Christmas can be the most joyous time of year. Or it can be a fireball of anxiety and chaos. This year, I choose joy. So if you’re also craving a Christmas that’s just a little more laidback and fun-focused, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s how I let loose and let my family enjoy the holiday without all the micromanagement of years gone by.

There was a time in my life when I had two Christmas trees; a fancy tree the guests were allowed to see and a family tree. The fancy tree would always be front and center in my home for hosting our annual HOA’s Holiday Party.

That tree was pretty fancy and I was fancy right alongside it. (see more of the fancy tree here: Traditional Holiday Decor On A Budget)

Then we sold that house and downsized into a historic California Bungalow. With only 1200 square feet of living space and a lot less storage space than our suburban home, I decided to cut our Christmas tree allocation in half. Downsizing Christmas to one tree for the whole family meant that I had to completely re-think the way I approached decorating our Christmas tree.

If I was going to make sense of the collection of mismatched, vintage, and handmade ornaments from my wife’s youth plus allow additions that my daughter makes every year, I had to lean into it. The result?

A COLORFUL, FUN, + NOSTALGIC CHRISTMAS TREE

The first year we leaned into the family Christmas tree was 2019 and we haven’t looked back since. Here are the elements I use to make our family tree feel intentional and not haphazard:

Since Christine’s family celebrated each year with hand-crafting Christmas ornaments, we decided to carry on that tradition with our own daughter. Every year, we add a new ornament to our tree that she has made or painted herself. The collection, which we plan to pass along to her when she moves on from our home, started with her six month old handprint salt dough ornament and shows off a bit of her evolving personality every year:

They’re not perfect. She’s pretty young. But part of the joy in accepting the nostalgia of Christmas is letting go of perfection and just allowing memories to happen (more on that later but don’t worry I’m a neurotic and too much laissez faire can be detrimental to my brain).

As our family evolves, so do our hobbies and interests. We’ve begun marking each of our own personalities and tastes with fun new additions to the tree. We call this The Personality Collection. One of us picks or receives a new ornament every year to mark a milestone event, a thing we really love, or just something funny we saw in a store. Last year, our daughter was hellbent on getting a rocket ornament so we had our local gift shop order one for her (shout-out to the ladies at GiftHorse for never laughing at me when I ask for something wild).

This year, I added a super special and sentimental ornament to the tree. It’s the first time I’ve added anything that felt like it came from my childhood and not my wife’s or my daughter’s childhoods, despite being brand new.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know about the long-standing joke that, because I grew up on 90s public television, Tom Silva is my dad and Martha Stewart is my mom. It’s funny because my personality is a lot like a combination of those two and also what eight-year-old gets up early on Saturday to watch This Old House?! This one. Me. I did that.

Last year, I entered a giveaway on Instagram to win a set of hand-turned and painted ornaments made by Tom Silva and his lovely real-life daughter, Kate. I won a set and now I get to stare at these beauties every Christmas:

Simple creamy white globe ornaments (plastic!) fill any holes and provide additional contrast against the dark greenery of our tree. These are probably ten years old so at this point, they basically are vintage!

AN ARTIFICIAL TREE THAT LOOKS REAL

For years, I believe that I had to buy a real tree to get that perfectly vintage look. I was wrong. I admit it.

A few years ago, we bought the older version of this tree and letmetellyou. It’s showing a bit of wear and does need some fluffing after being stored every year but even so, I will hold onto this tree for as long as I can because IT COMES PRE-LIT and it has plastic-tipped branches that look so real.

It comes in three pieces that click and lock together to automatically connect power. I don’t have to find the end of the strand of lights to connect to the next one. The second all three pieces are in place, it’s ready to light up via the little foot peddle on the floor or the handy remote that controls all the different color and twinkle pattern settings.

You also read that correctly. The lights are LED so they’re energy efficient and they don’t get really hot like traditional Christmas tree lights. Just look at all the color options!

POM POM YARN GARLAND

I purchased two skeins of this pom pom yarn from a local craft store almost a decade ago. It’s since been discontinued but I did find a wired version that’s still available. You can purchase that here.

Even if you can’t find the exact yarn I use, you can still employ the method with a chunky yarn or a traditional acrylic sweater yarn that’s been knotted to look like pompoms. Either way, you can save a ton of money by using non-garland garland on your tree AND you can tie bows on your gifts with your leftover yardage (yarnage?)!

Because the yarn is really thin, you want to drape it around the tree for a bigger impact. This way, it’s taking up more visual space than it otherwise would if you just spun it in a circular pattern around the tree.

The next step is to add a tree skirt to cover that ugly fake tree base. Eventually, it will be disguised with wrapped presents but until I get around to procuring and wrapping said gifts, I use another cheap hack:

Every year, we spend about $15 on a new ornament for the family and another $5 on a kit for our daughter to make her own. This method has saved me time and a ton of money that I don’t spend on changing my Christmas theme each year.

My tree isn’t the most visually stunning Christmas tree you’re going to see today and I don’t want you to think that I’m implying my method is the best method. Christmas, to me, is about joy. Our family’s colorful, fun, and nostalgic Christmas tree brings me so much joy. I hope it’s brought you a little joy and some inspiration as well.

Here are links to the items I’ve talked about in this blog post and some fun ornaments to get your collection started:

You
can see all of the creative Christmas trees my fellow bloggers and
friends have created by clicking the links below:

 

 

 

Monday

 

 

Casa Watkins
Living // Up To Date
Interiors // Mocha Girl Place // Kate Decorates // House of
Hipsters // Monica Wants It

 

 

Tuesday

 

 

The Happy Housie // SKG Designs // Delineate
Your Dwelling // Cuckoo 4 Design // Room Bloom
Design // My Sweet
Savannah

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

Iris Nacole // PMQ For Two // Stacies Spaces // Rebecca Propes // Liz Morrow
Studios

 

 

Thursday

 

 

Au Petite Salon // Taryn
Whiteaker Designs // The Honeycomb
Home // Daly Digs // T Moore Home // Love Your Abode

 

 

Friday

 

 

Haneens Haven // Our Fifth House // Seeking Lavender Lane // Two Twenty One // Amber Oliver // Zig and Company

From here, head over to Yuni’s post at Love Your Abode and tell her I
said “hello!” She’s a doll. If you don’t know her, allow me
to introduce you to one of your new favorite people.

The post A Colorful, Fun, and Nostalgic Christmas: My Home Style Christmas Tree Edition appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

This is our second Christmas in the California Bungalow and we’re continuing the tradition of our themed Christmas porch decorations. This year, since the house is black, we’ve gone full rainbow with our porch and yard decor. Here’s how I created a festive and fun front porch on a budget …

The following post contains affiliate links. As an Affiliate Marketing Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep the free content coming.

Thanks for your support! xoxo

CHRISTMAS PORCH DECOR: for historic homes, it’s all about nostalgia

Because our California Bungalow is nearly 100 years old, I like to honor the age of the home and our neighborhood by creating holiday porch themes that speak to the way the neighborhood has changed. While I don’t ever set out to completely mimic a 1920s home or shop, I do like to imagine the traditions of the neighborhood with my porch themes.

You can see how I decorated the porch last Christmas with a lodge theme and homage to Tennessee, our home state, here: A Tennessee Christmas Porch

It’s been a year and A LOT has changed about our bungalow. In fact, nearly everything has. You can read all about our tornado rebuild here: 2020 Tornado Rebuild.

Most notably, our house is now BLACK!!! We love the look of the black paint on the bungalow but I do worry that the black could lean boring at best and morose at worst. So I’ve made a conscious effort to showcase how black can actually be a fun house color by using accents that contrast against the black. Most notably, I installed green light sconces and painted the windows in Chinese Red by Sherwin Williams for contrast.

Since Christmas is meant to be fun and festive, there’s no better time to really pull out all the colorful decor and let this black house shine. Luckily, we’re a gay family with a five year-old daughter who loves color so we already have a ton of rainbow decorations that we display year-round.

KEEP CHRISTMAS DECOR CHEAP: Shop the Dollar Store + DIY

I really didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on decor that will only be displayed for a month. So I opted to hit up my local dollar store to find some large scale accents that would pair nicely with my candy shop theme. Here’s what I found and what I DIYed –

In order to make sense of the rainbow decor at Christmas, we opted to go with red and white accents that felt more like the holidays and less like everyday decorations.

I found these sweet stockings and tree skirt at the dollar store and knew they’d look great with the other colorful accents we had already.

Since we don’t have a fireplace on the porch, I mimicked the look by adding the stockings to the front of the bar cart we keep out here to store garden tools. I used clear command hooks, made for securing Christmas lights, to dangle the stockings from the top of the table.

Using the same general concept as last year’s Vintage Lodge Sign, I created a custom sign for our porch based on the Chuck’s Sweet Shop items we’ve found at Williams-Sonoma through the years. Our daughter’s nickname is Chuck, so it just makes sense that we would honor her in this way. You can see the full tutorial for the retro-style sign here: DIY Vintage Sign: How To Get The Authentic Old Advertising Look With Paint

White and black pair so well together and give such great contrast that they’re easily visible from the road. So I grabbed a handful of these oversized felt snowflake placemats from the dollar store to create a playful snow effect. I used the same clear command hooks to affix them directly to the house.

You know I love dangling objects from the porch ceiling to create a layered effect, see my previous post about last year’s hanging Ornaments: Christmas Porch Decorations: Oversized Ornament DIY (From Trash!), so I decided to carry this idea into this year’s porch by creating hanging snowballs that look like real flurries.

I used white string, a standard needle, and jumbo and extra large cotton balls to create the snow flurries. It’s an easy DIY that requires no real tutorial. Simply thread the string through the center of each cotton ball until you’ve reached your desired length. Make sure to space them randomly. I attached them to the porch ceiling by tying the end of the string around a clear command hook.

The varying length and placement gives the effect of a real snow storm. Especially when it’s windy. Just make sure to place them far enough apart from one another that they don’t bunch up in the wind. That can create a mess.

USE VINTAGE-STYLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS with modern efficiency

I’ve long wanted some large bulb christmas light strings to decorate with but I was always too nervous to buy authentic ones as I worried about house fires and energy efficiency.

Luckily, LED bulbs have come a long way and they’re pretty inexpensive now. I found two 25’ strands of colorful retro bulb lights worked perfectly to hang around my windows. I placed a nail in the two top corners and then secured the strands to the sides with clear command light hooks. Just go ahead and buy those in bulk because they are a real holiday decorating workhorse!

You may recall I used the same lights upstairs to decorate my daughter’s work station:

See the full post here: Holidays In The Kid’s Workspace: Adding Schoolhouse Style For Christmas

I love how the bright colorful Christmas lights add additional festivity to the windows without overbearing the entire porch.

At night, they’re especially festive as they glow inside our living room.

USE WRAPPING PAPER FOR CHEAP DECOR

You can jazz up anything with a roll of inexpensive wrapping paper. As long as your porch is covered, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting the wrapping paper to hold up all season long.

I wrapped the square side table that always sits out here in a rainbow stripe paper (that’s now discontinued, I’m sorry to say) and added a bow to make it look like a gift. Empty shipping boxes got wrapped in coordinating paper and I used an old grocery bag, filled with the felt tree skirt I found at the dollar store, to look like a gift bag from our “shop”.

Remember to go bigger outside as it’s harder for people to see small items on your porch.

A LITTLE KITSCH GOES A LONG WAY

It’s 2020. This year has been trying. We all deserve a little extra smile. So this year, we decided to finally give in to our daughter’s requests for inflatable yard decorations. We added this 4 ft tall inflatable Santa as a meaningful gesture to our neighbors.

And what rainbow themed porch would be complete without a giant rainbow unicorn? I mean, really. Obviously, our five year-old picked this one out but we do love how it matches the other decorations so well.

Since we want to travel to see our extended family for Christmas, we’re currently in quarantine to keep them safe. I’m bummed that we can’t greet our neighbors as they walk by the house but having these decorations on the lawn does make me feel like I’m giving them something to smile about this holiday season.

While we haven’t reached Full Griswold Status yet, our home does cast a lovely glow in the evening for our neighborhood that’s been through so much this year.

The inflatables have internal lights that cast even more of a glow across our street.

GET THE LOOK: COLORFUL BUNGALOW CHRISTMAS PORCH

* affiliate links help keep my free tutorial blog running *

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I hope our colorful Christmas decorations bring a smile to your face too. Remember to pin this post on Pinterest in order to refer back to it as you work.

If you recreate these easy DIYs, tag me in your post on Instagram @tmoorehome so I can share it!

I’ll be back soon with more ideas for decorating for the holidays. Until then, stay safe and sane. xoxo

RENOVATING HISTORIC HOMES ON A BUDGET ISN’T EASY
BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

NEED MORE CHRISTMAS DECORATING IDEAS + INSPIRATION?
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The post Colorful Christmas Porch: Vintage Candy Shop Theme with Rainbows appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

Like so many people, we’re terribly bored at home this Christmas season. After days of virtual school, my daughter doesn’t want to look at another screen in her downtime. So I’m coming up with low-cost ways to keep her entertained while feeling festive for the holidays. Here’s an easy way to repurpose all those cardboard boxes into a fun craft for kids. Bonus points: You can make this a tradition and use it as a kid’s Christmas table activity for your pod family to enjoy! Here’s how I created gingerbread house placemats that double as holiday decorating fun for kids …

*this post contains affiliate links + advertising*
I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site.
Site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. thanks for your support!

We have a holiday gingerbread house family tradition. Every year, my wife buys a pre-baked gingerbread house kit that she and our daughter craft together. This year, our five year old chose the Barbie Dreamhouse Gingerbread kit and it was a mess!

That got me thinking. Couldn’t there be an easier way to get into the Gingerbread House game without all the sticky frosting and candies? Because, let’s face it, half of that kit goes directly into my kid’s mouth anyway.

As I was cleaning up the living room and breaking down boxes to recycle, I realized brown cardboard looks a lot like the gingerbread we were just using. The color is even an exact match!

There are a ton of ways to create decorations for the house that aren’t edible. The only real limitation what that you’d want the look of the white frosting. What could we use to mimic that look?

That’s when the real dream house was born:

No Mess Cardboard Gingerbread House Craft Tutorial

supplies needed:

glue (if 3D desired)
string
misc adornments
pompoms, sequins, etc

cardboard boxes, varying sizes
white household trim caulk
craft paint
cutting tools: scissors, box cutter, rotary blade

STEP ONE: Prep your cardboard box

Remove all the packaging tape and disassemble the box until it lays flat. remove all the jointed edges, if creating a 1D house. Then cut the box into rectangles with a box cutter or scissors. I actually used a rotary cutter and placed the cardboard onto a cutting mat to protect my work surface. Any one of these methods works fine.

STEP TWO: Create a roof guideline

Measure the piece of cardboard and mark the exact center of the top of your board. Then mark the board at the roughly 1/3 point (where you want your roof pitch to end). This will assist you in getting the roof angle exactly perfect.

STEP THREE: Cut your roofline

Create a roofline by using a straight edge (or a scrap piece of cardboard that’s long enough) and connecting the center mark to each of the side marks. Then slice the cardboard along these lines.

STEP FOUR: Add “Icing”

Apply a line of caulk to the roofline, door, and windows to mimic the look of frosting. If you want the look of a snow-covered roof, apply the caulk liberally using a flat application tip (or cut your tip at an angle).

Allow caulk to dry and your work here is done! Now you can gather materials for the kids to use as embellishments.

DECORATING THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES

I gathered rainbow-colored beads, some string, lots of glue, and markers. I even created paper gumdrops using construction paper and a hole punch for the kids to decorate their houses with. A three-hole-punch works fast for this. I folded the construction paper into strips in order to make as many gumdrops as quickly as possible.

I made multiple gingerbread houses to keep the kids in our Pod Family busy while the adults celebrated Christmas together. A simple roll of wrapping paper acts as protection for your table in case the glue gets crazy.

I also added paint pens and a tub of decorating embellishments I found right before the party for extra Christmas cheer.

GET THE SUPPLIES FOR DECORATING:

some of these items may not be suitable for all children. you know your child best. use caution.

Gingerbread House Craft Party Table Setting

In an effort to encourage the kids to eat first, I set our table with the gingerbread houses as placemats for the kids to eat on. I used the green, red, and white pieces of plastic kid’s tableware from our collection to add extra Christmas charm.

DIY Gingerbread House Party Ideas: Get the kids involved in the festivities with this fun holiday themed table. After they eat, let them decorate their own cardboard gingerbread houses.

Make it extra festive with a Hot Cocoa Bar for kids. In addition to the cocktails we put out for adults, we always add a Christmas Cocoa Bar for the kids to enjoy! Of course, we supervise the cocoa-making and we always allow extra marshmallows.

SUCCESS!! These days, it’s hard to get a few minutes of time with adults and I’m happy to report that my Gingerbread House Craft Party was exactly what we needed to allow the kids time for fun while the grown-ups enjoyed talking, laughing, drinking, and generally not being involved for a whole hour!

I hope this easy craft project gives you the same result! Remember to pin this post on Pinterest in order to refer back to it as you work.

If you recreate this easy DIY, tag me in your post on Instagram @tmoorehome so I can share it! In fact, send me all your parenting wins this week. I need the motivation to keep going.

I’ll be back soon with more ideas for decorating for the holidays. Until then, stay safe and sane. xoxo

RENOVATING HISTORIC HOMES ON A BUDGET ISN’T EASY
BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

NEED MORE CHRISTMAS DECORATING IDEAS + INSPIRATION?
THESE ARE THE MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK:

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MORE IDEAS FOR KIDS

The post DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Houses: An Easy Kid’s Christmas Table Activity Idea appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

If you’re joining today from Making Home Base, welcome! I’m so happy to have you joining us! Chelsea showed you adorable updates from her daughters’ bedroom and now I’m going to show you how you can carry that same fun holiday vibe into your kids’ home workspaces as well.

Whether your child has a dedicated classroom in the home or just a place they like to color or read, here are some simple ways to incorporate their interests into decor for the holiday season.

The following post contains affiliate links. As an Affiliate Marketing Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep the free content coming.

Thanks for your support! xoxo

Our daughter is headed back into a virtual learning environment and we’re a little bummed. We know she’s going to miss all the fun holiday activities she would otherwise have participated in during Kindergarten. So we’re giving her a fun, new workspace where she can learn and feel inspired.

Come see how we’ve added some holiday cheer to help boost her enthusiasm about learning from home…

CREATING A SPACE FOR KIDS TO LEARN FROM HOME

Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way fast: THERE IS NO SCENARIO IN WHICH I EXPECT ANYONE TO TACKLE A MAJOR RENOVATION JUST TO MAKE ROOM FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING. The photos you are about to see are going to show you a massive transformation from Before and After.

As luck would have it, our home was hit by a tornado two weeks before Nashville shut down for the pandemic. The renovation you will see was a necessary rebuild to our 100 year-old home. Do not remodel your home based on a temporary situation. And take my advice – don’t renovate your home during a global pandemic. Decorating is fun. Having contractors complete work in your home whilst also trying to socially distance your family is terrifying. Hang curtains instead.

The extent of the tornado damage required us to rebuild the entire second story of our home. The BEFORE photo shown above is from the real estate listing. We purchased this historic bungalow in 2019 with plans to restore it over time. You can read more about that here: Our 1924 California Bungalow: Full Home Tour.

As we rebuilt, we decided to raise the roof ridge by two feet and to add an additional 600 square feet onto the back of the house in the form of a large dormer. The dormer you are seeing today is the original dormer at the front of the house. It had originally been a part of our daughter’s upstairs bedroom but was made into a play space off the central upstairs hallway during the rebuild.

Since we’re still unpacking our boxes, this space has been relatively empty and useless for the past three months but we knew it would make the perfect spot for an impromptu homeschooling room for our kid.

The plan for this little nook was always to turn it into an arts and crafts space for our self-proclaimed artist daughter. And what to artists need? Horizontal space for drawing and writing, of course! It just so happens that’s exactly what she needs to be able to learn alongside her classmates in a virtual school environment too! So this little update will be handy for now and serve a longterm purpose as well!

Major renovations aside, there are lots of easy ways to create virtual learning spaces for kids. Use what you have. Buy a desk if your budget allows. Or build something custom on the cheap like we did:

We purchased a hollow core slab door from our local home improvement store and ripped it down with a table saw in order to fit it tight along the wall. Using scrap MDF 1x4s from our recent bathroom moulding buildout, we created a bracket system along the wall on which the slab could rest. Then we nailed the slab into the braces from the top in order to secure it permanently to the wall.

The result is a floating shelf-style desk that doesn’t budge even with the most vigorous crayon drawings.

If you’re not looking to permanently affix the desk to your walls, you can also find inexpensive table legs on which you can rest the table top and secure with screws. Just make sure your end result is a desk that’s no higher than 30” off the floor. Here are some cute options:

DECORATING KID’s WORK SPACES FOR CHRISTMAS

I’m no elementary school teacher so I had to really channel my inner Mrs. Frizzle when trying to decide how to decorate my daughter’s home learning room. I thought back to my own childhood and tried to remember what the classrooms of yore looked like. Minus the dinosaurs (hahaha.. I’m an older mom but I’m not that old).

My fondest memories of school were those when the teacher would let us come to the chalkboard and write our answers in front of the class. I know a lot of people have anxious memories about those moments but I’m a show-off and a people-pleaser so they always made me so proud.

That’s when I remembered a thrift store find from two years ago that has just been sitting in our garage, collecting dust!

This massive chalkboard was only $4 at a local thrift store and although I didn’t have a direct need for it at the time, I knew I’d one day be able to show it some love. I love Schoolhouse style and nothing says schoolhouse like an actual artifact from an old school!

The original chalk finish was scratching off and stained. A quick coat of Rustoleum Chalk Board Paint (it’s tintable so I had mine tinted green) made it look brand new! I left the wood frame in kind of funky condition to show its age.

Using large stencils, I traced the outline of “Holly Jolly” with a chalk pen.

Then I went back over the outline with a thick chalk layer and turned the chalk on its side to shade in the letters.

A simple strand of vintage-style colorful Christmas lights acts as a garland across the top of the chalkboard. I used Command Clear Mini Light Hooks to secure the lights to the wood. These will come off easily at the end of the season.

Since this little nook opens to our newly-created bonus room, I wanted to make sure the vibe stayed the same. We like a lot of vintage tchotchkes and colorful accents for decorating. This chalkboard fits right in!

The result is a space that’s both functional and really welcoming for my daughter. She really loves it!

On the wall opposite of the chalkboard, I used the same Command Hooks to hang metal clips on which she can display her school work and artwork alike.

A simple paper ring garland and construction paper letters encourage her to get into the holiday spirit even if her dress indicates she’s feeling the wrong holiday.

I’ve teamed up with some of my talented blogger friends who are also sharing their fun and festive spaces for the Holiday Home Tour – Kid Edition. Please be sure to check out all the adorable kid spaces and trees decorated for the holidays!

MONDAY

Two Twenty One // Love and Renovations // Lemon Thistle // Stacie’s Spaces

The Organized Mama // Design Improvised // Inspiration for Moms // Bright Green Door

TUESDAY

Making Home Base // T. Moore Home // Casa Watkins // Up to Date Interiors

Living Letter Home // Home on Poplar Creek // DIY Decor Mom // Kate Decorates // The Goat Abode

Next, you’ll definitely want to head over to see what Stephanie from Casa Watkins Living has up her sleeve. Her style is so graceful and lovely. I know you’re going to adore how she updated her daughter’s bedroom with a festive theme for the holidays!

GET THE LOOK

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From my family to yours – Have a Holly Jolly Holiday Season!

xoxo

RENOVATING HISTORIC HOMES ON A BUDGET ISN’T EASY
BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

YOU’RE MISSING OUT

Not all my updates are big enough to warrant an entire blog post.

To make sure you never miss a single DIY project or great deal, sign up for my weekly newsletter:

I won’t share your information with anyone. Ever. I promise.

Thank you!

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  Designer Obsession: Vintage Kilim Rugs
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  Free Design Ideas: Decorating With Rust and Rose Colored Home Accents
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  Summer Rental in Nashville, TN’s Coolest Neighborhood

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I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site.
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The post Holidays In The Kid’s Workspace: Adding Schoolhouse Style for Christmas appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

Do you have a sturdy piece of furniture that’s showing its age? I know the feeling. Our daughter’s dresser is over ten years old and while it’s still holding up strong, the wear and tear of four moves + life with a toddler and two cats was making it look like a piece of junk. So today, I’m showing you how to remove factory stain finishes from wood furniture to breathe new life into your old stuff. Here’s how I turned a 10 year-old Ikea Hemnes dresser into a cute statement piece for a kid’s bedroom …

* this site contains affiliate links + advertising*
I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site.
Site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. thanks for your support!

We’ve now owned our historic California Bungalow for eight months and we’ve barely even begun renovations. Since our daughter has had a hard time adjusting to the new house, we decided to make her bedroom a priority for 2020.

you can read all about how and why we downsized here:

We Are Downsizing: Why My Family Is Choosing Life In A Smaller Home

Our 1924 California Bungalow: Full Home Tour

We’ve already made great progress in her room so far. At the beginning of February, I showed you how we upgraded the 1980s can lights for a more modern look (How To Replace An Outdated Can Ceiling Light Without Rewiring). Then we painted her wood floors with fun stripes to give a cottage appeal (Painting Hardwood Floors). Now, we’ve moved on to furnishing the space and I’ve shown you how we created a fake wood stain on laminate furniture (How To Stain Laminate Furniture – A Paint Trick For Changing Fake Wood Colors).

Here’s her bedroom on move-in day:

After a new coat of paint on everything, here’s how the room looks now:

The pink paint on the walls is a playful touch against the red window trim and blue and white striped floor. Overall, the vibe for this room is going to be colorful and modern. I want a whimsical look for my rainbow-loving child but I also need to make sure this space works with the overall style of our home.

Her old dresser, with its dark wood stain, isn’t just looking a little frazzled. It also doesn’t really fit the style of our current house.

My daughter’s Ikea Hemnes dresser: it’s held up over time but the past decade of use has left a lot of marks on its finish.

HONEST REVIEWS OF IKEA HEMNES FURNITURE

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I can’t praise this Ikea furniture line enough. If you’re looking for sturdy and classic furniture on a budget, the Ikea Hemnes line is my go-to choice. The lines are simple, making it blend easily into modern and traditional rooms alike. Unlike a lot of the cheap MDF and laminate pieces you may imagine when you think of ready-to-assemble furniture stores, the Hemnes line is built of solid wood.

I’ve used different furniture pieces throughout my own home for years! You can see how I customized the Ikea Hemnes TV storage unit in my last home’s bonus room here: Don’t Replace Your Furniture. Update It Instead!

I’m also a massive fan of the Ikea Hemnes shoe cabinets! I’ve owned these shoe storage pieces for seven years and four moves. They’re such workhorse pieces that I’ve managed to find a spot for them in every home I’ve owned over the past decade. Here they are this past winter in our California Bungalow:

Because the Hemnes dresser is so sturdy and reliable, I really didn’t want to get rid of it. It doesn’t make sense to trash a solid piece of furniture just because the finish or style isn’t exactly coherent with the rest of the room.

Instead, I opted to refinish the dresser by removing the existing stain on the drawers, replacing the hardware with wooden number pulls, and painting the frame and top.

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Here’s the finished look:

The trickiest part of this dresser makeover was removing the original dark wood stain from the drawers to reveal the beautiful pine wood grain underneath. It took a lot of trial and error but I finally figured out how to easily remove the thick laters of mocha stain without using chemical stripping tools.

Here’s the process that worked best for me:

HOW TO REMOVE DARK STAIN FROM WOOD

MATERIALS NEEDED TO REMOVE WOOD STAIN

palm or orbital sander
sandpaper: 60, 120, and 360 grit

Before you start, you want to thoroughly clean the wood finish to remove any oils or sticky residue. I used vinegar and water to wipe down the entire surface after a complete vacuuming and dusting.

STEP ONE: choose the right sandpaper grit

For complete removal of the existing wood stain, you’re going to use three different grits of sandpaper. The sandpaper grit refers to the gauge of the paper. In other words, the lower the number, the rougher the paper will be on surfaces. You can buy each grit of sandpaper separately or you can purchase a multipack that includes a variety of different grit sizes for your project.

My palm sander allows for full sheets of sandpaper to be cut down to fit. However, some orbital and palm sanders require specific types of paper that are pre-cut to the exact dimensions of your sander. Be sure to refer to your sander’s guide to determine the specific type of paper you’ll need.

You can refer to the image above to act as a guide throughout this project. This will assist you in determining which sandpaper gauge to use for each step.

For removal of the finish, you’ll use a rough 60 grit sandpaper. To remove the wood stain, your preferred sandpaper will be a medium 120 grit. For fine sanding and finishing, you’ll need to have a fine 360 grit paper on-hand.

STEP TWO: remove the finish lacquer

Furniture that is stained is often covered with a clear finish layer that seals in the stain. The first step to removing the stain is to remove this finish layer.

For removal of the finish, you’ll use a rough 60 grit sandpaper. Run your palm or orbital sander in even strokes across the wood. The end result will be a cloudy look. That’s what you want. This assures you that you’re properly cutting through the finish lacquer.

STEP THREE: sand out the stain

Now that the lacquer has been removed, you can sand the wood down to its original color.

For removal of the stain, you’ll use a medium 120 grit sandpaper. Run your palm or orbital sander in even strokes across the wood until you’ve removed the wood stain and the natural color of the wood and grain shows.

STEP FOUR: smooth the wood

The final step to removing the stain is to smooth the surface of the wood. Having used rough and medium grit papers, you’ll find the surface is rough to the touch. This could result in splinters and will certainly inhibit your ability to re-stain the wood in an even coat.

To smooth the wood, you’ll use a fine 360 grit sandpaper. Run your palm or orbital sander in even strokes across the wood. Use caution to go slowly and even out the surface. Check the wood as you sand with your hand. By running your hand over the surface, you’ll be able to determine when you’ve sanded the surface enough to get a smooth finish.

STEP FIVE: clean the wood surface

Once you’ve determined the wood is smooth and even to the touch, you’ll need to clean the surface to remove the dust. This will ensure your new stain or finish coat will apply evenly.

I used a dry dust cloth to wipe the surface.

STEP SIX: apply new finish

Since the wood is now back to its natural state, you’ll want to apply some sort of sealer or finish product in order to protect the wood surface from moisture.

You can use a clear polyurethane, a stain with a built-in poly, or any wood finishing product.

I opted to finish the wood with a wood conditioner and sealer. Typically, Howard Feed N Wax is used for butcher block countertops and cutting boards. I like this finish because it seals the wood with a natural beeswax product. Since this is going into a child’s room, I wanted the finish to be as safe as possible.

STEP SEVEN: install new hardware

Once your new finish has dried, you can install the drawer hardware. The original knobs from this Ikea Hemnes dresser are timeless and classic. You can absolutely reinstall those. Or you can choose new knobs that better match your personal style. Here are a few budget-friendly hardware options that I really like;

I opted to create my own dresser knobs for my kid’s dresser. I used wooden blocks left over from my daughter’s wooden number puzzle to fashion pulls for the dresser. First, I glued them on. Once the glue was dry, I drilled into the back to create a pilot hole for a screw to permanently secure them.

Here are some number puzzles and other wooden items you could use to create the same look;

You can use this glue and screw method to attach any type of wooden object to the dresser for use as a knob. Just make sure the depth of the item allows for easy grabbing with small hands.

In the end, this Ikea Hemnes dresser looks vintage and fun for a kid’s room.

Now, this 10 year-old dresser looks brand new and ready for a whole new life!

The Ikea Hemnes line is my favorite basic line of furniture. It’s versatile and sturdy. Just make sure you’re strapping those dressers to the wall for safety. Read more about avoiding tip-over accidents here: Ikea’s Safer Homes Campaign.

The line comes in tons of finish options. Here are my favorite pieces from the Ikea Hemnes line:

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

Now, a confession: This post is going live in November of 2020. However, it was actually written in February of 2020 and was slated to go live as part of my daughter’s bedroom makeover for the 555 Room Challenge. After I captured the photos for this project and finalized the post on February 28th, our family left for a little week-long getaway in Florida.

On March 3, our home was hit by a tornado while we were away. I never got to photograph the final room for the 555 Room Challenge so you’ll never see a reveal of that makeover. You can read more about the tornado here: How We Are Rebuilding After The Tornado

I’ve struggled with the decision of whether or not to post these projects that never really got completed. On the one hand, there will never be a final reveal of this room. So there’s no way to show you how everything worked so well together. I’ll never be able to show off the work I put in.

Having endured the loss of her home and stability during a pandemic, our daughter has matured a lot over the past nine months. She’s no longer the four year old who wanted cotton candy pink walls and vibrant primary color accents.

Her new bedroom is a reflection of that maturity. The blush pink has been replaced by dark fuchsia and vibrant orange. After months of living without most of her belongings. she’s opted to get rid of the large dollhouse she once so treasured. It’s been replaced by a vanity table where she stores her great aunt’s vintage mirror and brush. Family heirlooms are important to her now.

One day soon, her new bedroom will be finished and I’ll show you those photos. But for now, here’s a glimpse into the bedroom she and I designed together last Winter:

These photos aren’t styled. They were taken as a trial run to see how the light worked in this room. But I think you’ll see a true glimpse into how her life was in this space for the short time she had it.

In the end, I decided to publish this post as a final homage to the brief life we had in this home before we had to gut it.

I know there’s a lot of useful information for people in this project. I know it can be helpful.

If nothing else, it can also stand as a testament to my daughter. One day, maybe she’ll look back at this space she’ll never remember and smile at how much our love for her shone through.

I’ll be back soon with more updates on our home’s rebuild. Until then, stay safe and sane. xoxo

RENOVATING HISTORIC HOMES ON A BUDGET ISN’T EASY
BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

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The post Ikea Hemnes Dresser Makeover: Removing Dark Wood Stain appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

It’s Week Three of the 555 Room Challenge and I’m back with the easiest flooring update you’ll ever see! Today I’m showing you how we rejuvenated the hardwoods in our daughter’s room in just two days and for free, using leftover project paint we found in our basement! It was a quick DIY project that’s made a huge impact in her bedroom. Let’s take a look …

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Thanks for your support! xoxo

As I’m decorating my kid’s bedroom, I’m also thinking ahead to the future of this space. I’m making plans based on how I anticipate her life to evolve over our time in this home. Since I know she’s going to be a teenager one day and will probably no longer want a bedroom doused in pink and rainbows, I’m using caution to fill the space with finishes and furnishings that can grow with her evolving tastes. That’s why I’ve chosen simple and modern furniture (like these bedside tables I showed you last week).

In that vein, I’ve decided to forego carpeting over her hardwood floors. As a child, I had carpet in my bedroom. By the time I turned 12, I hated it. It was brown and kind of gross. So I single-handedly removed the carpet to expose the hardwoods underneath and, much to my parents’ credit, was allowed to have the only bedroom in our home that rocked the original 1970s wood flooring.

My daughter’s room has original 1920s hardwood throughout. It’s in rough condition and may some day be replaced. For now, however, we’re keeping it to save money until we know exactly how we want to renovate this home down the line.

Her biggest gripe about the flooring? It’s painted brown. Very brown and very boring. To appease her desire for new flooring without spending a dime, I decided to paint over the brown using leftover paint I found in the basement when we moved in.

The catch? It’s not floor paint. I found two cans of flat interior latex paint; one was white and the other a pale blue hue. So how did I paint flooring to withstand kids’ rough play using a paint not made for flooring applications? Here’s how:

HOW TO PAINT HARDWOOD FLOORS

MATERIALS NEEDED TO PAINT HARDWOOD FLOORS

interior latex paint – flat or matte finish
paint brushes (I used this one for painting + this one for the wax finish)

Before you start, you want to thoroughly clean your wood floors. I used vinegar and water to wipe down the entire surface after a complete vacuuming and dusting.

STEP ONE: Cut in around base moulding.

Working in one by one foot sections, begin painting your floors by cutting in around the floor trim. Then carry the paint line in the direction of the boards.

STEP TWO: Determine the width of your painted stripes.

If you plan to paint stripes, like I did, choose the width of the stripe you want and work in sections using just one color at a time. I chose to make my floor stripes three boards wide for a thick presentation.

You can get totally creative here! For more complicated stripe patterns, you can add additional colors, vary the widths of each stripe, or even dilute the paint color with white as you go down the line for an ombre effect.

STEP THREE: Paint second color.

Once your initial color has been applied, allow to dry and then you can add your second color. Use the same technique to cut in at the wall and then slowly paint each plank of wood, moving into the center of the room.

If you’re painting multiple stripe colors, repeat steps one through three as needed until your entire pattern is filled in.

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STEP FOUR: Allow first coat to dry.

Allow the first coat of your paint to dry at least two hours before moving forward with additional coats.

STEP FIVE: Apply additional paint coats.

Once the initial coat of paint is no longer tacky (sticky to touch), you can move forward with applying additional coats.

For my floors, I used only two coats. Since I applied the paint very liberally to fill in the cracks in the wood, my brushstrokes were no longer visible after two coats. Depending of the quality of your paint, you may find you’ll be happier with three coats.

Since flat paint dries faster and adheres better, you should find that liberal coats are beneficial to your process.

STEP SIX: Allow paint to dry 48 hours.

In the next step, you’re going to finish the floors to make the paint permanent and reduce chipping / wear. In order to get the best adhesion of the wax used to protect the paint, you’ll want to allow the painted floor to fully dry for 48 hours.

That said, you can walk on the floors in socked feet within 8 hours of applying final coat. I recommend removing shoes and waiting to reinstall furniture until final application of wax and dry time is allowed.

STEP SEVEN: Dip your wax brush into wax.

This wax coating is thick and it appears opaque in the can. You don’t want an opaque finish, so you’ll want to apply it in a very thin coating. When you dip your brush into the can, cover only the bottom 1/3 of the brush with a light dip.

STEP EIGHT: Apply wax to floor.

Begin applying wax by running the paint brush in a straight line between two planks of wood. You’ll want to apply as much of the wax to the floor as possible in this first stripe.

STEP NINE: Spread wax.

Working outward from your initial stripe of wax, drag the excess in 1×1 foot sections until the entire floor is covered. Although the wax is transparent, you’ll be able to tell the places where you need to add wax by looking for the glare under a light.

I chose a satin wax finish which will appear shinier when wet. Once dry, the glare will be less obvious and the floor won’t be as shiny. However, the wax will give the paint depth and durability without making it dangerously slippery for socked feet.

I’ve completed this hardwood painting project, figured out how to stain fake wood furniture, and a super quick and cheap can light installation, as part of the 555 Room Challenge. During this home decor challenge, I’m joining a group of talented bloggers to complete one room in five weeks!

The goal is to spend less than $500 and show you 5 different DIY projects that you can incorporate in your own home. For this project, I’m overhauling the first room I should have focused on in our new home: Our daughter’s bedroom.

Click the images below to see what projects all the other bloggers are up to this week:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

We still have two weeks to go in this challenge and I have a slew of DIYs coming up. These new floors provide a neutral but fun base for the colorful decor I’m putting in my daughter’s bedroom.

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Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

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The post Painting Hardwood Floors (even if they’ve been painted before) appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

It’s week two of the 555 Room Challenge and today I’m showing you how I updated two IKEA chests. The catch? They’re not real wood. Here’s how I changed the wood tone from a white washed grey to a modern blonde wood without sanding or ruining the laminate finish. Plus, an update on my daughter’s bedroom design with exclusive sneak peeks on how the room is coming together!

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Thanks for your support! xoxo

Interior Design involves a ton of evolution. Sometimes plans change. Sometimes (especially in my own home), designs get scrapped altogether when a new idea comes to mind. This week, my four year old daughter’s bedroom design completely pivoted when I found three major inspiration pieces at a serious discount!

The first moment of clarity in her room came while I was installing her new rug over the freshly painted striped floors (that tutorial will be on the blog next week).

I didn’t really love the way the rug was working with the existing items in the room: the painted wood floors and pink walls. If I was going to move forward with using this rug, I really needed something to tie the light pink wall color in with the bright colors of the rug.

That’s when inspiration struck via a set of sheets and a pair of curtains.

While I was sourcing ideas for a client’s playroom design, I stumbled upon these really cute sheets with a rainbow plaid pattern. Recalling how much plaid we have throughout the rest of our home, I was instantly enamored with the idea of bringing in a masculine pattern to counteract the polka dots in the rug. I ordered them immediately.

Then I recalled a floral curtain panel I’d seen pretty early on in my design concept building. When I first saw the curtains, I nixed the idea of using them because I’d planned to paint a floral motif in a mural on the wall behind my daughter’s bed. At the time, I’d planned to keep her bed against the solid wall directly adjacent to her door. Once we started putting the room back together, I actually changed my mind and decided to try her bed under the wall of windows that faces her doorway.

We placed the bed there and she loved it. I also loved how much more space this gave her to play in the room. So we decided to leave the bed on the wall. Since this would require curtains, I knew the floral curtains I’d found on clearance at Crate & Kids would be the perfect substitute for a floral wall mural. At $30 each, they weren’t as cheap as the mural I’d planned but they were still a bargain! So I ordered them promptly.

Bringing even more red into the room made me so happy because I’d found these modern chairs to use for her desk area and loved the way the red played off the pink paint color on the walls.

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I GOT CATFISHED 
by a piece of furniture

Have you ever purchased something online thinking it was absolutely the perfect color or wood tone to go with your decor only to discover when you view it in person that the color is actually a little “off”?

Last weekend, I bought a set of Ikea chests from a seller on FB Marketplace. In photos, the stain of the wood looked perfectly suited for our modern aesthetic. But once I got there to pick them up, the wood stain looked more whitewashed and kind of farmhouse-y. I bought them anyway, assuming they were covered in a wood veneer (a super thin cut of real wood) and I could just alter the stain color. 

BOY WAS I WRONG.

Once I started to sand the back section of one of the pieces, I realized they were comprised of laminate. There was no real wood grain and therefore, I couldn’t just re-stain them. (If you have a piece of furniture that has a wood veneer, here’s a great tutorial for staining wood veneer).

Since I really wanted the wood look to go with our existing decor, I didn’t want to paint them. Instead, I had to get creative. 

HOW TO “STAIN” FAKE WOOD + LAMINATE FURNITURE

MATERIALS NEEDED TO STAIN LAMINATE WOOD

latex craft paint (I used Unicorn Spit, as it’s made specifically for this application)
clear glass mixing vessel
water
craft paint brush for mixing
cloth rag

STEP ONE: Find an inspiration wood tone + compare it to your furniture.

This was a really easy process for me because I have a lot of existing furniture that already has the yellowish pink stain I was hoping to achieve. If you don’t have an existing piece already, head to your local home improvement store and browse the wood flooring samples. These are free, so you can take them home with you to see how the tones look with the other finishes in your home.

Once you’ve determined a color you want, compare your desired wood tone to the current tone of the laminate wood. What does your inspiration wood have that your current piece of furniture is lacking?

STEP TWO: Mix paint colors to create the base of your “stain”.

For this application, a stain is really just a thinned out paint. So you’re going to create a paint color that adds exactly the missing tones you need to make your furniture appear more like your inspiration piece.

Since my laminate piece looked whitewashed, it was missing the colors of the wood. I knew I would need to add a lot of yellow, a little red or pink, and tone it all down with a touch of brown so it didn’t look like an orange stain.

Since you’re not a machine and no two batches will be identical, you’ll want to fill a small container with a lot of paint so you don’t have to make an additional batch. I used a glass yogurt jar and filled it with paint to the halfway mark.

STEP THREE: Add water to thin your paint mixture + create a translucent “stain”.

Because laminate is essentially paper and plastic that’s been applied to MDF, you’ll want to keep the stain mixture relatively thick. This is because plastic is nonporous and therefore can’t absorb water like real wood can. If you apply too much water, you will ruin the finish. Remember that water removes stickers and you don’t want to remove the laminate from your furniture.

Apply just enough water that your paint mixture becomes transparent but not so much that it looks like water. I chose a 1/2 and 1/2 measurement that gave me the consistency and transparent qualities of cream (versus milk).

STEP FOUR: Apply first coat of “stain” to laminate furniture.

This is where you want to proceed with caution. Don’t get overzealous and start soaking your laminate with the stain. Simply dip the rag lightly into the stain mixture and then squeeze out any excess drips. You want your cloth rag to be damp with stain but not wet.

Apply the stain using long strokes, following the direction of the existing wood grain. The difference in wood tones may not be super obvious at first and that’s okay. You’re going to apply this method until the desired tone is achieved. Patience is key to not destroying your laminate with an over-application of liquid. Allow the stain to dry completely before proceeding to additional coats.

STEP FIVE: Apply additional coats until wood tone matches your inspiration.

My desired wood tone was achieved in just two coats. However, for darker or lighter stains, you may find that your furniture requires three or four coats. Have patience and know that with each layer of stain, you’re edging closer to your desired outcome.

If you begin applying the stain and find it isn’t matching your goal wood color, go back to step one and add additional colors to your existing stain base as necessary.

FAQ: CAN I CHANGE THE WOOD TONE ON ANY LAMINATE FURNITURE?

This process should work with any desired stain idea. If you want to go lighter, you just need to add white to the base instead of brown. For going super dark, like creating a mocha stain, you may find you’ll be adding black and brown to the base. Just play with colors until you get the general tone you want and then add more paint to your base as you go, if necessary.

Don’t fret about getting it right the first time. As long as you don’t over saturate your laminate, you’re not ruining your furniture. The tones can be changed. If you find you’ve gone too dark, use a clean damp cloth to remove the finish as quickly as possible.

For my piece, the end result was subtle. I got rid of the grey and white undertones and ended up with two chests that look a lot more like the midcentury style furniture we have throughout the remainder of our home.

I added the white drawers back into the chests and I absolutely love the look of the crisp white against the blonde wood! I’m still deciding if I should apply a paint treatment to the edges of the wood trim. For now, though, I really think they look sharp next to my daughter’s bed.

I’ve completed this project, and the can light installation I showed you last week, as part of the 555 Room Challenge. During this home decor challenge, I’m joining a group of talented bloggers to complete one room in five weeks!

The goal is to spend less than $500 and show you 5 different DIY projects that you can incorporate in your own home. For this project, I’m overhauling the first room I should have focused on in our new home: Our daughter’s bedroom.

Click the images below to see what projects all the other bloggers are up to this week:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

We still have four weeks to go in this challenge and I have a slew of DIYs coming up. These Ikea chests have helped me work out a better clothing storage solution for my kid’s upstairs attic bedroom.

This coming week, I’m finishing up the floor painting and I’ll have that ready to show you next week! So make sure you come back to see how I’ve used leftover wall paint to create a durable floor paint! Cheap is awesome but free is best, right?!

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DECORATING ON A BUDGET ISN’T ALWAYS EASY
BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

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The post How To Stain Laminate Furniture – A Paint Trick For Changing Fake Wood Colors appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

Now that we’ve settled into our new house and most of the moving boxes have been unpacked, I’m getting the itch to decorate all the spaces. Unfortunately, we’re lacking two of the main requirements for a full-scale home redesign: time and money. But that’s okay because I brainstormed and developed a plan to decorate and organize the dining room / entryway with a very affordable budget. How’d I do it? DIY, of course. Here’s what I did …

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BUT FIRST, WHAT IS MODERN SCHOOLHOUSE?

I get this question a lot on Instagram since I revealed that my design plan for our California Bungalow is to incorporate more Schoolhouse Design Style into the decor of this home. The term is used rather loosely across the Interior Design community, as it’s technically not a real home style. Rather, Schoolhouse Style actually comes from the use of Schoolhouse Style lighting: electrical light fixtures that were widely used throughout the United States in public school buildings between the 1920s and 1950s.

Over the past decade, as the lighting company Schoolhouse Electric (now known as simply Schoolhouse) has gained popularity, the term has evolved to include an entire home decorating style.

COMMON THEMES IN SCHOOLHOUSE STYLE DECOR

Schoolhouse Style borrows and blends easily into many existing and well-known decorating styles. Most notably, people commonly refer to rooms and homes that are decorated with schoolhouse themes as “Modern Farmhouse”. Some of the most popular spaces designed by Joanna Gaines are actually less farmhouse and more schoolhouse than you’d expect. In fact, the popular decor line that she and her husband have designed for Target is beginning to look more like items you’d see in a Schoolhouse home decor catalog. That is to say that these pieces offer more clean lines and less frills than traditional farmhouse or country-style decor.

Schoolhouse Style will also be recognized by the use of primary colors, linear patterns, and industrial finishes. Lots of schoolhouse fixtures appear to be inspired by the lighting you would traditionally find in a factory setting, versus a home. Another frequent theme in Schoolhouse Decor is vintage artwork and wall decor such as old print advertisements, chalkboards, and commercial signs.

You’ll also recognize that the finishes incorporated into schoolhouse style are; worn wood, lots of metal, powder coated steel, and natural textiles like cotton twill and wool.

WHERE TO FIND SCHOOLHOUSE STYLE DECOR INSPIRATION

There are lots of designers and Interior Design bloggers who incorporate Modern Schoolhouse Style into their work. Here are a few of my favorite spaces, and their designers, that perfect the Modern Schoolhouse decor vibe.

This kids bedroom by Becki Owens is the perfect example of Schoolhouse Style incorporated into a modern home. Notice the iron beds mimic industrial pipes while the bedding and rug reflect a vintage military theme. The modern lighting pulls the primary color scheme together.

This vintage kids’ workspace by Bethany Douglass of Clositered Away incorporates schoolhouse themes with rustic flair. She homeschools her children, so there’s a good reason she’s inclined to bring the school into her home. But even for those of us who don’t have a utilitarian need for it, this schoolhouse style can feel quite nostalgic.

The company that inspired a movement – Schoolhouse – has their own blog and it’s a great resource for inspiration! The above image was taken for their 2019 Catalog in the home of artist Anglea Medlin.

Many of their workspaces embody exactly the vibes that I hope to achieve in my own home. For example, this vignette inside their corporate office in Portland is exactly the look I love.

In fact, there’s even so much inspiration to be found in their messiest spaces. When they took us on a photo tour of their factory in Portland, I was particularly enamored with this haphazard stack of vintage chairs.

MY FAVORITE MODERN SCHOOLHOUSE HOME DECOR ITEMS

Before I get into how I gave my dining room’s makeshift mudroom some Schoolhouse Style, I would like to mention that there are affordable ways to incorporate this industrial vintage vibe into your home without the need for DIY. Of course, I will always DIY anything that costs more than $50, given the time and opportunity, but here are some inexpensive finds you can buy off the shelf to start integrating Schoolhouse vibes today!

MY DIY SCHOOLHOUSE WALL STORAGE FOR UNDER $20!

How To Store Coats, Backpacks, and Bags Without A Dedicated Entryway: No mudroom? No problem. With this super simple and cheap DIY, you can corral all your kid’s backpacks, reusable grocery store bags, and outerwear in style.

As soon as we moved into this house, I immediately knew we would need to dedicate a small bit of our dining room (originally the living room + you can read more about my decision to make this switch here: Our California Bungalow) to serve as a mini-mudroom. While we actually do have a real mudroom at the back of the house, its placement is so severely inconvenient – it has a door that leads to the exact opposite side of the house from our driveway – that we always enter our home through the front door.

Since the front door leads directly into our dining room, the result has been near-chaos. My original solution was to hang this $6 store-bought hook system under a piece of artwork.

That worked for a few weeks until our daughter started Pre-K. Now we are finding ourselves competing for space on those hooks so I knew it was time to get a bigger system with more space.

As you can see above, there are a ton of options on the market for vintage industrial style wall hooks but none of them offered the capacity I knew we’d need come Winter (hello, coats and guests’ coats!). Plus, they were all in the $40 to $200 price range and I really didn’t want to spend that much money on something that didn’t even meet our storage needs.

My solution? DIY of course!

HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN HIGH CAPACITY HOOK RAIL

tools:
saw (or have wood cut at store)
palm sander
drill

supplies:
scrap wood / 1×4” wood furring strip – $2
craft paint or interior latex paint sample – $4
2 1/2” black screws – $1
industrial style hook set of 10 – $12

STEP ONE: Measure the length of your wall + cut your furring strip or scrap wood to size.

STEP TWO: Sand wood strip to smooth and create rustic base.

If you prefer a cottage, farmhouse, or coastal look, you would love the look of this wood scrap with about 50% of the white paint landed off. However, since I wanted to achieve an industrial look, I decided to take it one step further.

I opted to add a layered paint look, using some craft paint I already had on-hand. I enlisted my daughter to help me cover the board in a grayish green paint, with touches of yellow. Kids are really good at creating an unintentional weathered look with paint!

I gave her a stencil and told her to paint it however she liked. The result was a layered look that I could then sand back down again to enhance the wood grain.

STEP THREE: Lay out your hooks to measure and mark equidistance.

STEP FOUR: Install hooks directly into your wood strip.

STEP FIVE: Drill pilot holes for screws that will attach your board directly into the wall.

STEP SIX: Screw your wood board into the wall using anchors or directly into studs.

That’s it! Now you’re done!

Here’s how my DIY Hook Rail Board looks in my dining room –

Now we have plenty of room to store our jackets, backpacks, and bags without taking up floorspace! Plus, the industrial look blends so seamlessly into our historic bungalow home!

This stool serves as a perfect spot for our daughter to sit while we puts on her shoes every morning. I’m still searching for a good shoe storage solution for her grab ‘n go shoe lifestyle. I know the perfect Schoolhouse Style bin is out there somewhere. I just have to find it. And if I don’t? I guess I’ll just have to DIY it!

Meanwhile, we use these shoe cabinets for storing our excessive shoe collection.

This tutorial was completed as part of our At Home DIY Blogger’s Challenge series. Each month, we choose a new topic to tackle and come together as a group to motivate and inspire you to get your DIY hats on and get to work! See more $20 DIY Decor Projects

This month’s topic is $20 DIY Decor and my fellow bloggers are bringing their A games! Click the image above to check out all of the genius money-saving DIYs they’re sharing with us this month!

MODERN SCHOOLHOUSE DECOR + FURNITURE

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DECORATING AN OLD HOME ON A BUDGET ISN’T ALWAYS EASY
BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

The post Decorating With Modern Schoolhouse Style: Budget Friendly Wall Storage with A Vintage Industrial Look appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

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BONUS ROOM MAKEOVER

Today, I’m showing you a few handy tricks I’m using to pull this room together without spending much money. A little ingenuity goes a long way.

It’s Week 4 of the Spring 2019 One Room Challenge and our bonus room-turned family media room is just about complete …

This week has been all about little tweaks and hacks I can make to my existing furniture to give it a fresh look. The biggest project I tackled was updating our existing Pottery Barn PB Grande sofa to look a little newer. This sofa is 15 years old and it’s showing its age, despite still being a super sound and comfortable piece of furniture.

Inn the 15 years that she’s owned it, Christine has already replaced the slipcover once. That replacement cost about $2500. That’s the price of a new sofa! The difference is that this piece is seriously still as comfortable and stable as Day One. It just looks kind of .. worn. (Story of my life)

Our bonus room gets a lot of sunlight and we began to notice the cover was fading under the harsh UVs about six months ago. Those pink splotches you see are indicators that the dye is fading in the sunlight.

Initially, we’d planned to just buy a new sofa cover. Then we realized that the Grand Collection seems to have been replaced by the Big Sur Collection. While we love the look of the Big Sur sofa, it’s not exactly identical to the one we have. As a result, we weren’t sure that we could even purchase a new slipcover for our sofa.

That’s when I started to consider options to make our existing slipcover look a little newer. I’m no stranger to dyeing fabric. I’ve been dyeing my dark cloths and upholstery since I was a kid. My mother taught me how to extend the life of my faded black fashion by throwing a pack of Rit Dye in the drum of the top-loading washing machine when I was very young and I’ve been using that method most of my life.

Only now I’m older and I don’t have a top-loading washing machine. Mine is a front-loader. The main difference is that front loader washing machines use a lot less water. Plus, they don’t fill entirely until after the load has started and the basin is locked (to keep you from opening the door and causing leaks).

Since I can’t add a pack of powder to the water BEFORE I put the fabric in the drum (as you would with the traditional dye method), I’d always assumed it was impossible to use the washing machine method to dye my clothes and upholstery. For years, I’ve been dyeing fabric with the old school method – a plastic tub of dye in my garage, stirring constantly. That method works for smaller items like shirts and pillow covers, but I’d need a massive dye tub for a slipcover.

I knew there had to be a better way to dye a slipcover in my home. So I researched dyeing methods and came up with this super simple strategy to dye a sofa slipcover (or any larger item) in my front loader washing machine.

How To Dye A Sofa Slipcover

Dyeing a sofa cover in a front load washing machine. Previously considered impossible, I figured out a way to dye large, heavy fabrics in water efficient front loaders without blotching. This method keeps the dye consistent.

FABRIC DYEING SUPPLIES:
fabric dye
very hot water
4 cups salt (for cotton, 4 cups vinegar for synthetics)
1 tsp dish detergent
dye gloves
2 glass measuring cups (one 4 cup and one 2 cup will work)metal whisk (don’t use silicone as it will stain) tea kettlebaking soda and white vinegar (for fabric prep)

Here’s the recipe I used to achieve the dark grey dye for my sofa slipcover. I wanted a color with some depth, so I used two different types of fabric dye and colors.

1 bottle charcoal grey
2 boxes pearl grey

FABRIC DYEING METHOD:

Step One – Prepare your slipcover (fabric) to accept the dye.
Since the sofa slipcover is pretty large and bulky, I decided to create two dye baths so the fabric has room to circulate through the dye. I recommend you do this too.

Start by washing the body of the slipcover on a cold water cycle. Don’t use detergent on this round. The point of this preparation is to remove all leftover chemicals from the fabric so that the dye can penetrate. Instead, use just 2 cups baking soda, poured directly into the drum of the machine, prior to load sensing. Then add 1 cup white vinegar to your detergent cup.

It may be tempting to skip this step but don’t. If you want a consistent fabric color, this step is necessary. This will release all leftover detergents and caked-in dirt so your dye will be able to fully move into each thread.
Once the load is complete, don’t dry your slipcover. Pull it out of the washing machine to release any water puddles. You want the slipcover to be fully wet when you move on to your dye bath. Water is attracted to water. With a wet fabric, your dye will be more likely to penetrate every nook and crevice of your slipcover.

Step Two – Prepare your dye mixture.
Unlike the pour and go dyeing methods of the past (with top loading machines), this method will require a little more preparation of the dye. But don’t worry. It’s super easy.

Bring a tea kettle of water to a near boil. Pour your dye into a glass measuring cup. Use a separate glass measuring cup to measure out two cups of your very hot water. Then add them to the dye and stir with a metal whisk until the dye has fully dissolved. Measure two more cups of very hot water and add that to the dye mixture and stir again.

Step Three – Prepare your salt mixture.
In a separate glass pouring vessel (I used this glass juice pitcher), pour two cups salt and two cups very hot water. Then stir until the salt has fully dissolved. Repeat by adding an additional 2 cups salt and 2 cups very hot water.

Then add 1 tsp dish detergent to your salt mixture and stir thoroughly.

Step Four – Start your wash cycle.
Before adding any of your salt or dye mixture to the washing machine, you want to begin your cycle. Don’t worry that you won’t be able to open your tub door once the cycle begins. You won’t need to.

Choose the hottest and longest possible cycle. For my washing machine (an older model of this one), I used the Sanitary cycle and chose heavy soil level.

Step Five – Add your dye and salt mixtures to the washing machine.
Rather than adding the mixture directly to your tub, you’re going to add it into the soap dispenser.

You can do this by opening the drawer for your dispenser, after the wash cycle has begun, and removing the plastic cup. Set the cup aside and pour the dye mixture directly into the dispenser area where it says “Main Wash”.

Immediately after adding the dye, follow up by adding the salt mixture. This will help flush the dye from your components and will assist the dye in thoroughly penetrating the fabric.

Close the door and wipe down any areas that may have been splashed with dye using a wet paper towel.

Once your cycle has ended, you can remove your slipcover and allow to dry. Then repeat this entire process on the cushion covers. You don’t need to dye them all individually. You can just add them all to one dye bath.

While I still need to steam the sofa cover to remove the wrinkles, I’m really impressed by how well the dye took to the cotton twill fabric!

My sofa cover looks much more modern and new than it did before and I spent less than $50 to get this look. Considering a sofa cover replacement would’ve cost around $2500, I consider this a major victory.

You’ve maybe noticed something else I did to update the look of my dated sofa: I replaced the old legs with new modern pegs!

I found these replacement legs for just $3.50 each and the process was simple. I unscrewed my sofa’s existing legs and simply screwed these in right in their place. It was a major update that took less than 15 minutes and just $15!

I actually loved the look so much that I decided to purchase an additional six legs to tie our new modern chaise and old sofa together. That update was simple as well because I was able to just use these legs instead of the legs that came with the chaise while I was assembling it. This is what the original legs on the chaise looked like:

chaise lounge | replacement legs | keith haring dog pillow cover

You can stain the replacement legs, (which are available in all sorts of sizes and styles, by the way), but I chose to keep them natural so they would match the birchwood accents we’re bringing into the space.

Accents like this awesome Birch Plywood Art Station I built for my daughter:

It’s actually not even birch at all! It’s a sheet of unstained pine plywood that mimics the look of birch but for less than $10! To create the storage vessels, I used a set of inexpensive clear file holders that I spray painted white on the interior (to maintain the glossy look on the outside and 4” PVC piping, cut to a 15 degree angle and glued to the plywood with construction adhesive.

Then I added a little birch shelf at the top to display some fun artwork by a local Nashville artist.

Everything is adhered to the plywood, so this is renter-friendly storage. I even attached the plywood to the wall using these velcro strips, which means this will come down easily and no repairs will be necessary when we move. So we can take this cute art storage station with us!

She loves it so much that I woke up yesterday to the sound of her in the bonus room (which is nowhere near completion, mind you), already drawing up a storm!

My plan is to build a small desk for her to work on her artwork in front of the 3D wall mural we installed last week (more on that process here). For now, it seems she’s happy to color on an old table in the middle of the room.

I’m just happy that it looks cute and it’s tying in the wood accents we’re implementing to update this space for a modern appeal:

Our last little furniture hack of the week involves this Ikea Hemnes Media Center that we’ve owned for six years. It’s been with us in 3 different homes now and has taken a bit of a beating. But, hey! It’s still sturdy and the white wood finish matches basically everything.

So to modernize it, I created these simple drawer pulls by cutting an extra large dowel down to 1” pieces and using a drill bit to create a pilot hole in which the existing hardware’s screws would fit right into.

They work really well, I’m pleased to report, and they look so fresh!

dowel | media unit | cabinet screws

They’ve given us the perfect birch accent we needed to tie this media unit into the new modern vibe of this new bonus room. And the project was less than $5!

The room is finally starting to shape up. There’s still a ton of styling to do, which can be overwhelming. I’ve got to find a place for all of our family’s sentimental items.

But I’m also not forgetting the fun! I’ve already added desperately needed storage by filling this Ikea PS cabinet with our games.

And finally, Christine’s record player is getting a permanent home in this room as we shift this space from a playroom to a full-service media room for our whole family to enjoy.

There’s still a lot of work to do, so I’m releasing you to go check out the other One Room Challenge spaces that are oh-so-close to completion this week: ORC Blog

I’ve been a long-time follower of the ORC and I’m always a little humbled and sentimental that it’s still around for me to participate in. So if you’re looking to kickstart a DIY home project or you just want to take a peek into the reality of renovating spaces, I highly encourage you to check it out.

Thanks, as always, to Linda Holt for bringing this event back every season! We love it as much as you do. And a super huge thanks to Better Home and Gardens and all of the amazing sponsors who keep this event going! You can see the full list of official sponsors here.

This time around, I’ve even got my own list of sponsors to show off. I can’t wait to tell you about each of these brands that has made my participation in this event possible. So stay tuned! That is, after you go check out all the other spaces.

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

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Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, HAPPY RENOVATING!

xoxo
Teri

The post Don’t Replace Your Furniture. Update It Instead! ORC Bonus Room Makeover Week Five appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

DIY DECORATING TUTORIAL

Today I’m showing you how I created a custom toy storage solution that any kid would love. Using inexpensive lumber and some creative finishing techniques, I’ll show you how to pep up the utilitarian items to insure your kid loves putting away their toys!

This post is sponsored by Eclectic Products, the makers of UNICORN SPiT + Famowood Glaze Coat, but all opinions are mine.
Thanks for supporting the brands that support me!

A few months ago, I installed wooden shelves in my daughter’s bedroom closet. The purpose of the shelving was to house her various small toys and create a respite in her relatively unused walk-in closet. I’d imagined a space where should could play with her dolls and share fun moments with her cousin, while also keeping her clutter out of the main living spaces. It worked really well! She loved having her own little space, separate from where she sleeps (the ultimate bad time for my four-year-old). The only problem? Once the initial novelty wore off, she stopped wanting to entertain friends in the space.

When I asked her why she non longer enjoyed the space, she announced that it is boring. “It’s just wood”, she said, “It’s not pretty.” To my kid, pretty is everything. She loves all the traditionally girlish childhood things: Rainbows, unicorns, mermaids, glitter, and anything shiny. Her taste reads like an early 90s makeup case got tumbled around for a year and spilled everywhere. The brighter, the better. That’s how she likes it.

While my taste is a little more subdued, I do encourage her to express her personality. So with this shelving finish, I took note of her affinity for bright colors and decided to run with it. Here’s how I created an easy rainbow stain for her existing pine wood shelves. 

STEP ONE: Prepare your workspace and materials

This project can be messy, which is what makes it so fun! I typically apply stain or paint outdoors or in the garage but since the weather wasn’t cooperating for this project, I turned our dining room table into a workspace.

To protect my table, I covered it with a plastic drop cloth and used disposable plastic bowls as a base to hold the wood roughly 3 inches above the table.

Then I carefully sanded the tops and sides of each wood plank. I used special care around the edges to remove any splinters. After sanding, I brushed away all dust with a dry cloth. This is important to achieving a smooth finish.

STEP TWO: Determine your colors

I chose one of my daughter’s favorite items, an acrylic rainbow photo frame, to use as inspiration for the color way of this project. The colors aren’t traditional rainbow (think ROYGBIV) but speak more to her bedroom decor.

UNICORN SPiT is available in 14 amazingly bright color options and since, it’s a paint, gel stain, and glaze, it can even be mixed together to create the absolute perfect hue for any project. For instance, I added a little white UNICORN SPiT to a few of the colors to lighten them up so they’d more accurately match the inspiration rainbow. Don’t worry that this will tone down their vibrancy! The end result was color that was still just as saturated and bright as I’d hoped it would be!

STEP THREE: Add water to create the stain

Since I wanted the colors to really stand out and enhance the grain of the wood, I decided to thin the UNICORN SPiT with only a small amount of water. The formula I used was 1 part UNICORN SPiT to 2 parts water.

Then I used a bamboo skewer to thoroughly stir the mixture.

STEP FOUR: Determine your design

I decided to create a rainbow grid with a fade effect between each color. To space every color evenly, I measured the length of my board and divided that number by six (the number of colors I was using). Then I used a faint pencil line to mark where each new color should begin.

STEP FIVE: Apply your first stain color

I began the application at the interior of the wood plank, where my line was drawn for my first color change, and moved the stain towards the edge. I used long, sweeping brush strokes and allowed the stain to puddle near my color change line. This would allow me to create a unique color transition (below).

STEP SIX: Add color transitions

For a unique marbled effect, I began each new color just slightly removed from the previous color’s lines. I stained the plank and then used a dripping technique to marry the two colors, without mixing.

I repeated this process with each new color and on every board. Since UNICORN SPiT is water soluble, I was able to use the same brush for the entire project! A quick rinse between each colors kept everything looking crisp.

You’re done with the stain at this point. UNICORN SPiT can be used entirely on its own, without a glaze. Since my daughter likes everything shiny, I decided to coat each board in Famowood Glaze Coat Epoxy Coating. I even threw in something a little special for her!

I allowed the stain to dry completely before beginning my glaze process. The drying time was between 2 to 3 hours. It was much faster than a typical stain!

How to achieve a super high-gloss finish with Famowood Glaze Coat Epoxy Coating

Before I began the glazing process, I added some of my daughter’s favorite stickers to the boards. Since the epoxy coating is extra thick, the stickers became permanently imbedded. So if you’re worried about the longevity of this project, keep this in mind: Whatever you put under the glaze will be there forever.

EPOXY STEP ONE: Measure out equal parts resin and hardener

I used two disposable cups to measure. Since the mixture is 1:1, I didn’t eve have to get any special measuring containers! Each cup had a little lip that I used as my measuring point to make sure both were equal.

EPOXY STEP TWO: Mix epoxy and hardener

Refer to your package directions, in addition to this tutorial, and you will see that you are required to mix the solution for a full twelve minutes. First, for six minutes in your first container. Then you will pour that solution into a clean container and stir for an additional six minutes.

I recommend that you consult with the directions on every product you use. Please don’t use this blog post as your only guide for working with chemicals. Safety first. Read the directions. T. Moore Home, LLC holds no liability for failure to properly execute DIY projects. You can read more about our “information only” policy here.

EPOXY STEP THREE: Glaze

I began by pouring puddles of glaze down the direct center of each plank of wood. Then I used a plastic trowel to smooth the glaze out to the edges. Don’t worry about getting the entire surface smooth. Glaze Coat Epoxy Coating is self-leveling. So just like nail polish, it will harden evenly when applied no thicker than 1/8”.

Once the board is completely coated, set up a tent over the project to protect it from debris, and then allow to harden for 72 hours.

I couldn’t stop checking on the project. Each time I looked, it got better and better! I especially love the depth of the grain and knots in the wood, now that the colors have saturated them.

The glaze even added a layer of depth I wasn’t really expecting but I love!! 

Easy Closet Shelves DIY

Here’s how I added toy storage in my daughter’s closet and turned this unused space into a playroom she loves!

Once the epoxy dried and fully hardened (72 hours), I was able to reattach the wooden planks to the braces I’d previously installed in my daughter’s closet. These are just simple 2×2’ boards, screwed directly into the studs.

Then I used wood screws to attach the shelves directly into the braces from the top.

The screws and braces are visible from certain angles, so I’ll probably go back in and paint the braces to match the walls in the future. I don’t mind the visible screws because they are easy concealed by her toys.

The shelves allow her to display her favorite items and she loves to use them during play as well. For additional toy storage, I placed plastic bins on the floor so she can see everything that’s inside. Each bin holds a different type of toy, making it easier for her to remember where to put things away.

Asking her to tidy her space has never been easier. She feels so much independence now that she knows where everything goes and can easily access all the storage.

This project was completed as part of our At Home DIY Blogger’s Challenge series. Each month, we choose a new topic to tackle and come together as a group to motivate and inspire you to get your DIY hats on and get to work! See more DIY Home Improvement Projects

This month’s topic is Home Improvement and boy has this project ever improved our home! The time spent on nightly clean-up tasks has been cut in half!

I’d like to thank Eclectic Products, the makers of UNICORN SPiT + Famowood Glaze Coat, for sponsoring this fun project. In fact, I enjoyed this project so much that I even used undiluted UNICORN SPiT and some fun craft paper to transform an old shoe box into a special keepsake box to house my daughter’s jewelry!

She loves this little box so much that she actually squealed when I gave it to her! It’s amazing how easy taming toy clutter can be when your kid loves the storage you’ve given her.

UNICORN SPiT comes in a wide range of colors that would tickle any little kid – boy or girl – so remember to check out the entire line here and thanks again for supporting the brands that support this blog. Without sponsorships like these, I wouldn’t be able to share all the free DIY remodeling and decor plans. Helping people love their homes is my true passion and brands like Eclectic Products, the makers of UNICORN SPiT + Famowood Glaze Coat, make that possible.

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YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS + I’VE GOT ANSWERS.

Commenting on this post is disabled after 24 hours so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out! xoxo

HAPPY HOME, HAPPY DECORATING!

xoxo
Teri

The post Kid’s Closet Playroom Makeover: How To Stain Wood In Rainbow Colors appeared first on Fortune House Shop.