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Let’s Get Personal From top to bottom, let creativity flow in the bedroom. Crown molding, an upholstered headboard and assorted framed memorabilia set the stage  Put the ‘bed’ back in the bedroom: Reinvent the focal point of your bedroom this weekend with a dreamy do-it-yourself project – an upholstered headboard. Image courtesy Jenny Elia Pfeiffer For many of us, the bedroom is more than just a room. It’s our retreat. But with tough economic times, most of us won’t be able to sleep so well if we have to hire a professional. According to Amy Shutt, owner of Day-Lab, a Baton Rouge, La.-based vintage accessories and gifts store, you can be your own professional. “There is a tribe of people who enjoy taking such projects on, who really want to learn how to do X, Y and Z,” she explains. “These people feel they can do it and do it right. And if you fall into that category, even if you have never really started a DIY project, I think it is worth it to go ahead and try. You will have a greater appreciation of the end result and you will know it was done well and done right.” Shutt also runs a DIY blog, day-lab.blogspot.com, and says she enjoys the control in a DIY project. “I am a tad bit of a control freak to begin with. I like to be in control of the projects I work on and I like to hold myself accountable for any outcome. It’s challenging and I truly enjoy that aspect of DIY projects,” Shutt says. “But also, budget is of great importance to me and my family, so when I see that I can do something for $100, as opposed to having someone else do it for $2000, it just makes sense.” From easy to moderate to hard, here is information from Shutt and other experts on how to get you started on your DIY. Personalize it If any room is “you,” it should be the bedroom. Adding personal touches of your style can be done without personally breaking your wallet. “Dress the walls up with things that have personal meaning to you,” Shutt says. “This is huge to me. Every piece hanging on my bedroom walls has a story and a memory. I have black and white photos of family members from the turn of the century, 1920s sheet music I happened to come across and loved for one reason or another, 1930s Audubon prints of my favorite backyard birds and 1930s New York World’s Fair Postcards.” And personal can be functional too. Shutt recommends looking into wood working plans. “Build an under the window bookshelf,” says Shutt. “This is on my own list of things for my bedroom. Customized shelving is a must for any room, especially if you have a lot of books and breakables to store. It adds function with a personal touch.” It’s all in your head Why not emphasize the “bed” in bedroom? Karen Blissenbach of Design Studio B located in Rochester, Minn., has made custom-designed headboards for her clients and you can make your own very easily. Simply cover a large piece of plywood with foam, batting and your fabric of choice and then staple the fabric securely on the board. “It can add a lot of interesting textures and colors to your bedroom, depending on the fabric color or pattern you select,” says Blissenbach. “I would not recommend using a silk because it’s not going to wear as well, but any upholstery type of fabric will work.” Making your own headboard might also require an extra pair of hands to make sure everything stays smooth and even. Blissenbach also says upkeep is very low. “Just vacuum the headboard with a brush attachment and it’ll stay nice,” Blissenbach says. Crowning achievements As intimidating as it may seem, you can put up your own crown molding with some patience and the right tools. “The best thing to do as a DIY-er is to understand the essentials of what you need,” says Wayne Drake, crown-molding expert. A good saw, nail gun and the appropriate accessory tools are needed, but also your patience. Drake emphasizes the measurements and precise cutting for angles and potential sloping walls in a crown molding project. “Make sure that each length of crown molding you purchase has the exact same spring angle, width and thickness,” Drake says since many building supply stores purchase their crown from several manufactures, each using their own different fabrication standards. “Always check the square of your saw before you begin. For every degree your saw is out, you will get twice that error for each joint you cut,” Drake says. Drake also says crown molding is a good investment for your home. “It’s a strong accent to a house. It looks nice and it can increase the value of your home, so you save money by doing it yourself and you’re starting a good return investment.” So you don’t always have to dig deep to find the inner DIY-er in you. After these projects, you’ll be sleeping tight on the money you save in your newly decorated bedroom. |
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