DIY

Ugly to Lovely: A Chair Makeover

, , , ,

This is a makeover project, and this chair was long overdue. I bought this chair for $10 about 20 years ago. Soon after I bought it, a friend recovered the seat with a neutral, if not boring, fabric. We used it for a few years, then it ended up in the basement for at least the last 10 years. No one sat on it. It was up against the wall by the ping-pong table, and balls always seemed to get caught underneath it. I really liked the chair, though, and that’s why it survived many rounds of purging at the second hand store. For the makeover, I did a simple refresh of new paint and new fabric on the cushion.

This is a makeover project, and this chair was long overdue. I bought this chair for $10 about 20 years ago. Soon after I bought it, a friend recovered the seat with a neutral, if not boring, fabric. We used it for a few years, then it ended up in the basement for at least the last 10 years. No one sat on it. It was up against the wall by the ping-pong table, and balls always seemed to get caught underneath it.

(more…)

Using Latex Paint To Tint DIY Cement Decor

, , , , , ,

For all of you concrete/cement enthusiasts, check out the DIY Furniture Studio Concrete and Cement Furniture/Decor/Garden Community Board on Pinterest. If you want to join as a contributor comment “ADD ME” on this pin: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/500603314815473738/ or email me at [email protected].

Teal diy succulent planters made with Behr interior paint, Quikcrete anchoring cement, and water

Add some color to your DIY cement decor projects using latex paint as colorant.  Learn how to create unique colorful decor such as succulent planters, bowls, vases, and plates.

DIY cement vases colored with latex paint.
DIY cement vases colored with latex paint.

(more…)

Wood Shim Wall Art

, , , , , ,

 

DIY wood shim wall art.

Upcycle some wood shims! This wood shim wall art is made of ordinary 16-inch construction cedar wood shims glued together.

DIY wood shim wall art.

I’m back from vacation and ready to make more furniture and decor! Let’s get to it!

Supplies/Tools:

  • 16 inch wood shims
  • Titebond 3 (or another wood glue)
  • four bar clamps (length depends the length of your shim wood art)
  • ruler
  • square
  • timer
  • jigsaw
  • sandpaper
  • polyurethane (or another finish)

The 16-inch cedar wood shims I used for this project commonly come in packages of 42 at home improvement stores. I bought four packages (168 total shims) at Menards, but I didn’t use all of these.  After I opened the packages, I sorted them into “keepers” and “other.”  My (more…)

Hand-Formed Cement (Over Glass) Vases

, , , , ,

 

DIY concrete vases formed by hand over inexpensive glass vases

These vases are made by covering inexpensive glass vases and glass bottles from the recycle bin with anchoring cement. They are surprisingly easy and fun to make.

I happened on the idea of using anchoring cement to cover objects such as the glass vases when I was making my DIY Cement Replacement Sofa Legs for IKEA and Other Brands.  When making these legs, I mixed up very thick batches of cement.  I noticed that the wet cement could be hand formed for a short period of time because it got thick and pliable, kind of the consistency of silly putty, and then it hardened quickly.  It was only in that pliable form for a few minutes.  So when I was making the sofa legs, I got in the habit of making little free-form cement bowls from the left-over cement mix. Then I began to think about all the things around the house I could cover with cement, and I decided to try cement-covered glass vases and bottles (before moving on to the furniture 😀 ).
(more…)

Easy DIY Patriotic Crate Side Table

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Make an Easy Crate Side Table.

This easy-to-make rustic side table is made of a wooden crate turned upside down and simple wooden legs that are attached inside the crate. I had fun decorating it with a red, white, and blue theme in honor of the Fourth of July holiday here in the States.  Decorated to your liking, it could be a lovely side table for use in a child’s bedroom, in a nook by the recliner, or even as a plant stand next to a sunny window.

 

DIY patriotic red, white, and blue side table made with a crate turned upside down and wood legs.
DIY crate side table red and white crate with white star.
DIY furniture side table crate.

 

This is an easy DIY furniture project that can be made in less than a day, and that includes paint and glue dry times!  Here we go.

The Easy DIY Patriotic Crate Side Table project has four parts:

  • Cut, sand, and finish the legs
  • Paint and distress the crate
  • Attach the legs to the crate
  • Make the star, paint, and attach to the crate

(more…)

1 2