Do it your Self - Cheap & Chic Headboard

Make a personal statement in your bedroom retreat with a pretty headboard for the bed.

Modern Mystery

 No one will suspect such an elegant metal headboard was created from a cheap find at a discount home store. Look for metal scrollwork in interesting motifs. Two panels can be hung together to create a modern headboard. These pieces were covered with two coats of brushed-silver paint to give them a soft, chic look.

  

Frame It

 Inexpensive photo frames can be found at garage sales or thrift shops and make a magnificent headboard. Remove the glass from the frames and cut batting the same size as the frame back. Cut fabric to size, adding 3 inches on each side. Lay the batting on the frame back and cover it with the fabric, wrapping excess over the back. Pull taut and fasten with duct tape. Insert the back into the frame. Hang three frames side by side for a picture-perfect headboard.

  

Wallpaper Wonder

 Turn a ho-hum headboard into a charming focal point simply with wallpaper. Trace the outline of the headboard on a large scrap of paper and cut it out. A light coating of wallpaper adhesive is all it takes to make your bed ready for some sweet dreaming in style. DIY Tip: Make sure your piece of wallpaper is large enough to cover the headboard. If using multiple pieces, take care to match the pattern for a chic, finished look.

  

Smart Stencil

 Love the look of wrought-iron headboards, but not the price? Get the look without the cost by painting one on your wall. Find a stencil at a local crafts store or make your own. Cut the stencil from acetate with a crafts knife, affix the stencil to the wall using a spray adhesive or low-tack tape, and apply paint inside the stencil. Use acrylic paint or specially formulated stenciling cream.

  

Tall Order

 Create a custom headboard that rises to the occasion by covering an inexpensive artist's canvas with fabric. Just pull the fabric tightly across the frame and secure with a staple gun. Then prop the canvas behind your bed -- no power tools required. When it's time to change out your bedding, simply re-cover the canvas with new coordinating fabric for a fresh look.

  

Chic Screen

 Cozy up your bedroom by unfolding a fireplace screen and hanging it on the wall behind your bed as a headboard. For an antique look, use spray paint to cover the screen in blue. After it?s dry, dip a sponge in bronze paint and wipe a light coat on the screen. Repeat with copper paint. Finish with a clear spray-on sealant.

  

Door-Turned Headboard

 A solid pine door is the perfect way to make a bold statement with a headboard. Cut 15 inches off the bottom of the door. Paint the door and let dry. Mount the door to the wall about 4 inches above the floor using two bar-holder brackets. Reinforce with one bracket on top. To hide the top bracket, use finishing nails to attach a piece of molding to its top edge 1 inch above the door. Fill holes with wood filler, sand, and paint.

  

Window of Opportunity

 Create an elegant headboard like this one by spraying two shutters with two coats of primer and 2 coats of metallic paint, then finishing with two coats of sealant. Allow the shutters to dry between coats. Measure the inside of each panel and cut fabric to fit each opening, adding 1/2 inch on all sides. Place batting inside the panel to cover the entire area. Cover with a piece of fabric and attach to batting along the edges with hot glue. Secure the corners and along the top with a staple gun. Use ribbon as a trim to finish. Repeat for each panel.

  

Paint Update

 Stencils are available in all shapes and sizes. With a little paint, they easily add new character to a tired headboard. Try adding a leafy vine across the top of the headboard for a fresh look.

  

Garden Inspiration

 Bring the serenity of a garden to the bedroom with a headboard fashioned from two trellises. Cut away the ends on one side of each panel so the trellises abut. Secure them together with wood screws. Staple a paper square to the back of each opening. Use hot glue to attach art prints to the front of some of the panels.

  

Spreading the Word

 Make a bold statement with a headboard created from a curtain panel. Use fabric markers of different thicknesses or colors to write favorite quotes, poems, or lyrics on the panel. Hang the creation from a curtain rod using clip rings.

  

Easy Canopy

 Create this dreamy headboard from a DIY cornice, window treatments, and a padded board. To make the padded headboard, choose a piece of plywood the width of your bed, top with a layer of foam, cover with fabric, and secure to plywood with a staple gun. Find the center of the padded headboard and attach curtain panels to the wall at the center point. Use MDF to make a cornice. Cover the tops of the window treatments with the cornice. Arrange the panels to frame the padded headboard and pull back with window treatment hooks.

  

Stuck on You

 Add a touch of whimsy to any smooth-surface wooden headboard by adhering simple wallpaper decals. For an unexpected windblown effect, we carried the colorful leaf-motif decals from this headboard onto the wall. To apply similar delicate stickers, slowly peel away the backing while smoothing the decal onto the surface. Once the design placement is permanent, burnish the decals using the edge of a credit card.

  

Rustic Influence

 Two single window panels are the perfect alternative to an ordinary headboard. To get this look, find windows that measure approximately the width of your mattress. Remove the glass and install thin plywood over the back for safety. Cut fabric to fit each section and secure it in place with spray adhesive.

  

Shabby Chic

 In place of a headboard, a salvaged mantel gives this bedroom architectural flair. The more distressed the better for a vintage look like this.

  

Painted Florals

 Upgrade a plain wooden headboard with paint. First, sand all surfaces and coat with a water-base sealer. Using a household trim brush, base-coat the entire headboard with white satin paint. Next, apply a stripe-and-dot border. For the flower, download the pattern below, transfer onto the headboard, and paint.

  

Letter Perfect

 Create an alphabet headboard from letters found at crafts stores or flea markets. Choose a variety of letters, sizes, and fonts for an interesting display. Arrange letters graphically or spell out words.

  

Naturally Modern

 Make this ultramodern headboard in an hour. Buy a piece of plywood from your local home supply store. Sand it, stain it, seal it, and then set it behind your bed. The clean lines will help you sleep in style.

  

DIY

Celebrity Walk in Closets

Undoubtedly one of the favorite rooms at home that every woman is dreaming to have is the Walk in Closet.

Let's take a peek inside a few celebrity closets….

Fergie turned two guest rooms of her Brentwood home into her closets, plus the existing master closet—that makes three huge closets.

Actress Jessica Alba has a lovely display for her hats and a really cool way to store her pair of shoes. One shoe is faces heel and one shoe is faces toe.

Christina Aguilera: “Everything on my shoe wall is grouped by designer—Louboutin, McQueen, YSL—all in their own little family,” says Christina.

Tamara Mellon is president and cofounder of "Jimmy Choo", and needless to say her closet is amazing.

Have a look at the closet of Miley Cyrus, a teen’s dressing room dream come true.

Nicky Hilton famous as Hilton heiress and designer of fashion lines Chic and Nicholai. She has special Collections of Manolos, Chanels and Louboutins shoes and more than 200 handbags.

The Greek Maria Menounos famous actress and television correspondent has a closet style office/hair-makeup-and-dressing room with special collections of Azzaro and Calvin Klein gowns, 50 pairs of jeans, blazers, sweaters, and rows of shoes and boots.

Nanette Lepore is a fashion designer in Manhattan with a spacious closet.

Mariah Carey famous as five Grammy award-winning artist has a closet 12,000 square foot size with special collections with about 1,000 pairs of shoes and Louis Vuitton luggage.

Oprah Winfrey's walking closet has a TV inside of course.

Eva Longoria Parker famous as Desperate Housewives actress, wife of Tony Parker has a closet 133 square foot size with special collections of Christian Louboutin espadrille wedges "a beautiful pain", 50 pairs of jeans and more than one pair of Ugg boots.

Kimora Lee Simmons famous as "Baby Phat" clothing line head has a closet 49,000 square foot size with special collections with 500 pairs of jeans, 35 custom-made Hermes Birkin bags and an extensive collection of jewelry. I think this one is my favorite!

10 Τips for Organizing your Βedroom Closets

Get organized and clear the clutter with these clever ideas, methods, and products.

Tip 1: Seasonal Change

 

It's possible that no matter how much you try to edit and organize, you just have too much stuff to fit in your closet.

If that's the case, then you need to resort to a seasonal system by rotating your fall/winter clothes with your spring/summer clothes.

Covered clothing racks can be filled with out-of-season clothes and kept in your attic or basement or under your bed. Flat storage boxes can serve a similar purpose.

Tip 2: Clear it out

 

Distinguish clothing and shoes that you wear and items that you need to get rid of.

You can do this by the golden rule of closet organizing: If you haven't worn it in a year, toss it.

Also, if it doesn't fit you well, it is time to get rid of it. Instead of hanging on to your "skinny jeans" until you lose a few pounds, donate them.

Then, when you get down to your goal weight, treat yourself to a new, stylish pair of jeans.

Tip 3: If the shoe fits

 

If you are keeping your shoe boxes, label what is inside with a picture or a post.

Alternatively, invest in clear shoe boxes with drawer-front pulls; they allow you to see what's inside so you can easily access your shoes.

 

You can find a lot of shapes at containerstore.com.

Tip 4: Measure up

 

Once you have whittled down your wardrobe, you need to assess the layout of your closet. Measure the space you have, making sure to utilize backs of doors, floor space, and all interior walls. When you go to shop for boxes, bins, and other necessary space-savers, make sure you have your closet measurements in hand. Use every square inch of your closet. Hang shoe racks on the back of your closet door. Classic belt hangers with multiple hooks are also a good solution for hanging camisoles, bras, or scarves.

Tip 5: Get hung up

 

Invest in the right kind of hanger for the type of clothing you are hanging.

Use padded hangers for items made from delicate fabrics, plastic hangers for button-down shirts, and sturdy wood hangers for suit jackets as they help retain the shape of the items. Remove all wire hangers (they don't properly support your clothes) and plastic dry-cleaner bags (they don't allow fabrics to breathe, keeping the chemicals used in dry cleaning in your clothes).

Tip 6: No sweat

 

Save time in the morning by coordinating your wardrobe. Sort by color, and hang like-types of clothing together (i.e. skirts, pants, blouses, etc.). Sort sweaters, T-shirts, and other folded clothing by color as well. Always remove sweaters from hangers and fold them. Hangers will ruin the shape of sweaters over time. Store sweaters on shelves in manageable-sized stacks using sweater dividers to keep them from turning into leaning towers of Pisa. Even better, store them in sweater boxes with well marked labels.

Tip 7: Eyes have it

 

Keep items you use frequently at eye level or below and items you rarely use higher up. Labelled boxes are good for storing things like bathing suits or turtlenecks because you can rotate them higher or lower in your closet depending on the season. Move any snow boots, rain boots, or other "outdoor" gear to your front hall closet (or mudroom if you are lucky enough to have one); restrict what goes in your clothes closet to dress shoes only.

Tip 8: Add Lighting

 

Good closet lighting is too useful to be ignored.

A lot of closets either don't have a light or are lit by an exposed incandescent bulb screwed into a surface-mounted fixture operated with a pull-chain.

The first situation is inconvenient, but the second is dangerous.

Tip 9: Save more Space

 

If you live in a small space, replace traditional closet doors that swing out with curtains, Roller or hanging screens.

Tip 10: Keep the system

The more often you work on closet maintenance, the less time it will take.

Go through your closet and complete a quick makeover (or make-under) once a month, and tackle the full re-organization process twice a year.

CNNLiving

How To Feng Shui Your Bedroom

7 basic Feng Shui Steps for a Good Feng Shui Bedroom

I have now been involved professionally with decoration for 15 years, using Feng Shui methodology in my studies.

Some people know what Feng Shui is, some others have never heard of it, some underestimate it, and with some other people I am not even mentioning I used it in their spaces ! Results however are invariably the same for all the aforementioned. Perfect Positive Energy and Prosperity in their spaces!

I am offering my readers 7 basic guidelines which you can apply to your bedroom, for positive relationships and health.

A good feng shui bedroom is a bedroom that promotes a harmonious flow of nourishing and sensual energy. A good feng shui bedroom is a bedroom that invites you, lures you in, excites and calms at the same time. A good feng shui bedroom is fun and pleasurable to be in, either you are there for a quick nap, a good night sleep or to make passionate love!

To create a good feng shui bedroom, you can use a variety of simple, practical feng shui tools, such as the basic feng shui tips below:

1. Let go of the TV, computer or exercise equipment in your bedroom.

The good feng shui energy in your bedroom is destroyed when these items are present in your bedroom.

2. Open the windows often or use a good quality air-purifier to keep the air fresh and full of oxygen.

Be mindful of the quality of air in your bedroom. You cannot have good feng shui in your bedroom if the air you breathe in is stale and full of pollutants. Please note that plants in the bedroom are not good feng shui, unless your bedroom is fairly large and the plants are located far from the bed.

3. Have several levels of lighting in your bedroom, or use a dimmer switch to adjust the energy accordingly.

Good, appropriate lighting is very important, as light is our # 1 nutrient and one of the strongest manifestations of energy. Candles are the best feng shui bedroom lighting, but be sure to buy candles with no toxins.

4. Use soothing colors to achieve a good feng shui balance in your bedroom.

Feng shui bedroom decor is a balanced decor that promotes the best flow of energy for restorative sleep, as well as sexual healing. Best feng shui colors for the bedroom are considered the so-called "skin colors", and we know the colors of human skin vary from pale white to rich chocolate brown. Choose colors within this range that will work best for your bedroom decor.

5. Choose the images for your bedroom wisely, as images carry powerful feng shui energy.

Best feng shui advice for the bedroom art is to choose images that you want to see happening in your life. Unless you enjoy being sad and lonely, do not use sad and lonely images in your bedroom.

6. Follow the basic feng shui guidelines for your bed, which are:

o have your bed easily approachable from both sides, o have two bedside tables (one on each side), and, o avoid having the bed in a direct line with the door.

A "good looking" and well-balanced bed is very important in creating a perfect feng shui bedroom. Good mattress, solid headboard and high quality sheets from natural fibers are also very important in creating harmonious feng shui energy.

7. Keep all the bedroom doors closed at night, be it the closet doors, the en-suite bathroom door or the bedroom door.

This will allow for the best and most nourishing flow of energy to strengthen your health, as well as the health of your relationship. Keeping your bedroom closet clean and organized will further create a sense of peace and calm in your bedroom. The idea of a perfect feng shui bedroom may bring different images to different people, but they will all have one thing in common - Pleasure and Dreaming as the keywords. In a good feng shui bedroom, every item will reflect the clear intent for love, healing and relaxation.

Tools by Rodika Tchi