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Chair Covering 101

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4722903344_eb785bdea6_zOne of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to brighten up and refresh a room is by changing up your chairs. A fresh coat of paint or some new fabric can completely transform your old furniture, and is much less expensive than buying all new chairs. Plus, when recovering your own chairs, it’s totally customizable and you are able to have complete control over how your space looks. For a step by step tutorial with photos, check out this recovering guide by Sonya at At Home With The Barkers:

-Since I only needed to cover 6 chairs, 2 1/4 yards of fabric would work. I did end up buying 2 1/2 yards just for a little extra 

-Remove the seats by unscrewing them

-Lay your new fabric face down, put the seat on top, cut out how much you will need

-Be sure you staple down the center of each side in order to keep the fabric centered. Then carefully pull tight all the way around as you staple it down. Fold the corners in carefully creating simple pleats. You don’t want it to look like a wrapped package.

Photo Credit: Mazaletal

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Old House Makeover Tips

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Is your home 30 years old, or older? Does it have old school features like wooden wall panels, bad carpeting, and accessories as old as the home itself? Then it may be time for an update. This post is not an in depth guide to renovation and repairs: most of this stuff is purely cosmetic. However, upgrading old appliances and décor, and giving a place a fresh new paint job s important to giving it new life! Check out these makeover tips for old houses by Virginia at Live Love DIY:

-Sand down wood on floors, walls, trim, and doors- prep it for painting

-Paint everything in white or neutral colors!

-Remove closet doors to create open spaces

-Paint old furniture and change out hardware

Photo Credit: Glenn Scofield Williams 

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Furnishing Your First Apartment On A Budget

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Even though things are looking up for college grads, there are still millions of them out there with no job and thousands of dollars in debt. The ones that don’t move back in with their parents have to face stagnant wages and inflated rent prices. That’s why it’s important now, more than ever, to look for ways to save. Once you save for an apartment deposit, you run into the problem of how to afford furnishings, let alone décor that lets you express yourself. Check out this post by Julia Welling at SheFinds for tips on saving big when moving out:

-Sign up for store rewards cards before making any purchases

-Hit up local thrift stores. Be patient and you will most likely find something you love that is affordable.

-Get creative with your space. A curtain + pressure rod = instant (CHEAP) room divider. Especially helpful for studio apartment dwellers.

Photo Credit: Rob Young 

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Spray Painting Furniture

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I’m more than a little challenged when it comes to painting- walls, furniture, or anything else. I always feel like I miss giant spots, drip it on everything, and just generally make a mess. Me and paint brushes just aren’t friends. That’s why I love spray painting. It’s fast and easy, and you can’t really mess anything up as long as you paint outside. Some types of furniture are much more suited to spray paint than others. If you want to give any pieces in your home a quick spray paint makeover, check out this post by Painted Furniture Ideas. Spray paint is perfect for:

-Side tables, end tables, night stands.

-Bar stools, chairs.

-Coffee tables, small console tables.

Photo Credit: Jocelyn Durston 

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Saggy Sofa? How To Update It!

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I feel like everyone has it: the 10+ year old, beige, microfiber sofa. It has stains of indeterminate origin, maybe some kind of sticky black mark (gum??), and saggy, deflated-looking cushions. If you don’t have one, you know someone who does. If it IS your couch, never fear! Making them like-new again is actually fairly easy. Instead of spending hundreds on a new sofa, you can simply perk yours up for less than $30. Check out this tutorial by Tonya at Love Of Family And Home if your sofa is looking slouchy:

–The first thing I did for this makeover was wash all of our couch cushion & throw pillow covers! Let me just tell you, I had NO IDEA how filthy those things were until I washed them!  It was unbelievable!   

– I bought a 10lb box of Poly-Fil at our local Walmart store for $20.00 and used it to add more stuffing to the back cushions and throw pillows. I just unzipped the cushions & stuffed! Easy peasy!! 

-As far as the seat cushions go, I perked them up a bit using some Poly-Fil Quilt Batting ($9).

Photo Credit: kishisaka 

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Home Theater Inspiration- For Sports Fans!

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If you asked everyone what they would include in their home on an unlimited budget, nearly everyone would say a home theater. I know I would! That, a pool, and a giant library with a spiral staircase and comfy chairs. Most people picture a home theater as being an extravagant, over the top purchase. In most cases, that’s true- if you add in special recliner theater seating, an expensive 3D TV, and high end speakers- well, you’d have to be very wealthy. However, there are ways to do it cheaper. Projectors are not terribly expensive, and then all you need is a blank white wall and plenty of seating! If you’re planning to install your own home theater, and happen to be a football fan, I have just the inspiration for you. Check out this post by Bwalker at the Home Theater Gear blog for ideas:

-Move the snacks to your theater. Add a mini fridge, a hotdog roller, or even a popcorn machine!

-Customize chairs and other furniture with team colors and logos.

-Add a riser for that stadium feel, as well as giving all your guests the best seat in the house.

Photo Credit: gsloan 

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Rust Busting Secrets

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To me, metal furniture looks much more sophisticated than plastic lawn chairs. It’s also more durable, and will last you much longer. My entire life, I’ve had metal lawn furniture, and I’ve always loved the look of it. However, it does have its weak point: rain and rust. Now- one little storm won’t render your outdoor furniture useless- but over time, rust can build up. But even if it does- you don’t need to worry! Just read this tutorial by Lane Cummings at eHow and your patio furniture will be good as new:

-Spray the metal furniture with vinegar until each piece of metal is sopping wet
-Wait 15 minutes, then wipe off, and rinse with water- then dry

-Rub the rest of the rust off with a wire brush

-Sand off any remaining rust, wipe off

-Apply primer and rust-resistant paint

Photo Credit: Delwin Steven Campbell 

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