Decorating your mandir on Janmashtami is a great way to celebrate the Hindu festival in your own home. Hang things like flowers, lights, and torans on the mandir, decorating the entryway or edges. Place Lord Krishna idols and other statues inside the mandir, creating a scene or simple decorative pattern. However you choose to decorate your mandir, use bright colors and shiny materials to make your decorations truly stand out.
Method 1 Hanging Flowers and Other Decorations.
1. String flowers along the mandir to add floral embellishments. Use fresh flowers such as yellow marigolds, or opt for plastic or silk flowers that will last for years to come. Line the edges of the mandir with flowers, or hang them across the entryway to make them more of a focal point.
Make your own flowers out of paper and string them on a durable string, if desired.
Use tape or adhesive hooks to attach the flowers.
2. Hang lights in or around the mandir for a twinkling effect. If you have access to a power source, or you have lights that are battery operated, this is a great way to add light to your mandir. Use tape to attach fairy or LED lights across the edges of the mandir, or line the inside of the mandir with lights to create a glowing effect.
Using adhesive hooks is another good way to attach the lights.
3. Display a tapestry or hang drapes to cover larger areas. If you have a festive tapestry you’d like to display, hang it using push pins or hooks so it’s covering the back board of your mandir. Colorful drapes or curtains can be hung from the corners of the mandir, or spread out to cover a section of it if desired.
Purchase curtains or drapes from a market, or use a saree instead.
Hang a tapestry so it's covering the drawers of the mandir to decorate the bottom half.
4. Attach torans to the outer part of the mandir to string them across. Torans look great strung across the top of the mandir, as they make a great focal point. Pick out colorful ones with beaded embellishments or floral decorations, and hang them using tape, hooks, or push pins.
You might also hang a toran along the top of each door of your mandir.
5. Use bright, textured paper to cover the surfaces of the mandir. Hang glitter paper along the back of the mandir or attach crepe paper to the sides of the mandir to create a more festive design. Use several sheets of paper to cover the entire back board or each door, if desired.
Use colors like orange, red, or blue.
Consider making peacocks or flowers out of paper.
Cover the entire back board with glitter paper, or create a design using different patterns for a more intricate look.
Method 2 Displaying Figurines or Objects.
1. Embellish a royal jhula using colorful stones or fabrics. Decorate a jhula that you already have using things like small flowers, pieces of silk, or sequins, or opt to make your own. Create a jhula using cardboard before decorating it and placing it in your mandir.
Decorate the swing with garland or colorful ribbon.
Use glue or tape to help you create the jhula.
Consider painting your handmade jhula for a more detailed design.
2. Display butter pots in your mandir to symbolize the butter thief. If you already have small butter pots, place them in different spots in your mandir for added decor. Decorate them using paint, lace, or sequins to make them stand out even more.
Consider tying a string around each butter pot and hanging them from the door of your mandir if they don’t weigh too much.
Fill your butter pots with pulled-apart cotton balls to create the image of butter spilling out.
3. Create a representation of Vrindavan by placing statues around the mandir. Choose statues of cows, peacocks, small houses, and villagers to place inside the mandir. Decorate with flowers and plants to create a more naturalistic setting to complete the scene.
Arrange the statues and greenery to resemble a real city or village.
Lay pieces of shrubbery on the surface of the mandir to resemble grass and greenery, and place the cows in it to look like they're grazing.
Line village houses in a row with villagers working in their gardens.
4. Decorate a Lord Krishna idol in bright colors and materials. Pick out your favorite Lord Krishna idol and wrap it in shiny materials like silk or metallic fabric. Glue glittering stones onto the idol around its crown to add a sparkly element, if desired.
Cut fabric into strips to create shawls to wrap the Krishna idol in, or glue sequins onto a piece of fabric before draping it around the idol.
If you want to be able to remove the decorations after you’re finished with them, stick to wrapping the idol in fabric or using adhesives that will come off easily.
5. Place flutes around the mandir as a symbol for Krishna’s flute. Decorate your bansuris, or flutes, using peacock feathers, sequins, or sparkly tape. Place the flute, or multiple flutes, inside the mandir to the side in honor of Lord Krishna.
Glue sequins along the flute in a pattern of yellows and greens, or attach small beads to the flute for a more embellished design.
Tips
Consider creating a rangoli design in front of the mandir for a more traditional decoration.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that honors the Hindu deity Ganesh. Each year, at the culmination of the festival, Ganesh murti, or idols, are immersed and dissolved in water. To make your own murti, sculpt a natural clay, such as terracotta, into the form of Ganesh. Create a makhar, or a throne, for the idol, then adorn it with craft jewels, flowers, colorful fabric, and candles. Throughout your home, celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with decorations such as diyas, strings of lights, and beautiful door hangings.
Method 1 Making Your Own Ganesh Murti.
1. Sculpt the murti with natural, biodegradable clay. Immersing murti in water sends Ganesh, who has resided in the idol to listen to your prayers, back to his heavenly abode. Terracotta clay and other natural choices will dissolve during the immersion ritual. Not only is this consistent with the ritual’s spiritual meaning, it’s better for the environment.
During Ganesh Chaturthi, hundreds of thousands of idols may be immersed in a single city. Idols made of materials that don't dissolve, such as plaster of Paris, pollute the bodies of water in which they’re immersed. In some areas, laws require Ganesh murti to be made of natural clay.
Furthermore, undissolved idols are often removed from bodies of water, gathered into piles, and destroyed, which disrespects Ganesh.
2. Roll out 3 large balls of clay for the body, base, and head. Make the balls roughly the same size between 1/3 and 1/2 of the height you want the idol to be. For instance, if you want a 9 in (23 cm) idol, make each large ball about 3 to 4 in (7.6 to 10.2 cm) in diameter. Squish the first ball between your palms to make a flat, 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) thick circular base, then blend the bottom of the ball for the body onto the base.
After smoothing the ball for the body into the base, attach the ball for the head onto the body. At this point, it should look a bit like a snowman sitting on a flat circle, with the joints between the clay balls blended together.
Dab your fingers in a small cup of water to moisten the clay and make it more pliable.
If you have trouble keeping the sculpture stable, insert a toothpick halfway into the top of the ball for the body. Then place the ball for the head onto the body; the other half of the toothpick goes into the head. The toothpick acts like a frame and holds the 2 balls of clay together.
3. Make 2 long cylinders for the legs. Roll 2 pieces of clay into 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) long tubes with diameters of about 1 1⁄2 in (3.8 cm). Then attach 1 end of each tube to the rear and bottom of the body to form the legs. Bend the legs so they curl around the front of the body in a sitting position, then smooth 1 end of each leg to the back of body to form the hip joints.
Remember that toothpicks or small sticks can help you attach the body parts to each other if you have trouble keeping the idol stable.
4. Attach the arms and the trunk to the idol. Make 2 more 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) tubes with 1 1⁄2 in (3.8 cm) diameters. Attach 1 end of each one to the top of the body to make the arms. Roll a final 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) tube with a diameter of about 1 in (2.5 cm), and blend it into the front of the head for the trunk.
With wet fingertips, smooth each of these joints. Blend the arms where they meet the body to make shoulders, and smooth the clay all around where the trunk meets the face.
Pinch the ends of the arms to slightly flatten them into hands. Bend one arm upward at the elbow and wrist so the palm faces forward to represent a mudra, or a symbolic hand gesture. Position the other arm so its palm faces up.
5. Sculpt an object associated with Ganesh for your murti to hold. Make a ball of clay about 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) in diameter. Mold it into a symbolic object associated with Ganesh, such as rope or uneaten sweets, and place it in the upward facing palm. To make a rope, simply roll the small ball of clay into a long, thin cylinder. Next, curl it into a loop and place it on Ganesh's palm.
Make uneaten sweets by dividing the clay ball into 3 or 4 smaller balls, then place them in the upward facing palm.
6. Blend the ears onto the head. Make 2 balls about 1 in (2.5 cm) across, then squish each one between your palms to make smooth, flat ears about 2 in (5.1 cm) and 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) thick.
Place the ears on the sides of the head, then blend the joints between the ears and the head.
7. Add the tusks and a crown. Place 2 small tusks on either side of the trunk, then make a crown by stacking 2 or 3 clay cylinders about 2 in (5.1 cm) in diameter and 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) thick on top of the head.
Ganesh has a broken tusk, so make one about 1 in (2.5 cm) long and the other about 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) in length. Both tusks should be tubes about 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) thick, and the longer one should taper to a point.
Get creative and make small balls and other shapes to adorn the crown with jewels.
8. Draw eyes and markings with a toothpick and safety pin. With the point of the toothpick, draw small eyes above and on either side of the trunk. Then add the Aum symbol to the forehead with the pin. Even with the pin, it might be tough to draw the symbol so small, but just do your best.
You can also make lines to add details to the crown, ears, belly, and other body parts. Visualize Ganesh or look at an image, and fine tune the murti until you’re happy with your representation of the deity.
The idol will be immersed and dissolved in water, so there’s no need to bake it or otherwise set it.
9. Use vegetable-based pigments if you choose to paint the murti. Painting the murti is optional; many people now prefer the natural look of an unpainted clay idol. If you do paint it, go for natural, vegetable-based paints instead of metallic or chemical-based products.
Vermilion, which is a deep red, would be a good color choice. It's associated with Ganesh and religious festivals.
Vegetable-based paints are eco-friendly and won’t harm the body of water in which you immerse the murti. In some areas, idols are required to be unpainted or colored with non-toxic pigments. Search online for your city's government website to check your local ordinances, or look for newspaper articles on regulations related to Ganesh Chaturthi.
Things You’ll Need : Terracotta clay, Toothpicks, Small cup of water, Sculpting blade (optional), Vegetable-based paints (optional), Paintbrush (optional).
Method 2 Creating a Ganpati Makhar.
1. Cut out a cardboard circle that’s larger than the murti. Trace a circular object, like a plate, over the cardboard as a guide. Just make sure it’s large enough to be a suitable backdrop for the murti. Cut out the circle using scissors or a utility knife.
The circle will be a backdrop, so it needs to be bigger than the murti. For instance, if your idol is 8 in (20 cm) tall, make the circle at least 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm) in diameter.
If you’d like, decorate the circle’s perimeter with small scallop shapes, triangles, circles, or any design you find pleasing. Use your imagination! Cut designs directly into the circle’s edge or cut out shapes and glue them around it.
2. Create a base by cutting designs into a cardboard box. Choose a cardboard box that’s at least 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) wider than the idol's base; a shoe box would probably work well. To add visual interest, cut decorative arches, triangles, or other designs into the bottoms of each side. Again, get creative and come up with designs that you find beautiful!
If you're using a box without a lid, cut a piece of cardboard to fit the opening, then paste it over the top. This part of the makhar is the base or platform upon which Ganesh will sit.
3. Paint the circle and base or cover them with colorful paper. Choose vibrant paints or construction paper to color the makhar. Sky blue or pale turquoise would work well for the circle and top of the base, as the murti would stand out well against a light color. Ganesh enjoys the color red, so that’s a good choice for borders and other details.
If you’re using construction paper, cut the paper to fit the circle and the base’s sides and top. Use a glue stick to attach the paper to the cardboard.
If you’re painting the cardboard, allow it to dry for 6 to 8 hours before decorating it with craft jewels and beads.
You won't be immersing the makhar in a body of water, so it's okay if you use paints and other craft items that aren't biodegradable.
4. Glue beads and craft jewels to the cardboard. Using a hot glue gun, place large, colorful jewels around the edge of the circle and perimeter of the base. Create patterns around the larger jewels with rhinestones and other smaller ones. Then glue jewels and chains of beads around the platform’s edges to create a decorative border.
Leave most of the circular backdrop blank; just make a jeweled border about 1 in (2.5 cm) thick around the circle’s perimeter. If you’d like, glue a few beads or rhinestones to the backdrop here and there to make stars.
5. Attach the circle to the base and stabilize the joint with cardboard. Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard about 4 to 5 in (10 to 13 cm) long to secure the circle to the platform. Hold the bottom edge of the circle on one side of the platform. Then place the cardboard rectangle on the back of the makhar so it overlaps the joint where the circle and base meet. Once you’ve lined up the pieces, glue them together with the hot glue gun.
Hold the circle to the base for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the hot glue to set. Give it 30 to 60 minutes to completely dry.
Since it’s on the back of the makhar, the cardboard piece that holds the circle to the base won’t be visible. Although it won’t be seen, you can still paint it or cover it with colorful paper if you’d like.
Things You’ll Need : Cardboard box, Utility knife or scissors, Hot glue gun, Craft jewelry, Craft beads, Paint (optional), Paintbrush (optional), Construction paper (optional).
Method 3 Decorating Your Home.
1. Hang colorful dupattas around the makhar. Use thumbtacks to secure the dupattas, or colorful scarves, to the wall behind the makhar. After hanging the dupattas, place a small table in front of the wall, and set the makhar on the table.
If you don’t have dupattas, use lengths of any colorful fabric.
Place the murti on the makhar after you’ve set the table in place.
2. Adorn Ganesh and the makhar with flowers. Scatter flowers on the table around the makhar, and place vases with flowers on either side. Weave together a small garland of flower, ribbon, or paper, then place it around Ganesh’s neck.
Remember that Ganesh is fond of the color red; red hibiscus flowers are often used to adorn Ganesh idols. Erukku flowers and banana leaves are also associated with Ganesh.[20]
3. Place diyas, candles, and strings of lights around your home. Diyas are oil lamps that are lit during puja (prayer) and are typically made of brass. Place a diya by the makhar, and light it before you perform puja to Ganesh. No Hindu festival is complete without light, so decorate your entire home with candles and strings of LED lights to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.
Your decorations can be as ornate as your budget and time allow. If you’d like, simply place diyas and votive candles around your home. You can also go all out and run strings of light all around doorways and the edges where walls meet the ceiling.
4. Welcome family and friends with vibrant door hangings. Purchase store-bought beaded door hangings, or make your own. You could tie and hang long strands of beads from the craft store, or string together ribbons, flowers, and lights. Hang your decorations on your entrance and, if you'd like, on doors throughout your home.
Use thumbtacks or small nails to attach your door hangings to the top of the door or jamb.
Wind chimes could also make an interesting addition to your door hangings.
Tips.
Remember the murti is part of a spiritual ritual. You should show reverence and contemplate Ganesh while making the idol.
While making your own murti is an act of devotion, you can also purchase store-bought idols and thrones. Keep in mind it's best to choose eco-friendly options.
Warnings.
Be careful when using sharp blades or a hot glue gun. Do not touch the tip of the glue gun while it’s hot. Allow it to cool completely before putting it away.
A well-designed room looks expensive even if it isn’t. Before you invest in decorative try to come up with a theme or scheme for the room. Once you have identified what you want your room to look like, search for economical pieces that look classy and expensive. If you’re not having much luck finding pieces in stores, you can make your own. The following steps provide some ideas and advice, get started at step number one below.
Designing a Room that Looks Expensive.
Choose a unifying theme. A well-coordinated room will look expensive even if the elements of the décor are cheap. Choose a theme that will tie together your room. This will help you look for inexpensive pieces while making it seem as though you have paid an interior decorator. Rooms that seem confused, cluttered, and mismatched have the look of cheap rather than luxury even if the pieces are lovely. For example:
A beach-themed room would have pictures of the ocean, shell decorations, and a blue-green palette.
A rustic, woodsy theme would have wood detailing, paintings of landscapes, and an earthy palette.
Industrial themes use repurposed items, steel accents, and sharp edges to give the room a more modern edge. Gray, brick red, and black are popular colors.
Minimalism is a popular and trendy design scheme where you use as few pieces as possible to decorate your room. Simple furniture and white or neutral colors will make the room look as though it could feature in a magazine, likes Home and Garden, but the style is inexpensive to recreate.
Focus on a neutral color palette. Stick with white or light neutral shades, such as brown or gray, for the base color. Your walls and larger furniture pieces should belong to this color scheme. For example, you might have beige walls with white doors and gray furniture. Your feature elements will stand out against neutral colors more, which will make them seem more prominent. Some neutral colors you can mix and match include:
Gray.
Slate Blue.
Taupe.
Soft yellow.
Off-white shades like ivory and cream.
Coffee brown.
Tan.
Beige.
Add accent pieces. Accent pieces are small decorative items that contrast with your neutral color scheme. They are usually either brightly colored or patterned. Accent pieces can be easily and cheaply be replaced if you ever change your style. Make sure all of your accent pieces are the same color for maximum effect. Some items you might consider for accents include:
Vases.
Pillows or cushions.
Blankets or throws.
Picture Frames.
Ottoman.
Tablecloths.
Flowers.
Figurines.
Striped, dotted, or chevron patterned objects.
Choose a focal point. A focal point is a piece of furniture, art, or object that is the primary decoration in the room. Having one grand piece will draw attention to it, making it seem important and pricey. A room in which there is no clear focus tends to feel cheap. [2] Some good focal points for a room include:
A large painting.
A unique table.
Two retro mod chairs.
A wall decal.
Full-length book shelves.
An ornate mirror.
Consider getting rid of dated details. To some, the key to making décor seem expensive is to follow modern trends. To help your room remain stylish and cool, you should reduce the dated elements of its décor. Some common out-of-style elements include:
Vertical window blinds.
Formica tables.
Clear plastic furniture.
Furniture painted to resemble marble or stone.
Broken or damaged items such as torn posters, cracked vases, or splintered wood.
Obviously, antiques can lend an expensive looking touch to any room, especially if it is an family piece you have inherited and haven't had to pay for. As long your antiques are in good condition and tie in with the rest of the room's dėcor, keep them. Don't ditch them just because they are old. It "is" possible to combine modern and antique pieces in a room.
Avoid clutter. Ironically, having less" clutter in a room makes the overall impression that of luxury. You do not want a room that is filled with furniture and decorative items and resembles a second hand shop. Limit how many decorative pieces display. This creates the impression that you spent more on a few, expensive items instead of buying many cheaper items. When placing your decorative items around the room, keep a little bit of space between each item.
Decorative shelves should ideally not be crammed with items. It's tempting to fill that space with stuff. Instead, only fill 1/2 to 3/4 of the space, leaving some empty space.
Keep your surfaces, such as coffee tables, counters, and TV stands mostly clear.
Choose only one or two items to place on these surfaces.
For example, you might keep a lamp on a side table with a single picture frame but nothing else.
If in doubt, remove. Try taking out a piece of furniture. See what happens if the coffee table is simply moved to the another room. Or see what happens if you remove throw pillows/cushions. You may find that less is more.
Finding Cheaper Alternatives.
Visit thrift stores. Thrift stores, charity shops, consignments, estate sales, and antique stores will often have old vintage or antiques items that are much cheaper than new. This is a great way to get inexpensive but quality items, such as wooden tables or embroidered chairs.
Old wooden furniture can always be repainted. If you find a piece that is chipped or faded, you can paint it to match your color palette.
You may find interesting and unusual items in these stores and shops. These will seem expensive because they are unique. For example, you might find a lunchbox from the 60s with old superheroes on it, or you might discover an antique milk pail that you can use for flowers.
Shop online. Websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Gumtree allow people to sell their old furniture and decorative items. Search through these sites to see if you can snag a deal. It may take a little while to find the perfect deal, but you may be able to score a truly expensive piece for very little money.
Search online for less expensive replicas. If there is a more expensive piece that you have your eye on, you might be able to find a cheaper replica online. Search for words that are associated with the original piece.
For example, you might type, “cheap crystal chandelier” to see what pops up.
Print out your own art. If you can’t afford originals of art, you can buy prints from the internet. If the artwork is in the public domain, you can even print out your own copy at a print shop, and frame it yourself. This is a great way to get quality reproductions of famous art pieces in your own home without paying a fortune.
When sending the work to the print shop, make sure you send an HD copy so that you get the best image possible.
You can also tear out images from an old calendar and frame them. This is a great way to reuse an old calendar, and the images are all professional quality.
Repurpose items. You might find interesting pieces that can be used for a different purpose than intended. These pieces can be a focal point for your room if you choose. Transform your old furniture, or keep an eye out for things that can become tables, wall hangings, or accent pieces. You might.
Use an old luggage trunk as a coffee table.
Hang antique dinner plates on the wall.
Drape an old quilt over a chair.
Frame vintage fashion magazines images.
Make shelves out of old wooden planks.
Position a TV on a painted crate.
Making Your Own Décor.
Assemble your own built-in bookcases. Floor-to-ceiling length bookshelves may seem expensive, but you can replicate the effect without purchasing high-end custom furniture. Measure your wall. Instead of building one giant bookcase, purchase four identical smaller bookcases that will fit in that space. Place two side by side for the base, and stack the other two on top. Be sure to bolt all four bookcases to the wall for stability.
Wallpaper the inside of your bookcase. An easy way to add a customized twist to an old bookcase is to wallpaper the back of the shelves. Find a wallpaper that matches your theme or color scheme. Cut the wallpaper to size of the backing of each shelf. Paste it on using wallpaper paste. Let it dry before you put items back on the shelves.
If you are using the bookcase to display decorative objects like vases or figurines, you might want to choose a solid color for the wallpaper, so that more attention is drawn to your collection.
If you are just using the shelves for books, you can choose a bold pattern, such as chevron stripes, polka dots, or a floral design. This will make the shelves an accent piece in their own right.
Paint your own tile backsplash. Small ceramic tiles are great for decorating the backsplash of kitchens or bathrooms, but decorated tiles are expensive. Plain white ceramic tiles, on the other hand, can be cheap. With a little time and effort, you can turn tiles into something stunning and extravagant.
Find a stencil of a design you like, such as a fleur-de-lis or a bird. Press the stencil down on the tile, and paint over the design. Let the tile dry, and you have an easy, beautiful tile. You can then adhere it to the wall using tile mastic.
Good places for painted tile backsplashes include underneath cabinets or above a countertop. Do not paint the tiles on your floor or along your shower or bath. Too much water damage can ruin the paint.
Use fake flowers instead of real. Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they can become costly. Instead, look for convincing fake flowers. Put together your own centerpiece, and arrange them in an inexpensive vase. You have an easy, reusable centerpiece.
Go for flowers that look as close to real as possible. You might even be able to find ones that also feel soft and natural. Your guests probably will not know the difference.
You can swap out flowers for each season and event, reusing the same flowers every year. Friends probably will not notice, but it will make it seem as though you are constantly updating your centerpiece.
Artificial flowers can easily become dusty. If so they do not look luxurious. Also, this can be problematic for allergy sufferers and asthmatics
Fill a vase to make a centerpiece. Vases are easy to find, and they can be relatively inexpensive. To help jazz up an empty vase, you can fill it with some small items. This will add a touch of character to your décor without costing a ton of money. Some things you can fill it with include:
Potpourri.
Shells.
Pieces of coral.
Marbles.
Buttons.
Sticks.
Wine corks.
Repaint frames. Nice picture frames can be expensive, but you can manage a high quality look without paying a lot of money. Find inexpensive picture frames at a dollar store, craft store, or thrift store. Paint the frames with a color or design that pleases you.
Gold and silver paint are easy to find if you want a more distinguished shade.
You can add words as you like such as “Sisters” or “Friends Forever.” This will make it seem personalized.
Painting designs on your frames gives them a unique look. You can paint stripes, dots, or other easy geometric shapes.
Tips.
The most important thing is that the room looks good to you. If you like the way the room looks, you do not have to worry so much if it appears expensive or not.
While you should invest in good furniture pieces, such as sofas and tables, you can go cheap on accessories, like pillows and artwork, without people noticing.
If you are making your own décor, you should choose projects that you know you can complete at your skill level.
Always measure your space before buying new décor or furniture to make sure that it will fit.
Try leaving a little bit of space between furniture and other objects to make the room seem larger than it is.
For most people, the bedroom is more than simply a place to sleep at night. Redecorating your bedroom can help create an environment that is relaxing, reflects your personality, and even provide a better night's rest. Adding recycled pieces or simple DIY flourishes can help transform your room to fit your needs. You can also incorporate elements of Feng Sui to convert your room into a sanctuary.
Part 1 Planning and Reorganizing.
1. Make a 2-dimensional floor plan of your room and furniture. Use a tape measure to measure the dimensions of your room (length and width). On a piece of graphing paper, draw a scale image of room where 3 grid squares = 4 inches or 1/3rd of a foot.
Include in your floor plan the location and size of doors, windows, closets, fireplaces, etc.
Make scale drawings of furniture on a separate piece of paper. Measure the length and width of any large pieces of furniture (e.g. bed, dresser, couch).
Cut these out and rearrange them in your drawing to see how much space you have to work with.
Carry this plan and furniture cut-outs with you if go shopping or "dumpster diving", so you know if you have enough space for something before bringing it home.
2. Make a list of design ideas. In a search engine such as Google or Bing, type in "easy bedroom decorating ideas" or "cheap bedroom diy".
Before starting a project you find online, write-out the instructions and compile a list of materials, including tools.
Gather together any tools or materials you need before beginning your project.
3. Clean your room. Create more space and reorganize by getting rid of anything that is unnecessary or outdated.
Clean out and organize your closet, under your bed, and other places in your room where stuff has accumulated.
Donate any furniture, clothing, or electronics that are in good condition. A good rule of thumb is to donate or throw out anything you haven't worn or used in the past year.
4. Rearrange or add furniture. Create more space in your bedroom by moving your bed against the wall or place a comfortable chair next to the window to make a comfy reading nook.
You want everything currently in your bedroom to fit comfortably before adding anything new, especially if you have a small bedroom.
Add a bed skirt so you can store things under your bed without them being seen.
Switch-out a bedside table with one that has drawers for storage or several shelves to hold books.
5. Maximize the storage potential of your bedroom. Create additional space by installing extra shelving in your closet or purchasing a combination of plastic and decorative storage bins.
Attach hooks or shoe bags to the back of doors.
Use the vertical space in your closet to install high shelves as a space to store out-of-season clothes and accessories.
Decide what you want to place in each storage bin and label it. Use these labels to avoid throwing anything in a bin that does not belong. This will help you stay organized.
Arrange storage bins on a shelf or the bottom shelf of a bookcase for easy access. If the bin is in a visible location, use a decorative canvas bin or wicker basket.
6. Rearrange your bedroom according to the principles of Feng Sui. Your bed should be raised off the floor and if possible, avoid placing it in an area that receives direct sunlight during the day.
Do not place mirrors opposite your bed.
Stimulate your other senses by adding lightly scented candles or spraying diluted essential oils. Lavender has been shown to decrease heart rate and blood pressure.
7. Create a more relaxing space. Replace any light bulbs that emit a bluish light with soft white LED bulbs. Blue light stimulates brain activity and may make it more difficult to fall asleep.
Look through your house for lamps that have LED soft white bulbs and swap them with bulbs from your bedroom. Most interior lamps use 40- or 60-watt bulbs, but check first before exchanging a light bulb from another lamp.
Incorporate warm, bright colors as accessories (lamps, vases, pillows, etc.), but do not make them the dominate color in your bedroom.
Part 2 Decorating with Re-purposed or Recycled Items.
1. Find free things. Find a freecycle network within your area or ask friends and relatives for old unwanted items.
Look for furniture made from real wood that can be refinished.[9]
Unless it is in good condition, avoid second-hand plywood, particle board, or laminate furniture. While these surfaces can be cleaned and repainted, refinishing techniques such as sanding or sawing can release airborne pollutants such as formaldehyde.
2. Go to garage sales. Check your local newspaper or Craigslist for garage sales in or near your neighborhood.
You are more likely to find things for free if you go later in the day, preferably after 12:00 p.m.
3. Ask for old swatch books at the wallpaper store. Use recycled wallpaper to decoupage old lamps, vases, or furniture for free.
You can also use wallpaper to line shelves or the bottoms of drawers.
4. Move furniture and art from other places in the house for a fun change. For example, move a bookshelf from the living room to your bedroom.
Look for design inspiration in your own house. Use a painting, decorative pillow, piece of clothing, or floor rug as the basis for a new design theme or color palette in your room.
Ask permission from housemates before moving anything.
Part 3 Making Your Own Bedroom Accessories.
1. Make your own throw pillows. Throw pillows make a great accent piece and can add color. However, store bought pillows are often expensive. While having sewing skills or access to a sewing machine are helpful, they are not necessary.
Make a 'no sew pillow' by using two pieces of felt that are the same.[14] Place the felt pieces together and use scissors to cut 2 inch wide by 5 inch long strips along the edges. Leave a square at each corner. Tie the strips together around an insert pillow or cotton batting.
Use two t-shirts that hold sentimental value, but don't fit anymore to make a pillow. Cut-out a square or rectangular piece (depending on what shape and size you want your pillow) from each shirt. Place the two pieces together and sew together three of the four sides. Stuff with cotton batting or even other t-shirts before sewing the final edge.
You can also stuff a pillow with fabric scraps or use an old pillow as an insert pillow.
2. Make your own curtains. Drape fabric over the top and down the side of a curtain rod and then slide a valance or swag over the rod.
If you live in an area with a lot of light-pollution from streetlights, signs, car headlights, etc., you might want to use darker fabric to block outside light. Too much light exposure at dusk or at night can disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake cycle, known as its circadian rhythm.
Make your own curtain rings. Attach your curtains to the rod by tying hooks with fabric, rope, or ribbon. You can also dress-up cheap curtain wrings by wrapping them in different colored fabric.
Use a bed sheet to make a curtain ruffle that can be sewed onto the top or bottom of your curtains.
Use inexpensive small hooks, pegs or doorknobs to "hang" or tie curtains off to the side.
3. Make your own flower arrangement. Search garage sales, flea markets, and second-hand shops for silk flowers, or cut and dry real flowers.
Make an arrangement of dried grasses and wildflowers found along the roadside.Cut the flower and at least 8 inches of stem when they are in peak-bloom. Remove any leaves along the stem. Tie the flowers together with a piece of twine and hang them upside down in a dark, cool, dry place until completely dry, about 2-3 weeks.
4. Make a jewelry tree for your dresser. Arrange several dry branches in a vase. Fill the vase with pebbles for stability. Decorate the tree by draping earrings, necklaces and bracelets over the branches.
5. Hang some of your drawings, paintings or old calendar pictures on the walls. They don't necessarily need a frame. Attach them to the wall with a couple of common pins or mount them with poster board or foam board.
6. Experiment with DIY design ideas. Make a decorative mat or bureau scarf.
Stylize a plain lampshade by wrapping it in metallic ribbon, wrap it in gauzy fabric, or cover it in old maps or pages from your favorite book.
Make a mobile of odds and ends to hang from the ceiling. Attach old keys or origami birds with string to a metal coat hanger. This adds a fun, whimsical atmosphere to the room.
Question : I share a room with my sister and my mom wouldn't allow some of these ideas, but a few might do! Anything else?
Answer : I love some of these, but you need to agree with your sister. If you two agree, and your mom says no, ask her why she doesn't want that idea. She must have a good reason. A cute idea that she won't say no to is to put some books on your shelf landscape-way with up to five on each other, and put a few trinkets, such as glass animals, on top.
Question : My room is awesome, but my brothers always enter it without permission and break stuff and open my drawers. I have tried reasoning with them, and my parents won't stop them either. What do I do?
Answer : Try to save up money to get locks, either to get installed on your bedroom door or on your drawers. Also, find a hiding place to put your most valuable stuff. Remember, the harder you look, the harder they'll look, so go simple.
Question : How can I make space in my room?
Answer : Make sure everything is picked up off the floors, and get rid of all the old things you do not want.
Question : What are some ideas for DIY projects for small rooms?
Answer : You can make the room calmer or brighter to make it appear bigger by using washi tape to cover light switches or plugs. You could also make decorations with washi tape or cardboard for your door.
Question : I don't have a lot of money. What can I do for free?
Answer : You can use some of your own drawings or paintings or even some from another room to accessorize. You could also ask family members who have a garden for some nice flowers or plants to decorate. Go to a garage sale and look at what they have for some possible ideas as well.
Question : Can I have an example of some DIY projects?
Answer : You could do something as simple as decorating a simple lamp with some fabric or even writing quotes or putting accessories on a dresser. There are endless possibilities.
Question : Where can I get free suggestions on how to decorate my room?
Answer : There are a lot of online sights that offer decorating techniques. You can take an old dresser or desk and make it a decorative piece by writing quotes or drawing on it for decor.
Question : How should I decorate a loft bed?
Answer : Buy some nice sheets or reuse some from a garage sale or even at your own house. Go to a garage sale to find some decorative pillows or throws to add. You could even use some fabric to make a curtain for around it.
Question : I share a room with my sister and we have different tastes, how do I decorate?
Answer : You can always decorate your half of the room! If that's not convenient, then add a few small touches that don't clash with your sister's style. You could also just talk it over with your sister and try to compromise, there's got to be a few things you can agree on!
Question : How do I get teenage room decor for free with DIY?
Answer : Use the tips here to create things that vibe with the teen's style.
Tips.
Spray paint any mismatched furniture to match your room's décor.
Turn a wall into a chalkboard by painting it with chalkboard paint, or designate one wall as an art wall and paint what ever you want.
Minimize damage to walls when hanging pictures or posters by using blue sticky tack or reusable adhesive hooks. You can also buy an inexpensive picture or mirror hanging kit from a hardware store.
Turn a twin bed into a daybed by pushing it against the wall and placing pillows along the back edge.
Keep your room feeling fresh by washing bed sheets and pillow cases at least once a week.
Make a wall collage using photos, posters and anything cute.
Turn on your favorite music and renew your spirit along with your room. Music can change a room's atmosphere completely without any need for redecoration.
Planning is the most important first step for any redecorating or DIY project.
Select a theme or color scheme and stick to it. This will help you stick to your budget by preventing you from buying anything that does not 'go'.
Remember if you are under-aged or living in someone else's house, ask permission before decorating.
Warnings.
Be careful moving furniture. Ask for help if you think you may need it. Strained backs or broken toes are never fun.
Always let someone else use a nail and hammer if you're inexperienced. Throbbing thumbs or cracked walls certainly don't add much to a room.
Refrain from using power tools unless you have received proper training or obtain guidance from someone who is experience. Always wear a face mask when stripping old paint or sanding furniture.
If you have house-guests, you want to welcome them by making your home as lovely as possible. This usually involves cleaning, meal-planning, and decorating the guest room. Add a little something extra to your guest bathroom by acquiring good towels and decorating them to match your style. With these directions, you will learn how to fold towels attractively, and add additional decorations or imagery, to make them complement the welcoming air of your home.
Method 1 Folding Towels Decoratively.
1. Start with high-quality towels. The best towels are 100% cotton and feel heavy when you pick them up. If it’s important to you, pick out towels that echo colors in your bathroom, or add a pleasing pop of color. For instance, if the bathroom has black and white tiling, a leaf-green towel would stand out in a pretty way.
2. Launder the towels before use. For all these projects, you want your towels to be as clean and stable as possible. Wash the towels to see if any fading or shrinkage occurs. Use warm water and mild detergent, and avoid fabric softener or dryer sheets.
3. Make a towel fan. If you’re just getting started with decorative folding, a hand towel fan on top of a plain bath towel is easy and pretty. To start, fold the bath towel in half lengthwise, then fold it into thirds in the opposite direction. It should make a plump square shape. Next, take the hand towel and fold it lengthwise into one-inch accordion pleats. Crease the pleated towel in half so it makes a v-shape, lay it on top of the bath towel, and tease the ends apart to it to create a fan shape.
4. Try a towel pocket. If you have a towel rack in the bathroom, you can level up. Combine a bath, hand, and face towel into one attractive package by folding the hand towel into a pocket shape and placing the washcloth inside it.
Start by folding a bath towel into thirds lengthwise.
Place it on the rack with the rod in the middle, so both sides hang down equally.
Lay a hand towel on the floor with the right side up and tag side down.
Fold the bottom up so it reaches halfway up the towel, then fold the bottom edge down again so it’s level with the first fold. This makes a kind of “shelf” shape.
Flip the hand towel over, so the shelf faces down.
Fold the hand towel into folds vertically. It should be in more of a sausage-shape now, with a pocket running along the bottom edge.
Lay the hand towel over the bath towel so the pocket hangs down in front.
Fold a face towel into a mini-fan, then tuck it into the pocket.
5. Make a swan. Are you feeling fancy? Use origami techniques to fold a big bath towel into a swan. This is especially nice if you have two guests in the same room, as you can set the swans on the bed so that they are looking at each other.
Lay a towel so the long side is horizontal.
Take the top two corners, and fold them towards each other. Now the towel will be in a pentagon shape, with a point at the top. The short sides should lay against each other.
Roll each of the top diagonal edges towards one another. This should turn the towel into a rolled arrow shape.
Take the head of the arrow and bend it back towards the tails of the arrow. Then bend the tip of it down. In profile, this will look like a Z-shape.
(Opt.) Fold a washcloth into a fan and put it between the “wings” for a tail.
Method 2 Adding Appliques and Accents.
1. Sew on decorative hems. If you have towels with plain indented borders (sometimes called a dobby weave), then you can stitch on a thin line of contrasting fabric. This makes a subtle and pretty decoration, uses up fabric scraps, and is easy to do.
Prewash the towels and the fabric you’re using. Otherwise, when you wash them, they might pucker strangely.
Cut two one-inch strips of fabric the width of a towel, adding an extra inch in length for seam allowance.
Using an iron, turn over a quarter-inch of fabric at the short sides of the rectangles. Then turn over another half-inch and iron again. This should give neat finished edges to the sides of the decorative strip.
Now turn over a quarter-inch of fabric along the length of both sides of a strip. This should result in a half-inch strip of folded fabric.
Pin the fabric to the plain border on one side of the towel with the right side be facing out. The fabric should be right in the middle of the plain border--probably a quarter inch from each edge, if it’s a standard one-inch border. Use a seam gauge to make sure the fabric is straight.
Whipstitch the cloth neatly to the towel along each edge.
2. Add pre-made decorative accents. If you don’t have any scrap fabric to add to the towel, you can go out and purchase decorative trims instead. When looking at trims, it’s best to choose ones that are sturdy and made of the same fabric composition as your towels, so the towels will be easy to wash. Of course, you still need to pre-wash trims and towels before application.
Cording is a simple, narrow trim. It should be easy to attach with a single whipstitch.
Rickrack is a zig-zagging trim that adds a retro or rural charm to towels.
Lace can be fancy or homey. Whatever style you choose, sturdy cotton lace, like eyelet or Cluny, is best. Avoid anything too delicate.
3. Embroider your towels. If you have a lot of experience with machine embroidery, you can apply this knowledge to your guest towels. If you don’t know how to machine embroider, towels are probably not the best medium to learn on. Cross-stitch is very doable, however.
Start with towels with an embroiderable inset, which are available at well-stocked craft or embroidery stores. Pick up a few colors of cotton embroidery thread and a pack of embroidery needles, as well.
Find a pattern you like. You can find patterns in books, but they’re also available on cross-stitch sites, or DIY and social media sites like Pinterest.
Transfer the pattern to the towel’s embroiderable section, and cross stitch away. Make sure to tie knots off securely, since you’ll be running the towels through the wash.
4. Apply an applique. If you want to monogram your towels, or customize them with a simple shape like a heart or star, think about applique. With this technique, you apply a contrasting fabric patch to the towel and stitch it down securely. It requires a bit more patience, but the results are worth it. You’ll need decorative cotton fabric, fusible interfacing, tailor’s chalk, and a needle and thread.
Prewash both the towel and the fabric you want to apply. This will save the finished design from weird bunching and puckering.
Find a stencil for a letter or shape that appeals to you.
Peel the backing off the interfacing, then lay the wrong side of the cotton fabric against the bumpy side of the interfacing. Run a hot iron along the right side of the cotton fabric. This should make the interfacing stick to the fabric, strengthening it.
Trace your chosen shape onto the right side of fabric, using the tailor’s chalk.
Using a sewing machine or a needle and thread, make a running stitch on top of the traced lines. This will help stabilize them.
Cut out the letter or shape, being careful to cut close to the stabilizing stitches.
Pin the shape to the towel in the correct place. Satin stitch around the edge to attach it.
Method 3 Bleaching and Dyeing.
1. Use bleach or dye to stencil. If you like the idea of a big simple shape to decorate the towel, but don’t want to sew, you can stencil a shape on instead. You’ll need a stencil, tape, spray bottle, and dye or bleach that will contrast with your towel’s color. (In general, use dye for light towels, and bleach for dark ones.)
Pick out a stencil you like. You can print shapes onto cardstock and then cut around the edge to make a stencil, if you don’t have a pre-made stencil that excites you.
Tape your stencil to the towel.
Fill a spray bottle with fabric dye or undiluted clothing bleach.
Spray bleach or dye through the stencil.
Wait a few minutes for the chemicals to develop on the towel. If you want a stronger color, spray more on.
Wash the towel after the stencil dries. Be careful not to wash it with anything that could be damaged by extra bleach or dye.
2. Bleach-paint an image. If you want even more control over the imagery on the towel, you can use clothing bleach to paint on a word or design. This creates a beautiful and artsy appearance, and it’s quite easy. You’ll need chalk, gloves, bleach, a paintbrush, and dark-colored towels.
Sketch out your design in chalk.
Put on your gloves. Now, using a paintbrush or foam brush, apply fabric bleach to the fabric on top of the chalk. You may have to wiggle the brush to drive the bleach into the pile of the towel.
Let the bleach develop, then wash the towel.
Breathe safe! If you’re working with bleach, make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area, wear gloves, and take breaks if you feel woozy.
3. Add an ombre border. You can achieve a trendy image by dip-dying the tips of a towel. You’ll need light-colored towels, RIT dye, gloves, salt, a hanger, newspapers, and a bucket or tub that you can stain with no repercussions.
Put on the gloves, so you don’t end up with purple hands.
Prepare a dye bath according to the package directions. This may require a surprising amount of table salt.
Wet the towel. Fold it in half and hang it over the hanger so that both ends are even.
Dip the tips of the towel into bath, and let them soak for 5-10 minutes.
Hang the towel to dry with its ends positioned over a pad of newspapers (to avoid staining the floor). Don’t let the dyed parts touch anything.
Wash the towel according to the dye’s package directions.
4. Tie-dye the towel. For extra fun for young guests, tie-dyed towels are great. This is a project with an improvisational flavor, so you can even invite kids to help. You will need light-colored towels, rubber bands, a tie-dye kit, newspapers, and a bucket or tarp.
Use the rubber bands to create a base pattern for the towel--there will be white stripes wherever the bands were. Bind the towel into sections for a striped design, or pull and tie off small corners to make starbursts.
Get the towel wet in the sink, then squeeze out excess water.
Place the towel in a bucket or on a tarp and squirt dye onto it. Don’t be dainty--it’s more fun if it’s colorful.
Carefully remove the bands from the towel (you might want to wear gloves for this step), and let the towel dry flat on a thick pad of newspapers.
Wash according to the kit’s directions.
Tips.
Recycle fabrics for this project.
Avoid metallic trims, as they do not launder well.
Use towels as gifts or for sale at a fundraisers.
Use the same techniques to decorate tea towels.
Towel folding is influenced by origami, the Japanese art of paper-folding, but the flexible, thick qualities of towels make them quite different from paper. There’s a bit of a learning curve, so don’t give up!
Warnings.
Use caution with hot or sharp tools, such as an irons, scissors, and needles.
Things You'll Need : Plain towels, Decorative fabric, Seam gauge, Tape Measure, Scissors, Needle, Matching thread.
Common pins, Sewi, Fusible interfacing, Bleach, Spray bottle, Paintbrush, Patterns and stencils.
