My Home Redux

How to Create Fall Art

As Autumn begins to display her vivid foliage, it's a great time to bring those beautiful colors inside your home. One wonderfully easy way is to create Fall art. A few simple steps and a week or two of time will yield a lovely bit of Fall you can bring out during the season or show all year.

Simply frame one bright leaf or a collection. Here are step-by-step instructions you can use to create your own art from Alina Bradford at eHow.com.

[Editor Note:  Photo from Alina Bradford at eHow.com]

How to Revive and Recolor Your Upholstery

Got stained upholster? An ugly padded chair?  Now, you can paint it. Yes, paint.

The chairs above were painted to the lovely white color you see.

This clever woman painted them using textile medium and acrylic paint. The medium allows the fabric to take the paint without getting stiff. It also makes it washable and prevents running and bleeding.  Use a 2:1 paint to textile medium mixture.  And should  you stain it again, just repaint. Easy. Love it!

Read how she did it and two other options in this great article.

[Editor Note:  Thanks Maisie for use of the picture too!]

How to Decorate with Books

Books are a great decorating accessory. They're plentiful, inexpensive, and versatile. Of course, you want to decorate with hardcover books. Leather bound may be the right look or colorful covers and spines.  Scour estate sales, garage sales, used bookstores and more if you want to find the right styles. Here are a few ideas of how you can decorate with books.

1) Bookshelves. Of course, you use books on bookshelves, but don't just cram books in. Arrange by size or color. Vary the heights. Lay some down on their sides while others stand up vertically.

2) Color.  Display a collection of books on shelves, mantels, and more by color. Group blues, reds, hot pinks, golds in groups and then segregate into colorful groups.

3) Tables. Casually lay a few books on top of a table. Lean a few under the top in the storage or display areas.  Scatter across a large coffee table.

4) Cookbooks. Use cookbooks in open kitchen cabinets, island ends, or on top of countertops.

5) Border a room. Fill a shelf 18 inches from the ceiling with books for interest, warmth, and to create a studious or library look.

There are more ways you can use books in your decorating. I've even seen filling a non-working fireplace with them.  Just let your imagination go. What ideas do you have?

How to Select a Kitchen or Bathroom Faucet

Today, selecting a faucet is not a simple decision. You need to consider style, finish, valves, center size, levers or knobs, and more.  The range of styles (and prices) are amazing today.  This "simple" task can leave you confused, befuddled, and potentially broke.  As a decor note, chrome always works, but often, especially in a master bath or kitchen, you'll want to consider a different finish such as satin nickle, bronze, antiqued brass - or more.

Here's an article with some really helpful hints on picking the perfect faucet for your decor and your needs, complete with helpful tips about what some of those features mean and when to select them.  Read it all here.

How to Sew a Throw Pillow

Throw pillows can add color and accent to any room quickly. To have pillows match your decor perfectly and to save some money (which my readers know I love to do), make your own. Go to fabric stores for fabric, but you may find even better selection at craft, decorating , and upholstering stores.

Here is a great step-by-step article to sewing a beautiful throw pillow for your home.

[Editor Note:  Photo comes from the Cottage Magpie.

How Install a Paver Patio

Here in the U.S., it's Memorial Day, the recognized (if  not technical) start of summer. As thoughts turn to barbecues, cookouts, and outdoor parties, attention turns to decks and patios. Paver patios are not only beautiful but easy to install in a weekend.

Here is a great article with step-by-step instructions and illustrations for you to create your own stunning paver patio.

[Editor Note:  Photo from www.Belgard.biz]

How to Use Proper Lighting

Lighting makes a poorly decorated room look better and a lovely decorated room look amazing. Here's a video from Kelly Edwards of AOL Home to show you how some simple lighting changes and fixes can make a huge difference in the look and ambiance of a room.

Watch the video here.

How to Paint Decorative Tile

Yes, you can paint ceramic tiles to bring them new life, to add accents, or to redecorate a room. There are some helpful hints such as preparing the tiles, sealing them, and even coating them with polyurethane to protect the finish. What's more, you can stencil, decoupage, and use specially created tile decals.

Here's step-by-step instructions on how to do that and more.

I also wondered just how practical this is. But sure enough,  you can do it on tiles, especially walls, back splashes, and other areas. Wet locations are NOT recommended (which makes perfect sense). To learn more tips on where and how to paint tiles, check out this article.

How to Antique Painted Cabinets

So you want to update your painted cabinets, but either can't afford new or just want to update your existing ones because they're in great shape.  Here are some helpful tips on how to antique your cabinets to make them look like the custom designer ones that cost a bundle. (I know I've paid for antiqued and custom distressed cabinets before.)

Read this article on how to do this yourself. Not expensive and is something you can do on a weekend.

How to Put Fabric on Walls Using Starch

I love this idea!  While it was written up most frequently as an idea for renters, any one can do this. Use lightweight cotton fabric (preferred) and "paste" to your walls with liquid starch.  And when you want to change it, gently pull it off, wipe the walls with water, and wash the fabric. Easy and beautiful.

To save money on the fabric, check out remnant bolts and close outs. Do one wall or partial wall.  Make appliques by cutting out shapes from fabric or big flowers or other patterns in the material and applying them to your wall with the starch.

I really want to try this myself.  See here for step-by-step instructions.