Do-It-Yourself Home Decorating Glamour
April 7, 2011
J. F. Chen / 1st Dibs
Irwin Weiner ASID - Expressing your creativity with interior design - well, isn't that what home decorating should be all about? So many homeowners are trained not to do anything unless they first see it in a shelter magazine or a home improvement show - or on Design2Share. <wink> I'm here to tell you to cut loose, be yourself, and let your wild home decorating side show.
ONE: Look into the life and work of artist-designer Tony Duquette for inspiration on using do-it-yourself bravura to add Old Hollywood glamour and exotic touches to your interiors. Look at the beautiful chandelier he designed (one of many specialty lighting items he produced) - see top photo, and click here for the 1st Dibs listing from dealer J. F. Chen.
TWO: For last summer's Hampton Designer Show House, I designed and made my room's centerpiece lighting. It was fun and liberating to take a Home Depot chandelier ($80) and some craft paper from Michael's (about $15) and come up with something creative and unusual. Read my DIY Chandelier Project. Takeaway learning: Every room of your house should have an interesting focal point or two, some real theatrical show-stopping piece - and YOU can make it!
THREE: Take the advice of Westport, CT interior designer Katy Cleare of Catherine Cleare Interiors, and let loose with your inner Tony Duquette, glam-it-up, do-it-yourself decorating impulses! We shot this video of Katy showing us her fabulous homemade creations using seashells and found items (and shades of Martha Stewart, another DIY home diva we love to emulate). Note how her handmade treasures range from decor items and accessories to tabletop. Way to go, Katy.
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Featured Project: DIY Painted Headboard
Now is the perfect time to think about freshening up your interior space. With a splash of color here and a new piece of furniture there, it's easy to redecorate. Here's a quick, budget-conscious DIY design idea to help get you started.
Paint Your Own Headboard
Chances are if you if you purchased your bed frame as part of a bedroom set, the headboard is already included. If you don't want to put forth the extra cash, especially after paying for a pricey mattress, no problem! Painted headboards are a great way to add a pop of color to your bedroom.
Step 1: Measure the width of the head of your bed and mark it with blue painter's tape from floor to ceiling. Now, choose your color based on your desired color scheme. You obviously don't want it to be the same shade as your walls, but it should complement that color.
Step 2: Once you have your color, paint the wall, staying within the blue painters tape. Once the paint dries, if you choose to do so, you can detail with paint or with some removable wall decals from a company like Blik. For as little as $40, Blik makes easily removable wall decals in fun shapes like bookshelves, chandeliers, birds, etc. If this sounds like too much work, don't worry and leave your wall a solid color.
Step 3: Simply position your bed up against the painted wall, prop up some decorative Euro pillows in coordinating colors and patterns, and you have yourself a headboard. You might want to take this opportunity to invest in a new comforter or duvet in fun, light, spring colors. You'd be surprised at what a little bit of paint and some new bedding can do for your space!
Contemporary vanities and more at Decor Planet for your bathroom needs.
