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It’s All in the Details – Five DIY Tips to Make Any Makeover a Success

by on Apr 22, 2011

When we started our master bedroom makeover, we thought replacing our overhead lighting would be our biggest challenge. But then it all turned out to be quite simple, so we had ample to time to tackle other, more labor-intensive projects such as cutting, painting, installing, caulking and repainting all new baseboard and window trim. Phew, now that took some serious time. I love having a husband who is handy with power tools!

created at: 04/12/2011

For our baseboards we selected 5-inch wide flat-front trim for a modern touch and extra drama. Or french bulldog, Chloe, really wanted to know what all the hammering was about!  

created at: 04/12/2011

While my huband cut and sanded, I got to try my hand at some fun DIY projects. These are not usually my forte, but I borrowed inspiration frommy friend, the uber-stylish and talented Kristen Grove of Simply Grove fame. You can see her original design here.

I, like I suspect a lot of other women do, constantly paw through drawers, boxes and bags trying to dig up my latest “it” necklace. It drives my huband nuts!  So I thought why not better organize my jewelry and decorate our room all at the same time. And it was as simple as taking an empty frame and a few pushpins to turn this:

created at: 04/13/2011

Into this!

created at: 04/13/2011

I was thrilled with how it turned out and I cannot wait to share the final results with you.

We definitely learned a lot through our makeover experience, but most importantly it gave us confidence that we can turn our house into a home we both love.

If we had to narrow it down, our home design and lighting design tips would have to be:

  • Have a plan. Take time to create an inspiration board and do your research before you start.
  • Recruit helpers; preferably the two-legged rather than four-legged kind! It’s amazing what friends will do for pizza and beer.
  • Be resourceful. Repurose items you already have laying around your house.
  • Small changes make a big difference. A fresh coat of paint cost less than $100, and can make more impact than thousands of dollars of new furniture. 
  • See your room in a new light. Installing new bulbs can save you money and make all your other improvement look even better. Try a 12 watt Aline dimmable LED bulb from SYLVANIA; they use 80% less electricty than regular bulbs and last for almost three years (if you ran them continuously!).
  • Leave space to continue to improve. After your makeover is done, you’ll still find art and accessories to add texture and a finished look. Make sure there’s space for new additions.

Be sure to check out all the SYLVANIA blogger room makeovers  on the SYLVANIA  Facebook page. If you “like” the page, you can enter the daily sweeps to win your own SYLVANIA lighting products and Lowe’s gift cards so you can perform you own room makeover!

This post was sponosored by SYLVANIA.
Curbly received monetary compensation, but all opinions are our own

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