DIY Accessories Projects 2013 Decorating Ideas

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

Chain Reaction 

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

Chevron Vase 

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

Quick & Easy Memo Board 

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

Reading Light 

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

To Dye for Colors 

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

Rosette Lampshade 

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

Cozy Felt Pillows 

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

No-Sew Pillow 

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

Felted Lamp Base 

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

Twine Light Shades 

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

Freehand Floral Vase 

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

Rosette Throw Pillow 

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

Give 'Em the Slip 

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

Wrap It Up 

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

Grass-Motif Pillow 

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

Colorful Kitchens Decorating Summer 2013 Ideas

Bored with your pure white kitchen? Try adding a dose of light or bright color to liven up your favorite room. I hope you’ve been inspired by these Colorful Kitchens decorating ideas.I hope you like it , Most of all, have fun with it !!!

Ribbon Projects 2013 Decorating Ideas

Use ribbon to add personalized flair to furniture, accessories and more. Start with ribbons in patterns and colors that match your room's decor and get embellishing!

Strips of grosgrain ribbon add style to this small reading nook. Durable ribbon adorning the chair helps highlight its curvy figure. Apply Sealah tape (available online) in short intervals to the back of the ribbon, pressing it onto the chair as you go. Jazz up a plain lampshade with short bits of ribbon adhered to the shade in random intervals (again, use Sealah tape to affix the strips). A single strip of ribbon around the perimeter of the side table ties each piece together.

Lengths of shimmering gold ribbon used on objects throughout this office space add oodles of character. Affix bits of ribbon to the top and bottom of a plain lampshade to add stylish flair. Use the same ribbon around the base of a slipcover to tie the whole look together.

When curtain panels won't fit or aren't necessary, try a simple rectangular valence to add softness and a splash of color. Use lengths of coordinating ribbon to tie it up and add dimension.

Use this snappy project to add character to a plain journal. Simply glue one end of the ribbon (any pattern or color will do) to the bar on the buckle and wrap around the journal and through the buckle, snipping a hole for the prong. Use a no fray product to keep the hole and ribbon end from fraying.

A collection of ribbon scraps and a metal tension rod are all you'll need to re-create this wispy window treatment. Simply gather an assortment of lengths of ribbon (we chose sheer pastel fabrics) and tie them to the top of the tension rod. The pieces can be easily switched out as decorating tastes and trends change.

Breathe new life into a tired chair with this creative ribbon project. To re-create the look, remove the seat cushion and weave layers of ribbon over the top of the cushion. Secure the ends underneath the cushion with nails, glue, or heavy duty tape. When you're pleased with the placement of the ribbons, place drops of fabric glue on the underside of the ribbons to secure.

Spruce up a plain-Jane place mat with lengths of colorful ribbon. The two types of ribbon used to embellish this place mat feature hues that complement the bold colors featured on the dishware. Use fabric glue to affix the strips of ribbon to the mat.

Use up those scraps of old ribbon that are cluttering your wrapping supplies, and create a pretty tablescape in no time. Here, bits of green ribbon in varying hues work together as a funky and fun alternative to an ordinary tablecloth.

Lengths of pink, yellow, and black ribbon around the perimeter of this dining table give the piece standout style. Bits of ribbon affixed to the matte around a nearby art print unifies both pieces.

Strips of brightly colored ribbon add flair to this console table. The strips along the top and base of the table run horizontally, while the pieces on the legs run vertically to emphasize the object's height.

Easy Ideas for Decorating Small Spaces

Decorating a small space has it’s own set of challenges. Today I have 7 ideas to help make the most of your space even if it’s not that large. Through the use of color, the right accessories, proper furniture placement and a few other decorating tricks, you can turn your small space into a fabulous space.

Paint an Accent Wall. Dark colors make a wall recede giving the illusion of more depth in a room. Paint one wall a contrasting color then carry that color into the room through accessories and fabrics.

Create a desk in a niche. Utilize small nooks or niches to add a shelf to use as a desk. Decorative corbels and trim help to give it a finished look.

Choose furniture you can see through. Clear chairs and a glass top table help to visually expand a small dining area and keep it from feeling cramped.

Choose furniture that is multi-functional. A daybed functions as a sofa during the day and a bed at night. This is an excellent solution if you live in a studio apartment or don’t have the space for a guest room.

Use smaller armless side chairs. Lightweight chairs without arms work better in smaller spaces because they are easier to maneuver in and out of and they can easily be moved from one room to another.

Keep your kitchen storage open. Heavy upper cabinets can sometimes make a small kitchen seem even smaller. By using open shelving, the eye is tricked into believing the space is larger.

Select furniture that doesn’t weigh the space down. This bed offers a great focal point in this room and the height brings the eye up. Like the clear furniture mentioned above, the sleek style doesn’t take up too much visual space. Keeping things light and airy helps to make the space feel larger.

By Peggy Pardo