Dress up those Drab Terra Cotta Pots!

It's almost time to start those seedlings and start thinking about repotting your rootbound plants.  If you're like me, you have a ton of those inexpensive terra cotta pots in all sizes laying around your garden or in your basement or in your garage.  While these types of pots are long lasting and cheap, they are pretty ugly.

Below are some great ideas to dress them up!  I've done all of them and trust me when I tell you......each one of them is EASY.

My first favorite pot transformation is so easy, it's scary.  Head to the dollar store or a garage sale and scoop up several bottles of nail polish.  Cheaper the better.  Choose colors that you love to look at and don't worry about whether they'll look good on your nails....because we're not putting them on your nails.

Tip:  Use regular kitchen gloves when trying this technique.

Grab a bowl that you don't mind ruining.  Fill it half to 3/4 full of warm water.  It's important to choose a bowl that will allow you to put the entire length of the pot in without the water overflowing.

Grab your nail polish.  If you want a marbling effect, use 2 or more complimentary colors.  Empty the entire containers into the water.  Using a toothpick, gently swirl the polish until you see the colors making a marbling effect in the water.

Next put your pot in sideways, turn it slowly until all sides are equally coated.  The nail polish dries very quickly so don't dawdle too long on this step.

Take the pot out of the water and turn it over onto a styrofoam cup so the pot can dry upside down.

If you want your nail polish job to pop, spray paint the pot white before you dip it in the nail polish/water.  Make sure to allow the spray paint to dry completely before dipping it.

This is such a cheap project, so if you don't like the first one (or two), keep trying.  Practice makes perfect!

Decoupage!!!!
Decoupage makes everything look great!
Head to your local craft supply store, grab your decoupage supplies, pick out some pretty wrapping paper, newspaper, fabric or pictures out of a magazine and the results will be unique and stunning!

Spray paint your pots white or any other solid color you'd like and then grab a sharpie.  

How about just spray painting the entire pot.  

Stencils are an easy way to change the look of your pots.

Love the look of tile?  Maybe you have some tiles left over from a project?  Tile your pot!  Spray paint the interior of your pot a complimentary color and then tile away!  If your leftover tiles are too large, wrap them in a towel and using a hammer, break them up into smaller pieces.

Now go out there and start making those boring terra cotta pots gorgeous!

Small Spaces Don't have to be Crowded Spaces

Small spaces are a challenge for anyone when it comes to not only decorating them but making them functional as well as pretty.  

If you're a renter, you can't really grab a sledgehammer and start knocking out walls....well...you can, but your landlord will probably not be happy.

Dining rooms seem to be the most sacrificed when builders construct houses and/or apartments.  You don't really get an actual dining room, you get a dining nook or corner.

This month's post will be full of tips and pictorials to give you a few idea's on how to make your dining area both functional and pretty.  

My very favorite thing to do in a small dining nook is banquets.  If you're wood working savvy, then go all out with it.  But, if you're not, then you can either build a simple box design or you can purchase a few benches and throw some comfy cushions on them.  

Trust me folks, this is a simple and easy design.  All you have to do is built a box out of sturdy lumber that you can have the big box store cut to your measurements.  Once you get it home, nail it together and slap it in place.  Add a small table and some cushions and you have a great, comfy dining nook.

Better Homes & Gardens had this great idea.  Get a couple of kitchen cabinets that match the rest of your cabinets.  Cut some plywood to fit on the top, nail it down, add cushions, a small table, a couple of small chairs and you're ready to eat.

Notice that this is monochromatic?  The color uniformity will trick the eye into believing there's more room than there is.

The key to making your nook feel larger than it is?  Minimize the number of colors and textures.  The more colors and textures, the more it clutters the eye.  It doesn't have to be ugly to be spare.

If you don't have an actual nook, try putting a small table and a couple of chairs beneath the windows.

Notice in this nook they've kept the walls white and added pops of color here and there?  It looks inviting but clean.

Now that you've been introduced to banquets, go out and try it!  I promise, it's not expensive and it's not hard.  

As always, enjoy your space!

Books, Books and More Books!

Ever browse the thrift stores and see all of those hardback books on sale for $.50 a piece and wish you had a use for them?  I do.  I love hardback books and own approximately 200 of them.  For book lovers the natural thing to decorate with?  Books!

Let's look at a few ideas that you can incorporate into your home with books.

Need a "safe" to keep your valuables, keys, change, jewelry or even old love letters?  Using an Exacto knife, hollow out a book, glue some pretty fabric to cover the raw edges left from cutting the hole, and add a clasp or a chain that can be bought at any crafts store and you have a book safe!

What about an IPad cover, a picture frame, a desk organizer or even a book purse?  

What about a book lamp?  I love this idea!  Stack your books to suit your vision, drill a hole all the way through them so you can fish the cord in there, glue the books together so they are stable and add the light kit.  So easy and so dramatic!

Book tables and book desks are another way to utilize old books.  Follow the same basics as the book lamps and you have a conversation piece that is truly one of a kind.  You can get as fancy and complicated as you wish on this one, or you can keep it simple.  Whatever your heart desires.  Tip:  The taller the project the more important it is to run a strong dowel through the books in addition to gluing them in order to keep them from toppling over.

How about a "book" shelf?  

Step by step instructions:

Lastly, what about a book planter?  Be sure to line the inside with heavy plastic to keep the water from soaking through the book.

That about wraps up this edition of decorating with books!  Now head to the thrift store or garage sales and grab some books!