Home Decor: 3 Ways to Use Old Wooden Crates

1. Use wooden crates as shelves

This one is so easy, anyone can do it. All you need are some wooden crates and the hardware to secure them on the wall (e.g. driller etc.). You can also choose to give them an extra twist using a couple of beautiful brackets for each crate. Another way to make the crates look even better is to give them a nice wooden finish with some wood paint or give them a pop with brighter colored paint. Also, you can choose to cover the back of the crates with some kind of liner, like wallpaper, fabric or other material.

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You can use a self-adherent type to make the make-over even easier. Once you are happy with your crates, you can hang them on the wall either in a nice lined order or mix things up a little and go for an unconventional look by placing them in a more chaotic order. It’s really up to you and on the look you are going for.

2. Make a bookshelf or shelving system out of the wooden crates

Another idea is to use more crates and secure them together to build a unique bookshelf. Painting the crates with bright, fun colors would make them an ideal addition to any kids’ room! You can choose by either stack them on each other or make a more unsymmetrical arrangement by arranging some of the crates horizontally and others vertically. The outcome will be fantastic in any case.  Remember: to keep things nice and organized don’t overfill the crates with books and items.

3. Create some unique space saving furniture

When it comes to using crates, your imagination is the limit. You can put some console legs under a slim wooden crate to create a wonderful console, or just add some smaller legs to make a side table or night stand. Another option is to use the wooden crates almost as they were designed to be used in the first place; to store stuff. Just add some wheels on the bottom of the crate to give it some mobility and you will have the perfect rustic looking storage.

Implementing any of these ideas will add a unique personal touch to your home decorating. And if you really like using wooden crates, think about using them as table décor by adding vases or plants, using them as coffee tables (one large crate or more of them nailed together) or in any other way you choose.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Easy DIY Gift: CD Picture Frame

Image via: Jam Carin

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Things You Will Need

• An old CD. If the width of your picture frame is wide you may need more than one CD.
• Scissors or tin snips
• Tacky glue
• Tweezers
• A piece of thin cardboard or a piece of cereal box
• Black slick dimensional fabric paint

Instructions

1. Cut the CD into pieces using the scissors. Vary the shapes and sizes.
2. Apply the glue on the front part of the frame and spread it using the cardboard.
3. Use the tweezers to pick up the CD pieces and place them on the glued frame. Continue this process and leave space between each piece.
4. Put the CD pieces on every part of the frame until it is fully covered. Leave to dry.
5. Squeeze the paint onto a scrap paper to ensure it doesn’t come out with bubbles.
6. Fill in the spaces between the CD pieces with the paint. Keep the lines even.
7. You can repeat the lines to make them bold. However, make sure you don’t smear the previous lines.
8. When all the lines are filled, leave the frame to dry.
9. Display for all to see!

Image via: Make it easy crafts

Who knew old CDs could make stunning artwork? This easy DIY project is ideal for beginners and requires few materials. You will love it for its simplicity. Try it this holiday season and display your family pictures, holiday images, or beautiful art. Your friends and guests will ask you for tips on how to make the frames. After you show them, get started on another DIY project.

Can you think of anyone on your gift list who would enjoy this holiday craft?

Unfortunately most kids play kitchens on the market are made of plastic, cost serious money and on top of that, they are completely without personality. They have colors that often don’t look at all natural or inviting, or they are to “girly” when you really want both boys and girls to play with them. So what is the solution? Simple: Make your own DIY Toy by crafting a DIY Play Kitchen from Old Furniture you can cheaply buy at a garage sale if you haven’t a piece you can use already somewhere in your home. The most suitable furniture to use for making such a great toy are desks, cupboards, nightstands, dressers and of course old entertainment centers. Other than that, you will need paint and some basic tools, knobs, faucet and really anything you can think of and have on hand to create your one-of-a-kind play kitchen.

DIY Toy: Kids Play Kitchens from Old Furniture

Image via: Kate’s Creative Space

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Choose the Right Furniture

Choosing the most suitable furniture piece can be the biggest challenge. Make sure to look around your house or grandma’s house to find the perfect candidate. To make the decision, think about available space and the age of the recipient. A nightstand is perfect for a toddler, whilst a bigger desk or entertainment center would be ideal for a bigger child.

Also, try to find a piece that won’t demand too much work or modifications, especially if you don’t have the gift of a handy craftsman. Choose a piece that already looks like a small kitchen and requires only a little paint, a knob here and there and a metal bowl as a sink to minimize work.

Image via: Blue Eyed Yonder

Make a Decision on Colors

To choose the right colors is essential. Ask yourself about where you would most likely place the play kitchen to determine colors. Also, you can base your decision on the gender of the child, on whether you want the play kitchen to fit in or stand out and so on. Use colorful fabrics to fake curtains and towels which will add to the overall appeal of the kitchen.

 Image via: Life of Lacey

Details, Details, Details

To finish up the play kitchen, give details some thought. After all, in detail is where the love is hidden. Find some cute knobs and accessories that compliment your child’s character to add the necessary personal touch. Also, think about using hooks, pictures, chalk surfaces and even a fake window over the sink to round everything up. Don’t forget about some necessary utensils and of course some food replica so your kid has everything it needs to have a great time!

To complete the look, why not make a custom mini pantry? Make DIY toys like this and the kids will have tons of fun for many years to come!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Use Repurposed Materials to Improve your Decor

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Recovered Furniture

Perhaps you have those furniture pieces that were handed down to you or maybe you purchased the furniture from a good yard sale. Well whatever the case maybe with the furniture, take what you have and expound on it. There are plenty of DIY projects and tutorials online that can teach you how to revamp your furniture selections that may be outdated or un-usable for what they were originally designed for. Each piece of furniture has its own character that it brings to the space so don’t just get rid of it, instead try designing it another.

Image via:  DIY Inspired

Regained Accents

Repurposed materials help to make the décor of the home to match with your own unique personal style. Many of these materials are one-of a kind which will help your décor truly stick out in a pleasing way. Believe or not the ordinary items found in an antique store, thrift shop, yard sale or even within your own home are all game. Look around and get creative. Take something like a suitcase and turn it into a chair or intro shelves for a dresser drawer. Check out different websites to help you to become creative about the different ways to break down and rebuild the accents you have collected.

Image via: Pinterest

Re-create Something from Nothing

From over the years one can collect quite a bit of miscellaneous items that may seem useless. However, that is not entirely true. Say you just moved into a new place that didn’t carry as much shelving that you might have desired or even enough storage space that you preferred. Did you know that from the re-purposed materials you can create your very own unique shelving and storage cabinets from items like a baby bassinet or even from a ladder? The opportunities are endless.

Image via:  My Modern Met

Every now and again we all want to spruce up our interiors. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go out and buy the whole store, you can get all that may need with just a few re-purposed materials. Just tap into your creative spot and see what ideas you may come up with. Now I ask you Stagetecture readers, what re-purposed ideas will you use for your décor?

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy DIY Saturday! Today we show you how to make a recycled or repurposed dining room table. Whether you have old furniture to repurpose or refinish it or you want to create an entirely new dining room table – today’s DIY Saturday is for you. Today, watch a video on how an antique bed was turned into a dining room table. Then read on to see how you can use everyday items for a dining,coffee table or night stand.

Video: How to Build a Distressed Farm Table

Link to video –> How to Build a Distressed Farm Table

Are you someone who’s obsessed with the latest DIY trends and who loves to have a project to do yourself?  Are you constantly looking for inexpensive and easy ways to spice up the décor in your home? Have you ever thought about creating a brand new coffee table or nightstand easily and affordably? Here are three table ideas you can use to create fresh, fun and brand new tables for your home all by yourself!

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Coffee Table   

Create a rustic coffee table made out of old crates! These charming crates can be purchased at any local craft supply store such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Make sure to purchase four of them. Find a color of wood stain that you like and that coordinates with the rest of your living room furniture.

The first thing you will need to do is sand the crates with any type of fine-grain sandpaper and wipe clean. Then spray each crate separately with your wood stain, and allow to dry. Once each crate has completely dried, you can arrange the crates however you like and nail or glue each crate together; taking care to use small enough nails so they don’t show through.

This charming and rustic crate-made coffee table is a perfect focal point for a living room.  Plus it has more than enough storage for décor display and organization. Just think, with the purchase of four simple crates and a can of wood stain, you can have a brand new coffee table for your living room!

Night Stand

Is your bedroom nightstand in need of a facelift? Check out this absolutely darling little nightstand and its extreme makeover! What’s even better is that the makeover is super easy to do with game-changing results!

The first thing you need to do is remove the drawers in your old, drab, forgotten about nightstand. If your nightstand has more than one drawer, that is okay! It will give you more surface area to add pops of color and pizazz!  Next, you need to sand down the nightstand to remove its protective glaze. Then wipe clean. Once the piece is dry, choose a fun paint color that coordinates with your bedroom design. In the case of this particular nightstand they chose a vibrant sea blue.

Once you have painted the nightstand with at least two coats of color, allow it to dry completely. Make sure to either spray or brush on a protective top glaze. This will give the piece some shine as well. Once the glaze had dried, apply the fun, funky and patterned contact paper you have chosen into the nightstand where the shelves once were. You will be amazed at its transformation, and how well the vibrant contact paper makes those open shelf areas pop!

Dining Table

This is such an amazing idea! How creative and crafty would you be when you repurpose an old wood door as a dining table! You can find an old door at any antique store, vintage shop or even your own home! Find one that suits your design style and is in fairly good condition!

You can use the door as is, or you can sand it down and of course repaint or refinish it to your liking. The above farmhouse door is being used as it is for an ultra-vintage feel.  You can have someone construct legs for your table or you can use old front porch posts for added charm. Find some dining room chairs that coordinate nicely with your table and its look and Voila! You have a brand new (to you) dining room table!

This is such an amazing idea! How creative and crafty would you be when you repurpose an old wood door as a dining table! You can find an old door at any antique store, vintage shop or even your own home! Find one that suits your design style and is in fairly good condition!

You can use the door as is, or you can sand it down and of course repaint or refinish it to your liking. The above farmhouse door is being used as it is for an ultra-vintage feel.  You can have someone construct legs for your table or you can use old front porch posts for added charm. Find some dining room chairs that coordinate nicely with your table and its look and Voila! You have a brand new (to you) dining room table!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Do you want to throw your old ladder away? Well, think again. You may not know what you’re about to lose. There are great things that you can make out of it – many DIY projects just awaiting to be made! Your old ladder can be repurpose into a decorative and functional item at home. These ladder ideas can certainly make an accent in your home interior or exterior. Isn’t that exciting?

The beauty of repurposing an old ladder is that you don’t have to do a lot with your ladder. It can stay as it is – painting is not even required. You just need your old ladder, as it is, and a couple of accessories.

Image via: Eenig Wonan

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So, check out these unique decor ideas to repurpose that old ladder and see how it can work like magic:

Shoe Rack Ladder

You spent a lot in buying shoes and yet you just keep it in storage when not in use. Why not showcase them? With a ladder shoe rack, you can make your shoes as decorative items at home. Strap on your shoes on each step of the ladder all the way to the top. This idea will also save you time looking for your shoes in a bunch of storage.

Image via: Pinterest

Ladder Lighting Fixture

This is perfect for both interior and exterior decorations. Use your ladder as a holder for your lighting fixtures like chandelier, lanterns and anything you can hang. It creates a perfect rustic look to your design. Make sure to use ropes so you can intensify its artistic design. This is perfect for your patio, garage or even in the living room.

Image via: Eenig Wonan

Bookshelf Ladder

If you want to have an express bookshelf at home, your old ladder can do it for you. This is one of the simplest and quickest project for your old ladder. It’s a functional and attractive addition to your wall design. Attach your old ladder on the wall and pile in your book.

So, you still want to throw your old ladder? Sure not! These are just three of the many wonders that your old ladder can make. What are you waiting for? Get hold of your old ladder and take it to the next level!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

One of the newest trends in residential architecture is saving space and reusing shipping containers. Ever wonder why some people are interested in container houses? Well, wait until you see some of the most remarkable container houses built in different places across the country. These houses are well-designed that you may not notice that it’s made from a robust container.

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Aside from its design, container houses are getting the attention of people for so many reasons.

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To provide you with the advantages of container houses, here are some notable reasons:

Mobility and Durability

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Containers are primarily designed for easy transport. It handles a hefty amount of materials for deliveries. This is why container manufacturers ensure its durability and toughness to any adverse condition. These two features make it perfect for containers to qualify for a stable home that can withstand diverse weather conditions. Along with durability the cost of construction is extremely low than a standard home.

Environmental friendly

The fact that these houses are built in recycled or repurposed containers, you can be certain that it alleviates the need for wood coming from trees to build a home. Not to mention the plastics and wastes that are produced in building a regular house. The container houses also require less operational cost for air-conditioning or heating. With owners placing their garden on top of the roof, the direct heat from the sun and cool breeze of the surroundings are filtered and the home now acts as an eco-system.

Economical

With a container house, you are assured of low maintenance and cost-efficiency. It is safe to say that you only have to spend for paint to maintain its benefits. But take note that by repainting your container house, you are not only doing maintenance but enhancement as well. This makes it two benefits for price of one. Since these home are limited square footage, the cost of upkeep is low and can help homeowners save space for their building footprint and more.

The increasing popularity of container houses can be driven by the high cost of monthly amortization of regular housing and their maintenance. It’s nice to know that there are architects and designer who are using their knowledge and skills in building great ideas like these container houses.

For more house tours on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy DIY Saturday! This week we are looking at the versatility of shutters and how they can be used to beautify your home. Once upon a time, shutters were only used for covering windows, and as decorative features on the exterior of your home. Today they are being used in re-purposed decor as headboards, and even as beautiful room dividers! The options are endless.

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Today watch a You Tube video that shows you how to creatively use shutters in your decor. Then my guest blogger will give tips on to creatively use shutters throughout your interior decor. Let me know which idea you decide to try?

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You Tube – Creative DIY Projects with Shutters

Guest Blogger – How to Creatively Use Shutters in Home Decor

Yes, we said it – shutters. Not a lot of people think about shutters these days when they’re thinking about interior design. They often think about shutters for practical purposes – sealing off a window from air leaks or helping to prevent the sun from coming in and heating the whole place up. But if you’re a smart interior designer, you know that having shutters does not have to just be a matter of practicality – it can be a matter of good taste as well.

The problem is, so few people think about shutters these days that they don’t really know where to begin. That’s where we come in. We can not only help you with incorporating your shutters into your home’s over-arching motif, but we can tell you why you need to do this right away. Here are three reasons you need to be thinking about shutters right now.

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1. They’re Practical

If you’ve ever been in a house with shutters, you know that they’re actually a great solution for window shading. They’re easy to adjust, move around, and they definitely accomplish their job of insulation and blocking the sun from coming in. And since not all shutters are alike, it can definitely be said that there are good shutters and bad shutters – they don’t have to look a certain way if you don’t want them to look a certain way.

Add the impact that shutters can have on your home’s energy usage – they help block the sun when you want it to be cool and can help you store heat when you don’t want it leaking out of your windows – and you start to see just how much sense it can make to have shutters on your windows.

2. Get Creative With Your Style

Just like any type of interior design decoration, it’s important to remember in this case that shutters do not come in one distinct shape or size. Essentially, they are customizable. So if you’ve been focusing on a particular type of shutter, it’s important to remember that your options are open. Shutters can be fit to coincide with the rest of your interior design themes and match the color patterns you’ve already selected for your house. Considering how important window trimming can look on a house, it’s good to have an option like shutters available to you.

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3. Need an Old Fashioned, yet Stylish Look?

Let’s face it; shutters do have a certain look as compared to shades and other options. And that’s a good thing if you’re looking for an old-fashioned chic look that matches with the rest of your house. After all, mixing modern with old-fashioned can make your home clash in strange ways. If you want a certain look and aren’t sure why shades aren’t working, it may be time to consider getting window shutters. They’re about to make a serious comeback and it’s good to stay ahead of the curve.

Chris Turberville-Tully is a marketing strategist for Purely Shutters, a UK retailer of residential and commercial shutters. Bay window shutters, solid shutters, speciality items and more can be found on Purely Shutters’ website.

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas

There’s no better way to freshen up your home than having a garden. Having plants in your backyard garden provides shade and a wonderful view that is pleasing to the eyes. A garden revitalizes your home ambiance and provides natural filtering effects in the surrounding area.

Whether you have a narrow or wide area available, a garden will always serve its purpose for as long as you know how to maximize your space and resources. Beautify your outdoor home this summer with these fresh garden ideas to make you feel cooler and enhance your exterior home.

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To help you out on your garden essentials, here are useful ideas you can implement:

Plant garden trees

Yes! You need to have trees in your garden even with limited space. Trees vary in different ways like size, fruit-bearing, seasonal versus coniferous trees. For gardens with limited space, you can always choose from smaller trees that grow within 8 – 10 feet and can be trimmed to shape. Trees such as Tulip, Red Maple and Chinese Red Birch are just some of the trees that you can control and trim the branches to fit your space. With trees in your garden, you can have a nice gentle breeze and enjoy visual height in your garden.

Plant a vertical garden

A vertical garden is not only for areas with limited space. This type of garden is now popular among home owners with abundant space for their garden. This is because of its mobility and beautiful foliage it lends to a wall. This can be very effective especially when placed on the walls so that the sun’s ultraviolet rays will be absorbed by the plants to prevent heat to accumulate in your home.  You can also add on different varieties of flowering plants that are suitable for the season. Vertical gardens are also a great way to hide unsightly air conditioning units and other mechanical items that need to be screened vertically outside your home.

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Use recycled containers for your plants

This is not only for the purpose of being green. The truth is, you can actually have equally good containers with your empty cans and containers as these materials already have colorful designs and stylish shapes to attract consumers. You can use your empty milk cans, old frying pans or containers from condiments. Also shop vintage shops for unique containers.

Creating an outdoor garden with dimension and texture like these above tips will create a serene outdoor space that you love to retreat to daily.

For more outdoor home ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

There is no question that furniture adds beauty to your home aside from the comfort. The focus is not only with the style but more so in its functionality.  Just like any other things, the price of the furniture does not reflect its quality and comfort. When looking for furniture for your apartment don’t get discouraged by the high cost of furniture in stores.

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If you want to shop for furniture, there are various places where you can shop and buy that can offer what you want at a very reasonable price. Consider the following options:

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Garage Sales

The garage sale is a great way to shop pre-owned furniture that suits your need. Thus, keep in mind that this furniture may require refurbishing after buying. It can also be a little of repainting or tightening of screws. But if the cost of these conditions cost lower and you can still get much savings for the said furniture, go for it! It would be great if you accompanied by someone to look for the furniture you need when in a garage sale.

Online Shops

Online shopping is one of the most popular stores today. It is very convenient since you can shop even by a single click of the mouse. You can do online shopping at the comfort of your home, restaurant and all other places where internet access is available. You will also be provided with the details of the items. Typically, online shops have customer service personnel who can answer your queries either through emails, web chat or voice calls. You can get a better idea of the styles and how much it would cost you. There are a huge number of websites that you can choose like eBay, Amazon and Ikea.

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Classified ads

Similar to garage sale, furniture for sale through the classified ads are second-hand furniture. The difference is that you do not need to visit the location since it would just be found in any newspaper, magazine or other forms of advertisement. The risk is that you often cannot see the actual item and the details are limited. You may find low cost furniture but you do not know exactly how much overhauling is needed. To be sure, you have to call the seller for information about the item.

Factory Outlets

There are stores that offer low prices for new furniture like factory outlets.  Here you can get great discounts. But you need to be familiar where these stores are located since items get sold in no time.

Remember to stick with your budget and always consider comfort and quality in buying furniture for your apartment. You might be surprised where great finds may appear!

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.