Month: September 2013

Fall Mantel with Feathers

Written by Jenna on September 26, 2013. Posted in Fall, Mantels. 15 Comments on Fall Mantel with Feathers

My Fall mantel is complete and yes, it has feathers.

I’m into feathers this Fall.

Peacock feathers adorn my latest wreath creation for the season, and now tall feathers (not sure specifically what kind) grace my latest seasonal mantel.

For my Lowe’s October Challenge, one of the projects that the Creative Team could tackle was giving the fireplace mantel a makeover. I was surely excited and awaiting the opportunity to give my mantel a revamp. I sent the seashells apackin’ and dug out the pumpkins, ghords, and festive favorites.

For my latest mantel, I wanted something new & fresh, but started like I usually do by shopping my home before even stepping foot into a store. It’s always such a great way to create a fresh, new look without spending a lot of $$$. Most of the elements for my Fall mantel I already had on hand, but a few elements are new like the ghords (obviously since they’re seasonal) + the feathers, which I picked up at AC Moore for $2/each. They add such a unique, spicy element to the space.

In my travels over the past months, I also picked up this super interesting black sphere, which adds an interesting three-dimensional quality to the new mantel. To add in some height, I covered 3 books with plain white paper, and topped it with a pretty candle in a geometric holder + a glass filled with gold rocks.

Yes, fabulous gold rocks.

The rocks were a quick and fun DIY project that I tackled with the kids before school started a few weeks ago. We had gone for a hike at a local lake and they collected a bunch of rocks. My nifty brain got me thinking… let’s jazz em’ up with a little spray paint! It’s ah-mazing what a little flashy gold can do…

bling bling!

Another new element in the space is the mirror. It’s not new to me, but something that I purchased 2 years ago, but has been sitting in the garage ever since. It was wood, but I wanted it white, so once again, spray paint to the rescue!

Prime. Paint. And something new + magical is born.

And the result…

For now, it leans on the wall instead of being hung. I change things so much (probably too much) that it wasn’t worth another hole in the wall.

The overall space is definitely happy + festive + perfectly set for Fall.

Some more details…

My upcycled light turned vase (now a candle holder) made this years Fall mantel. Still one of my favorite upcycle projects to date…

To add to the whole composition, I added in a few more festive elements that sit at the foot of the fireplace. I brought in my thrift-store old chest (which holds the kids wooden trains) and topped with a large pumpkin and a few wonky ghords. And instead of my tall vibrant yellow lantern sitting on the mantel this time, I brought it to the floor.

O, and there’s me, photographing the most difficult space in the world. Seriously I take 100s of shots and am never satisfied. Well I tried and I hope you enjoyed.

Hi!

And lastly, in striving to always keep it real, this is how the space around me looked at the time of photographing…

All looks perfect in the shot, but there was a bunch of craziness around it.

Moved furniture.

Laundry.

Birthday supplies.

Just keepin’ it real…

I hope you enjoyed my Fall Mantel with feathers. What adorns your mantel for Fall?

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Fall spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Loweâ€™s Creative Ideas app on the iphone and ipad. Iâ€™m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

Also consider following Loweâ€™s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

Disclosure: I am part of the Loweâ€™s Creative Team and was provided with a Loweâ€™s gift card to purchase items for my project. I was also compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

Fall Front Porch

Written by Jenna on September 24, 2013. Posted in Autumn, DIY, Fall, Seasonal. 3 Comments on Fall Front Porch

It’s officially Fall!

I was a bit sad to see the Summer end, but I have to say, with the kids back in school and a routine once again being established, the arrival of the season has actually been quite delightful. The weather also has been chilly, so it just adds to the thought that Fall is in full swing.

To celebrate the new season, I had to give my front porch a new look. After finishing it up over the weekend + photographing it yesterday, it’s ready to share + enjoy!

This seasons front porch didn’t change much. I really just added in a few new layers of color + festive pumpkins, ghords, and mums.

Take a look…

Welcome.

The entrance of a home sets the style + tone for what’s to come on the inside. I always like to evoke an inviting, colorful, and welcoming aesthetic to my seasonal & holiday front porch creations. With it being Fall, colorful pumpkins + mums were a must.

Both bring fantastic color to the porch.

I also filled my lanterns with sugar pumpkins + interesting shaped ghords.

The vertical pallet ‘garden‘ also got a revamp. Down came the vines + spring flowers and in their place went colorful mums. I planted them a few weeks ago with the kids. It was great getting them involved and we got to use my other pallet creation that I made this past summer.

I never shared this on the blog (I kinda forgot with other projects going on), but the lutchens bench that sits under the pallet got a makeover at the beginning of the summer. It used to be plain wood (natural finish with no stain) and with the desire to bring in more color to the porch, I spray painted it in a turquoise color. It sure is an eye-catcher!

It’s amazing how something can look brand new for under $5!

The other side of the front porch is just as delightful with 2 teak side chairs and a tiered table in between. The table is from West Elm. It’s seen better days and almost got tossed until I realized outside under the covered porch was the perfect next life for it.

The table is also the perfect spot to rest a cup of tea and enjoy a few treats. Yesterday a sliced apple + an apple muffin were my treat of choice.

Even though the front porch isn’t a large space, it’s so cozy. Whether watching the kids on their bikes or simply enjoying a few (rare) quiet moments, I love sitting out there enjoying our home and ‘the fruits of our labor’.

Want to see how much it’s changed? Check out these ‘before’ photos from 2 years ago…

Quite the transformation!

Wild flowers from the yard make the perfect centerpiece. Not sure if it’s because they’re from our garden or because they’re free, but either way, this simple arrangement makes me so happy.

On my apple green front door, sits my latest wreath creation that I shared last week. I love the plums & navy hues!

Thanks for visiting! I loved having you tour my new festive Fall front porch. I hope you enjoyed.

What elements have you brought in to decorate your Fall front porch?

Tips + Tricks for Painting the Perfect Stripes

Written by Jenna on September 20, 2013. Posted in DIY, Paint, Paint Techniques. 7 Comments on Tips + Tricks for Painting the Perfect Stripes

This time last week I was just about to jump into the foyer remodel. I was picking up the paint + supplies, removing everything from the space, and getting the walls prepped.

A color was chosen. The walls were spackled, sanded, and painted. Then last the stripes were added.

Straight Stripes.
Crisp Stripes.
Perfect Stripes.

I am actually really impressed with myself on how straight the stripes turned out.

Here is the result…

Now a week later, other than the styling + accessories, the space is complete. {big sigh of relief}…

But taking a step back, I learned alot about painting stripes. There are many tutorials out there – I’m sure if you google it, you will find plenty – and instead of giving you a step-by-step, I thought I’d simply give you the 411 on what worked and why. Ready for it???

Trick 1.

The # of stripes. Start out by determining how wide + how many stripes you want on the wall. I wanted to go wide (somewhere between 10-12″ wide) + I wanted an odd number of dark stripes (for some reason odd numbered things appeal to the eye better), so I created a simple drawing of my wall.

The paintable wall (excluding the base moulding) measured = 93.5″. I divided 93.5 by 9 (because I wanted 9 equal stripes) = 10.38. So each stripe resulted about 10-3/8″ wide.

Are you with me?

Here’s a picture…

I hope I didn’t lose you. Stick with me.

Trick 2.

So you got your stripe width figured out.

The next step is to make the stripes. I went with the simplest technique for creating the stripes No nifty gadgets or gizmos were used, but instead just an ordinary, everyday tape measure. Yup, I’ve got about a half dozen lying around.

Starting at the ceiling (that’s key – don’t start from the floor), I measured down about 10-3/8″ and made a mark with my pencil about every 20″ across the wall.

Then I connected the dots. I lined up the tape with the first dot at the left wall edge, then continued across the wall meeting each dot. It was fairly simple. Once the tape was in place, I checked that the tape read 10-3/8″ all the way across.

For this project, I used 3M painters tape. I’ve used it before when painting the stripes in my son’s room & I have also tried FrogTape when creating the chalkboard wall for the CCC. To be honest, I feel both are equal. Both have a magical “formula” to keep the paint from supposedly seeping under the tape. I don’t think that it works incredibly (but I have a another trick for that), so overall, I don’t prefer one more over the other. Both do the job. But, I will say, don’t cheap out (like I have in the past) and buy a generic painters tape. IT. WON’T. STICK. TO. THE. WALL. Go with the good stuff… 3M or Frogtape!

Trick 3.

So this is the best trick of ALL!! The true way to achieving the most crisp, perfect striped lines with NO SEEPAGE under the tape is to “seal it”. It sounds harder than it is. After you’ve painted, use a brush to paint over the tape edge on the side you plan on painting the striped color (on my wall it was the dark color). READ: ***Don’t paint the edge of the tape that is staying the background color because you will get a line after the tape is removed.

Then “burnish” (push hard) the tape into the wall so it makes a good seal.

To help with remembering which side was which, I added a small piece of tape to the stripes that weren’t changing… the background color.

Then came the paint. I’m sure you know how to do that. No trick there…

Last and final tip…

Trick 4.

After the second coat of paint remove the tape. Yes, while the paint is still wet.

sorry for the mucky picture, it was late at night when I took these pictures.

And you’re done. Those are the 4 easy tricks + tips I have for painting stripes on walls.

Fairly manageable, right? So do you think you would try stripes now?

Have you ever seen the stripes I painted onto window curtain panels? They are still my most favorite curtain panel to date…

Anyway, let’s get back to my foyer. Want to see more pictures of the crisp, straight, and incredibly perfect lines?

And there you have it. The crispest lines you’ve ever seen and it was so easy. Are you ready to paint stripes on your walls? I’m thrilled with the result.

I have a few things I just ordered to finish up this space. Here’s a peak…

With the new gold gorgeousness, a.k.a. the new gold dresser, these new elements are going to be just right to finish up the space.

Once they arrive, I will share the big reveal. Until then, be sure to get your stripe on this weekend.

Where are you going to add stripes? Do you have stripes in your home already?

Foyer Progress + Painting Made Easy

Written by Jenna on September 18, 2013. Posted in DIY, Paint, product review. 38 Comments on Foyer Progress + Painting Made Easy

As of 9:00 last night, the painting of the walls + the stripes are done. Now that’s a big checkmark off my list!

I have one more element in the space that needs a last coat of paint, and then the painting part of the Foyer Remodel will be complete. A few styling magic tricks to follow and the space will be completely fresh and new.

Taking a step back though, I have to tell ya that the painting process wasn’t too grueling. Before venturing into a painting project, I’m always a little leery about how long it will really take. From removing everything in the space to spackling the holes to painting the edges to finally painting the main walls, it ends up being double the time than originally estimated. Plus I’m usually tuckered out over the days to follow from all the bending and lifting.

Thankfully the painting part for this project didn’t take long at all and it took exactly the amount of time that I estimated. Why? Because of a handy dandy tool that I used called the Paint Stick by HomeRight.

When I was at Haven during the middle of the Summer, HomeRight was one of the vendors. Since they have a wide-range of painting tools, I gravitated right in their direction. I was awestruck by the huge selection of paint sprayers, but then I saw the Paint Stick. A minute-long demo later sold me. I had to try it.

Once I had it in my home a few weeks later, I was psyched to get started.

The process of putting the Paint Stick together was fairly easy. Within about 2 minutes, the stick was in place and I was ready. One point I will mention is that the first time pulling up the inner tube, which draws up the paint, was difficult. I had to use some womanpower, and then got it! I initial thought I was doing it wrong and didn’t want to break anything, but it just needed some muscle.

Once I put the paint cover onto the paint can, I was ready.

BUT, before I could begin, I had some prep to do. The good ole’ prep work…

Since the main wall with the stencil was slightly raised, I gave the wall a quick overall sanding. The ‘before’ wall color was eggshell and the stencil design was the same color but in a high gloss finish. I was a little reluctant how the new paint would take on the high gloss and thought sanding over the design would cut down on the sheen, allowing the new paint to adhere better.

I spackled all the holes. Those dang holes. There were more than I thought.

Then painted all the edges and corners of the room. Instead of taping the ceiling and all the mouldings, I decided to just “cut-in” with an angled brush and I have to tell you, it was so much easier and the result is so much better. The usual steps I take are: tape, paint, remove tape, and do touchups. None of that was needed this time. My angled Purdy brush was awesome. I bought a new one for this project and it was $10 well spent and saved a ton of time.

At last, it was finally time to paint with the Paint Stick!

I stuck the Paint Stick onto the port of the cover and drew the paint up. I was ready…

And away I painted…

Bye Bye Stencil. It was nice knowing ya.

My new Greige color, Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff, is gorgeous and my new handy-dandy paint tool, the Paint Stick, made it easy!

Once the base color was done, I was able to start the stripes. Check out my tips + tricks for painting the perfect stripes.

My thoughts

Overall I thought the Paint Stick was a great product. It made the process of painting the main section of the walls a breeze. I only had to fill the PaintStick up twice for my entire foyer. It’s not a huge space, but a decent size. The up-and-down on a ladder when using a regular roller was eliminated and the bending over to reach the areas near the lower part of the wall wasn’t necessary. The other nice part of the Paint Stick is that the paint can be used directly from the can. There is no need for messy trays + there is no waste. How many times has someone stepped in paint and/or paint drips all over? Plus there is never a way to get all the leftovers from a tray back into the paint can.

I will say the cleaning up process wasn’t as easy as simply throwing away a liner and roller, but it wasn’t too bad. Overall it took about 15 minutes. I actually started cleaning the supplies without reading the directions – shame, shame on me – and it took much longer than it should have. If you follow these directions, it’s fairly simple!

Would I use it again?

You bet and I would suggest you try it too! You can pick one up at your local Lowe’s. When picking up the paint + supplies for this project, there was a huge display in the paint aisle.

So guess what… HomeRight is super great and is giving away (1) Paint Stick EZ-Twist to one of my fabulous followers. Want to make painting less daunting and have it take way less time than ever before? Then enter now >

This Giveaway is Over. Stephanie Whitacker is the official Winner. Please keep on the lookout for more giveaways coming up soon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: HomeRight has chosen to partner with me to share their products with you, my wonderful readers and followers. I was provided with product to review and was compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

Gone with the Beige. Hello Greige!

Written by Jenna on September 16, 2013. Posted in Paint. 17 Comments on Gone with the Beige. Hello Greige!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Did the early signs of Fall start creeping through in your neck of the woods? It did here in Upstate NY and we enjoyed the slight chill + sun by doing a Fall favorite, apple picking. All day yesterday I was baking away.

Aside from the outdoor fun, I also got my groove on with the foyer. I shared on Friday that my next room remodel is the foyer / entry / mudroom… In my home, all the same space. It’s not huge, but an inviting space that I wanted to give a new look. One of the most playful new elements in the room is the addition of wide horizontal stripes. But before the ‘wow’ factor could be added, a new fresh coat of pant was needed.

The ‘before’ space was a beige-y color (in eggshell) with a tone-on-tone (in gloss) stencil design on the main wall. As of late, I’ve been veering towards cooler colors and the beige hue was too orangey, especially next to the new blue walls of the office and the powder room. Instead of touching up the beige walls, I chose a new color that was a mix of gray + beige, known as greige!

For my walls, the depth of color didn’t change, but the tone certainly did. It was amazing painting over the beige because the new grayer hue (that has a tinge of blue/purple undertone in it) made the old color look very orange (something that I never realized before). It instantly works a lot better with the adjacent spaces.

I’m adoring greige hues because you really can’t go wrong. Whether a space has cooler or warmer tones, the ‘greige’ will go in that direction.

My advice: If you are wanting neutral, go with greige! While I’m in the midst of finishing up the walls + stripes, I thought I would share with you my Top 10 Favorite Greige Colors…

Colors Include:
1. Sherwin Williams Mega Greige
2. Valspar Woodrow Wilson Putty
3. Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies
4. Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan
5. Behr Granite Boulder
6. Glidden Martha Stewart Sharkey Gray
7. Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff (that’s my color!)
8. Valspar Bay Sands
9. Behr Mineral
10. Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige

All of these colors are a perfect mix of beige + gray = greige, but keep in mind when choosing the ideal hue for your space that every color has different undertones (red, blue, green, etc). The best step for choosing the right color for your space is to select a few samples and test them out. Don’t forget to try the same color on different walls and also look at them at different times during the day. As the light changes, the color will too.

Here are a few spaces with my favorite Greige Colors…

Valspar Woodrow Wilson Putty (interesting name…) on the walls of the living room by Bryn Alexandra

Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige on the walls of the dining room by 2 Vintage Sisters

Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies on the walls of the home of Kirsten Krason

Behr Granite Boulder on the walls of the dining room by Sappy Apple

Now that I’ve got my new greige paint color on the wall, I am ready to add the bold + dynamic stripes. More on that later this week + I’ll be sharing a new handy dandy tool that I just discovered to make painting a bit less daunting – Holla! In the meantime, enjoy and be inspired by the new greige colors I shared.

What is your favorite color greige? Do you have a greige wall in your home?

The Start of the Next Room Remodel. The Foyer.

Written by Jenna on September 13, 2013. Posted in DIY. 7 Comments on The Start of the Next Room Remodel. The Foyer.

Now that the kids are back in school and home life is somewhat back on a regular routine, I’m psyched to start tackling my next big room remodel. This past Spring it was the powder room that got an overhaul, and now I’m ready for something else. The space coming up is adjacent to the powder room. Can you guess what it is??? Twist. Twist. Ok, I’ll tell you. It’s the foyer. It’s had many lives over the past 4 years, but it’s ready for another. And it all revolves around this…

This piece of gorgeousness (that I was reluctant to buy but many of you on instagram encouraged me to take the plunge) is the inspiration for my foyer and the starting element that everything will be designed around.

Want a better look?

There it is.

It’s dynamic. It’s unusual. It’s a showstopper. And it’s all mine to design around…

And look I couldn’t stop myself from already styling it…

One of the major needs in the foyer (because it duals as our mudroom) is storage. Out of convenience, the kids keep most of their everyday shoes in the foyer, so a new piece with storage was a major must! And this gold bombshell actually has more storage than the last cabinet.

Here is the space before…

And before that 2-1/2 years ago (prior to the stair makeover & the new flooring)…

What a difference, right? Also going is the tone-on-tone stencil. And in it’s place…

Stripes!

With a Major Cabinet, there needs to be Major Stripes.

But I’m going bolder. I wanted to do black and white (I love Emily Clark’s foyer), but I decided on a greige (a mix of gray & beige) with a dark charcoal brown. The black would have been too deep for our overall space.

The contrast is major, but I do wish the darker color was even darker. hmmm… {wheels are turning – did I choose the wrong color?} We shall see how it looks once the stripes go up. So many colors, so many decisions.

So the chosen colors are Benjamin Moore Gallery Buff and Benjamin Moore Coachman’s Cape. I actually had them color matched at Lowe’s and am using Valspar Ultra Paint + Primer.

And after doing some math this afternoon, I came up with two options for the width of the stripes – I think I’m leaning towards 5 dark stripes at 10-3/8″ high.

The entire foyer will get a fresh coat of the lighter color, while the stripes will only be on one wall behind the gold console. Because of the space, it’s most fitting. Aside from the paint, I want to freshen up the artwork and decor as well. On the main striped wall I envision 4 or 6 white square frames with large white matting.

Specific pictures or artwork TBD. There are a few more walls in the space and I’ve got some thinking to do for them. And of course the powder room is one of the spaces right off of the foyer.

The built-in coat rack that is behind the front door will remain because it’s our everything! The 30″ wall is so functional – I don’t know what I would do without. And I think the back of the front door is going to get a splash of color too.

Well I’ve got my work cut out for me, but that’s the plan. You know know where you’ll find me this weekend. What are your weekend plans?

Autumn Wreath with Plum + Peacock Accents

Written by Jenna on September 11, 2013. Posted in Autumn, DIY, Fall, Thanksgiving, Wreath. 10 Comments on Autumn Wreath with Plum + Peacock Accents

I haven’t created a new wreath in a long time. I’ve had my go-to wreaths for Spring, Autumn, and Winter for the past couple of years and every few months they get rotated in-and-out. But once the chill hit last weekend and the thoughts of Fall started to seep into my brain, I knew a new and unique wreath was ready to be made for the coming season.

The front door, often thought of as the â€œmouthâ€ of a home, is the perfect place to make a statement. My apple green colored front door always gives the best backdrop to any wreath that is displayed, and my latest creation fills my heart with a happy feeling & warm thoughts. For me the front door, signifies the â€œentrance ofâ€, so letâ€™s enter this new season with my new Autumn Wreath with Plum + Peacock Accents…

This new wreath is a little out of the norm’ for Fall, but that was my goal. I passed on reds, oranges, and yellows for Autumn and instead focused on using deeper hues of plum, navy, sienna, and browns. And then I through in a bit of peacock. Fun + unique + unexpected! Exactly what I was going for...

I started off by recycling the white spray painted grapevine wreath that I had on-hand from Valentine’s Day. It was just sitting around and even though I might have used it again, I took it apart anyway. Then I scoured the aisles of my local AC Moore and picked out a bunch of faux festive “floral stems” (as they call them). Other than the berries & the peacock feathers, I don’t know any of the “stems” by name, but basically they were an assortment of styles, colors, and textures. All three always make a great composition.

One the styles I got a bunch of with plans of using them as the base. I thought they were a good neutral to then build the other stems and berries on top of. Other than the faux stems and wreath, the only other supplies was the wire and snips (for cutting the wire and the stems).

When decorating with faux flowers, I always cut it up so there are individual branches instead of working with one bunch > more on that in this post. After cutting the bunches apart, I started interweaving each branch through the grapevine wreath. Once the branch was fairly secure, I fastened it to the wreath with floral wire. Well actually I just used regular gold wire that I had on-hand, but it was hidden so no biggie.

About 10-15 minutes later, the base was finito…

Honestly, this wreath was pretty with just the one style stem, but you know me, I always need more….

At this point, there was no specific hanging point, but with the added layers coming next I needed to choose a spot. Once I chose a place for where it would hang, I started adding in the other stems + berries.

Choosing a place for where it would hang allowed me to pinpoint where on the wreath I wanted to position and see certain stems. I knew I wanted the spikey plum stems to be on the left & the peacock to be on the right…

Then came the berries…

Then the final layer. The peacock feathers…

How fun are they?!

And then the final result.

Welcome to my home…

And there you have it. My latest door creation set for Fall.

As an Apartments.com Brand Influencer, I strive to share ideas + do it yourself projects not only for those who live in homes, but also easy & affordable ideas + creations for apartment dwellers. One of the reasons I love wreaths so much, no matter if you live in a house or in an apartment, is that it sets the tone for whats to come on the inside. A wreath not only makes a door pretty, but it’s welcoming. It’s a way to greet someone without actually greeting them. And as the person that resides in the home, it’s a beautiful thing to see each time you come home.

And to wrap up this post, my door color! It’s been this apple green color for years. I’ve thought of changing it, but I’ve never come across another hue that I like better. So apple green it is! When this door gets featured, I always get asked the question – “What color is it?” Here is the info: Valspar Olive Tree WV34010

How do you don your door for the coming Autumn season?

Ideas + Solutions for the Wall Behind the TV

Written by Jenna on September 9, 2013. Posted in Decorating, Photo Gallery Walls. 10 Comments on Ideas + Solutions for the Wall Behind the TV

Another Monday here again! I hope you had a great weekend. It was fairly low key on my end, but as a family we enjoyed the beginning signs of Fall, with the brisk chill in the air, by taking a family bike ride + watching football. I also got the opportunity to shop for some colorful mums to transition the front porch, as well as the mantel. Both are still in progress, but are coming along. I’m waiting for some small pumpkins & ghords to arrive at the local stores – upon asking, it seems like it might be another week or 2.

Onto today’s blog topic… The TV and what to do with the wall behind it.

I often get emails from readers asking design-related questions and most of them I return with a few short sentences in hopes to point them in the right direction. If they need more help, we usually end up working together through my E-Design Program. BUT, last week I received a question that I KNOW alot of homeowners struggle with, so I thought it would be best to put a blog post together to assist and inspire more than one reader.

This email is from Christina:

I was hoping you can direct me with a huge dilemma. We have a tv hanging on the wall in our family room. Which I can’t stand. I prefer an armoir or built in. Any how hubby wanted modern tv on wall so I compromised. I have no idea what to do with all the extra space on either side of the wall. My style I would say is old world, electic, traditional. Could you please offer suggestions. I’m also confused if both sides need the same exact item hanging on the wall. Could I do a decorative mirror on one side and a collage of artwork on the other. Do I hang distressed wooden panels on either side or tapestry…….help. This space kills me. I can’t stand the TV on the wall.its so cold. Thank you for any guidance you can offer.

Is this a topic you’ve often struggled with as well? If so, I have some great ideas + solutions.

Most homeowners have flat screen TVs that are only inches deep (I’m excluded from this bunch – we still have a big ole’ cumbersome TV in the living room). The minimal depth of these televisions allows for it to be functionally integrated without overwhelming the space. If designed right, the artwork, pictures, paintings, and/or wall decor that surrounds the TV on the wall can become just as important, or more important, than the TV. In turn, the TV ends up not being the dominant focal point of the room. It still functions the same, but doesn’t overtake.

Let’s dive into some design solutions…

Gallery walls are in. Gone are the days of 1 or 2 pictures on a huge wall. The size and number of pictures on a wall should be proportional with the wall height and width. The wall that is chosen for the TV is often the largest and/or longest in the space, so it should be filled.

One idea is to create an asymmetrical gallery wall, which is probably the easiest because there is no right or wrong. It allows for growth and it allows to incorporate what is most meaningful for you.

This TV gallery wall is surrounded by pictures and images in an array of sizes and frame finishes, which the eye is drawn to instead of the TV. via One Kings Lane

Framed by two windows, this TV gallery wall is a great solution for incorporating a TV into a living room space. A mix of black and white artwork in black or white frames, are set behind the TV which is atop of a white dresser. via Emily Clark

Another idea for a TV wall is this eclectic asymmetrical composition that displays collected art and a vintage lamp along with the wall-mounted TV. Incorporating an element larger than the TV steers the eye away from the “black-hole” and instead allows it to focus on the other elements – the lamp + artwork.

Another idea to take away – Because many of the other elements on the wall are black, your eye is tricked into not focusing on the TV. From the black lampshade to the black frames (some with black matting) to the black and white artwork + photos, so the TV actually looks like another piece of dimensional art. via The Hunted Interior

Slightly different than the above examples, this TV gallery wall is fairly symmetrical. The wall-mounted TV is centered on the console and the pictures / artwork are “bookmatched” on each side (for the most part). Other interesting elements, like the animal horns, surround the black and white frames and bring an added dimension to the wall.

Completely different than the examples above, this TV is wall-mounted and is surrounded by perfectly symmetrical black and white pictures in black frames. It truly is an art gallery. This wall created by Brooklyn Limestone shows all the steps of how she created it, plus a video on the progress. It is definitely one to watch.

No matter the size or configuration of a space, a TV can always (well 99% of time) somehow be incorporated. In this narrow living room, the TV is set off to the side and sits on top of a dresser / console table. It’s tucked out of the way, not making it the focal point. Above is a picture that is even larger than the TV, which draws the eye up instead of at the black box. via La Dolce Vita

The space around the TV doesn’t have to be only for pictures, but displaying other wall decor, like shutters, mirrors, or general wall art, is a great opportunity to create an interesting and unusual composition. via Southern Hospitality

Going the minimal direction, the television in this space sits on top of a black lacquered console table and is pushed to one side allowing space for a large lamp and other accessories. the wall space around is kept fairly bare, but interesting. via The Little Green Notebook

Again, going back to a symmetrical look, the TV in this room sits on a smaller dresser and behind are two larger painting, then 2 more smaller styles on each side. Two ghost chairs sit in front allowing for the art to speak”, yet still making an architectural statement. via Maple + Shade

Larger artwork behind the flat screen TV can make just as much, or even more, of an impact as smaller pictures / photos. via Apartment Therapy

Another great TV gallery wall designed by Kristin of The Hunted Interior, showcases the television set off to the side with framed black and white photos around. A large white lamp with black shade sits forward of the TV allowing it to be the focal point.

An asymmetrical gallery of black and white photos surround this TV mounted on the wall. To the sides sit two large floor lamps bringing height to the space. via HGTV

How to Create a TV Gallery Wall in your Home

So how can you incorporate these ideas into your own home? It takes time, planning, and a layout. Gallery walls don’t come together as easy or as quickly as hanging a simple picture on the wall. BUT, a gallery wall can make a huge impact that will be far worth a single photo.

When the DIYer over at Tasty n’ Chic took on the endeavour of a new gallery wall, she created several plans and layouts before deciding on what worked best. She used a computer program to create the ideal layout, but you can also use craft paper or wrapping paper (outline the sizes of your frames), or layout the frames on the floor (that’s what I do to get the exact plan).

Here is her drawing…

And then the result…

I hope I’ve provided my reader Christina + all of you with some interesting and creative ideas + inspiration for what to do behind the TV. I still have my humungous TV behind doors, but have had ideas and thoughts of upgrading.

If you’re looking for useful ideas and layouts to create a photo gallery wall, check out this post {click here}

Good Luck with your TV wall creation!

DIY: Drop Cloth Curtain Panels with Leading Edge Detail

Written by Jenna on September 5, 2013. Posted in DIY. 16 Comments on DIY: Drop Cloth Curtain Panels with Leading Edge Detail

I’ll be honest, none of the window curtain panels in my home cost more than $50. Yet all are custom made. Not by an uber-expensive fabricator, but by me.

Store-bought and/or custom-made curtain panels can be very pricey, but the same look (or better) can be achieved by making your own. And guess what, it’s not difficult…

As the calendar turns and another Fall approaches, Lowe’s put The Team to the test this month to create a new window treatment for the home. I was in need (well more like a want) of new window panels for the dining room, so I knew it was the perfect spot to get my craft on.

I desired something simple, so instead of stopping at the curtain aisle for a typical drape, I headed towards the paint aisle and landed in the drop cloth section. confession: I can close my eyes and always find the drop cloth section… I’ve confessed my love for drop cloth before, but honestly it is The. Best. Material. hands down. You can do so much with drop cloth material. It’s not just for painters!!

Anyway, onto the new panels…

1. At Lowes, I chose a 6 ft. x 9 ft. size panel (about $10), then cut it in half to make (2) 3 ft. x 9 ft. pieces.

2. The panels are heavy enough, so I didn’t feel that a lining was needed, so I simply squared off the edges (drop cloth isn’t always perfectly straight), folded over the edges, and sewed all around.

3. Once the panels were complete, it was time to add the decorative leading edge. I chose a navy blue light cotton fabric which was the perfect contrasting complement to the lighter color of the drop cloth material.

And yes, that says $3 for the yard. In all these panels cost about $13!

The color of the fabric is showing royal blue in this pic, but it is more navy in actuality.

4. I layed out the fabric length-wise and cut as many 4″ strips as I could.

again showing royal blue… but it’s not.

5. Then I folded over the two side edges 1/2″ each and ironed the seam flat.

That’s the true color. I swear!

Sidenote: Because of the panel length (a typical panel can be from 84-96″ long), you may need to attach fabric strips to achieve one long strip. I did and before folding over and ironing the seam, I attached two strips and then I had enough length. Once sewn, iron the seam flat.

6. Once the seams were ironed, it was time to attach the decorative edge to the drop cloth panel. I decided to have 1″ of drop cloth exposed, then add the navy blue accent. I first pinned the navy fabric in place and sewed all along the edges using the same color thread.

And that’s it. A high-end look for $13!

The result…

The panels are hung by clip rings and have slight puddle at the bottom. They are the perfect addition for my dining space.

Other ideas + ways to achieve a high-end look for less…

You don’t have to use drop cloth to create a similar window curtain panel. A similar detailed edge can be added to a store-bought curtain, similar to what I did in my daughter’s room. In her space, I actually added the decorative fabric to the outside edge of the curtain panel instead of on top of the fabric. The typical store-bought panel wasn’t long enough, but the added fabric made it the ideal length.

If you are using a thinner fabric to create a window panel and want to have a heavier panel that will allow less light to shine through, check out what I did in my bedroom. Using drop cloth material (AGAIN), I took a regular weight cotton fabric and lined them. Depending on the fabric pattern, a decorative edge could be added to these style panels as well.

Ideas are limitless for what you can create for your windows!

Thanks to Lowe’s, I was able to create my most recent creation for less than $15. So next time your combing the paint aisle to grab some spray paint, don’t forget to check out the drop cloth section. Your mind will go bonkers with all that can be created!

Excited for the Fall and ready to tackle some home improvement and DIY projects? Lowe’s has it all.

Sign up for their free Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine, which is filled with ideas + inspiration! Plus you can always follow them on Pinterest and Instagram for even more great ideas!

Disclosure: I am so grateful to be apart of the Loweâ€™s Creative Team and was provided with a Loweâ€™s gift card to purchase items for my project. I was also compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

What have you made using drop cloth? Have you ever thought of jazzing up your window curtain panels to create a custom look?