If your apartment or house has big empty walls, and you're bored with them, here's a cheap trick:
You may or may not have spare pieces of fabric laying around with prints that you would love to display; or you might consider taking a trip to Walmart for $1 fabric. Either way, use a picture frame or an old square board to stretch the fabric around and staple. Collect colors that compliment each other; you can go traditional, bold or whatever as long as the colors mesh well. You could consider forming groups of three or four frames together to spice up a blank space.
Another thing you can do to spice up a boring frame is simply stretch fabric around the outside of it and keep a picture in the middle. It's simply a way to change things up if you're bored with one look!
Keep decorating!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Get Creative
Sometimes when students find an apartment that suits them, that is to say a distance not too far from the school, space becomes an area that's compromised. If the place you end up with is small, don't worry. I too ended up with a small space, so I had to think outside the box.
Here's a Tip:
T.V. trays oftentimes make the best coffee tables or desks, especially since they're small and take up less space. Unfortunately, t.v. trays are not exactly in vogue, and when you find one, it may be covered with a horrible print, circa 1978. Go to Hobby Lobby, or somewhere similar and look for contact paper. It's very cheap and easy to use, but it can change the entire look of a piece of furniture. There should be a large selection of prints, including neutrals or bright colors. Pick a tone you have in your apartment and don't be afraid of patterns. As long as the colors are in the same family, you'll be fine! The trays are great also, because you don't have to have them out all the time. They can be folded up and tucked away.
Always keep your eye out for treasures. Even if they look junky, everything can usually be fixed up. Don't look at objects for what they are, but what they can be!
(The same contact paper can be used in the bottoms of your drawers and cupboards if need be)
Here's a Tip:
T.V. trays oftentimes make the best coffee tables or desks, especially since they're small and take up less space. Unfortunately, t.v. trays are not exactly in vogue, and when you find one, it may be covered with a horrible print, circa 1978. Go to Hobby Lobby, or somewhere similar and look for contact paper. It's very cheap and easy to use, but it can change the entire look of a piece of furniture. There should be a large selection of prints, including neutrals or bright colors. Pick a tone you have in your apartment and don't be afraid of patterns. As long as the colors are in the same family, you'll be fine! The trays are great also, because you don't have to have them out all the time. They can be folded up and tucked away.
Always keep your eye out for treasures. Even if they look junky, everything can usually be fixed up. Don't look at objects for what they are, but what they can be!
(The same contact paper can be used in the bottoms of your drawers and cupboards if need be)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
6 Easy Steps to Recovering a Chair
A great way to change things up is simply to consider new fabrics. If you're kitchen table has had the same chair covers since you bought it, go pick out some fabric and read do the following:
1. Remove the screws connecting the chair bottom to the frame and set aside.
2. Turn chair bottom upside down on the back side of fabric.
3. Cut the fabric 3" away from the chair bottom. Depending on thickness, you might want to cut more.
4. Attach one side of fabric to the bottom of the chair pad using a staple gun. Continue doing this starting with the side directly opposite the one you began.
5. After all sides are attached to the bottom with a staple, cut the excess in the middle.
6. Flip the newly covered chair bottom and re-attach to the chair with the screws. Keep in mind that sometimes longer or new screws may be needed.
1. Remove the screws connecting the chair bottom to the frame and set aside.
2. Turn chair bottom upside down on the back side of fabric.
3. Cut the fabric 3" away from the chair bottom. Depending on thickness, you might want to cut more.
4. Attach one side of fabric to the bottom of the chair pad using a staple gun. Continue doing this starting with the side directly opposite the one you began.
5. After all sides are attached to the bottom with a staple, cut the excess in the middle.
6. Flip the newly covered chair bottom and re-attach to the chair with the screws. Keep in mind that sometimes longer or new screws may be needed.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
A Quick Tip
Paint is a necessary evil when it comes to time and price. Students are often too busy to think about painting, much less spend money on it. However, it's difficult to imagine life with no color.
Try this: Spray paint! It's much cheaper than real paint, and it goes a long way. It can be used on fan blades, frames, entertainment centers, curtain hangers, towel bars, light fixtures and loads more.
To brighten up a room or for a more uniformed color scheme, buy a can and liven things up!
Try this: Spray paint! It's much cheaper than real paint, and it goes a long way. It can be used on fan blades, frames, entertainment centers, curtain hangers, towel bars, light fixtures and loads more.
To brighten up a room or for a more uniformed color scheme, buy a can and liven things up!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
College Means Some Compromise
Going to college is an important milestone in many people's lives. I say this because I am a student and the first person in my immediate family who will earn a Bachelor's degree. (Yay!)
When I first came to school, however, I was a little concerned about how I was going to afford to decorate. I had seen countless of my friends' drab living spaces and dreaded the idea of settling for a look simply because it's all I can afford. I decided that while I might have to compromise in price and shopping locations, I would simply not compromise in living unhappily for four years in a shabby apartment.
It's important to like where you live during your college experience for several reasons, but here are three:
1) School gets stressful: Papers are due, midterms creep up on you, bills stare you in the face and, Surpise! ...It's suddenly December, which means it's now time to think about buying presents. Your home should function as a resting place away from these stresses as well as ease your work load by engaging your aesthetic preferences that inherently calm you. In other words, your home is your escape.
2) Who doesn't like to impress? I've had so many compliments on my cozy apartment, (even though it's small) because I took time to make it look the way I wanted.
3) Beauty is something to be created. I've discovered that since humans have the need to create, everyone should try to make something beautiful with which to surround themselves. What better place to begin than in your own home?
All that to say, I got smart and found ways to use what I had and find what I didn't have for cheap. Here are some new rules to live by as you tackle your college living space:
First, one of the most important things I've learned so far is that you don't have to buy everything all at once. Working toward a nicer living space is a process and should be appreciated as such.
A second thing is to get thrifty. Some people cringe at the thought of shopping at a Goodwill, a yard sale, or some similar place, however, many of these places are loaded with "gems" that might just need some slight modifications. For example, you find a couch that is in great condition but is covered in a horrid, 80's-maroon shade of fabric. No worries! It can be covered and everything can be washed. I stumbled upon an entire dish set that looks both trendy and brand new.
A third rule is not to be afraid to ask for help. I am fortunate enough to have a mother who sews. If you have friends who enjoy crafts or relatives who like to help, call them up!
Lastly, watch design shows. Many of my ideas come from watching programs like HGTV or looking through magazines. Taking ideas from professionals doesn't detract from your abilities, because your personality will inevitably peek through in some way.
I'll be sharing some of the easy make-over jobs that I've picked up along the way. Just remember, don't get overwhelmed. Decorating is fun!
When I first came to school, however, I was a little concerned about how I was going to afford to decorate. I had seen countless of my friends' drab living spaces and dreaded the idea of settling for a look simply because it's all I can afford. I decided that while I might have to compromise in price and shopping locations, I would simply not compromise in living unhappily for four years in a shabby apartment.
It's important to like where you live during your college experience for several reasons, but here are three:
1) School gets stressful: Papers are due, midterms creep up on you, bills stare you in the face and, Surpise! ...It's suddenly December, which means it's now time to think about buying presents. Your home should function as a resting place away from these stresses as well as ease your work load by engaging your aesthetic preferences that inherently calm you. In other words, your home is your escape.
2) Who doesn't like to impress? I've had so many compliments on my cozy apartment, (even though it's small) because I took time to make it look the way I wanted.
3) Beauty is something to be created. I've discovered that since humans have the need to create, everyone should try to make something beautiful with which to surround themselves. What better place to begin than in your own home?
All that to say, I got smart and found ways to use what I had and find what I didn't have for cheap. Here are some new rules to live by as you tackle your college living space:
First, one of the most important things I've learned so far is that you don't have to buy everything all at once. Working toward a nicer living space is a process and should be appreciated as such.
A second thing is to get thrifty. Some people cringe at the thought of shopping at a Goodwill, a yard sale, or some similar place, however, many of these places are loaded with "gems" that might just need some slight modifications. For example, you find a couch that is in great condition but is covered in a horrid, 80's-maroon shade of fabric. No worries! It can be covered and everything can be washed. I stumbled upon an entire dish set that looks both trendy and brand new.
A third rule is not to be afraid to ask for help. I am fortunate enough to have a mother who sews. If you have friends who enjoy crafts or relatives who like to help, call them up!
Lastly, watch design shows. Many of my ideas come from watching programs like HGTV or looking through magazines. Taking ideas from professionals doesn't detract from your abilities, because your personality will inevitably peek through in some way.
I'll be sharing some of the easy make-over jobs that I've picked up along the way. Just remember, don't get overwhelmed. Decorating is fun!
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