Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category

Update Older Furniture on a Shoestring Budget

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Don’t throw your outdated or shabby-looking furniture to the curb just yet.  You can update the look of furniture and find a new use for it in your home with very minimal cost and a little bit of elbow grease.  The following budget-friendly suggestions can help:

1. Painting or Staining

You can really refresh the look of an old piece of furniture with a new coat of paint that can take your piece from dirty, peeling and scratched to shiny, smooth and attractive.  Be certain to thoroughly clean and sand the surface of the piece before you paint it so that the new paint will last longer and look great.  Staining your wood furniture is also a good way to alter its appearance.  Use a polyurethane sealer for a glossy finish and to protect the piece’s surface.  You can paint a number of pieces using the same shade in order to unite furniture that is mismatched.  When refinishing, painting, or staining an old piece, think about ways that you can repurpose the newly updated item, such as turning an old buffet table into a TV console.

2. Adding a Slipcover

Alter the color and lines of a sofa or armchair dramatically using a slipcover.  A white slipcover that is draped rather loosely over a couch or sofa can give it the casual look that is currently in fashion.  Search discount stores for inexpensive slipcovers, or use a sheet that is large enough to cover the entire piece.  You can complete the look by adding some inexpensive decorative pillows.  Also consider sewing the slipcover or pillows yourself to save even more.

3. Changing the Hardware

If the hardware, drawer pulls and knobs on your chest of drawers, side table, or cabinets are rusty or tarnished with age or have simply gone out of style, you can easily change out the hardware to refresh the look of the piece.  Vary the styles of the knobs on a piece to create an interesting look, or paint the knobs using your own designs.

4. Decorating with Trim

Updating the look of old furniture using decorative trim is another option.  Ribbon, buttons, and fabric scraps can be useful to create a new look.  Simply hot glue or staple the item along the edges of a coffee table or the cabinet doors of an old hutch or other item. Hammered upholstery tacks can give an outdated piece great new definition and attitude.

5. Adding Tile

And finally, you can use old or leftover tile to create a mosaic tile accent on a table or the doors of an old armoire.  This adds a burst of new color and brightens up the piece.  Arrange the pieces of tile, seal them in place, or grout and seal them if you prefer for an updated look that is eye-catching and inexpensive.

Remember also that you can update or repurpose decorative items as well as furniture to make them more in step with your current style. For example, rusted outdoor metal wall art can be painted and used as an unusual focal point above your mantel; a metal fish wall hanging in dated colors, can be spray painted in modern hues and used as an accent in a sun porch.

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Locating Vintage Hardware for Antique Furniture

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

If you love antique furniture, there will inevitably come a time when you will need to locate vintage hardware for a piece that needs a repair or replacement. You may purchase a piece of furniture with part of the hardware broken or missing or someone may have replaced vintage hardware with modern and you want to restore the furniture back to it’s former glory. Even though finding vintage hardware is not as easy as finding a replacement at the local hardware store, there are some sources for finding an authentic replacement.

Flea Market Finds

A flea market is a great place to find just about anything related to vintage furniture and antiques. Dealers come across antique pieces of furniture that are damaged beyond repair but the hardware may be in excellent condition; many antique dealers stockpile serviceable hardware and some even specialize in door knobs, hinges, locks, pulls and all varieties of vintage hardware. Even if a dealer doesn’t have exactly what you are looking for, he may be able to direct you to someone who does.

Furniture Restoration Sources

Similarly, a nearby furniture restoration shop may have the vintage hardware you are looking for or they may be able to refer you to another source. Some furniture restoration experts have the ability to fashion a replica of the original piece which can be a great option if the piece that you are looking for is rare and hard to find. While you would probably prefer to replace broken hardware with a genuine vintage part, a talented restoration specialist can often replicate the original so closely that it is nearly impossible to tell the real thing from the reproduction. An excellent quality piece of reproduction hardware can be a very viable solution.

Expand your Options with an Online Search

Just as you can find contemporary metal tree wall art or wine home decor online, the internet can expand your horizons should local searches leave you empty handed. This gives you access to vendors and restoration shops throughout and country and all over the world. If you know the history of your vintage furniture, this can be helpful because if your piece of furniture came from England or France, for instance, you can find dealers in those countries who may have the original hardware. An internet search can also give you a better chance of finding the authentic hardware for a valuable antique whose integrity might be compromised if a replacement part is used. Most restoration and antique dealers that you contact online will be happy to share their knowledge and sources with you and may well be able to direct you to a source for the needed hardware.

Your Local Hardware Store

If all else fails, your local hardware or home improvement store is an excellent source for hardware that can maintain the function of a piece of vintage furniture. This is not a good solution for priceless antiques, but if you have a piece of furniture that you just love and want to use, modern hardware stores offer many options in styling, size and finish, with some selections having a vintage inspired look that may work well for your treasured hutch or dresser.

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Stylish Shelving Ideas for the Family Room

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

Family rooms have a great need for storage: From DVDs, books, CDs, remote controls and game controllers, as well as framed photographs and decorative accents, shelves offer storage for all this and more. What’s more, shelving takes advantage of otherwise unused vertical wall space, providing a treasure trove of storage and decorative space in a small footprint.

Shelving comes in a vast array of styles, colors and finishes, or your can build your own shelving and finish it as you wish.

Wall Shelf Style Options

Home decor stores, websites and catalogs; home improvement stores and discount stores carry a wide variety of wall shelving in many different styles and finishes. Wall shelves are both decorative and practical. Free floating wall shelves in glossy black are the perfect accompaniment to a contemporary decor while classic oak shelves in a warm stained finish work in country or traditional decors. Wall shelves also blend nicely with other wall accents, such as vine and grapes wall decor or wall art trees.

You can also build your own wall shelves from wood or buy unfinished shelving and finish it in any color or stain. If your walls are wallpapered, you can wrap the shelves in the same or coordinating paper for a designer look, or paint them in a solid color that matches one of the colors in the wall paper.

Measure the available wall space before shopping for shelving. You may stack a series of shelves one over the other, horizontally or randomly on a wall.

Free Standing Shelves

Free standing shelves are a great option if you have enough floor space to accommodate them. You can incorporate free standing shelves in a family room in several ways.

  • In a small space, ladder style shelves take up very little floor space and offer a stylish way to display collectibles and books, and baskets that can hide small necessities.
  • Floor-to-ceiling bookcases offer a ton of storage space and can provide vertical structure to a room. Use floor-to-ceiling bookcases on either side of a fireplace, for example, to create the illusion of built-in shelving.
  • Short bookcases can be used to create a corner library or to partition a large family room. Bookcases set back to back offer storage on both sides and can partition a large family room into different zones. Short bookcases are also terrific behind a sofa or loveseat that is set in the center of the room. Below a window, they offer storage on shelves and place to display live plants on top.
  • Arrange free standing shelving units in the corner of a family room. This allows for lots of storage without taking up a lot of space.

Design Approaches

Bookcases and shelving units look most attractive when an eclectic arrangement of items is used: Mix practical items with decorative ones and display everything in an attractive way. For example, books can be arranged both horizontally and vertically; mix in a few pieces of pottery or art or framed photos to make the display interesting.

Corral magazines in vertical magazine holders. If you don’t want to spend a lot on designer versions, purchase inexpensive plastic holders and wrap them in fabric, contact paper or wallpaper remnants. You can also wrap inexpensive plastic boxes to make them coordinate perfectly with your room. Choose open or lidded versions of baskets and bins depending on what you have to store: Lidded versions work well for things that you want to keep out of sight and don’t need to access frequently, while open baskets work well for things like remote controls that you use everyday.

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Turning a Storage Shed into a Teen Retreat

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Photo credit to shedking.

Children seem to grow up overnight and before you know it, that cute little freckle-face boy or girl is in their teens and yearning for some independence. Teens need a fun place to relax and hangout with their friends, listen to music, play games and maybe even do homework or read. You may have a basement or unused room that can be turned into a teen retreat, but if you have no space to spare in the house or if you would like to keep your teen and friends nearby but not directly underfoot, a storage shed could provide a convenient getaway for them.

Storage Shed Convenience & Comfort

A storage shed in the backyard gives teens a little place of their own with some privacy but keeps them close enough for you to keep an eye on what is going on. Most storage sheds are made of metal or wood and are not wired with electricity so they would be frigidly cold in winter and way too hot in summer. Run a heavy gauge extension cord to the shed to run a space heater, window air conditioner or fan and lights. Since these appliances won’t be on all the time, they won’t add much expense to your utility bill, but if you are concerned about the extra cost, your teen can do chores to offset the cost: A small price to pay for independence!

Snacks, Games and Fun

Your teen will have lots of ideas about what games he or she would like to have in the shed. If you set up electricity, a small TV and gaming console can be set up; or you can opt for electric-free options like darts, billiards or ping pong. If your teen enjoys basketball, you can set up a portable hoop right next to the shed if there is a concrete slab available.

Teens are also notoriously hungry all the time and sealed bags of chips, pretzels, cookies and crackers are popular choices. Individual serving bags in plastic bins with snap down lids are a good way to go so that bugs and other pests are not attracted to the shed. Keep a lidded trash can outside the door so that trash with food residue is not left in the shed. Drinks can be kept in a cooler and ice added whenever it’s needed. Give your teen the responsibility of keeping the shed orderly and clean: They can bag up trash, drain melted ice from the cooler and generally keep the shed neat and tidy to prove that they have earned the freedom and independence you are offering.

Hip Teen Decor

While you might prefer contemporary tropical wall decorations or metal outdoor wall art, teens don’t have high expectations for décor, so make it affordable and fun with bean bag chairs, brightly painted hand-me-down furniture, inexpensive posters and retro wall art. Your teen will have lots of ideas about how to decorate and you should give them the freedom to express themselves while offering to help. Enjoy shopping together at resale shops and garage sales to find storage, seating and decorative items that can be painted or refurbished to their liking.

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Plans for a Home Made Platform Bed

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Photo credit to ritwikdey.

If you have always liked the look of a platform bed, you may be happy to know  that it is one of the easier home projects to complete. You can update the look of a bedroom by creating a platform bed, and you can do it on a pretty tight budget. You will find that you can make the bed for under $100, and then just add the mattress and you are in business. The great thing about a platform bed is that you do not need a box spring, so that helps to keep the cost down without sacrificing any comfort.

Platform Bed Advantages

Platform beds are especially good for anyone who loves a firm bed. They offer excellent support, because they are not relying on a box spring. Instead the sheet of plywood or particle board that serves as the base doubles as the box spring. If you are planning to paint the bed to blend in with your decor, you can use particle board and recycled lumber to help keep your costs down even further. Generally the style of platform beds puts them closer to the ground, so they are a perfect addition to a child’s bedroom. You can find patterns for building a platform bed in many different places including the library, bookstore, internet and home improvement store.

The Basic Bed

Regardless of the style of bed that you decide to build, a basic platform bed is constructed with essentially the same material. You will need lumber in 1 x 4’ and 1 x 12 sizes  along with a one inch sheet of plywood or particle board, which will make up the actual bed platform. For a twin bed you will need a 4 x 8 sheet of board for a twin size bed, and for a full, queen or king size bed you will need two pieces of board cut to fit the dimensions of your mattress. Then you will use metal straps to connect the two pieces to ensure that they form a stable base.

Consider It a Box

As you follow the plans that you have selected, realize that you are essentially building a large box for the base of the bed. You will use four 1 x 12 boards to complete the sides of the box then create an internal framework using additional 1×12’s. Space two board evenly lengthwise inside the frame and then support by staggering  shorter 1×12’s installed in the opposite direction.

Attaching the Platform

To assemble the bed, place the particle board platform upside down on the floor. Then place the frame, also upside down, on top of the particle board base. Use four L-brackets to attach the frame to the base placing two on either side of the bed. Now turn the bed right side up and you can use 1 x 4s screwed to the bedsides to form a border around the edge of the bed. This edging helps to keep the mattress securely in place. Then finish the bed with stain or paint depending on the look that you want, and add the mattress.

Making your own platform bed is simple and worth doing because it leaves more money to spend on luxurious bedding, accessories and wall decor, such as an elegant decorative wall grille or contemporary painting to go above the bed.

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