My dog Charlie loves to sit outside just as much as I do, but he's a bit too big to lay comfortably on a chair or ottoman. So, I thought it would be fun to make an outdoor daybed for him. Click through to find out how to make an upholstered bed for your own furry friend!
I love a good before-and-after, don't you? There's so much satisfaction in taking a sad roadside find or cheap garage sale rescue and totally transforming it into something new and different. We've rounded up some of our favorite furniture makeovers to inspire you to either start that upholstery project, get out the spray paint, or hit up this weekend's local yard sale scene. From dressers to dining tables, here are some of our favorite furniture makeovers.
Now that summer is in full swing, I can't stop thinking about plants... and my indoor garden needs a bit of sprucing up. So I did a little Pinterest searching, and came up with tons of great DIY ideas to add some character to my succulents, cacti and other greenery. And today I'm sharing them with you. Find out how to dress up your plant babies with these ten gorgeous DIY planter ideas.
When you live in a small house or apartment, one big challenge you face is finding furniture to fit the scale of your space. I live in a compact two-bedroom with my fiancée, and furnishing it has been a slow process. Rather than being frustrated by how cramped it can feel, we try to cooperate with the space we have. That means rejecting the idea of a full-sized couch and opting for a larger loveseat. It means storing vertically and hanging what we can. It also means accepting the fact that our eating and living areas needs to share space. We weren't having any luck finding a small dining table, so I decided to build one instead.
In this post, you'll learn how to make a birdhouse two different ways ...
A few years ago, I made a mid-century inspired birdhouse, modeled after the iconic Case Study houses. I created it using my growing collection of woodworking tools, like a table saw and router table, cutting complex angles, and using joints like rabbets and dadoes. It was fun and challenging, and nearly three years outside later, it's still very strong and holding up wonderfully.
But, of course I know that most folks, even other creative-types and DIYsters, don't have access to all these tools. So, I wondered: is it possible to come up with a modern, handmade birdhouse that doesn't required bunches of power tools and knowledge of complex joinery?
Of course it is. So, here's a DIY mod birdhouse that requires only an electric drill and a few toolbox staples. The whole thing can be made for around $10 in materials, and in just an hour or two.
Here's a great tutorial on making your own modern house numbers, inspired by the clean lines of mid-century design.
The architect Richard Neutra is one of modernism's iconic artists. He's best known for his integration of both his residential and commercial buildings into their landscape, and for his care in matching his work with the lifestyles of his clients, rather than imposing his own...
If you've ever been inspired by try a whole new color scheme or style in your Christmas decor, you may have been deterred by the fact that you'd have to replace all of the ornaments you already have. But with a little paint, you can give your ornaments a makeover, saving cash and keeping your old decor out of the landfill. Here's how I gave some glass bulbs a new look, three different ways.
Ever since I built a mantel a couple of years ago, I'm always on the hunt for fun new ways to decorate it. So as I browsed the paper aisle at my local craft store, it hit me - a folded paper tree forest! I'm a big fan of non-traditional colors, so I bought a few of my favorites and got to work. Click through to check out the full tutorial.
I love a Christmas tree basket so much more than a tree skirt. They finish off a tree with clean lines. My house is full of large storage baskets for toys, blankets, and all sorts of stuff. I really wanted to make one of them work, without cutting the basket, so I could use it as a basket again. The only problem was my artificial Christmas tree base was too big. Here is my simple, no-skills needed, DIY solution to make one of my wicker storage baskets work as a Christmas tree basket stand.
I live for a great trash-to-treasure project. And this piece literally came from the trash.
I wasn't intentionally dumpster-diving, but one of our neighbors in the building was moving out, and leaving a lot behind. While taking out the garbage, I found a plastic case that had a lovely blue typewriter inside (immediately snatched that up), a squeaky office chair (I left that behind), and this ratty old seat. I went back and forth about whether or not I wanted to take the time to spruce it up. Usually furniture refinishing projects take way longer than I expect them to, but the opposite was actually true this time around. My little dumpster chair only took a half a day to refinish, and thanks to the right tools and attachments, I was able to paint and reupholster this little treasure with no trouble.
With the recent resurgence of bohemian style, it's no wonder that rattan is also making a comeback. But you might be surprised to discover that rattan can look surprisingly chic. Context is everything, and mixing a rattan piece or two in with more modern elements can make all the difference between a room that looks like the revenge of the '70s, and one that looks like you just added in a bit of natural rattan flair. If you're ready to give it a chance, check out our modern rattan finds (no papasan chairs included).
If you're ready to re-create the above look for yourself, you can buy a similar rattan daybed here.
This rattan headboard is a lower-commitment, less expensive way to get a similar look.
Target also has a rattan headboard at a similar price point, as well as that cute little ottoman at the end of the bed. It would make a great plant stand or side table.
If the natural blond color of rattan doesn't work with your decor, the black paint color on this Ikea armchair might be a better fit.
I have to admit that I've had a soft spot for rattan hanging chairs ever since I sat in my grandparents' when I was a child. A few years ago I hunted one down at vintage shops, but if you're not having any luck with that approach, this one is a great alternative.
This simple rattan arm chair looks perfect for that awkward corner in your bedroom or living room.
Although similar to the one above, this rattan chair is a bit more expensive, but has a more intricate look. It also comes in a black version.
Surprisingly considering the source, this stylish rattan chair beats both of the above on price.
This curvy take on a rattan chair almost reads more like sleek black metal.
The woven pattern makes this rattan side table an especially cool piece.
This black rattan globe light easily fits in with sleek and modern decor.
This rattan basket would be perfect for holding cozy winter blankets and throws.
If you don't have a spot for a hanging globe light, this rattan floor lamp is another cool option.
Not ready to go for a full rattan chair? Add just a touch with this loopy rattan mirror.
These rattan baskets are another stylish way to incorporate the trend in a small dose.
Ready to add some rattan to your decor?
I have a pillow problem. Anywhere I go, I instantly want to look at the pillow section and leave with an armful of pillows I DON'T NEED. It never stops me, and one of my favorite places to pillow shop is Urban Outfitters, which is where I stumbled upon these velvet flower pillows with tassels. Since velvet is my go-to fabric this time of year, I fell in love with the pillows and decided to practice self-restraint, telling myself I could make one and save a few bucks. Since I already had the supplies at home, my Urban Outfitters knock-off velvet flower pillow was FREE compared to the $50 version!
This just in... the '70s are back! Okay not exactly, but we've noticed a major trend lately - modern '70s style textiles are popping up all over the blogosphere. Think vintage but with a modern twist. We're loving this boho chic look, so today we're sharing ten of our favorite picks.
Our house lacks closet space, especially by the entryway... so I've always wanted a fun coat rack that I could put near the door. But if you've ever tried to buy a coat rack online, you know that it's hard to find a cool one - and the ones that are attractive usually have crazy price tags to match. So of course I decided to make one! Keep reading to check out the instructions for this super easy wood and cement coat rack.
A few years ago, I discovered a product for reviving worn wood that I can't believe I didn't know about sooner. It took the recommendations of two different vintage furniture dealers before I tried it, but now it's an essential step for fixing up any tired-looking wood furniture that comes into my house. Best of all, this miracle-in-a-can is affordable, easy to find, and easy to use. Read on if you're ready to give it a try (or let my "after" photos of the chair above convince you if you think it sounds too good to be true!).