Key Power Tips On Selecting Bedroom Furniture

A bedroom is a place in your house where you can rest after a long and stressful day. Remember, your bedroom should be both relaxing and welcoming. So how exactly can you transform your room into a restful retreat? With all the factors you need to consider, choosing new bedroom furniture can be quite overwhelming. Luckily, getting the right piece of furniture for your bedroom needs will be much easier with the help of some key power tips. In this article, we’ll provide some valuable information that will give you key power tips on selecting bedroom furniture.

Purpose

First things first, you should know why you’re buying new furniture. Ask yourself whether it’s for your master bedroom or your child’s room. Always keep in mind that you can choose the right bedroom furniture if you know where it will go. Not only that but you should also consider the user’s preferences both in design and style before making a purchase. What will the new piece of furniture be used for? Why is it necessary?

Budget

Finances are also an important factor in selecting bedroom furniture. While it’s fine to explore a variety of options, it then becomes unwise if you buy a piece before determining how much you can afford.

• Take note that purchasing furniture can be very costly. That’s why you should be honest and reasonable about your budget to avoid financial burdens later on. You don’t necessarily have to max out your credit card for the furniture of your dreams.
• You can decide on buying just one piece now and waiting until you have a budget for the rest. You may also opt to purchase second-hand furniture or go for lower quality but at a lower price.
• If you can do a bedroom makeover on a budget of $50, you can also make a bedroom furniture purchase on a budget.

Size of the room

Don’t buy anything if you’re unprepared. This means that you need to know the size of your room before going to a furniture store. What’s important is that the size of the furniture complements the size of the space.

• For example, if you have a tiny bedroom, it doesn’t make any sense to buy a large furniture piece.
• Likewise, you should also make sure that your chosen piece of bedroom furniture will reach its destination without worrying about the space. After all, you don’t want to discover that your dresser cannot make it around the hallway and through your bedroom’s doorway!

Quality

Buying bedroom furniture can be a considerable investment. That’s why it’s important to look for something that will last for a more extended period. While your budget plays a vital role in choosing the level of quality of the furniture, it’s also best to consider the intended use of the same.

• Since you probably don’t like the idea of ditching furniture that may fall apart within a few months, choose a high-quality piece of furniture for the master bedroom.
• On the other hand, it’s okay to sacrifice some quality for a kid’s bedroom. After all, furniture shops usually offer a great range of bedroom furniture that you can choose from – and your kid will probably outgrow the piece of furniture within a few years.

Decorating style and scheme color

These are all essential in selecting your bedroom furniture. First, you should know how you want your room to look when it’s complete.

• If you think of a specific decorating style, then you’ll probably want a piece of furniture that blends well with it.
• Similarly, it’s worthy to pick your preferable scheme color that will match your furniture color. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the same, but make sure it suits the room color.

Price

This is an essential choosing factor. Always make a habit of comparing the prices. Research online or visit several stores and suppliers to check the quality as well as the prices. Select a set of furniture that has good quality but also a reasonable price. Look for annual sales or package discounts.

 

The Bottom Line

You should know the essential things to make your bedroom furniture choices more effective. Keep in mind that selecting a new piece of furniture for your bedroom can be both exciting and scary. It’s exciting because you’ll get to have a new look for your space but be careful because any mistake you’ll make can cost you an enormous amount of money. Just follow these key power tips while choosing the right furniture set for your needs. If the new piece of bedroom furniture meets all your requirements, your primary and aesthetic needs will be satisfied!

How To Choose The Perfect Bedroom Paint Color

The bedroom is one of the rooms in the house anyone would like to enhance with a suitable paint color. However, it can be quite tricky to determine the best paint color for a bedroom simply because people usually wish to create different temperatures for their bedrooms. Based on the kind of temperature, ambiance or feel you wish to create for your bedroom, this very article will help you how to choose the perfect bedroom paint color.

Some people like to have an energizing bedroom while others prefer a dark and simple-looking bedroom that creates a cosy temperature.

Choose the Color that Matches Your Desired Temperature

This should be the first thing that should come to mind.  Basically, some people who desire a calm temperature opt for shades of green, sky blue and several other cool hues. If you want your bedroom to give you a cozy feeling, you can select mellow yellow or other similar warm colors.

Choose Serene Tones

Nothing is more exciting than having a cool and serene bedroom. One of the best ways to give your bedroom a soothing feel is to choose a blend of fresh patterns and then combine it with mild colors such as champagne and dug-egg blue. Importantly, you need to avoid having an extremely bold color by simply ensuring that the option you have chosen is a subtle version of the color. Interestingly, some expert interior designers claim this is one great way to have a pleasant bedroom that will keep you happy any time of the day.

Choose a Bedroom Color That Blends with Your Furniture and Items

Take a look at the color scheme of your bedroom furniture like chairs, tables and other items such as rugs and bed covers. Figure out the major colors in these items and try to paint your bedroom walls with color(s) that should harmonize with them.  

It isn’t necessary that your bedroom walls share the same color with your major bedroom items but try as much as possible to avoid a wide range of colors. In other words, don’t pick colors that tend to clash with each other.

Interior designers from some of the best interior design firms know exactly what colors match well with the furniture and other items in each room so it’s a good idea to go for a professional to do the job. If you are from Santa Monica, California, you should take a look at the portfolio of some Santa Monica interior designers to make your decision of picking the colors of your rooms.

Opt for Darker Colors

You might not know how romantic dark colors can seem on the walls of your bedroom but you’ll likely have great fun with them if you’re aiming to have a sexy bedroom decor. According to an expert interior designer, charcoal, olive, navy, deep violet and certain other dark colors can give your bedroom a very romantic feel.

However, if you would like to equip your bedroom with white furniture and linens all through, you could choose a coat of white paint. Also, some people prefer celery tones and blue-gray since bedrooms are expected to give a soothing and tranquil experience.

Some interior designers do not recommend deep reds, bright greens, bold tropical hues and other energizing colors owing to the fact that a bedroom is a place for relaxation.

Paint the Ceiling of Your Bedroom

Quite a few people know the impact a painted ceiling can have on the look of a bedroom. Although some people hardly bother about the color of the ceiling.  You can give your bedroom a complete look by painting its walls with the color of its ceiling. To give your bedroom a warm feel, you can paint its ceiling with a darker hue than the color on its walls. This idea works best for a bedroom with a high ceiling. If, on the other hand, your bedroom has a low ceiling it’s a good idea that you opt for light blue or plain white.

Key Ways To Transform Your Bedroom Into A Sanctuary

Your bedroom is the first and last thing you see every day. This is where you sleep, relax and do anything you want. Your bedroom is your private area. And because you spend too much time in your bedroom, how it looks like will greatly affect your sleep and mood. You can’t possibly sleep well when your bedroom is full of clutter, right? This will cause your mind to be active again as you’ll consistently think of how you can get rid of this clutter.

Your bedroom should always have a calm and relaxing ambiance. Your bedroom should allow you to rest whenever you want so you can be fully recharged to function again in the next day. And you don’t need professional help to achieve that look. Here are some ways you can turn your bedroom into a sanctuary:

Choose calm hues

You might not know it but colors can play a big role in the quality of your sleep and your mood. If you’re not careful in picking the colors for your room, you’ll end up feeling energized when all you wanted was to sleep. If you want to turn your bedroom into a sanctuary, choose calm hues like blue, cream, white and yellow as these can set the mood for you to have a good night’s sleep. You can use these hues in your walls, bed linen and artworks.

Bed bugs are bad news

Regardless of what you do during the day, you would always to have a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep. But if your bed is full of bed bugs, you can never sleep well. You’d be waking up in the middle of the night, scratching different parts of your body. Save yourself from this situation by always using clean linens. Regularly clean them with pure eucalyptus wash. And before making your bed in the morning, pull the cover and sheets back to allow them to cool down and dry. This will deter dust mites from living in your warm bed.

Make use of natural light 

Sure, there might be artificial lighting which go well with your bedroom’s theme but nothing still beats natural light. Aside from adding light to your bedroom, natural light can improve your brain function and body regulation. If possible, arrange your bed near your window. The sun’s rays can help you kick start your day, plus you’ll be able to bask in the scenery outside through your window view.

Simplicity is key

Your bedroom is your own personal space but this doesn’t mean that this is where you’ll keep every trinket given to you. Carefully choose which pieces should be placed in your bedroom. Placing too much stuff can eventually become clutter and dust collectors. Anything that isn’t useful for you should never be placed in your bedroom. Aside from your bed, a cabinet, two bedside tables and a few artworks can already do so much to your bedroom.

Throw in cushions

Cushions can come in tiny shapes but this can contribute a lot in your bedroom’s overall look. When picking cushions for your bedroom, always take the time to test them out. Everyone has preference on how soft they want their cushions to be so make sure you find one which suits you. If you want to take it up a notch, consider buying cooling pillows. There are many varieties available today and Sensei Reviews can help with your decisions.

Green means life

It might be unconventional for some but plants and flowers can do wonders in your bedroom! Adding greeneries in your bedroom will not only add a pop of color (especially if your room follows a monochromatic color scheme) but these can also make breathing easier and improve your health in the long run. You can have the option of using indoor plants which are big enough to become standalones or smaller ones which you can place in your bedside tables.

Banish technology in your bedroom

With the number of apps and devices you can purchase right now, immediately sleeping in your bedroom is never as easy. When you have your smartphone with you, you’d be spending time browsing other people’s social media accounts rather than rewarding yourself with sleep. This entirely defeats the purpose of your bedroom. The best solution? Keep all your TVs, smartphones, tablets, laptops and anything that’s electrically plugged out of your room. When you still have to finish work or send an e-mail, do it outside your bedroom. This can be hard at first but think of it as making your bedroom a digital detox.

Let Your Creativity Shine

Regardless if you’ve been using your bedroom for years, there’s a lot of ways on how you can give it a makeover. And turning your bedroom into a sanctuary isn’t a complicated thing to do. In fact, redecorating and rearranging your room can even turn to be a fun project you can do during a weekend. Aside from the tips presented here, let your creativity shine during the process. This will be an essential factor to make your bedroom a sanctuary.   

 

 

Zoe has always had an eye for detail. Currently writing for Sensei Reviews, she doesn’t want any consumer left in the dark about a product or industry. When Zoe isn’t writing meticulous and informational reviews for the people, she enjoys spending time with friends and reading.

 

Main Bedroom Makeover on a budget for $50

It was time to give our main bedroom a bit of a freshen up and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money so this main bedroom makeover was done on a budget of $50.

I’ve been slowly going through our house, making over each room. Not that it needs it but it’s nice to change the look every now again. I will always try and use what I already have or else I find it a challenge to source second hand items. I’d made over my daughter’s room in a ‘peacock’ theme and my 10 year old son’s bedroom in an African Safari theme but wasn’t sure about a ‘theme’ as such for the main bedroom.

I’ve inherited so much vintage linen over the last couple of years with the passing of my Nanna, my mother and my mother-in-law and to me it’s so precious. So much hard work, passion, love and talent has gone into every piece and I just can’t bare to part with any of it. I’m really going to give my vintage linen collection a good cull and if I can’t use it now, I’m going to have to part with it. It’s just taking up too much space in my linen cupboard. Part of my collection were these two hand embroidered linen cushion covers. They are just beautiful.

My husband didn’t really mind what colour scheme I used. I didn’t want to make it too feminine but he thinks what I’ve done is really refreshing.

My Inspiration

I wanted to incorporate the light blue colour from the feathers of the fairy wren, the cream colour of the bedspread I’ve had for years and the latte colour of the ‘new’ second hand curtains I’d recently scored.

It wasn’t like I was getting new furniture. There wasn’t any need. The bed was still fine although we will need a new mattress one day soon. The bedside tables were still functional as was all the other furniture in the room. I had plenty of linen and décor items to make it over but I just need to inject a bit of colour based on the fairy wren embroidered picture and those two hand embroidered cushion covers. I looked for ages for a throw rug for the end of the bed and saw many for anywhere from $29 right up to $100. This light blue (what looks like a single bedspread) was only $3.50 from the thrift store.

I had bought the curtains recently from the thrift store. There were 3 drops of a beautiful cotton type fabric which had a thread embroidered through each one. They were also lined with a separate cotton lining and a concealed cover on the tabs at the top. You wouldn’t believe it but they were $10! Four would’ve been better as this little ‘awkward’ window we have above the bed is just too wide for one curtain.

Making Good Use of the Space

I decided to look online for something in that light blue colour and found a pair of sheer tab top curtains for $12, brand new on ebay. I tried centering the bed right under the window but it didn’t leave us much room beside our closet. It does play with my OCD but I will get over it.

The framed picture on the other side was another thrift store find. It’s a beautiful embroidery of Australian native flowers which I think compliments the flowers embroidered on the cushion covers. I’ve had this for ages so put it to good use.

Putting Vintage Pieces out on Display

Another couple of pieces in my vintage collection were these hand crocheted pillow cases from my Nanna. I’ve always loved them since I spotted them when we were going through my mother’s things. She had obviously received them when Nanna passed away but I don’t recall her ever using them. I was reluctant to as well but I thought ‘why not?’. You can put any coloured pillow case underneath. I thought the latte colour worked well.

The two light blue fluffy cushions were a brand new purchase. Not something I do usually. I did look for absolute ages at the thrift stores and usually I’m pretty lucky finding what I need but not in this case. The post Christmas sale at one of the big fabric stores had these on special for $12 each so I grabbed them. They were the perfect colour and are so, so soft. The ‘Love’ cushion was already in my collection.

The other pieces were already in my collection. The doilies belonged to family members, the lamp shades were thrift store finds ages ago and brand new for about $2 a piece, replacing the shades on the existing lamps. The oil diffuser was a special souvenier from my husband and my weekend away when he proposed to me. (It’s lasted 2 years.) The cream coloured bedspread I’ve had for years and it was a thrift store buy for $10 and it’s light for the summer months, not that we have it over ourselves. All in all, just a bit of a change to the colour scheme and a few accent cushions and colours in prints and curtains.

Total Cost of the Makeover

The breakdown of the makeover is as follows:

• 3 x curtain drops from the thrift store = $10
• 1 x pair sheer light blue tab top curtains (new) = $12
• 2 x fluffy light blue cushions @ $12 each (new) = $24
• 1 x light blue throw from the thrift store @ $3.50
• Total = $49.50

I’m really happy with how it feels every night when we get into bed. A nice calm environment and using the vintage linen pieces that belonged to my Nanna makes me feel a lot better than having them tucked away in the linen cupboard for no one to see. You really can change the look of a room for very little cost using what you already have and buying just a few new or second hand pieces.

 

Boy's African Safari Themed Budget Bedroom Makeover

Finally, I can share with you my boy’s African Safari themed budget bedroom makeover. It’s been 6 months in the making. It’s taken a while to hold out from buying new and finding just the right things I needed but it was worth the wait. If I would’ve had to buy a lot of these things new, it would’ve cost me a fortune. He is extremely pleased with the results so that’s the main thing.

His sister’s bedroom got a makeover last year so it was only fair he got the same. When I first asked him what he wanted he said a ‘zebra’ themed room. I thought “great”. Black and white, that would be easy. But it wasn’t as easy as I thought. I had such a hard time finding black bedding, especially for a reasonable price and then, just like that, I had the opportunity to review the bedding range at Just Bedding (not sponsored) and when I saw they had a plain black comforter, I grabbed it. By then, I had accumulated a lot of African bric-a-brac and found a lot of things already in my collection, that it evolved into an African themed room.

The Details

The first thing I found was this framed cheetah print from my local op shop. It basically set the theme that followed. I also had a ‘broken’ branch of quite a large artificial plant that I have in my living room. (“No one” in the house knew how it got broken.) So I grabbed a pot from the shed, filled it with mulch from the garden and found a cheap plant stand to pop it in. If I had to buy something new in the makeover, it was under protest.

I really took my time to search for secondhand items or items I already owned and most of the time I was lucky. I could’ve gone without but with the money I saved sourcing the items cheaply, I didn’t think it was too bad to splurge on a couple of cheap purchases. If and when my boy tires of the African theme, these items can be used for something else. The stuffed tiger was already in his collection. (My kids are so attached to their stuffed toys.)

1. Framed cheetah print – $6

2. Faux potted plant in stand – $6 for the stand from here

3. Stuffed tiger toy – already in collection

The clock was an op shop purchase. I was looking for that ‘just right’ clock. Something that looked a little rustic and antique and this already had that finish. Someone had painted it and the paint was starting to chip and crack so it fits perfectly. I only had to insert a new battery. The faux zebra skin wall art was a little more than I would’ve liked to have paid but I bought the fabric myself and covered a print that I picked up cheaply.

I picked up quite a few cushion covers that were priced at anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar, gave them a good wash and used inserts I already had. The only new cushion was the one above of the giraffe. (I figured I’d bought my daughter a brand new cushion cover so it was only fair I bought my son one too. You know, sibling rivalry and all that!)

4. Battery operated wall clock from op shop – $2

5. Faux zebra skin wall art – $25

6. New and second hand cushion covers – Priced from 50 cents to $2 including a brand new cover priced at $5

Repurposed Items

This bookcase has been ‘in the family’ since forever. It has been used in so many places, in so many rooms. I can’t even tell you when or where I bought it from. It was one of those ‘put it together yourself’ types and it was always in it’s raw form of unfinished pine timber. I decided to paint it black (eeek!) because I don’t like painting furniture because I figure that it’s hard to reuse in another room if I have to but I’m sure a plain black bookcase will be used again, for sure.

The African object d’art has been picked up from the op shops over the last 6 months. I haven’t been looking for it, rather just in there having a browse or looking for something else in particular and these items just popped up. The mini stereo system is a very simple one we picked up from our local tip shop for $2 and it plays CDs and the radio.

The rocks my son collects (or rather, they just so happen to be in his pockets and I find them just before that item of clothing is going into the washing machine). The globe has been around since the kids were born and the globe bookend was something that belonged to the ex-husband a long time ago. 

 

7. (My counting isn’t too good.)

8. Bric-a-brac from collection and op shops – $10

9. Painted bookcase – from collection

I spotted this leopard photo on canvas in the op shop and it was brand new and sealed in plastic. It was perfect for filling this narrow space on one of the walls.

10. Leopard photograph on canvas (new) from op shop – $2

This bedside table, again, has been in the family since forever. It was previously painted in “Dinoco” blue, “Lightning McQueen” red and blackboard paint on the drawers but I decided to cover it up with a small tin of black gloss. I replaced the door knobs with raw pine knobs and lined the drawers with wrapping paper I already had.

11. Bedside table already in collection – $10 for paint and new knobs

Bedding

The black comforter was received for free in return for a review on Just Bedding, the online bedding store. The zebra canvas was picked up from an online garage sale. I had in mind some motivatonal ‘adventure’ themed prints which I’d frame in photo frames I already had but when I started googling for prints, these two banners came up for sale from one of the local discount variety stores. By the time I printed them I figured, for the price, these would suit just fine.

As much as I hate the thought of buying new, if the price is right and it can be used for something else, I’ll buy it. I figured these will last my son for at least the next few years no matter what theme his bedroom is.

12. Black comforter from Just Bedding – gifted

13. Zebra canvas – $5

14. Two printed hanging banners – $7 from KMart

When googling ‘animal prints’ one day, I stumbled across these cute animal foot prints so I printed that out and put it in a frame already had. I searched and searched for a suitable lamp for makeover and I was going to glue the plastic animals on it and spray paint it but I just couldn’t find one. I stumbled across this LED battery operated lantern which I thought fit in well with the theme and it was reasonably priced. No need to worry about electricity. The plastic animals were in my son’s collection.

15. Framed animal prints – free

16. LED Battery Operated Lantern – $10 from KMart

17. Plastic African animals – in collection

Curtains

You won’t believe how long I searched for curtains. (Well, about 6 months!) Even brand new, I couldn’t justify the price. The window is quite wide and I would’ve needed at least 3 ready made or metres and metres of fabric. I just didn’t want to spend that kind of money and I wasn’t having much luck at the op shops. I had in mind a ‘palm tree’ type print and I seemed to be having flashbacks that I’d seen something like that before. Then it dawned on me. These actual curtains, believe it or not, were curtains I made back when I was about 18 years old (some 34 years ago) in a new room Mum and Dad had built for me.

I must’ve bought metres and metres of the fabric because I remember lining a large cane chest as well for winter clothes. I asked my sister (who still lives in the family home) if she still had them and she did. The thermal lining was still intact. They were still hanging in the downstairs space that was once my room. Can you believe it? They were absolutely perfect. I gave them a good soak and gentle wash and they came out like brand new. Thirty four year old curtains! Who would’ve thought? It pays never to throw away curtains. You never know when you might need them again.

18. Palm print thermal lined curtains – in collection

I had all sorts of ideas for a mat. I had a few old carpet pieces I was going to hand paint in either leopard or giraffe print and then one day when I was out and about, I spotted this plush bath mat for $2. It was the perfect colouring and no need to paint mats that would probably no longer be used if they were in animal print.

19. Second hand plush bath mat – $2

Toy Storage

The Lego & Toy storage was made from a trolley that we had scored for free at my husband’s last place of residence. Someone was just going to throw it out. It’s come in handy for so many things. I had struggled to find suitable containers to fill it for some of my son’s Lego and his toys until I spotted some kitty litter trays, of all things, which fit perfectly. You can read about that makeover here.

The striped chair was already in my collection and it has a handy storage section underneath for all sorts of things. When the kids were babies, I bought two string bags for about $3 each which keeps all their soft toys in one spot, something my kids can’t seem to part with. I think they inherited the sentimental hoarding streak from me. Oh well, they don’t take up much room.

20. Lego & Toy Storage Unit – $10

21. Striped storage chair – already in collection

22. String bags for soft toy storage – already in collection

So there you have it, finally. I do have one more project I’d like to do, to really finish the makeover but I thought I’d better post what I’ve already done or you could be waiting another 6 months for the post. The total cost was just over $100. That amount spread over time didn’t put a dent in the budget but if I would’ve gone out and bought all new, it would’ve cost a lot more than that. I did get the comforter for free as well but I did have another one for back up which only cost $6 I could’ve used if the bedding review hadn’t have come along.

Beware of the wild animal in the bottom right corner.

 

As much as I could probably afford to just go out and buy all new things when I get a theme in mind, I find it quite challenging to make do with what I already have and buy second hand or makeover where I can. I get a real kick out of it. The next challenge is the main bedroom. It’s quite okay but I’d like just a quick makeover using what I’ve already got. 

 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I was gifted a comforter from Just Bedding and all photos, thoughts and opinions are my own. The items purchased from KMart are also not sponsored.

DIY Faux Zebra Skin Wall Art

I gotta tell you, my son’s bedroom makeover has certainly become a labour of love or else I think I might’ve given up a long time ago. It’s slowly coming along mainly because I keep changing my mind, keep looking at Pinterest and keep coming up with new ideas and additions for his room. He originally only wanted a ‘zebra’ themed room but that was too hard, originally, but I came up with the idea of doing a DIY faux zebra skin for his wall.

Way back, when I started, I found this zebra canvas print. I thought it was perfect but I just didn’t like the bright yellow. I googled on ways to make it look more ‘worn’ or ‘old or thought about changing the yellow completely but it all involved buying copius amounts of expensive paint and finishes so I came up with the idea of using a faux fur fabric in zebra print to cover the canvas. Admittedly the faux fur was $20 but I thought if and when he changes his mind, the fabric can be used again and so can the print, if I can find a wall for it. Alternatively, I can always cover the print in different fabric if I want to. I picked up this print from my local op shop for only $5.

If was pretty easy. Just a matter of laying the fabric down, placing the canvas print on top and using a large staple gun, staple it into place. 

I started with one staple on one side, then stapled in the same place but on the opposite side and then either sides ensuring the fabric was kept taut.

That’s it. It’s certainly added a bit of drama to the wall and no zebra was harmed in the making of this wall art. Only curtains to hang and that’s all. Hopefully I’ll be able to share the completed makeover very soon.

Tween Girl's Peacock themed Retro Bedroom Makeover

I thought it was time to give my 11 year old daughter’s bedroom a bit of a makeover. Not only was she out of the very young girl phase, we had double bed bunks in her room and they were a nightmare to make and she was the only one sleeping on them most of the time. We were also lucky to receive my late mother-in-law’s brand new double bed as she couldn’t take it with her to the nursing home she moved into. Instead of leaving it to collect dust in our shed, we thought she may as well use it.

When I asked her what ‘theme’ she wanted, she told me ‘peacock’ themed. Slightly unusual I thought but totally doable, that was until I started looking online for bed linen and decor and thought it was way out of my budget. So I decided to try and make do with a lot of the things I already had and incorporate a couple of relatively cheap new pieces and she was quite happy with that.

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen dozens of peacock pictures at thrift stores in my time but do you think I could find one when I needed it? Not so lucky on this occasion but I did pass by the above white peacock print a couple of times in my favourite thrift store before I decided to purchase it. Not exactly what I was looking for and it had suffered a fair bit of sun fade. I gave it a bit of a makeover and it turned out pretty good.

1. “White Peacock in a Magnolia Tree” limited edition print – $15.00 (thrift store) and enhanced with watercolour pencils I already had
2. Peacock fabric print lamp – $5 for fabric (lamp already owned and used other products already owned)
3. Cane bedside table – FREE from Freecycle (already previously owned)

I was trying to get a bit creative with the wall art in her room and found a lot of inspiration from online stylists. The beautiful pink chenille bedspread was already in my collection, just waiting to be brought out again.

1. Dream catcher was a souvenir I purchased in Arizona on a trip to the USA back in 1999.
2. Clipboard with changeable art – Peacock print from internet & clipboard already owned. This can be interchanged with seasonal prints and my daughter’s artwork. I had a glitter print of a deer clipped in for Christmas.
3. Peacock feather dream catcher – $4 purchased on ebay (my daughter is a big fan of dream catchers and suffered terribly from nightmares when she was younger. These help!)
4. Metallic Picture frame with printable 
5. This framed embroidery was purchased secondhand for my wedding. It was $5 and I thought it fit in just nicely in the group of wall art.
6. The white faux fur cushion was a new purchase at $12 from a discount variety store. It’s not something I like doing, buying new that is, but I thought for the price it was okay and it matched the mat I bought.
7. This peacock https://theleafsnation.com/account/ cushion cover was a new purchase also only for only $5. I have heaps of cushion inserts.
8. My aunt embroidered this cushion for my daughter when she was born.
9. This pink chenille double bedspread was already in my collection. My sister had quite a few and she sold me this one many years ago. I just love bedspreads. I don’t know how quilt cover sets became a ‘thing’. They’re a nuisance to wash and keep from fading plus a hassle to put the doona into. It’s way too hot in our climate for doonas, except in winter, and I’d rather still just put a bedspread over the top of a doona instead of a cover.

The Barbie doll house was my daughter’s birthday present last November ($40 secondhand) and while she’s still interested in playing with them, it will stay there. When she tires of her Barbies, I’ll turn that into a reading nook as she’s an avid reader. The white faux fur rug was only $6 (I see they’re $19 now so I must’ve got it when they had it priced wrong.) The curtains were already there. I just gave them a good wash and an iron.

The wall clock was also a new purchase at only $12. It fit into the colour scheme I thought and the size it was, my daughter has no excuse for knowing what the time is. The wall plaques behind the bookcase were already there.

Everything else are just her little bits and pieces, lots of books, jewellry, makeup, perfume etc. The bookcase was already owned. The CD/Radio player was a purchase from our local tip shop at about $5 (from memory). It works perfectly.

So for around $60, I completely changed the look of her room, in a theme she wanted and was happy with. I could’ve waited and kept looking in thrift stores for a clock, rug and large cushion but I kind of wanted it just done. If you’re prepared to wait, you can find all those things at thrift stores and if not the right colour, you can always change it. I’m in the process of making over my son’s bedroom in an African safari theme and I’m holding out buying anything new. It’s been hard but I’m slowly starting to piece together a few African inspired pieces for his room. Stay tuned for that makeover, coming soon!

If, like me, you love to craft, reuse, recycle and make do with items from around your house, I’d love to share more ideas with you. You can subscribe to my mailing list here and be the first to hear about new projects and other great ideas I find for using up the things in our home that may otherwise end up as landfill. Together we can help save the environment, one baby step at a time.

Girl's Bedroom Lamp Makeover

I’ve never been one much for decorating my kid’s bedrooms in character themes, oh except for a Snoopy theme for both a girl’s and boy’s nursery and then there was my son’s obsession with Disney’s “Cars” which lasted for about 6 years. Other than that their bedrooms have been a hotchpotch of colours and designs, just practical furniture and decorations. I decided to give their rooms a makeover and my daughter wants a ‘peacock’ themed bedroom (of all things) so I’ve set about reusing what I’ve already got which started with this lamp.

The Barbie lamp I picked up from a thrift store a few years ago. With our humid climate and the accumulation of dust, the shade on this lamp was quite dirty and now that my daughter’s turned 11, she’s a little bit over the Barbie lamp (even though she still plays with her Barbies).

 I started out by unscrewing the bulb and taking off the lampshade. When I removed the fabric from the lampshade I noticed the bottom ring wasn’t attached so I was on the lookout for a small lampshade from the op shop on my next visit.

 

 I picked up this one for $2 and it was in excellent condition. I could go straight over the lampshade with the fabric I had chosen.

 

 The next step is to create a template to cut out the fabric. I’ve recovered quite a few lampshades over the years and it really is quite easy. I use newspaper. Lie the lampshade on it’s side and line up the seam of the lampshade with a small mark on the newspaper as indicated by the arrows. Slowly turn the lampshade around and as you do, mark both the outside circle and smaller inside circle on the newspaper.

 

 What you’ll end up with is a semi circle with a smaller semi circle cut out at the top.

 Place it on the lampshade just to check that it’s the right size.

 

 I picked up a fat quarter of this

https://xenproject.org/my-profile/3475-shutov.html

really cute peacock themed fabric in bright colours from ebay for a couple dollars. You don’t really need much fabric. I’ve got a bit leftover for my fabric stash which will come in handy for something, I’m sure. Make sure it is ironed before you cut it to remove any creases.

 

 Pin the template onto the fabric.

 

 Cut out the fabric with at least a 1cm (1/2 inch) seam allowance.

 

Place the fabric on the lampshade to make sure it will fit. You can trim any excess once it’s stuck in place. You can use craft glue or spray adhesive. I find spray adhesive is the best for this kind of job.

 Carefully place the fabric onto the lampshade, smoothing out any lumps as you go. Glue together the edges of the fabric with a line of craft glue.

 

 Nick small cuts into the top edge opening of the lampshade’s fabric so it sits flush. Stick fabric down to the lampshade with a bead of glue on both the top and bottom.

 And that’s it! You’re done.

 I had planned on spray painting it white but we were all out. We did have silver spray paint and I’m quite happy with the way it turned out. I glued glitter to the wooden hearts on the lamp. I should’ve sanded it first because I didn’t realise how scratched it was. I guess you can’t notice it too much.

So there you have it. I’m sure when the next bedroom makeover is due, it will be spray painted in a different colour and a different fabric used. That’s the beauty of reusing and recovering old lampshades. You can make it look however you like.

 (Please note the yellow light bulb. I understand that’s to deter any bugs because heaven help us all if there’s a bug in her bedroom!)

 Stay tuned for more budget bedroom makeover ideas and the final reveal of my daughter’s bedroom.