Want to break away from boring, and often expensive, home furniture? Why not use some DIY projects to revive and refresh the items you already have! It can be a great way to save money and be creative. Here’s how to get started:
1. Inspect your furniture. Take a look at your home’s furnishings and determine which items could use a pick-me-up. Look for any loose joints, fading finishes, and tired upholstery.
2. Armed with a list of furniture facelifts, determine which projects you can take on yourself and which might require the assistance of a professional. For more complex tasks, such as upholstering a sofa, you may want professional help.
3. Set aside some time for the projects. It’s best to block off some uninterrupted time to ensure that you stay focused and finish your project before the next weekend.
4. Gather or buy the tools and supplies you’ll need. As you’re putting together a plan of attack for your furniture projects, jot down a list of tools and supplies you’ll need such as paint, furniture wax, sandpaper, fabric, and upholstery tools.
5. Consider your inaction plan. Before proceeding, consider the worst case scenarios. What plan do you have in place if a project doesn’t turn out the way you had planned it?
6. Develop a plan of attack. Consider which furniture project you’ll tackle first and how you will tackle. As you develop your plan, remember not to overextend yourself.
7. Begin tackling the projects. Start with the furniture project you’re most excited about, and work on it until you are done. This could mean hours of hard work spent sanding and waxing, or it could mean hours spent upholstering a piece with new and exciting fabric.
Next, substitute existing items with fresh and modern pieces. Look in thrift stores, flea markets, and second-hand stores to find interesting pieces to add to your existing collection. You’ll be surprised at the pieces you can find with a bit of digging.
When shopping for new pieces, try multi-functional items. Look for tables with added storage beneath the surface and benches with a flip-top lid that can serve as a storage chest. Doing so will help keep clutter at bay.
A great way to stay on budget is to look for do-it-yourself projects. If you can build it yourself rather than buy it, you’ll save a bundle. Think outside of the box and visit your local hardware store for lumber and supplies to build the furniture of your dreams.
With projects like this, you can make your own custom pieces fit perfectly into your space. Proportions are key when it comes to furnishing a room and often it’s tough to find a piece that fits perfectly, but with your own custom-made furniture, you’ll never have that problem again.
Finally, look into refinishing or recovering existing furniture. Giving an old piece of furniture a fresh new look is often a lot cheaper and easier than purchasing a new piece. With some spray paint, a fresh coat of varnish, or yard of upholstery and you will be amazed at how much life you can breathe into a piece.
Next, shake up the spaces in your home. Clear the room out and rearrange the furniture into a fresh configuration. You can also add in new pieces or remove existing pieces in order to refresh the look of a room. Adding furniture can be a great way to divide distinct spaces within larger, open floor plans.
Take your time when rearranging the spaces in your home. Use grid patterns and create visual pathways in the space, like floating furniture around an area rug. Focal points can also help pull together the look of a room, and help punctuate the makeup of a space.
Also consider adding splashes of color to a room. Adding a bright and bold statement piece to a corner, or replacing cushions, can make a huge difference in the overall feel of a room. Alternatively, lighter pastel tones provide a more calming and relaxing atmosphere.
Finally, you can lighten up a room by embracing the power of natural light. Cleaning windows and opening shades can help lighten up a room. Also, play around with strategic lighting fixtures and lamp placements to create the atmosphere you are looking for.
Creative storage solutions can also alleviate clutter. Place baskets in seldom used spaces to store items like books, magazines and toys, while attaching hooks to walls or door frames can provide additional hanging storage solutions. When in doubt, label your containers to make clean-up a breeze.