Tired of that old furniture at home? Learn to make your own; the possibilities are endless

Soap Box Rants

A WEEKLY COLUMN to CopyLine Magazine

 

By Pamela Bratcher-McMillan
President, Chair & CEO, of PETAL et al.

 

Getting tired of that old furniture at home but can’t afford to buy a whole bunch of new stuff? Then how about making your own? There are so many ways to freshen your hearth. All it takes are some creative ideas and some serious searching on the web. If you put in a bit of time searching the web you can find whatever you need in the way of ideas. And if you don’t have the patience to make it from scratch, you can always shop at a resale shop, or you can check Craigslist or Ebay for items that require little or any upholstering. People tend to throw things out because they get tired of the same old look and want to see something different when they come home or friends come by to visit.

Sites like Ana White Homemaker provides free plans to make beautiful furniture that are works of art. Who knows? After you pick up the materials you need and get started, you may find that you want to start recycling furniture into beautiful pieces that you can sell or give as gifts. With some sanding, staining, new fabrics, etc., you’d be surprised at what you could come up with.

First, you could start with a photo of a room you love, a bedroom, living room, playroom, den, home office, etc. Take a good look at the walls, the size and color of the items and furniture in the room. Color is very important. You should use complementary colors throughout the room, and always consider how the colors make you and the rest of your family feel. If the room is for relaxation, you should use calm, soothing colors. If it is in the kid’s playroom, you’ll want to use bright, cheerful and lively colors.

Some things to ponder:  If the room in the photo is spacious with dark colors, and the room you want to decorate is small, you may want to go with a lighter hue so the dark color doesn’t give the room a feeling of being closed in. Also, look at the couch. Is it contemporary, French provincial, country or just plain unusual?

Further, check the resale shops, Craigs List, Ebay, etc., for furniture that is similar in design. Don’t mind the fabric if you don’t like it. You can look for fabric at the thrift shops or at your local fabric store. If you don’t want to upholster, pay someone else to do it. When you are done you will have what you want at a fraction of what it would cost if you had purchased it new, same with the chairs.

As for tables, that should be pretty simple. Note the wood and stain colors. Maybe you prefer a marble or granite top. If so, purchase a piece from the store to bond on top of an old table. You can get the store to cut it down to your exact specification to fit the table you are covering. Window and floor coverings should flatter the room by being contrasting in colors or harmonizing. The possibilities are endless, but in the end, it is how you feel that will make you and your family feel cozy and comfortable with your new creations.

Pamela Bratcher-McMillan is a technology Expert and President, Chair & CEO, of PETAL et al.