Raphael Stevens

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    Decorating For Winter The Easy Way

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    Now that the holidays are over and I removed and stored all my Christmas decorations until next year, it was time for me to figure out how to give some new energy to my living room and kitchen for the winter months.

    Back in November, I went in search for blue fabric.

    I wanted it to make pillow covers for the sofa that would pick up the blue accents in the area rug in my living room.

    I forgot all about my plan for the fabric over the holidays. Then last week I read about Benjamin Moore’s color of the year and remembered that I bought the fabric.

    I am not one to jump on the bandwagon when the tastemakers of color forecasting tell us each year what colors will dominate design.

    I rarely like any of the color picks, but this year I was happy to find out that a pretty color of blue by Benjamin Moore, called Blue Nova is one of the 2024 colors forecasted.

    Blue in general is a color that I can get behind. My bedroom is blue and white and blue and green is the color scheme in one of the guest rooms. Then there is the hallway that I refer to as the “Hallway of Darkness” where blue is a dominant color.

    In the past I have used blue in my living room and kitchen, but usually only in the summer.

    Changing the color accent in a room is fairly easy when the basic color scheme is neutral. This is one reason, I like to keep the color scheme of living room and kitchen neutral so I can change the look up seasonally or on a whim with whatever color I want so it never gets stale.

    To cozy up the color for winter that runs more on the cool side, I added lots of candles and fur throws and pillows. At night the living room is very cozy, just how I like it.

    Once I got the no-sew pillow covers made and put them in place, I shopped my house and gathered up anything that I could find that was blue. I didn’t have a lot, but just enough to make a difference.

    I had fun placing and moving the items in the rooms until I liked what I saw. I even found one item, a small blue ceramic planter that I have had forever as an exact match to the Benjamin Moore Blue Nova color.

    I mixed in a few brown accents on the open shelves in the kitchen to warm the overall feel of the shelves.

    When at HomeGoods over the holidays I bought this X-Side table as a Christmas gift from me to me. Everything else I used to add new energy into the spaces, I already owned. If it was blue, I used it.

    For the rest of the kitchen, I placed blue and white plates in the plate wall and hung blue dish towels on the towel bar.

    The blue accents were subtle, but an effective way to update the rooms. I didn’t even have to pick up a paint brush to make the changes.

    If you are looking to re-energize a room in your home, consider choosing a favorite color or a trending one and add touches of it around a room to add new energy when a room starts looking stale to your eyes.

    Adding an accent color to a room is also one way to make a change that doesn’t require a long-term color commitment.

    Lastly, if using a favorite color, you may find that you already have decorative items in the color that you can gather and use in new ways in your home. Shopping your house for the items to add a new accent color to a room won’t cost you a thing.

    Decor Resources

    DIY Decorating Projects Shown

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    How to Make an Upholstered Headboard

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    Making your own upholstered headboard is easier – and more affordable than you think. In this post you’ll learn the easy steps to making a classic DIY upholstered headboard for any size bed with minimal tools and materials.

    Not only is the process of making this headboard simple, you’ll also save money and be able to customize the shape of the headboard as well as choose the fabric color and style.

    When it comes to decorating a bedroom and adding a headboard to accent the bed so it becomes the focal point of the room, there are many DIY Headboard Ideas that are quick and simple from Making a Headboard Using Old Doors to adding cushioning and fabric to an Existing Wood Headboard you may already own.

    A few months ago I got a new mattress and upholstered bed frame for one of the guest rooms in my house.

    I wanted to add a matching upholstered headboard to the bed frame since the one that came with the frame I got had massive wings with a tufted look that I didn’t like. I knew I could make some sort of headboard on my own that I would like better.

    I considered making a Simple DIY Fabric Headboard with fabric yardage placed over a curtain rod above the bed or a Reversible Padded Headboard Cover if I could find a queen size headboard at the thrift store to use as the base and even a No Sew Padded Headboard using foam and fabric. All of these would have worked, but none had the modern lines I was looking for.

    So I decided to make my own DIY custom made headboard from scratch in the style I envisioned.

    The hardest part of making the hardboard was trying to find a fabric that would match or coordinate with the fabric on the new bed frame. After looking at dozens of fabrics online and at a few local fabric stores, I ended up finding a very close match at Hobby Lobby.

    How To Make a DIY Upholstered Headboard

    When making an upholstered headboard you can make the wood frame any shape you want and simply hang it on the wall above the bed.

    For a more secure and sturdy headboard, I added 2 legs to my headboard that were attached with screws to the back of the bed frame that holds the box spring and mattress.

    As you consider what you would like your headboard to look like, ask yourself a few questions before beginning the project.

    What size bed to you have? How high should the headboard be to look in proportion with the bed and furniture around it?

    Do you want a plain or tufted headboard? One with nailhead trim or button tufting? Adding tufting makes the project more labor intensive.

    Do you want extra padding? This can be added by first stapling thick upholstery foam over the wood frame.

    It may also help to have a photo of a headboard you like as your inspiration or draw a sketch to help you figure out the best size for your bed and wood you will need to create it.

    supplies needed:

    All the supplies you will need to make an upholstered headboard can be purchased at your local hardware store or home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes. Using an electric staple gun will make the process of attaching the fabric to the frame easier.

    To get the best deals on fabric when making a custom headboard, fabric stores like JoAnn Fabrics and Hobby Lobby have a good selection of upholstery fabric that is often on sale.

    2 x 4’s – cut to size

    Plywood – 1/8″ or 1/4″ thick, cut to size needed

    Upholstery weight fabric

    Batting – enough for 2 – 3 layers

    Saw

    Staple gun and staples (1/4″ and 5/16″)

    Fabric Scissors

    Measuring tape

    Optional if Attaching the Headboard to the Bed Frame:

    2 metal braces with a hole on each end

    Drill and drill bit to pre-drill screw holes

    2″ – 3″ long wood screws

    Time needed: 4 hoursHow To Make a DIY Upholstered Headboard: Step-By-Step Tutorial Instructions Determine Size of Headboard Using a measuring tape, figure out the dimensions of the bed. Measure how wide and high you would like the headboard to be. Cut the Wood Using your width and height measurements, cut the wood – 2 x 4’s and plywood to size.Use wood screws to attach the cut wood pieces as shown. Attach Plywood Using wood screws attach the plywood to the 2 x 4 frame. Cut Cushioning, Batting and Fabric When making a headboard padded, you need to cut the foam, batting and fabric large enough to wrap around to the back of the headboard. To determine how long to cut these so you have the right amount of excess fabric, foam and batting for wrapping the wood frame of the headboard, add the length of the entire headboard, plus the side depth x 2. Do the same calculation for the height of the headboard, including the amount needed if your adding upholstered legs to the headboard.Once You Have the Measurements – Add at least 4 inches for each side or enough extra that will wrap around the wood frame that will be secured on the back of the headboard. Layer the Materials on Top of Each Other Place fabric right side down on work surface or floor. On top of the fabric, place a few layers of batting depending on how padded you would like the headboard.If the fabric you are using has a pattern, make sure you place it on the worktable or floor so that the pattern is straight before cutting and then again when attaching the fabric to the wood frame.Using scissors, trim the fabric and batting to the shape of the headboard (as shown below) making sure to leave enough fabric all around to wrap around the back of the headboard frame. Optional: Cut Fabric on The Diagonal If your headboard has legs that you want to seamlessly upholster, then cut fabric at the corners of the bottom edge of the main headboard on the diagonal. This will make wrapping the frame as a whole without the need of seaming the legs and body of the headboard separately. Attach With Staples Starting on the top of the headboard, gather the fabric and batting and bring it to the back of the headboard. As you do this, check if using a patterned fabric that the pattern is staying straight as you pull the fabric taut.Use a staple gun to attach the fabric and batting to the back of the headboard. Continue pulling the fabric and batting taut to the back of the headboard to ensure there are no wrinkles in the fabric, then staple until you have the top section of the headboard covered and attached. Wrap the Top Corners When wrapping the fabric and batting around the top corners, fold the excess fabric as you would gift wrap when wrapping a box. Carefully cut off excess batting so the fold over at the corners will not be thicker than the rest of the upholstered headboard once it is completely covered. Continue attaching the fabric and batting around the headboard and legs if your headboard design has legs that will be attached to the bed frame. Attach to Upholstered Headboard to Bed Frame If your headboard has no legs, attach it to wall as you would when you hang framed art on the wall.If your headboard has upholstered legs, use the bed frame hardware or wood screws and a flat metal brace mounted on the back of the headboard to attach the headboard to the bed frame.

    Helpful FAQ’s When Making a DIY Headboard

    How Much Does It Cost to Upholster a Headboard? The cost of making your own upholstered fabric headboard will be determined by the size of the bed and how much wood you will need as well as the cost of fabric yardage.The cost of my headboard came to $54. This included the 2 x 4’s, plywood, batting and fabric yardage. How Thick Should an Upholstered Headboard Be? You can construct a headboard any thickness you want. The one I made is 4 inches. How Much Wider Should a Headboard be than the Bed? Ideally when making a headboard it should be the exact width of the bed frame or mattress. Does an Upholstered Headboard Need to Have a Layer of Foam? No, but if you want extra cushioning, you can wrap and attach a layer of foam in a thickness you want on to the headboard before attaching the fabric and batting. Depending on the thickness of the foam, you may need to evenly pleat and fold the batting and fabric around the corner areas of the headboard to get a nice finished look. Why Do You Need Batting When Upholstering a Headboard? A few layers of soft batting bought at a fabric store will soften the edges of the wood frame making it look professionally done.

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    DIY Home Decor: 43 Stylish Projects For 2023

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    Decorating your home is no small feat, especially if you’re doing it on a budget. I know this for a fact, as I have completed all of these DIY home decor projects and ideas to update my home and saved a lot of money along the way.

    Now is the time to get over the idea that dropping big bucks on designer catalog furnishings, decor and accessories is the only way to decorate your home. You have another option – turning to DIY projects that will have you inexpensively sprucing up your home in style this year.

    When you use your own two hands, you can paint, install a floor, or build a coffee table or headboard to fit your needs while saving money at the same time.

    This list of 43 DIY decor ideas can be referred to all through the year when you need easy budget-friendly, DIY home decorating inspiration. Not only are these home decor ideas inexpensive, all of them can be easily customized to coordinate with your home’s style and decor.

    There are a variety of DIY home decor items here from wall decor to furniture painting and more. All the supplies used to make and decorate with can be found at thrift and craft stores, hardware stores and home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowes.

    If your ready to start a DIY home decor project to create the surroundings you always wanted, start with one of the DIY home decor ideas listed below. I’d love for you to pick your favorite DIY decorating ideas and let me know what it is.

    42 DIY Home Decor Projects

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    Pottery Barn Table Lamp Knock-Off
    If you are looking for DIY table lamp ideas I have shared a few and recently made over another table lamp from the thrift store. I like upcycling them as they are an inexpensive way to update home decor at a fraction of the cost of buying a trendy new table lamp from a decorating

    Designer Inspired Two Tier End Table Makeover
    Refresh a wood end table, a two tier end table or accent table by painting it and then adding a wrapping technique to create a two-tone woven appearance. It will create a high-end Serena & Lily designer look at an affordable price.

    How to Paint a Rusted Faux Finish on a Brass Chandelier
    How to makeover a brass chandelier using craft store acrylic paint and supplies. Of all the projects I have been working on in my dining room, this brass chandelier makeover excites me the most.

    Ottoman Slipcover with Removable Pom Pom Trim
    Step-by-step tutorial showing how to make a pom pom trimmed ottoman slipcover. The fun and flirty pom pom trim is attached with velcro so it can be removed before washing the slipcover.

    Quick and Easy No Sew Box Style Window Valance
    How to make a no sew box style window valance using foam and fabric. No power tools needed. The valance is quick and easy to make.

    One Yard, No Sew Window Treatment –3 Ways
    How to use only one yard of decorator fabric to make a no sew window treatment or shades that can be styled three different ways. 

    Ceiling Fan Painting – Make it Fun!
    This colorful fan is perfect for a nursery or kids room. It looks very cool when the fan whirls around, so do the colors. The stripes can be added easily with acrylic craft paint and painter’s tape.

    Painted Glass Vase for Springtime Decorating
    A painted glass vase is nothing new, but when you turn things upside down, you can transform a plain glass vase into something that resembles a kiln-fired ceramic vase. Its artwork for a table top.

    How to Paint Upholstered Furniture
    Writing a blog about affordable home decor has never been more fun for me than writing this post. I learned how to paint upholstery and had to share the chair I painted with you. It was a complete success!

    How To Easily Create a Grid Gallery Wall
    How to easily measure and hang a grid gallery wall of photos or art on a wall. No complicated calculations or laser level needed to create an eye catching display on any blank wall in your home.

    Vertical Plank Wall Paneling
    How to cover brick or a plain wall with vertical shiplap or planking. I thought about just painting the wall, but wanted something that had more of a cottage feel to it. Installing budget-friendly DIY vertical shiplap or vertical plank wall paneling was the answer.

    Large No Sew Accent Pillow To Make
    How to make a removable cover for throw pillows that doesn’t require a zipper. It can be made using fabric yardage, a dishtowel or any type of fabric.

    DIY Map Wallpaper in My Laundry Room
    Affordable and creative options to using wallpaper in a room on a small budget. This tutorial for map wallpaper is a simple project with beautiful effects.

    How to Install Nucore Flooring
    How to install scratch resistant Nucore luxury vinyl plank flooring in any room with tips on how to easily cut vinyl plank flooring to fit perfectly around doorways.

    Painting Kitchen Countertops To Look Like Carrara Marble
    Painting kitchen countertops to look like Carrara marble can be done successfully. The painted results can last for years. This post will give you the knowledge and the confidence on how to paint kitchen countertops step-by-step.

    How to Make a Floor to Ceiling Plate Rack on a Wall
    A floor to ceiling plate rack wall that looks built-in doubles as a place for decorative storage as well as a way to enhance an awkward wall that is hard to decorate. Making a wall plate rack for your home is easy to customize to fit a wall of any size.

    Fitness Room: Before & After
    Want to create a workout space in your house to create a home gym or fitness room?  In this post, I am sharing how I transformed an unused bedroom into a bright and spacious fitness room or home gym.

    DIY: Carpet to Hardwood Staircase Makeover
    How to remove carpet from a staircase and refinish the wood with stain and paint. Re-doing my staircase is something I wanted to do the minute I moved into my house – that was 17 years ago. I have always yearned for hardwood steps and white painted risers. Now I have them and you can too.

    Driftwood Sculpture Table Top Stand DIY
    If you like a modern look for your decor, learn how to make your own version of modern art using a piece of reclaimed wood. Capture the organic beauty of nature and mount it to make a driftwood sculpture table top stand or petrified wood slab or slice.

    How To Paint a Rug on a Hardwood Floor
    How to paint a colorful rug on a floor looks harder then it really is. With a little planning and following these instructions, you can transform a plain floor to one that has plenty of color to make a big impact.

    How to Paint a Concrete Fireplace Hearth to Look Like Stone
    If the fireplace hearth in your home is made of grey concrete that doesn’t coordinate with the mantel or room’s color scheme, did you know you can paint it? You can paint anything when you know the right way to do it.

    DIY Clothespin Picture Frame
    If you like to do DIY crafts for your home, then you will enjoy making this textured photo frame to decorate your home using ordinary wood clothespins.

    DIY Wooden Candle Holders: The Easiest Project Ever
    Turn up the cozy ambiance in your home this season by adding the soft glow of candlelight to your spaces with this easy to make set of DIY wooden candle holders. While you make one or a set for yourself, make a few more as they make a great gift to give family and friends.

    Wood Tabletop Faux Painted to Look Like Zinc
    How to faux paint any surface to look like zinc. Have you ever tried painting a faux finish on a surface like a table top or a piece of furniture? Have you thought of trying, but thought it too hard to accomplish? I want to change that mindset.

    How to Repurpose an Urn into a Side Table
    How to instantly transform a classic garden urn into a side table. This black urn sits in a corner of my living room. I have had it forever. It is one of those classic items that always is in style.

    How To Make A Curtain Rod and Finials with a Tennis Ball
    Here is a budget friendly window treatment that is easy to complete. Learn one way to make a curtain rod using PVC pipe along with two different ways to make decorative finials for the curtain rod.

    How to Paint Furniture With Chalk Paint: The Step By Step Guide
    Looking to find out what the best way to paint furniture is?  It is chalk paint for so many reasons. Did you know that when you learn how to paint with chalk paint, you can create many different painted finishes from sleek, clean and modern to antiqued or a distressed look.

    How to Make Lids For Storage Baskets
    How to make lids for square or rectangular baskets using fabric, decorative paper and cardboard. Once these pretty lids are placed on a basket, you can stack baskets for better storage and organization.

    Simple DIY Headboard for the Guest Room
    DIY custom headboard ideas on a budget – no wood or power tools needed. Learn how to make this DIY headboard for any size bed in your home.

    How to Make a No Sew Chair Cushion Cover
    Update and transform worn out seating or a porch swing by making a colorful no sew cushion for it that can be made in minutes.

    Furniture Makeover: Spray Painting Wood Chairs
    What is the best spray paint to paint wood kitchen chairs and how many cans are needed for complete coverage for one chair?

    How to Repurpose a Sideboard into a Sink Vanity
    How to take sideboard or dresser and repurpose it into a bathroom sink vanity that looks like a vanity out of the Pottery Barn catalog.

    How to Make a Fake Transom Above a Door
    Step-by-step photo tutorial showing how to make a fake transom above a door in your home.

    Dining Room Chair Makeover – Part 2
    Learn how to give new life to stained, dark wood dining room chairs to white or any color. This chair makeover post is the second of two. Recently I showed you how I changed the color of the rush seats on my set of wood ladder back chairs. 

    Gallery Glass Front Door Sidelights DIY
    How to create the look of beveled glass on any window in your home for around $20. It is an easy, inexpensive and a fun project that adds a decorative element that can last a very long time.

    How to Make a Fake Topiary
    How to make a faux topiary that looks like a real one that will last for many years, even if you don’t have a green thumb.

    High Gloss Rolling Doors for My Studioffice
    How to transform thrift store bi-fold doors into rolling doors that will visually separate a room where a swing out door won’t work.

    Making a Fixer Upper Oversized Farmhouse Wall Clock
    Are a fan of the oversized wall clock that is actually a clock face in the Fixer Upper home of Chip and Joanna Gaines? I am. I love it and came up with a way to make my own large farmhouse wall clock to resemble it.

    Create Faux Wallpaper Using Paint and a Stencil
    How to use an all-over wall stencil to create the look of wallpaper.  I call it faux wallpaper. Wallpaper can be pretty pricey even for a relatively small space, an all-over stencil costs a lot less.

    How to Install Armstrong WoodHaven Planks to Cover a Popcorn Ceiling
    Learn how to cover a popcorn ceiling using classic Armstrong® WoodHaven Ceiling Planks with Easy Up® tracks and clips. No need to scrape the ceiling first! The pre-finished planks can be installed right over popcorn ceilings.

    Faux Woodgrain Finish on My Front Doors
    A front door makeover showing how to paint a faux woodgrain finish or faux bois effect on entry doors using paint and liquid glazing medium.

    Outdoor Tuna Can Lantern DIY
    How to make outdoor lanterns to attractively light up your outdoor patio or living space using a tuna can and a few basic items.

    Wood Slat Wall DIY for a Home’s Exterior
    If you’re looking to spruce up the exterior of your home or even the interior, have you considered making a wood slat wall to create a point of interest where there is none.

    More DIY Decorating Ideas

    If you would like to see more decorating project ideas, don’t miss browsing through my DIY Decorating category where you will find dozens of more doable and stylish ideas.

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    Why Did My New Lamp Need a Small Riser?

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    I bought a new lamp for my bedroom. I have been looking to find just the right one for quite a while.

    The lamp in the above photo is the one I have been using for the last few years. It is OK, but a teeny bit too large for the small chest of drawers I use as my night stand.

    I am pretty picky about the lamps I use in my home and usually make over thrift store found table lamps like the white plaster lamp in my living room, the Serena & Lily lamp knockoff I made for the blue guest room and my favorite Pottery Barn lamp knock-off in my foyer to get the look I want for less.

    When I started to refresh the pretty guest room recently, I decided the lamp on my night stand would be much better suited for the night table in this guest room, so I moved it there.

    Doing this made my search for a new smaller lamp for my night table intensify. Most of the lamps I find at HomeGoods, Walmart, Target and online are too large, small, more rustic or modern than I want.

    In my head I knew what I wanted, but wasn’t finding affordable options. Sure if I wanted to spend $300, I would have many options.

    I opted to just embrace the SLOW method of decorating. When you learn to trust and embrace the process of the hunt, rather than pick up the first thing that catches your eye.

    There is another lamp in the room, so not having a lamp the past two months hasn’t been a problem.

    Last week during a stroll through HomeGoods I found the cutest lamp with shades of blue abalone fragments in the shape of fish. Living on a lake with a full view of it from my bed, the lamp was just too cute not to at least bring it home to see how it looked.

    I really liked it except for one thing. I wanted it to have more height so that the base would be taller than the clock and plant. I like to see varied heights on a table display.

    So what did I do? I went to my scrap wood stash to find a piece to use to make a riser.

    I didn’t have any round pieces that would work as a riser, so I went online to see if I could find a round decorative riser to buy that was the same diameter as the base of my lamp.

    What is a Lamp Riser?

    A lamp riser can be made of wood, metal, ceramic, or glass. Using one adds a little height to a table lamp, making them look in better proportion to the decorative items around it while also giving the lamp more presence in a room.

    You can also use risers in the same way for home decor accents such as flower vases, plants, candles and more.

    I found these footed wooden risers for decor on Amazon. The 5-inch diameter size (largest in photo) was just what I was looking for, so no need to have to DIY one myself, although that is not too hard to do and I will share more ideas further down in this post.

    3-Piece Wooden Risers for Decor

    These footed risers come in two different diameter 3-piece sets: 3″, 4″, and 5″ is the set I bought. There is also a set with larger sizes: 8″, 6″, and 4″. All the sizes come in 4 different colors.

    The white painted round wood riser adds 1.7″ to the height of the lamp, just enough to vary the lamp base height with the other 2 items on the night table to make me happy.

    I also like the distressed white finish on the riser. It is going to go very nicely with something else I am working on for the room that I will share with you as soon as I complete it.

    This is the view of my night stand I see when I am in bed. I like that when viewing the lamp from different parts of the room, the items look in proportion with each other.

    Using decorative risers in decorating is one of the easiest ways to give an accent piece more prominence in minutes.

    On a side note, I paid $29.99 for the lamp at HomeGoods. I looked at HomeGoods online to see if I could link to it, but it is not on their site. I did however find it on Houzz for $300 for a pair of the lamps. One more reason to love and shop HomeGoods.

    Natural Wood Round Riser

    On my kitchen counter I use a tree trunk slice to lift the lamp and a few small items off the counter. Using a larger riser in this way acts like a tray keeping the items grouped together.

    Decorative Risers Using Books

    When decorating your home and in need of a riser to make a display look better or a lamp higher, books come in very handy as the instant way to add height to an accent on a table or a vignette.

    DIY – Tin Can Vase

    Use cookbooks on your kitchen counter to raise a vase of flowers.

    If you don’t have any books, head to the thrift store for a stack in colors that will coordinate with your room.

    This gooseneck lamp got the height it needed by placing 3 books under it.

    If you can’t find books in colors you like, use craft or spray paint to change the colors.

    For larger items – use two stacks of books to raise the object.

    As you can see I use books quite a lot when decorating to give my decorative accents more interest and prominence.

    Look around your home to see if adding a little height to a decorative item will make it look better. If you don’t have a ready-made riser or books, a pedestal cake plate works nicely as do boxes wrapped in wallpaper or gift wrap. I am sure you can think of a few more items to use, even a stack of plates will work and looks nice.

    If you do a search online for “wood risers”, “decorative risers” or “risers for decor” you will find many in various heights, styles, colors and shapes to fit any size item from a votive candle to a large vase or sculpture.

    Decorative Risers

    More Easy Decorating Project Ideas

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    12 Decorative Ways to Brighten a Dark Room

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    Easy and foolproof designer tricks that will add light to dark rooms in a house through decorative details. From adding the right type of lighting to layering in accents and accessories that will reflect light. Here are 12 room brightening tips to help you maximize the light in every room in your home.
    I receive a lot of emails and comments asking me all sorts of decorating and DIY questions. One that has popped up more than a few times in the past few weeks is this question… How can I brighten a dark room?

    I think the reason the question has been coming up more recently is because we are entering the time of year when it’s dark when we wake up and dark before dinner. It can feel depressing. When my husband worked in an office building, he called this time of year… like living in a tunnel with no light at either end of his work day.

    Designer Tips on How to Brighten a Dark Room
    I am a lover of light, airy and bright rooms so I feel I can answer the question with my tried and true, easy and affordable room brightening tips and tricks.
    If a room in your home is feeling gloomy, these changes will immediately brighten it.

    A few of my room brightening methods may require a bit of DIY effort. This was the case with my living room shown above that had a dark brick wall that made the room look dark and drab. Most however, can be done in an afternoon with no remodeling or contractor needed.

    1. Using the Right Shade of White Paint
    First and foremost, do you have features in your home that you cannot change? Perhaps a room with north facing exposure or a room where the windows or doors are obstructed by a covered porch that blocks natural light from entering the room? In rooms like these you need to experiment with different shades of paint to lighten dark rooms in a home.

    True white paint may not be the answer, but a warm white like Sherwin Williams-Creamy will work as it will warm up the cool grey that northern light casts onto a room’s walls.  If you add white with a blue tone, you are only going to add to the grey-ness of the light.
    You may be thinking you just want brighter light in a room. Just remember that light, especially artificial light, or the direction a room faces can add either warm (more yellow) or bright (more blue) light to the room.
    Finding the right balance in-between these two is what I strive for – a true white light throughout my house. In my house the color of the white walls that works is Sherwin Williams – Pure White.
    Both warm and cool light can brighten up any room; picking the right one is more about what makes you feel good in the room. I prefer pure white, but I have a friend who has a bright, open home, but she uses more warm whites in paint and the light bulbs she uses in her home.
    With lamp shades, she uses ecru-colored shades, where I prefer a pure white lamp shade. Her rooms never look dark, but they are not white white. So making a room appear brighter is not just about using pure white for everything.

    2. Add More Lights – Literally
    This is the easiest way to brighten up a dark room. Add more lamps. When I worked in interior design doing decor consults, I often found that homeowners didn’t really understand the power of lighting, the amount of lamps needed and the cast of color a lightbulb emits. They are almost an afterthought in their decorating scheme.
    Instead, make room light a decorating priority and give it as much thought as you give when choosing a new piece of furniture and how it will fit into the room as a whole.

    To easily brighten up a room, have at least 3 sources of light. This can be a mix of floor lamps, table lamps, overhead lighting fixtures, pendants, accent lights, or a wall sconce in every room. They should be placed around the room in a triangular pattern You can read more about how to do this in Decorative Lighting Tips. 
    This approach will spread the light around the room in a pleasing way. You can have more than 3 if you have a large room, or if there is a dark corner, an extra small lamp will help.

    If you like warm light, use incandescent soft white 100 watt light bulbs, if you can find them.  If you prefer the look of a cooler brighter room, use white LED’s. 
    Do some lightbulb testing trial and error. Lightbulbs have become overly expensive in the past few years, so save the receipts while you do some experimenting.
    Buy a few different types of bulbs and wattages and try them out in your lamps and fixtures to see how the light affects the room and how you feel in it. Some bulbs will make the room appear too yellow or blue. Experiment and edit.
    Trust me, it is worth the time and effort to find what lightbulbs and wattage works for your room. Return the the lightbulbs that you didn’t like and then buy a few more that you do like so you always have the type you like on hand.

    3. Use White Lamp Shades
    When adding more lamps to the room, make sure that the shades are not totally opaque and that when turned on, the color of light that shines through the shades is the same. You don’t want one to have a yellow cast and another to be bright white.

    I have a lamp in my living room with a shade that looks awful at night. It looks white during the day, but when turned on at night it looks orange. It is because the inside is more ecru and over the years it has aged and yellowed more.

    4. Don’t Block the Windows
    If you have window treatments that block a part of a window, remove them or hang them higher on the wall so natural sunlight can enter the room.

    If the window draperies block the sides of the window when open, remove or learn tricks on how to hang drapes and curtains on the rods so that the stack-back of the drape on each side is not covering the window at all. Doing this will not only add more light into the room, but will make the room appear larger.
    Another way to brighten dark rooms is to use light-colored curtains or blinds. If you have blinds on your windows, pull them all the way up during the day.

    If you have any landscaping outside your home that blocks a portion or all of a window, trim it back so that the full amount of light can enter.

    5. Paint the Ceiling White
    Regardless of whether you like warm or cool light, paint your ceilings white.  I use Sherwin Williams Pure White in a flat finish. I once made the mistake of painting a ceiling using high gloss thinking it would brighten the room more, which it did, but it looked horrible since it showed every imperfection in the ceiling.

    If your ceiling is very high and perfect then paint it high gloss, but a flat white finish on a ceiling will provide light reflecting qualities to a room, too.

    6. Add Glossy Wainscoting to Walls
    If you have read my blog for a while, then you know about the space in my home I dubbed “the hallway of darkness”.  This hallway was a dark space all day long.
    I tried a few room lightening methods like painting the walls white and the trim a glossy white. I even painted the door a bright fun color, but the hallway still looked drab.

    It wasn’t until I decided that what the space needed was more glossy or shiny surfaces.  When I added bead board to the walls and painted them in semi-gloss Sherwin Williams – Pure White and went with a deep dark Navy with no yellow undertones for the top portion of the walls, the hallway came to life.
    I even added a fake transom made with mirror tiles above the door to reflect the light from the single ceiling light.
    So the moral of this room brightening tip is that you can still use dark colors, you just need to pair them with crisp pure white glossy paint and a white ceiling,

    7. Place Mirrors Near Light Sources

    Placing mirrors and shiny items near light sources allow you to reflect light into a room. Shiny items could be a shiny floor finish or decorative objects.
    When I made over this thrift store table, I had mirrored glass cut at my local glass store to fit into the top.  When placed by a window or door, the natural light coming in bounces off the mirror reflection and into the room.

    Where should you place a mirror on a wall when you want to brighten a dark room?
    To maximize reflected light to brighten up a room, hang large a wall mirror on a wall in a room on the opposite wall from a window or door. This doubles the reflection of light coming from the door or window.
    Even if that is not possible, hang a mirror on an adjacent wall so that it can still catch a reflection and will double the amount of light entering the room.

    It is truly an amazing light trick. I have a mirror hanging in every room, except my kitchen and studioffice to help double the light in each.

    I have sliding glass doors in every room on the lake side of my house. I place large mirrors on the walls opposite these doors.  When out on the lake, you can see the mirrors through the sliding glass doors, but the mirrors look like windows that appear to be on the street side of the house.
    This makes it feel as though you can see through the rooms to the front of the house, making my house feel more open and expansive.

    8. Paint Doors and Trim in Glossy White
    Shiny white doors and trim always make a room look brighter. In my previous house, I used either Sherwin Williams – Alabaster or Valspar – Bistro White on all the trim in my house. It looked like pure white in the natural light that came into that house.

    When I used the colors on the trim in the lake house, the colors took on a warmer cast that I didn’t like. I had to try out a few paint colors until I found that Sherwin Williams-Pure White looked like the truest white in the natural light.
    It is for this reason that I hesitate to give out advice on using certain colors of paint. Every home has different light.
    No two are the same so the only way to find the right color is to do some experimenting and paint sampling of paint shades until you find one that rings true white for the trim in a room.
    Have your chosen color made up in gloss or semi-gloss and paint all your trim and doors with it.

    9. Paint Dark Furniture in a Fun Color
    If your room is still feeling dark because of a large piece of dark furniture after making a few room brightening suggestions, consider painting the piece in a light or fun color. Large pieces of furniture that have a dark finish can make a room appear darker.
    In the case of the dining room in my previous house, there was a dark corner with a dark stained corner cabinet in the room.

    Placing a lamp in the corner would have looked odd, so instead I painted the piece a bright fun color making it pop out of the darkness.

    Chandeliers with glass globes and crystals brighten a room.
    If you have never painted furniture before, it is not hard. You just have to schedule time to get it done. If you need some guidance, I have many how to paint furniture tutorials that will help you to achieve painting success on a piece of furniture.

    10. Wash the Windows
    No one wants the chore of having to clean, but it is amazing what squeaky clean windows can do for a room. Grab a bottle of window cleaner and lint free paper towels and get to work. You will be rewarded with a much lighter feeling room.
    To wash unreachable outdoor windows with ease, learn how to tackle the chore in this post, Inside & Out Window Cleaning Tips

    11. Aim Light at Walls and Ceilings
    If you have ceiling lights where the bulbs can be directed, then take advantage of this. Instead of having the light shining down into the room, change the direction of a few of the fixtures to light the walls. Try to keep a balance of light throughout the room, though.
    When choosing lamp shades, don’t use shades with top covers that don’t allow the light to hit the ceiling.

    12. Remove Clutter
    Lastly is a trick that will not only brighten a room but make it look larger at the same time. Remove clutter.  Clutter makes a room feel visually heavy and can lessen all your room brightening efforts. Tidy up and reap the room brightening rewards of having less stuff in the room.

    I hope this answers the question, how to brighten a dark room. As you just read, learning how to brighten a dark room is not limited to just adding mirrors and white paint to the walls.
    More Home Decorating Tips & Tricks

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    How To Create a Layered Mirror Gallery Wall

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    If you enjoy decorating your home, I am sure you have seen gallery walls in interior decorating magazines, on Instagram and Pinterest. Where a collection of framed art, photos or mirrors in varying sizes are grouped on a wall in a variety of ways to create decorative interest to a room or space.
    In this DIY home decor post, I have created a twist on a classic gallery wall by layering framed mirrors, each in a different frame style. It creates even more of a dramatic effect on a wall.
    Creating a layered gallery wall in your home is inexpensive and easy – a wall decor project that you can get done with a little planning and a free afternoon.
    It is created using wood blocks that you can easily make with scrap wood. When these blocks are attached to a wall it makes the framed mirrors or framed art or photos come out from the wall.
    Table of Contents
    DIY Layered Mirror Gallery Wall

    Layered mirror gallery wall done with a thrifted mirror collection
    I didn’t use specially made gallery wall mirrors, instead I used inexpensive framed mirrors on the wall space above the dresser in my guest room that sits across from a large window.
    The mirror reflections bring in bright and natural light into the room as well as let my guests see themselves when needed.
    A gallery wall using unique mirrors can be created on a full wall or even at eye level above a sofa or console table. Creating one in a hallway, along a staircase or in an entryway will add a touch of visual interest on a blank wall.

    After creating the layered mirror gallery wall, I gave the brown dresser under it a new look.  You can find out how I did this in How to Update a Hand-Me-Down Dresser.
    How to Choose Mirrors for a Gallery Wall
    I had a few mirror frames sitting down in my basement and I got the smaller ones at the thrift store.  I even found a few at the dollar stores that added to my group of decorative mirrors.
    Mix a thick golden frame with smaller modern black and white frames or consider using vintage mirrors to create an unexpected statement. Or use all antique mirrors or similar mirrors in one color to fit the color scheme or interior design of the room to create your mirror wall.
    How To Make A Layered Framed Mirror Gallery Wall
    Time needed: 4 hours. This gallery wall of mirrors is not hard to create. Follow these steps to create your own mirror gallery wall in your home.supplies needed: Gather a Collection of Mirrors Figure out how much space on the wall you want to cover.When creating layered mirror gallery walls, gather a curated collection of enough mirrors to cover this space. Lay them on a floor or work surface to figure out the placement for the grouping. You may need to add or remove one or two frames to get the best fit.  How to Arrange a Mirror Gallery Wall Trace each mirror on newspaper or brown kraft paper to make a template for each frame. Number each tracing and frame so you know what frame goes with each tracing,. Cut each tracing out.Use painter’s tape to attach the tracings to the wall in a layout you like where some of the smaller frames will be layered on top of the larger frames. How to Hang The Frames in Layers To create the layered effect for the framed mirrors, you need to create two layers.  The first layer of frames are mounted the usual way right on the wall. The next layer of frames will be mounted on wood blocks.  To make these blocks, I used some scrap wood and cut it into blocks, each about 2″ x 2″.NOTE: The blocks need to be as thick as your frames so when you place a frame on a block it lays above or level with the wall mounted frames. Paint the Sides of Blocks To keep the mirror galley wall looking nice and neat, paint the sides of each block the same color as the wall.  Since the wall I created my gallery on is next to the entrance door to the room, I wanted the blocks to blend in as you might see them from a side view. Attach Blocks to Wall Drill a hole in the center of each block so you can screw the blocks onto the wall.The block becomes the wall for the frames that are going to be raised away from the wall to create the layered effect.  I added a nail and hung a framed mirror on it. Place the Largest Mirrors First Start by hanging the largest mirrors on the wall first and then work to each side. Next place the second layer of mirrors on the blocks. Tips for Hanging the Mirrors on the Blocks When it comes to hanging overlapping frames to create the gallery wall, the trick lies with the placing of the blocks:  The frames on blocks have to be centered on a block as this is where the hangers are on the back of each frame.Line the top of the block up with the top center of the frame where the hanger is.Note that some hangers on the back of frames are right on top, others are lower. Keep this in mind when placing the blocks on the wall. You should not see the block when the frame is hanging. Create Two Layers or More I only created two layers for my mirror gallery wall, but you could add a 3rd level by using thicker blocks that will hold frames on top of ones already on thinner blocks.

    Closer view of the layer effect of the mirrors.
    More Mirror Hanging Tips:
    In case you need some help hanging heavy mirrors or frames on your walls, here are the easiest ways I have found to hang them.

    Variation for a Layered Gallery Wall

    If you don’t have mirrors, you can also create a layered gallery wall of empty frames for an eclectic look. Learn how to do this:

    MORE GALLERY WALL IDEAS:

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    Why You Should Rearrange Your Living Room Furniture

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    Do you remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned in one of my Style Scouting posts that I felt a decorating marathon coming on?
    Many years ago, I gave the all consuming need to make a lot of decor changes in a short amount of time the title of a “decorating marathon“.

    This latest decorating marathon began when I started decorating my living room for spring, even with the fireplace wall taken apart and looking pretty bad, I still wanted to freshen and lighten up the room.
    I was eager to bring a new energy into the room after 2 years of keeping the comfy cozy factor of the room optimal while we were staying at home more.

    Moving into the warmer months of the year, I still want to keep the room comfy, in my “white & woodsy” style, but in a more open and airy way.
    So I removed all the accessories and then wanted to rearrange the furniture. My living room is small, so there are not many furniture arranging options, but I figured I had nothing to lose, so I asked Ed if he could help me move the larger pieces. He told me he had to take a business call first.
    But… when in decorating marathon mode, I was too excited to see if what I was envisioning would work and was able to move the furniture on my own.
    When Ed came back into the living room after finishing his call and ready to help me, he was surprised by the changes in the room simply made by rearranging the furniture.
    He said “Wow – I like it.” He never gives opinions on what I do, so I know when he says something about the projects I do, he really likes what I have done.

    Now that the room has a new furniture arrangement, I am starting the room’s makeover with the deconstructed fireplace. I have my paint clothes on and am ready to start working on getting it back into style.
    Over the next few weeks, I will share each project in the room as I complete them. So if you enjoy seeing “use what you have decorating” and the changes that can be made using them – stay tuned.
    But beware – after rearranging furniture in a room, know that it can lead to new project overload. Lots of time and effort needed, but exciting and worth it to live in a home you love.
    You May Also Like:

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    How to Paint Metal Furniture & Fixtures

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    Learn the techniques for preparing, priming, and painting metal to get a smooth lasting finish. I am showing how I painted my wrought iron kitchen table base to a glossy white, along with how to paint other metal items you have in your home. Knowing the right paint to use and the metal painting process, you can paint any type of metal to change the color or to simply freshen the look.
    Wrought Iron Metal Table Base Before Painting

    The number one question I receive about painting metal is – How do you get paint to stick to metal? The answer – sanding and a good bonding primer – once these are done on the metal surface, then applying the paint in a few light coats will ensure a permanent finish.
    Is it Better to Spray or Brush Paint Metal?
    Spray painting is the fastest way to paint metal and will provide a smooth lasting finish if you follow the manufacturer’s directions on the can’s label. It is my preferred way, but it is not the only way to successfully paint metal.
    I normally would have used spray paint to paint this metal table base, but the weather was damp and humid and I needed a work area with a well ventilated area out of direct sunlight to do that. Instead I decided to paint the table base inside with a brush so the AC would help the paint dry properly.
    Spray Painting Metal Furniture

    If you decide to use spray paint, use a metal primer on the metal first or a “primer & paint in one formula” of spray paint.
    For spray painted inspiration for metal items, check out these posts to learn how to paint metal using spray paint:

    How to Paint Metal With Brush-On Paint
    The key to getting a very smooth brush-on paint finish on metal surfaces that are rod like or rounded like the base of my table is to use a high quality small, flat paint brush.
    After Painting: Black Metal Table Base Painted White
    Using a small brush will better able you to apply the paint in thin coats and avoid paint drips from happening.
    If your metal surface area is flat and larger, you can use a foam paint roller to apply the primer and paint instead of a brush.

    A paint brush with long flexible bristles like this one work well on wrought iron items. I bought this paintbrush in the fine art section at the craft store.
    supplies needed:
    Bonding primer – KILZ AdhesionLatex paint in semi-gloss – Sherwin Williams ProClassic in Pure White100 and 220 fine-grit sandpaper or self-etching primersPaintbrushDetergent, bucket and hot waterSafety googles and glovesOptional: Wire brush or rust remover will be need if metal is rusted or shows signs of corrosion. If the piece has been previously painted – use the wire brush to remove any loose or peeling paint.
    Time needed: 23 hours. How to Paint Metal Furniture or Fixtures Prepare the Surface Sand the metal surface with 60 –100 grit sandpaper. A quick, but thorough going over to rough up the surface is all that is needed. I prefer using sandpaper, but you can also use a self etching primer following the manufacturers directions. Clean Surface Clean the surface well with a rag dipped in hot sudsy water. Make sure to remove sanding dust, dirt, grease and any old paint with a wire brush or paint remover and let dry.Rinse off soap residue with a damp cloth. Let clean surface dry.If the Surface is Rusty – you will need to use steel wool or a rust remover. I find that Brillo or SOS pads work very well to remove rust from metal without having to use caustic chemical products. Prime Surface Brush on one light coat of bonding primer. Let dry. Lightly Sand When the bonding primer coat is fully dry, go over the surface with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth any ridges that may have occurred in the primer as it dried. Add Another Coat of Bonding Primer Brush on one more light coat of primer; let dry. Brush On Paint For full coverage, you will need at least 2 light coats of paint. Brush on 1 coat of paint. Let the first coat dry, before applying a second light coat of paint. Let dry. Optional: Seal Paint If you used a semi-gloss or gloss paint you don’t really need a sealant. If you used a flatter sheen of paint, use 1-2 light coats of non-yellowing water-based polyurethane over the painted surface to add protection. Let Paint and Sealer Cure It may take a few weeks for the paint to cure, so be gentle with your painted metal item for the first weeks of use.

    I painted the metal table base over 7 years ago and it still looks good, even after a move to a new home. Right before I painted the metal table base, I stripped the wood top to lighten it. Then recently, I made an entire new top for the metal base to give the table top a new look.
    More How to Paint Metal Instruction Posts
    If you are thinking about painting a metal object in your home – you may find more metal painting tips, technique and effects that I have used successfully in these posts:

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