2013 DIY Bedroom Update from BHG

Fun projects and fresh color transformed this once uninspired bedroom, all on a budget of $350.

Color, pattern, and plenty of DIY savvy collide to create a dynamic bedroom full of style and comfort.

Toned down walls in a more pallet friendly hue of muted honeydew read as a neutral next to the bright peacock, apple green, and raspberry colors.

DIY Headboard 

On first glance, you wouldn't know that this headboard started as a simple piece of plywood. Picture frames, decorative molding, metal sheeting, and paint collaborate with the humble material to create a stunning focal point.

To re-create the look, cut a piece of plywood to desired size. Paint the plywood and picture frames one color and the molding and metal sheeting another.

Cut the metal sheeting to fit inside the picture frames. Nail or glue the sheeting into the frame. Attach the frames to the plywood and attach the crown molding to the top. Secure the headboard to the wall.

Decorative sheet metal, matching the headboard insets, wraps around basic wall sconces for a custom look at a bargain price.

While wall mounted nighstands are available, these clever bedside tables are actually storage cubes topped with decorative mirrors and mounted to the wall.

Framed mirrors give the storage cubes a finished look, and the reflective surface adds sparkle.

Custom Curtains 

Square frames cut from fabric update white curtain panels. To customize your panels, select two fabrics and cut enough square frames to run the length of the curtain. Starting with the middle column (here, the blue fabric squares), affix fabric frames to the curtain panel with iron on adhesive.

Next, adhere the outer columns (here, the pink fabric) to the curtain, overlapping the middle squares. Be sure to measure before you start to figure out your spacing, and measure as you add new squares to ensure everything remains even.

The same iron on technique as the curtains was used to jazz up simple pillowcases. Use the same fabric from the curtains to write out words or add geometric motifs to solid-color pillowcases.

Canvases & Cupcakes 

Oftentimes, basic household items are fodder for custom artwork. Look to your kitchen, utility room, or garage for inspiration. These clever canvases were made from stretched canvases, cupcake liners, and watercolor paints.

2013 Decorating Update with What You Have

Giving your home a decorating update shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Lucky for you, we have the best tips and tricks for boosting your home’s style on a budget. Browse these creative ideas and learn how easy it can be to achieve big style without breaking the bank.

Decorating is easy and affordable when you build upon what you already have. See how you can take ordinary items and work them into your decor with a few easy tricks, updates, and simple supplies.

Display favorite memories and photos in a vignette that is personal and welcoming. Get a streamlined look by using fewer photos printed at larger sizes. Use frames you have and paint them the same color for a unified display. Or invest in inexpensive, basic black frames for a polished look.

Bring outdoor pieces inside for an easy addition. Garden stools work just as well indoors as they do on patios and porches for extra seats and drink tables.

Sometimes decorating is just as much about subtraction as it is addition. Examine the inside of your cabinet boxes to determine if they are display-worthy. The insides may need a fresh coat of paint or just a good cleaning. Remove doors and fill any holes with putty and paint or stain to match the cabinet box. Display favorite dishes, utensils, and cookware or large jars filled with pantry staples, such as flour, pasta, and rice, inside the newly exposed cabinet.

If your drapes have enough length, consider moving the curtain rod to the ceiling, which will give the room a greater sense of height. Before you make the move, measure your curtains to make sure they will still graze the floor if you move the rod. If you need a little extra length and your drapes currently hang by a rod pocket, invest in drapery clips, which will make the drapes hang a little bit closer to the floor.

Pillows can be pricey, and if you are getting weary of yours, consider pillow covers in the same size as your existing pillows. The old pillow can act as an insert, and when zipped or buttoned into a fresh cover, no one will know that your new green pillow was once red. If you're handy with a needle and thread, make your own pillow covers.

Bring hardcover books off the shelf for an interesting tablescape or mantel arrangement. Removing dust jackets can reveal a beautiful cover with eye catching colors or designs.

Even decorating basics can look extraordinary with a little embellishment. Wrap rickrack around a lampshade, hang picture frames with ribbon, or attach decorative veneers or gingerbread to plain bookcases.

Incorporate mementos from vacations or special occasions into your decor. The move will integrate your personality and life experiences into the spaces, where they can be admired by guests and family. Whether it's a collection of shells from a beach vacation or a framed wedding invitation or birth announcement, even the simplest of items become display-worthy when they recall a special memory.

Wallpaper, fabric, and wrapping paper remnants are all perfect fodder for lining the backs of boring bookcases or built-ins. Score a discounted material and start lining for an easy, instant update.

Turn a hodgepodge of plates into a fun display. Use items from your own collection and scope out inexpensive companion pieces at thrift stores. Plan out your arrangement before you start hanging to avoid making unnecessary holes in the wall.

Paint is a must have tool for budget decorating. But, this versatile medium is not restricted only to walls. It can also be used to give dated furniture and accessories a much needed lift.

Bring a blanket out of storage to add an extra layer of color to a living room or bedroom. Fold a throw over the back of a sofa or the edge of a bed, allowing any pretty edge detailing, such as trim or fringe, to be visible.

For another way to wake up your bookcases, incorporate objects from throughout your house into the display. That serving platter you love, but never use? A horse figurine from your daughter's past fascination with all things equine? Anything with an interesting shape or design can be a candidate. Look for objects that have commonalities, such as white finishes, to create a more unified display. And resist the urge to add "just one more" item. If you have a large collection, rotate objects in and out from time to time, rather than displaying everything all at once, to ensure the vignette strays from cluttered territory.

Fresh Decorating Update Ideas for Summer 2013

Bring the colors and feel of summertime into your home with our best tips and tricks everything from rearranging furniture to the smells of the season.

Pare Down 

Think of your home as a summer rental, and you'll see it in a whole new light. Throw open the doors and windows, pull back the curtains, and get rid of pieces that are dark, gloomy, or fussy. Stow away heavy accessories, throws, and any unnecessary small decor items until it's time to cozy up again for fall.

Set a Colorful Table 

Consider buying a set of accent dishes to add a splash of summertime color and pattern to your next dinner party. Mix bright floral, tropical, or nautical theme dishes with your everyday plates and bowls. To ramp up the summertime look even more, clear a small table to create an impromptu bar and arrange bottles and glassware on a pretty serving tray. Fun elements such as stir sticks and paper umbrellas create a look that is perfectly seasonal.

Front & Center 

With warm weather and a few extra hours of sunlight, the summer months are the perfect time to eat on your front porch or picnic in your yard. Eating outdoors will ensure you and your family take advantage of everything summer has to offer.

A New View 

While a fireplace is a great focal point during any other time of year, consider rearranging your furniture away from that space during the summer. Rather than huddling around the hearth, shift the focus of the room toward a beautiful window or French doors. Stow away heavy draperies and hang gossamer sheers that flow with the breezes.

All Summer Long 

Summer is as much a state of mind as it is a season, so transform your spaces to embrace all the benefits it has to offer. Include a large umbrella for extra shade. String paper lanterns on tree branches around an outdoor patio to allow gatherings to last well into the night hours. Or, should the weather turn stormy, cozy up by lamplight on a covered porch. Since pleasant summer days sometimes fall few and far between, you'll want to take full advantage of the time you have to spend outside, rain or shine.

Update Old Furniture 

Give a tired chair or side table new life using high-gloss spray paint in a summery hue, such as sky blue or grassy green. The glossy paint creates a fun lacquered look and gives an old piece a fresh and modern edge. Make sure to properly prime the furniture so the paint better adheres to the surface and will wear longer.

Art Swap 

Brighten dark walls with colorful art pieces. Affordable pieces can be found just about anywhere online or at flea markets and resale shops. A large piece or a collection of smaller pieces also provides the perfect blank-wall solution for large, open rooms.

Natural Living 

To add organic appeal, consider planting succulents in an oversize shell. The tiny plants last for a long time and require little care, making them the perfect addition to a summery tablescape. The combination of natural elements also adds texture and character to this chic end table display.

Fun Fabrics 

Bright prints on bedding, for example, instantly lift a room's mood  and yours. To allow the motif to truly shine, keep the wall color neutral and other accessories to a minimum.

Garden Fresh 

Interject bright summery colors into your home with freshly picked flowers. To make the biggest impact, stick to arrangements featuring warm colors, such as bold oranges, radiant yellows, or vibrant pinks, and save rich reds and deep purples for other seasons. Small clusters of bright color look cheery and create an undeniable summertime vibe.

Party Starter 

Welcome summer by entertaining outdoors. Low tables, floor pillows, and strands of clear fiesta lights will surely put everyone in a merry mood. Winning combos of bright colors, such as turquoise, red, and white, create a festive atmosphere and will keep everyone in a party state of mind.

Summery Scents 

To keep the seasonal aesthetic constant in your home, make sure you switch out scents as the seasons change. Gingerbread and evergreen are great scents for winter months, but many people crave fresh smells during the summer, such as ocean breeze or cucumber melon.

Going Casual 

Summer weather offers the perfect time to find unexpected uses for formal serving pieces. A silver tray can hold pretty glassware and a pitcher filled with a delicious summery cocktail, while a champagne bucket makes a great container for an herb plant.

Easy Ways to Update Your Deck Summer 2013 Ideas

Is your deck looking drained and dull? Give it a refreshing boost with these easy updates.
Get inspired by this ideas . I hope that you will find it useful for you ... Enjoy it !!

A wooden pergola dressed in panels of outdoor fabric allows entertaining even when the weather isn't perfect. For a more sturdy covering that can stand up to heavy rainfall, consider purchasing a custom roof frame outfitted with clear polycarbonate panels.

Just like window seats inside your home, built-in benches on the deck can be made to offer ample storage space below for outdoor games and decor. Cover the top of the benches with comfy cushions upholstered in fabrics that will stand up to the elements. Comfy outdoor throw pillows add another level of comfort and style.

Before you add anything to your deck, you must first create a solid foundation. Even well-planned cosmetic changes can't hide a deck in disrepair or dirty, grimy boards. Set time each year to clean and restain your deck flooring to ensure it stands up better against the elements.

Guests and family members appreciate places to sit, and built-in benches can be made to look like original parts of the deck. Whether the benches are freestanding or attached, make them blend in by building them from the same materials used for the deck itself.

Railings can do more than enhance the safety and appearance of your deck they can also make a style statement. Decorative spindles and ball tops are among the many specialty products available to embellish railings.

If you gave up your garden to build or expand your deck, grow veggies in containers on your deck for an eclectic look and homegrown food for dinner. Start off easy with tomatoes, beans, peas, and carrots. Put the containers on rolling supports so you can move them around easily.

Add tall, evenly spaced posts around the perimeter of your deck and connect them with glass panels to block wind while retaining stunning views. For a more rustic look, use wooden posts and connect them with tree limbs.

Extend your living space onto your deck and enjoy easy entertaining throughout the warmer months. Use furnishings and fixtures to create distinct zones for grilling, dining, and lounging.

A weatherproof outdoor sound system is a party-ready finishing touch for any deck. Hung up and out of the way, these speakers decrease unwanted foot traffic on this small deck and create the perfect party atmosphere throughout the warmer months.

Before you purchase any outdoor furniture, make sure you consider all of the choices available. Furnishings made of hardy woods, aluminum, steel, and recycled plastics are some of the most common options available today. Include an outdoor rug and a fire pit to create a warm and inviting gathering space.

Give your deck a big style update by replacing tired wooden rail spindles with wrought iron ones. If you live in a wetter climate, you might also want to consider switching out standard wooden deck boards for rot-resistant composite planks that will increase the staying power of your entire deck.

Transform your deck into a luxurious oasis with the addition of a hot tub. Designate a corner or add on to the deck to accommodate the tub. To increase privacy, surround the hot tub with tall plants, mature trees, or even an add-on such as a screened gazebo.

Create an outdoor kitchen, complete with grill, sink, undercounter refrigerator, wine cooler, and eating area. Have money left over? Add a tiki bar to create a fun party atmosphere.

Easy Window Treatments Update 2014 Ideas

Clever Ways to Personalize Window Treatments :  Ready made curtains, blinds, shades, and tablecloths are just the starting point for these stylish window treatments.

Get inspired by this 2014 Window Treatments update Ideas from BHG . I hope that you will like and find it useful for you ... Enjoy it !!

Add Texture with Burlap 

Add texture to a living room by adding a burlap valance to window treatments. The oat-color burlap also grounds a bold patterned curtain panel.

How to Make It: Sew or use fabric glue to attach decorative trim to the raw edge of the burlap. Use curtain clips to hang burlap valance and curtain panels.

Use Sheers to Lighten Up 

Dark color curtains are great for privacy, but they can also darken a room. Add style and light at the same time by adding a band of sheer fabric across the top of plain panels.

How to Make It: Cut across the panel about 1 inch below the top edge. Sew a sheer piece to the 1 inch strip and then reattach the original panel to the bottom of the sheer (shorten the panel as needed to fit your window before sewing the raw edge to the sheer fabric). Use fusible web or fabric glue to apply decorative ribbon over the seams. Tack sheer ribbons to the back of the 1-inch strip and then tie them loosely over the rod.

Add Pretty Details 

Add fun flair to a plain window shade with a pretty rosette.

How to Make It: Cut a 4 1/2x48-inch strip of patterned fabric that matches your bedroom decor. Press the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides facing, and coil the strip into a rosette shape. Hand stitch the rosette to a circle of interfacing. Top-stitch through the center of the rosette and trim away excess interfacing. Pin rosette to the curtain.

Add Elegance with Stripes 

Dress up plain curtain panels by adding elegant stripes. Light blue linen curtain panels add color and texture to a plain cream color window treatment.

How to Make It: Cut 8 inch wide strips from ready-made linen curtain panels for each curtain. Create frayed edges by carefully pulling threads from the fabric along the sides and bottom. Place the 8 inch strips over the top of the plain panels. Stitch along the base of the rod pocket and lightly tack the tops of the rod pockets together.

Add Grommets 

Give pretty panels a modern touch with grommets.

How to Make It: Buy grommets (sold in sets of 10) and follow the instructions on the package. To install, cut a small hole in the fabric, insert both pieces of the grommet, and use the tool that comes in the kit to press them together.

Top It Off 

Punch up plain panels with a valance made of decorative napkins.

How to Make It: Cut square napkins diagonally to create triangles. Fold the cut ends under and stitch them to the panel's top edge. Cut more napkins into strips and gather into a ruffle, which you can stitch along the bottom of the panel and the tieback.

Modern Take on Lace 

Update your favorite lace panels by inserting a horizontal band of patterned fabric. This block of fabric adds a modern edge and also gives privacy.

How to Make It: Cut across the panel about 6 inches below the top edge. Sew the patterned fabric piece to the top panel and then attach the original lace panel to the bottom of the fabric piece (shorten the panel as needed to fit your window before sewing the raw edge to the fabric). Use fusible web or fabric glue to apply decorative ribbon over the seams.

Tied with a Bow 

Give plain draperies a sweet makeover with pretty ribbon bows and coordinating stripes.

How to Make It: Create simple two-toned bows from coordinating ribbons. Attach bows to each pleat at the top of the panel. Use fusible web or fabric glue to apply decorative ribbon to the bottom of each panel.

Add a Border 

Dress up plain curtain panels with decorative fringe found at a crafts store. Choose trim in the same color as the panel for subtle drama.

How to Make It: Measure the width of the curtain panel and cut six sections of fringe in the measured width plus one inch. (The extra 1 inch allows for 1/2 inch of trim on each side to tack behind the panel to hide the raw edge.) Starting at the bottom of the panel, measure one inch from the hem and stitch on a row of trim. Continue with the next two rows. Stitch fringe onto panel leaving one inch between the top and bottom of each row.

Paint On Style 

Add artistic flair to a plain curtain panel with stencils and fabric paint.

How to Make It: Lay the curtain panel flat on top of several sheets of scrap paper as a blotter under the area being stenciled. Cover the back of a stencil with spray adhesive and then press it on the panel. Using fabric paint and a stencil brush, cover the design with a pouncing motion. Remove the stencil. When the paint is dry, repeat the process to create the desired pattern.

Pretty Painted-On Flowers 

Add a fresh theme to a plain curtain panel with a floral design stencil.

How to Make It: Lay the panel flat on top of scrap paper. Cover the back of a stencil with spray adhesive and then press it on the panel. Using fabric paint and a stencil brush, apply paint directly onto the curtain with a pouncing motion. Remove the stencil. When dry, repeat the process as desired.

Add Style to a Roman Shade 

Add style to a window with multiple treatments. A Roman shade and curtain panels work well together. Customize a plain Roman shade with a stenciled design in a color that coordinates with the curtain panels.

How to Make It: Lay the panel flat on top of scrap paper. Cover the back of a stencil with spray adhesive and then press it on the panel. Using fabric paint and a stencil brush, apply paint directly onto the curtain with a pouncing motion. Remove the stencil. When the paint is dry, repeat the process as desired. Hang Roman shade and curtain panels.

Rethink Cloth Napkins 

Turn patterned cloth napkins into cafe curtains by joining their edges with jean rivets and grommets. You get a pretty window treatment with no sewing.

How to Make It: Purchase a rivet and grommet kit from a fabric store. Join the edges of two napkins together with jeans rivets spaced every 2 inches. To install, cut a small hole in the fabric, insert both pieces of the rivet or grommet, and use the tool that comes in the kit to press them together. Repeat until all napkins are attached and the panel is wide enough to cover your window. Add the large grommets along the tops of the panels and thread onto a curtain rod.

Pillowcase Turned Shade 

Create a colorful window treatment from pillowcase and ribbon. 

How to Make It: To make a shade from a pillowcase, remove the seams and press flat. Cut the case to size and fuse the hems. Fuse ribbon down the center of the shade. Look for fusible products that are washable.