Everyone wants their new home to be a beautiful, stylish reflection of their personality. But décor can be expensive, and don’t even get me started on interior designers. Luckily, with a little elbow grease and a lot of creativity, even basic household items can take on a whole new life.
Whether you’ve been looking at rustic homes for sale in Vancouver that could use a little color or barren apartments in Chicago that desperately need some chic furniture, here are three ideas for how to turn your unwanted junk into dazzling decorations.
Create Unique End Tables from Hardcover Books
Reading isn’t just fundamental, it can also be fashionable! Got a box of old textbooks left over from college? Maybe you found a whole bunch of hardcovers at Goodwill that were missing half their pages. Even that outdated old encyclopedia set can still serve a purpose now that its information is no longer relevant (hint: when a book talks about the Soviet Union as if it was still a thing, you don’t have to feel bad about retiring it).
Simply stack one book on top of another, using hot glue to bind the covers together. Keep stacking ‘n’ gluing until you achieve your desired height, then slather the whole thing in a layer of paint. This will not only cover up scuffs and tears, it will also stick the pages together and prevent the whole thing from resembling one big paper accordion. The final result is a one-of-a-kind end table with a fun, quirky style.
Frame Calendar Images to Make a Wall of Art
The great thing about calendars is that every month you get to look at a brand new portrait of a gorgeous landscape, sleek vintage hot rod, or outrageously adorable kitten. The bad thing about calendars is that once the year is over, all those images usually go right in the trash. That’s a real waste if you ask me.
Just because it’s no longer 2019 doesn’t mean an eye-catching picture is any less eye-catching. Give your calendars a stay of execution by cutting out the individual images and framing them as individual, inexpensive art prints. A single calendar can yield an entire wall’s worth of affordable art, all with a consistent theme that makes it look less like last year’s leftovers and more like a carefully curated collection. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.
CD Shards Can Add a New Shine to Drab Furniture
Everything old is new again except, it seems, all your old NSYNC “Bye Bye Bye” singles. It’s okay, the 90s were a confusing time for all of us. While vinyl records have made a big comeback in recent years, piles of shimmery, CDs continue to take up space in secondhand stores everywhere. It’s practically an epidemic. Luckily, I have just the cure (not to be confused with The Cure, although I have a couple CDs from them, too)
CDs may be DOA, but holographic patterns are still trendy and cool. Give a drab piece of furniture a silvery shine by soaking your music discs in hot water for about ten minutes, then carefully snipping them into shards of various shapes and sizes. Just be careful while doing it, and make sure to wear eye protection in case any sharp little splinters go flying. When you have enough to cover the outer surface of a small shelf or cabinet, brush a little glue on the back of each piece, allowing you to apply a glimmering jigsaw pattern that’s sure to turn heads.
Designing a home is often referred to as a very intimate thing, a balance of the aesthetic and the emotional, the timeless and the functional. This Mother’s Day 2025, Dulux Velvet Touch joined hands with K2 India, helmed by Sunita Kohli and Kohelika Kohli, to bring their vision to life. For them, design isn’t just […]
As houses become more efficient and conscious, bathroom storage design is rising to the occasion in terms of function and aesthetic. In 2025, all about sleek looks, intelligent solutions, and eco-friendliness. From floating vanity to modular organizers, these bathroom storage solutions merge functionality with style, ideal for contemporary Indian homes that need order, sophistication, and […]
When it comes to bathrooms, many people prioritize aesthetics, luxury, modernity, and so on. And indeed, the end result is often beautiful, especially when done by highly-trained professionals like Denver Bathroom Pros. While you’re at it though, why not add in one more aspect to focus on? Wellness is a concept often overlooked by homeowners […]
We often wander through our homes on autopilot, barely noticing the surfaces beneath our feet. Yet the humble rug—particularly the increasingly popular washable rugs — can transform our living spaces in ways we rarely pause to appreciate. These fabric canvases not only protect our floors and provide comfort, but they also create invisible boundaries that […]
Curtains for living room spaces do more than cover windows—they define mood, enhance style, and elevate functionality. In India, where design preferences blend tradition with innovation, choosing the right curtains for living room décor becomes a key element in crafting beautiful and personalised interiors. From airy sheers to rich velvets, every curtain style speaks a […]
Lighting in interior design isn’t simply a utility anymore; it makes a statement, strong and bold in the individual’s personality, mood, and style. Lighting has gone beyond the functional in Indian homes or offices. They are now used to incorporate beautiful installations that are unique, sculptural, and custom-made to evoke strong designs in these environments. […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Indian homes place equal importance on pooja room door designs as they do on main door designs. With diverse and unique ethnic backgrounds, every family strives to reflect their personalities and identities in their designs. These identities can encompass religious or spiritual interests, local contexts, or other personal elements. This series of blogs, featuring 50 […]
The integration of screening evergreen trees serves as an artful blend of practicality and natural beauty. These screening evergreen trees, with their lush foliage and diverse benefits, play a crucial role in enhancing privacy. It also blocks unwanted views, and contributes to the overall well-being of homeowners. From the majestic Jamun trees to the versatile […]
Gate Design is an important feature of any home. Numerous scopes for experimentation open up when delving into the design possibilities. Materials like wood and black steel are popular options in Indian homes. At the same time, designers also experiment with a combination of materials that suits their aesthetic. Buying mass-produced Sydney automated gates has […]