DIY Accessories Projects 2013 Decorating Ideas

Looking for inexpensive ways to spruce up your home? These simple, do it yourself accessories projects   for lamps, pillows, vases, and more - are sure to add style and character to any room.

Chain Reaction 

Various chain necklaces in silver and gold help give new meaning to recycled glass. Use jewelry or glass glue to secure the chains to plain glass bottles, outlining shapes, positioning as letters and numbers, or creating other simple designs. You can also remove the pin from the back of a plastic flower to create a truly three dimensional design. When the glue is dry, prime the bottles and paint with high-gloss paint. White creates a simple look, but other colors like cobalt or yellow are stunning and trendy.

Chevron Vase 

Customize a plain vase by taping off a chevron pattern with painter's tape (it need not be perfect). Spray paint the exposed area with a lighter shade of the vase color. Remove the tape when the paint is dry.

Quick & Easy Memo Board 

This magnetic memo board is as functional as it is stylish. Simply cut decorative paper to fit inside a cookie sheet and glue it to the pan. Add magnets and important papers, notes, or letters, and you?re ready for business. Place it on a desk or hang it in the kitchen to ensure your family always stays on task.

Reading Light 

Use damaged or discarded books and a lamp kit to build this literary light. Drill a hole slightly bigger than the rod in your lamp kit through the center of each book until you get to the height you desire. Thread the rod through the hole and follow instructions in the kit to wire the lamp. Cover a self adhesive lampshade with decorative paper or book pages to complete the look.

To Dye for Colors 

Hot from the runway, ombr� dyeing is a variation on basic tub dyeing. We put the trendy technique to work on these ordinary, store-bought throw pillows. For maximum results, always make sure you take the process slowly and follow through with each step.

Rosette Lampshade 

Embellish a plain lampshade with paper roses. Use a compass to draw an 8 inch diameter circle onto drawing weight paper. Cut the circle into a swirl to create a paper coil about 1/2 inch wide. Roll the paper tightly starting at the outside end of the coil. Release the coil slightly and manipulate it until you have created a flower shape, then hot glue it at the base to retain the shape. Use hot glue to adhere roses to the lampshade.

Cozy Felt Pillows 

Felt pillows are easy to make and boost the comfort quotient of any area. Use scraps of felt to embellish an ordinary store bought pillow, or sew the scraps together to create a multicolor masterpiece.These soft woodland-themed, felt pillows make this sofa a homey relaxation haven.

No-Sew Pillow 

Stoke your wanderlust with a pillow outfitted with a map. Find an image from an old atlas, or score a map of your favorite city or dream travel destination. Scan your image and use image-editing software to create a mirror image of your map, then print it using an ink-jet printer onto iron on transfer paper. Iron the image onto light color linen fabric, following package directions. Peel away the transfer backing to reveal the image. Use heat-set tape to adhere the linen piece to the pillow.

Felted Lamp Base 

This shapely lamp base enjoys a cozy cover. To cover a sphere shape lamp, measure the height and the circumference, then cut a rectangular piece of felted wool to size. Wrap it around the base with the right side in, and pin evenly spaced darts at the top and bottom. Remove, sew the darts, then sew the piece into a tube shape. Turn right side out and slip over the object. Using heavy duty thread, hand stitch a running stitch at the top and bottom and pull to cinch tight, then tie off at the back. Embellish the lamp with fun felt flowers for extra pizzazz.

Twine Light Shades 

Bring blissful color to a blah dining room with handmade light shades. These trendy light shades add a dash of texture and subtle color overhead and are created using twine and small beach balls.

Freehand Floral Vase 

A vase adorned with a hand drawn, floral-inspired design complements the bold orange flowers it holds. Use a white oil based Sharpie marker on ceramic surfaces.

Rosette Throw Pillow 

Bring dimension to a throw pillow with fabric rosettes. To create rosettes on a pillow cover, fold 4 inch wide strips of fabric in half, lengthwise and sew a basting stitch along the edge opposite the fold. Pull the thread tight, allowing the fabric to wrap around itself, and wind to desired sizes. Finish by stitching onto a pillow.

Give 'Em the Slip 

Boost the style of plain glass vessels by slipping them into something more cozy. Stretch a piece of felted sweater around the vessel, right side in. Pin for a snug fit, then remove and sew it where it was pinned. Cut the excess and turn it inside out. Make use of sweater accents such as button plackets, pockets, sleeves, and ribbing. Or add your own embellishments fashioned from scraps of old wool sweaters.

Wrap It Up 

Wood grain radiates warmth and character in any space. Using veneer ? thin, flexible sheets of wood available at home centers and woodworking shops ? is an easy way to incorporate wood grains into your home. Cherry and maple veneer wrapped around apothecary jars and stitched with silver embroidery floss make a sweet centerpiece or mantel display. Cut leaf shapes from veneer and stitch onto jar wraps for a nature-inspired look.

Grass-Motif Pillow 

A few fabric scraps are all you need to create this three dimensional effect. The grassy design is a fanciful layering of felt and cotton scraps cut into grass blade shapes. The first two layers are secured with fabric glue, but a single line of stitching down the middle of the top layer of blades gives them a breezy texture.

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15 Easy Window Treatment Projects for Autumn 2013

What's one surefire way to make a room looked polished and finished?

Dress up the windows. Whether they are DIY treatments or store bought versions, drapes, shades, valances, or any of their cohorts will take your rooms from bland to wow.

Take plain white curtains up a notch with a simple flower embellishment. To create the rosettes, trace around a 3 inch diameter drinking glass on the flower fabric. Repeat until you have five same size circles per rosette. Cut out circles and fold into quarters. Hold all the quarter circles in your hand and stitch together with a needle and thread at the base of the flowers. Create the number of rosettes that you want and stitch them to a pair of curtain panels, alternating heights. Run a bead of fabric glue from the flower to the bottom of the curtain panel. Place a length of green yarn on the glue, wrapping it under the bottom edge of the panel and gluing to the back of the curtain. Cut leaf shapes from green cotton fabric and position next to the yarn. Sew a straight stitch down the center and around the edges to secure.

Put scraps to use as fresh window treatments. We used sheer scraps to create a soft, shimmery effect. Choose your fabrics and plot out the pattern for the panels on grid paper to scale. By using grid paper, you can determine the dimensions of each fabric piece you'll be cutting. Label each section according to the fabric used. We used seven different sheers to get this effect. Cut fabric and pin together in rows. Stitch the pieces into rows, then stitch the rows together. Sew a rod pocket and the side and bottom edges to finish.

Set your windows apart with dyed linen strips. Start with sheer white linen and cut into strips. Divide the strips into four or five groups. You'll dye each group a different shade. We created five different colors using red and yellow crafts paint. Mix 1 tablespoon of crafts paint to 1 gallon of water and stir. Test the dye on a scrap of linen. Experiment with colors and saturation levels before you dye your final strips. Once you're happy with the color, plunge a length of fabric into the mixture. Remove and hang to dry. Repeat until you're satisfied with the mix of colors. Iron the dry fabric to set the color. Line up the strips in alternating colors, then tie to a curtain rod. Cut the fabric strips to the desired length. (These were cut short to create a cafe curtain.)

Go geometric and paint a chevron design onto a plain shade. To make a chevron stripe, determine the center point of the fabric on the Roman shade and position the pattern for pleasing symmetry. We allowed for 4 inch stripes. Use a plastic artist's triangle tool (or create your own triangle shape out of cardboard) and pencil to trace lines onto the shade. Use a straightedge to make sure the chevron stripes are level. Tape above and below the pencil line with painter's tape. Repeat for each stripe. Use a brush or roller to paint on fabric paint. Remove the painter's tape and install the shade once the paint is dry.

Create custom marbleized fabric that starts with a design you create on paper. Click the link below to learn how to marbleize paper and then upload your design to a fabric printing service (we used Spoonflower), order your fabric, and sew it into basic drapes.

Made from a miniblind and midweight upholstery fabric, this Roman shade can be assembled in a matter of hours. First, lay the blind on your work surface with the front facing down. Set the length by adjusting the plug underneath the thick bottom slat according to the package instructions. Next, snip away only the strings that connect the slats on both sides. Maintain the slats at 7 inch intervals; snap off and remove the rest. Place the fabric facedown under the blind. Mark the fabric where it folds at the sides, top, and bottom of the slats. Remove the shade and press the fabric folds. Place the fabric under the shade, then glue the sides of the fabric to each slat and the top and bottom edges of the fabric to the top and bottom slats. Use clothespins to hold the fabric in place while it dries.

To create these pretty cafe curtains, purchase two 16x24 inch tea towels. Install curtain rods at your desired height. Attach ring clips to the top of the tea towels to hang them from the rod. If the towels hang past the windowsill, measure the fabric, cut off the excess, and hem the towels using a sewing machine or fusible web and an iron.

Add waves of color to plain white panels by progressively dyeing with two colors of acrylic crafts paint. We paired deep blue and teal. Dip the damp fabric into a solution of 1 tablespoon crafts paint per 1 gallon of water. Add more paint to the mixture and dip the lower portions of the curtain repeatedly to achieve an intense color.

To make a peacock-print valance like this one, start by cutting a 2x4 piece of wood to the width of your window. Buy enough fabric to extend 6 inches on either side and 4 inches longer than the desired length. Finish the hem and sides, and embellish with a fun fabric trim. Wrap fabric around the wood and staple into place. Attach the wood to the wall with screws or L brackets.

You can make these pretty curtains using solid color flat sheets. Cut each panel to twice the window width and 6 inches longer than the desired length. Sew a rod pocket along the top. Hem the panels to floor length. Make the ruffles by cutting strips of fabric twice the width of a panel by 4-1/2 inches, then sew a 1/2 inch hem. Sew a basting stitch along the raw edge. Gather the fabric to the width of the panel. Starting at the curtain's bottom hem, pin overlapping ruffles to the panel and stitch them into place. Attach the top ruffle upside down, right sides together, and flip over to hide the raw edge.

When curtain panels won't fit or simply aren't needed, use an easy sew valance like this one to add softness and color. Sew a rectangle to the window size, adding a rod pocket at the top. Stitch a length of wide ribbon on each end of the valance, 4-6 inches from the outer edge. Drape the ribbon over the top of the valance so there is a length of ribbon running down the back and the front of the valance. Stitch the ribbon into place and use each ribbon tail to tie up the fabric.

You can dress up purchased tab-top panels with a bit of trim attached to the edges. Or get a similar look by making your own panels. You can buy yardage at a fabrics store, but you can also shop for table coverings or linens in the kitchen, bedding, and bath section of your local department store. There you will often find discounted or discontinued fabric items that you can cut up and use as yardage.

Don't toss out curtains you love just because they don't fit your new windows or need to be replaced. Instead, cut and sew them into panel style window shades with rod pockets. Tension rods hold the shades in place and make them easy to change or remove. This trick also works to make outdated fabrics or drapery styles look trendy again.

For a simple update, give drapery panels a makeover with tiebacks. An easy to make tieback adds a polished look and a splash of the room's yellow accent color to this window treatment.

With a little ingenuity and basic sewing skills, you can get the look of custom made window treatments for way less. Start with a neutral drapery (maybe one you've had for years but now want to update) and sew a contrasting fabric to the bottom, measuring from the bottom edge of the window to the floor. Cover the seam with beaded trim or ribbon. This idea is great if you have recently moved and need to lengthen your old draperies to fit the scale of your new home.

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Easy Weekend Home Decorating Projects Summer 2013 Ideas

Want to give your home a mini makeover in a weekend? Check out these simple decorating projects for inspiration. I hope that you will find it useful for you ... Enjoy it !!

While a fresh coat of colorful paint can revive a piece of furniture, you can take it a step further by adding pattern, too. Use paint pens to draw designs on drawer fronts, tabletops, and more.

Craft a simple entryway table from logs. Simply prop table height sections of logs against a wall. Apply a clear coat to the logs to seal the wood.

Secondhand stores and flea markets are often chock full of artwork. While the art may not be up your style alley, if the frames catch your eye, you have the makings of an art display you'll love. Simply discard the art and paint the frames fun colors that match your decor. Arrange the ensemble on a blank wall.

Give a plain lampshade a watercolor makeover. Moisten a large paintbrush with water, and sweep a wavelike pattern around the bottom of the shade. Tap wet paint into the pattern with a soft, round watercolor brush. (Use watercolor paint for paper lampshades and fabric paint for fabric shades.) The paint will bleed to the edges of the moistened area. After the paint dries, dot the wave with more paint in alternating colors. For dots that blend, paint them with edges touching.

Go global with your planters. Carefully cut an old globe in half with a utility knife. (Ours was coming apart at the equator, which made it easier to split.) Lift the base with plastic, and fill with soil and plants. Rest the globe on a plant stand or in a drainage dish to keep it upright.

Marbleizing is hot, and it's an easy DIY technique. For these canvases, we marbleized paper, then scanned it and sent the designs to a print center to be printed on canvases.

Rescue thrift store frames with white paint and punchy paper. Paint the frames white and showcase pretty papers inside the frames. Choose coordinating patterns in different scales (small prints and large prints) to create a balanced look. Let the paper be the star, or top it with a wooden letter, a photo, or any object you love.

Add extra seating or a footrest to any room with a pretty pouf. Poufs can be pricey in stores, but this DIY version can be made for about $50 with our step by step instructions and free pattern.

Give a favorite photo prime placement in a room. Enlarge the photo and place it in an oversize frame. Surrounded by a crisp white mat and striking black frame, this textural photo of peonies commands attention.

Give a lamp a one two punch of shine with ribbon and spray paint. Coat the base in a metallic-finish spray paint, and wrap shiny satin ribbon around the shade, securing in place with hot glue or pins.

Look at everyday items as potential masterpieces. Take photographs of a few interesting objects, and adjust the exposure, saturation, and color with a photo editing program. Order large prints, and frame them on black mats in white frames. A black-and-white display like this looks sleek against a white wall but would also look chic hanging on a wall painted with a saturated hue.

Rethink how you use curtain rods and plates to create a pretty wall display. Mount a curtain rod on a wall, and hang plates with ribbons woven through the pierced designs on the edges.

Dress a dresser with a large poster to give a plain piece punch. Prep the dresser front with a coat of primer and let dry. Measure the width and height of the chest, including the legs. Trim the artwork to size, making sure the design falls where you want it to. Cut out the pieces that will go on the legs (you'll apply them separately). Remove drawers and adhere the artwork to the dresser front using spray adhesive. Press the artwork to the dresser, starting at one edge and working your way across the piece. Let dry. Trim the paper along the drawer openings. Spray the drawers with adhesive, and apply the artwork to the drawer fronts. Trim and place the leg pieces on the dresser. Use a nail to poke the knob holes through the paper, and add decorative knobs.

Accent plain roller shades with fabric. Have a retailer cut the shades to fit your windows. For each shade, remove the weight from the bottom pocket. Cut fusible web to fit the width of the shade, and iron it onto the back of fabric. Cut out the fabric and iron it into place on the shade. Spray-paint a cafe curtain rod, and insert it into the bottom pocket.

Add unique flair to a basic arrangement of photos with a tree motif. Achieve the silhouette with a wall decal, a stencil, or freehand painting. Hang family pictures in the "branches" for a whimsical look.

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2013 Contemporary Bedroom Curtains Designs Ideas

Bedroom curtains are decorative and functional accessory for bedroom that will give a perfect look to your bedroom design.  They keep away the sunlight to let into your bedroom and also give you privacy from outside. If you need insulation and soundproofing in your bedroom, then you can choose the lined bedroom curtains. While choosing bedroom curtains, then first you have to check the length and width of the bedroom windows and doors. It’s up to you whether you want to hang bedroom curtains to cover the windows completely or just before the floor.

Curtains are available in various colors, designs and styles and you can choose the best one according to your bedroom style. Sheer curtains go well with any type of style and décor. You can match the color of bedroom curtain with the rest furnishing of the bedroom and create a unique style that will complement your bedroom design. 

Enjoy the pictures below and be sure to give us your feedback

This lovely contemporary eyelet curtain is a great addition to any living area, with its 4 versatile colourways.

Crisp and elegant eyelet curtain with foil print

This vibrant curtain uses great harmonising colours to their full effect. The geometric pattern creates a great statement too!

This wonderfully vibrant curtain is a great summer choice! Great as a focal point of a minimally decorated room, or in a colourful room with coordinating colours.

This striking geometric pattern is a great addition to any room that needs a contemporary twist.

Geometric yet delicate patterned eyelet curtain in Red or Brown.

A great curtain to give a room that sleek, yet homely touch. 

A bold modern floral which will be a statement to any interior. Dark backgrounds combine with pockets of highlight colours to create a striking look

A sophisticated look with horizontal chenille bands.

Despite the loud pattern, this curtains gives a cool, chic, laid back air to a room.

These lovely curtains feature a great balance of rich colour and soothing neutrals. The top chenille bands beautifully offset the faux silk base. This curtain really makes a statement with colour without being gaudy.

Elegant timeless floral design with a funky colourful twist.

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