Give existing accessories a new look to spruce up your living space — from fabric to paint to paper, there are countless ways to freshen up your home décor without breaking the bank.
Start by looking at what you have and deciding what new look you’re going for. Do you want eclectic? Perfectly matched? Color-coordinated? Define your look, then decide which items are your best candidates for a makeover.
Simple fabric fixes
Fabrics are hot right now, and offer an attractive way to reinvent your possessions. Fortunately, fabric is easy to work with, too — and in most cases you don’t even need a sewing machine!
Lampshades are one area where fabrics are taking center stage, and just like the latest designers, you can borrow ideas from the fashion runway. This year, ruffles, ruches, ribbons, and pleats are making their way onto lampshades, and you can stay on top of the trend by creating your own.
Roll the shade across your chosen piece of fabric, marking the top and bottom, and then cut the fabric. It should be a perfect fit, and you can use a hot glue gun to attach it to your existing shade. Don’t forget decorative trims — fabric and craft stores are great places to find the perfect items to give your new shade a well-accessorized look.
Fun finishes
Some other ways to dress up your drab décor include:
Decoupage. After applying a couple of coats of metallic paint, coat with glaze and then cover the top with an attractive piece of wallpaper. Coat with two or three layers of decoupage glue, spray it with a sealant, and you have a brand new table or bookcase!
Stencils. Redesigning furniture is quick and painless with stencils and some paint. One of the advantages of stenciling is that you can create a scene on your furniture that fits the motif of the room. And you don’t need to be an artist to create a piece of art! Stencils can be used for both brush and spray painting, but keep in mind that spray paints give you less control and it can be difficult to get the desired results.
Faux finishes. Turn a wooden frame into a gold metallic frame with paint, or paint a faux-denim finish on your bedroom furniture to give it the look of a comfortable pair of jeans. Your local home improvement store is often a great place to take classes on creating these finishes like a pro.
Does this feel daunting? Determine if you need outside help.
New Look to Old Accessories
Give existing accessories a new look to spruce up your living space — from fabric to paint to paper, there are countless ways to freshen up your home décor without breaking the bank.
Start by looking at what you have and deciding what new look you’re going for. Do you want eclectic? Perfectly matched? Color-coordinated? Define your look, then decide which items are your best candidates for a makeover.
Simple fabric fixes
Fabrics are hot right now, and offer an attractive way to reinvent your possessions. Fortunately, fabric is easy to work with, too — and in most cases you don’t even need a sewing machine!
Lampshades are one area where fabrics are taking center stage, and just like the latest designers, you can borrow ideas from the fashion runway. This year, ruffles, ruches, ribbons, and pleats are making their way onto lampshades, and you can stay on top of the trend by creating your own.
Roll the shade across your chosen piece of fabric, marking the top and bottom, and then cut the fabric. It should be a perfect fit, and you can use a hot glue gun to attach it to your existing shade. Don’t forget decorative trims — fabric and craft stores are great places to find the perfect items to give your new shade a well-accessorized look.
Fun finishes
Some other ways to dress up your drab décor include:
Does this feel daunting? Determine if you need outside help.