips for styling a bookshelf when you have lots of books but still want to infuse some personality. It’s the best of both worlds.

Did you know there are seven ways you can arrange your books? I didn’t believe it at first, but Karen at The Art of Doing Stuff wasn’t lying! I love how her bookcase has tons of books, yet it’s still aesthetically pleasing.

Maybe you don’t have many books. There’s nothing wrong with that. Bookshelves can still be a wonderful feature in your space because they allow you to showcase your personality with accessories. Check out this fierce bookshelf decorated by Emily Henderson with minimal books but maximum style.

Bookshelf styling Emily Henderson

If you’re feeling ambitious, you could recover your books like Brooke from All Things Thrifty. This look creates a feeling of order and unity to a room, but is far from boring with the variety of pattern.

Recovered books All Things Thrifty

Maybe you’re pretty confident about your bookshelf styling skills, but feel like your shelves are still lacking something. One solution is to change the color, like these peppy yellow bookshelves from Better Home and Gardens.

If bright color isn’t your bag, you can paint the shelves the same color as your walls. This is great if you love the look of built-ins but have freestanding shelves.

Elegant Abode Interior Design faux builtin bookshelves

(source)

Finally, you can transform your bookcases by updating the backing. You can change the color with paper, like Cassie from Hi Sugarplum did…

Paper covered backing bookshelves Hi Sugarplum

…you can add a snappy pattern, like Melissa from The Happier Homemaker did with this cut-out design for her bookshelf

…or you can revamp the bookcase by adding mirrors. This look is doubly effective as it also creates the illusion more space and light in the room.

mirrored bookcase Melissa Haynes Design

(source)

 

Armed with these tips, I think we can finally win this war of drab decor! Stay tuned as I’ll share how I finally overcame my boring bookshelf battle.

Are you pretty savvy with bookshelf styling? Or have you also had trouble getting it just right? Do you decorate your bookshelves with strictly books or a mix of books and decor? What are your favorite types of bookshelves?

Thanks for visiting! Let’s stay connected!

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Filed under: Decorating Tips, Furniture, Living Room

Bathroom Remodeling Trends

The average person visits the bathroom about 6-8 times a day, making it an average of 2,500 times a year. That adds up to about 3 years of your life on the john. If we factor in how much the average person spends in the shower or bath, taking into account here that we live…

Ask it: How to install tile backer board

How to install tile

Hey MyFixitUpLife—I have a question about how to install tile backer board. Can you help? Question: I know, generally, how to install tile but I could use an assist. I’m putting down backer board for a tile floor in our kitchen and want to make sure I apply the thinset … see more

Modernize Old Furniture Using Stencils

Cutting Edge Stencils shares a DIY stenciled dresser makeover using the Rabat Furniture Stencil pattern. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

Learn How To Paint An Old Dresser Using Moroccan Stencils

Good morning, my Cutting Edge Stencils friends!  Rather than toss that old piece of furniture to the curb, we’re going to show you how paint and stencil patterns can rescue it!  Our furniture stencils make DIY furniture makeovers easy and affordable. Here is how one crafty blogger used the Rabat Furniture Stencil to freshen up an old dresser.  Come be inspired…

Cutting Edge Stencils shares a DIY stenciled dresser makeover using the Rabat Furniture Stencil pattern. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

We’d like to welcome back Kammy, the creative blogger and home makeover queen behind Kammy’s Korner.   Kammy had a friend call her and offer her a curbside French Provincial dresser.  It was beat up with a broken drawer. Here is what it looked like:

A French Provincial dresser before its stenciled makeover. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

Yikes! But this roadside cutie was about to become a trash to treasure story. Kammy loves to rescue roadside pieces and give them new life. She picked it up in her truck and brought it home. The first thing she did was lightly sand the dresser and give it a fresh coat of light graypaint.

A painted french provincial dresser before its stenciled makeover. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

It was already looking better with just a simple coat of paint. Unfortunately it had two broken drawers and fixing them would have been a time consuming challenge. Kammy decided to ditch the two broken drawers and create a cubby space.  Rather than leave it a solid color she chose to add a peek-a-boo pattern.  Kammy had previously used the Moroccan craft stencil on her stenciled mantel and felt it was perfect for this project.  We love when our stencils are reused for multiple project! Kammy had the Rabat Craft Stencil in a size small.

The Rabat Craft Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

With her Moroccan pattern in hand, Kammy was ready to start stenciling!  She used blue painter’s tape to adhere the stencil to the wood.  Then she painted the stencil pattern in a darker gray using a dense foam roller. If you are recreating this project at home, be sure to roll off extra paint so it doesn’t bleed under the stencil. The key to stenciling is using very little paint.

Learn how to stencil a Moroccan pattern on a French Provincial dresser using the Rabat Craft Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

Because the dresser was so large, she did need to lift the stencil and reposition to finish her project. Ready to see how it all turned out?  Here is her stenciled provincial dresser with stenciled cubbies.

Learn how to stencil a Moroccan pattern on a French Provincial dresser using the Rabat Craft Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

We simply love the idea of a peek-a-boo pattern on furniture because we feel like it adds extra special charm.

Learn how to stencil a Moroccan pattern on a French Provincial dresser using the Rabat Craft Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

The after pictures shows what a drastic difference that paint and a stencil pattern can make on an old piece of furniture.

Learn how to stencil a Moroccan pattern on a French Provincial dresser using the Rabat Craft Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/rabat-furniture-fabric-stencil.html

Tell us: What do you think of this stenciled dresser makeover with stenciled cubbies? Leave us a comment below!

Haven’t had enough stencil fun?

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Thanks for reading and happy stenciling!

Michelle and the Cutting Edge Stencils Crew