It’s clear. The mood for January is: declutter and reset. I just spent all weekend assessing countless piles of accumulated clutter and the bountiful re-organization needs of my house. How ’bout you? If you’re following Em over on Instagram, there’s a good chance you saw her doing just the same, and I’m impressed. She’s been crossing off one cluttered area at a time (nightstands, kitchen drawers, kids’ closets), slaying the chaos with vigor and determination. Maybe you caught the awesome storage round-up Jess just shared last week, highlighting some of the best organization solutions out there for just about every spot in your home (my personal faves being the over-the-door storage and this perfectly narrow shoe cabinet).

In many cases, buying new, specific solutions for your organizing needs makes perfect sense. This post isn’t meant to discourage you from seeking out a ready-made system to get you going. If your linen cabinet is exploding and your sheets refuse to stick together, I think these sheet organizers are an incredible, affordable, EASY solve. But this weekend, as I began to take down my Christmas decorations (yeahhh I’ve been procrastinating that one), piling it all next to my “must take to recycling” heap of cardboard boxes, I wondered about what I needed to buy in order to properly store it all ’til next year…and then a lightbulb went off. Did I really need to purchase a new, plastic tote to keep it all together? Or could I just make the most of the Amazon boxes in front of me? I DIY’d my Christmas decorations from brown paper bags and old magazines; what was stopping me from giving these boxes a similar facelift? And what other items do I (or you) have at home already that could be repurposed or reimagined for storage? Well, here are a few organization DIY-deas that I (and the internet) came up with:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reorganize With Cardboard:

Cardboard, to me, is such an underrated material. And it’s one I know we ALL have in our homes. My plan for my big pile of empty boxes is to paint or cover them in patterned paper or fabric to give them a new, slightly more aesthetic life. Painting feels like the easiest and most playful method for me, but how cute are these fabric boxes if you wanted to spend a little more time? I’ll store my holiday decorations in them, so I think I’ll paint them to reflect what’s inside, with big snowflakes or little collections of trees and stars. Are they going to be perfect? Probably not! And that’s fine with me.

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Boxes of smaller sizes could be decorated similarly (or not, just leave ’em as is!) to be used as drawer organizers. Are you one of those people that holds onto their iPhone box for years and years just in case? Use that perfect box in your bathroom drawer to store your hair ties or bobby pins! OR you can follow this tutorial (so easy) to make a custom cardboard drawer divider, just by cutting strips of cardboard to interlock with one another, adding tape to finish the edges. Totally customizable to fit whatever you like 🙂

@thecardboardqueen My Top 5 tips for Cardboard crafting!! 📦📦📦🤎🤎👸 #cardboardboxes #cardboard #crafting #crafts #crafttutorial #craftvideos ♬ original sound – Sherri Madison

More easy cardboard ideas? Use toilet paper rolls to group and organize loose cords. Take cereal boxes, cut them diagonally, and cover them to make magazine holders. OR cut out one side, stack, adhere, and decorate to make a paper organizer. A milk carton can be cut down and decorated to make a great pencil holder (or use a tin can or glass jar wrapped in fun paper, or not!). An empty tissue box is a great way to store loose plastic bags that can be easily pulled from the top. A shoe box is lidded storage just waiting to be customized! Cut a hole in the side, and you have a cable/cord organizer. You can really let your imagination run wild. This woman’s video has some great tips to keep in mind when working with cardboard. I think I’ll try the inside-out method for my Christmas storage to avoid all the labels!

Level Up With Wood Crafts:

@paige.falk I love a good shelf 🫶🏼 #diy #shelvesdecor #shelvesidea #roomdecor #newhomeSLAY ♬ Let's Have Some Fun Alt – The Desperados

I hope I’m not the only one with random wood scraps scattered around. If you’re like me in this way and you’re not afraid of a little sawing, there are plenty of easy DIY storage builds to make. I’ve made a “floating shelf” like this before. A little paint or stain could take this to the next level, but a narrow plank of wood and a few L brackets/screws make a perfect little storage ledge.

@allstylelife My thermostat just got promoted to wall art 🖼️🙌🏼. I love this easy DIY for hiding those little eyesores around the home. All you need are two @IKEA Rödalm picture frames, a couple of hinges, and magnets to keep the frames closed. I used @Command Brand strips to hang mine—so simple! Would you try this DIY? #ikeahack #diypictureframe #torontolife #torontocreator #diypictureframehack ♬ Man I Need – Olivia Dean

This fun idea takes a couple of simple picture frames and some small hinges to create hidden wall storage! A great place to hang up your keys or the perfect way to hide an ugly wall electronic behind a nice piece of “art”. Take it up a notch using a vintage frame and some scrap wood to build it out from the wall a bit and hide shelves inside, like this girl did here.

@tinalemac After moving into this apartment from living in a house, I quickly realized that I needed to add more storage. I got creative with these DIYs and hacks to maximize these small spaces and they are still some of my fave projects to this day ☺️ Can’t wait to see what else we will create in the new place!! #diyideas #diyhome #diyproject #apartmentideas #apartmenthacks #renterfriendly #kitchenideas #diyhomeprojects ♬ After Midnight – Chappell Roan

This girl is making DIYs that are a little more advanced, but I TOTALLY want to steal the sofa sleeve/table idea! Essentially, just attaching three pieces of wood with either L brackets again or pocket holes if you have a jig, then decorating how you like! If you can build that, you could easily build some custom shelf risers using the same method. Or, similar to the cardboard drawer dividers, you could make an interlocking X-shaped, wooden organizer (great for magazines or books), and this tutorial shows you just how easy it is to build. Even easier? Cut small boards to the depth of your dresser drawers to create sturdy dividers to be attached with wood glue, nails, or little screws.

Re-Imagine Existing Storage Solutions:

@purrfecthomee Ikea hack #home #kitchen #organize #homeimprovement #favourite #ikea #organization #decoration ♬ Come Inside Of My Heart – IV Of Spades

Now, let’s say you don’t want permanent drawer dividers, and you’d rather not spend the money on the classic expandable drawer dividers. One of the most versatile, pre-existing storage solutions is this plate holder from IKEA. Look how this person uses them to organize a drawer! So clever. You could also place them out on your desk and store mail, loose papers, art, or, of course, use them as they were intended–for organizing plates (or pans, etc) in the kitchen!

@kylenct At $10 per rack (I got 2!), this is a super affordable and beautiful way to display your books! I’m also downsizing my book collection bc I am not really a maximalist in that way, so it’s fun to highlight a more curated selection in a way that doubles as decor. Original idea by @Grillodesigns ! #diybookshelf #bookshelfhack #livingroomdecor #bookstorageideas ♬ RUNAWAY – pluko

But did you know you could ALSO hang these on your wall as a floating bookshelf?? How cool is this? And again, your creative options are endless with paint or stain. Alternatively, you could take the pieces apart, turn them 90 degrees, and only hang up the doweled sides to function as a peg rail to hang jewelry, hats, scarves–you name it!

@thedoerandthedreamer I have a full blog post about the mudroom too if you want more details! . This is the easier DIY though and can be so customizable! #diyproject #organizationhacks #mudroomideas #shoestorage ♬ original sound – Tara – slow DIY & home ideas

Speaking of wooden dowels, another great idea I came across was using a closet rod as shoe storage! This girl installs it just as you would a normal closet rod, but super low, so you can tuck shoes in between it and the wall. But if you don’t have two walls to hang between, you could always hang a curtain rod low to the ground to use in the same way. An easy way to get your shoes off the ground (but maybe put some contact paper or a back it with a piece of wood to protect your walls from excess dirt).

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We can’t talk rods without talking hangers. You might already have some of your kid’s hangers hanging around, and if you do, they’re perfect for hanging pants or jeans in the closet because they’re a way more efficient size for draping clothing over the bottom. Great for slinky tops or skirts too! Another great idea for jeans is to hang them in your closet using S hooks on the rod. Just hook the belt loops onto the S hooks and you have a super simple way to store your pants.

I’m having a bit of a jean storage issue at the moment, and have actually been thinking about using the shoe rod storage technique on the wall behind my bedroom door, but for pants. Think about it, a few small rods stacked and hung up on the wall with just enough space between them to fold and drape my jeans along them? I’m still workshopping this idea, but for now, I don’t hate it.

There are SOOOO many more DIYs I have saved and could share here, but I’m running out of time and don’t want to keep dragging on. So I’ll end with this. Storage is something I think we alllll have to deal with, some more aesthetically than others. In the past, I found it absolutely necessary to buy all matching bins and boxes from IKEA or The Container Store and would go HAM on the plastic drawer organizers. And if that’s your jam, more power to you! But as I take this time to sort through and declutter, I realize just how much STUFF I have lying around. Stuff I need to purge, stuff I need to store, stuff I could repurpose to stuff my stuff away. Of course, it’s so tempting to just buy it fresh and new, and for some things, I still do. If you’re less DIY-inclined, I highly encourage you to check out your local thrift store or Facebook Marketplace for storage solutions. There are so many baskets and bins out there already that might just be the perfect fit for your space. But if you have the time and are craving the creative flex, maybe give one of these storage ideas a try or let one of them inspire a completely new solution! And if it does, please, feel free to share your clever ideas in the comments 🙂

Sincerely, Gretch

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Finally Organizing Four Huge Problem Areas (…And My Case For Loving January)

There’s something about taking down all your holiday decorations that puts a magnifying glass against all the things in your home you forgot you have been ignoring. Wreaths get pulled off windows, doors, and mirrors; garland is stripped from staircases, doorways, and mantels. After the sigh of relief that it’s all put away, and you have your house back, it’s common to look around and really *see* your house. The uneven curtain panels in your living room, you swore were only temporary…three years ago. The cluttered bar cabinet you keep meaning to reorganize and style. The half-finished DIY sconces with the shade you never got around to wrapping in that cool fabric that’s still shoved in your closet.

All the things above I mentioned are actually my personal home project shortcomings—and then some. Running my own freelance business and raising an inquisitive toddler who only goes to school half a day leaves me with little time to prioritize things like finally fixing the cafe curtains I made for my dining room over two years ago that bum me out every time I walk by them (that would be many times a day, FYI).

But given that it is that time of year for leaving all your failures in the past and laying out intentions you really hope you can keep past January 15, I’ve decided that I’m resolving myself to stop being blind to the spots in my home I’m less than pleased with and laying out a plan for what and how to tackle them.

First up: Those dining room curtains.

Wait, But How Should I Decide Where to Start?

I want to quickly lay out a few notes that might help you decide on which project should take priority, because if you’re anything like me, the idea of starting and the laundry list of tasks is overwhelming enough to freeze you in your tracks.

Step #1: Start with the most visible (but least daunting) project. The more you see it, the more likely you are to be blind to it (until you have guests and start panicking over it because your everyday house goggles come off and you start seeing things like you think a new person will see it…hint: they don’t). Plus, nothing boosts your confidence and drive more than finally locking in and improving a spot in your home you interact with daily. For me, my dining room curtains are visible almost immediately upon moving through my home, but also from the street. Now for the “least daunting” part of this step. In reality, my living room curtains are more problematic to me than my dining room window coverings. They’re uneven, poorly placed, and look like a sloppy afterthought. But I know that replacing six to eight curtain panels of over 100 inches in addition to a massive curtain rod is going to be massively expensive. My dining room window, though? A far more approachable problem to tackle and check something off my list.

Step #2: Figure out how much money you’re willing to throw at it before starting. Settling on a budget is not a groundbreaking rule for home projects, obviously. But I find it’s often skipped for smaller things with the thought that it just won’t be that expensive…haha try again. Even if it’ll run you a few hundred bucks, as opposed to thousands, it’s important to outline how much you have to spend before running through your options and pricing them out. It might just make your decision that much easier if your choices vary widely in cost.

Step #3: Set a realistic deadline for yourself. “Oh, it won’t take much time at all” you said…two years ago. SET THAT DEADLINE, or else you’ll be adding this same project to your 2027 resolutions list yet again. My advice? Set it around some sort of milestone or landmark so it higher risk if you miss the mark. Meaning, do you have family coming in March to visit for spring break? Do you have a big birthday dinner party on the books for February or April? Give yourself a little buffer of about two weeks prior to allow for troubleshooting or moments of #lifehappens, and work backward from there.

Step #4: DO NOT START ANYTHING NEW BEFORE FINISHING! I capitalize this for dramatic emphasis due to the fact that I wish someone would scream this at me daily upon walking down the stairs to get my morning coffee. Stay focused, finish up, and *then* move on to the next thing. One finished project is worth 10 times what five unfinished projects are. Trust me.

Okay, now that that is sorted, let’s dive into my first project of the year.

An Intro To Arlyn’s Dining Room Curtain Predicament

For reference, here’s what my dining room looked like before we fully moved in. We have these giant windows in nearly every room of our home, and while I first really appreciated them, I quickly learned how tricky they would be to cover in the way I wanted. We inherited mostly broken vertical blinds that all had to come down ASAP for my mental health.

And above is where we are now. As in today, because I just took these photos. Looking at the photos of these cafe curtains, they honestly don’t look *that* bad, but in real life, they don’t work nearly as well as I had imagined they would.

Before settling on this design years ago, I contemplated doing curtain panels, but I really wanted to try something different. Not to mention the ceiling height in my dining room is fairly low, and I thought long drapes would overpower the space that already had a ton of large-scale furniture in it. That, and our home’s perimeter consists of at least a dozen old-growth camphor and pine trees, which means that even though our windows are gargantuan, they do not let in much light. Blocking any of that sunlight, especially from the top part of the window, felt criminal.

Except that I overlooked that cafe curtains work best on small windows, or at the very least, windows with somewhere to secure a center support. Finding a metal rod strong enough to hold up the weight of curtains and rings across a 75-inch span is near impossible. Because trust me, I tried. There’s a graveyard of bad choices in my garage from this very project. The only thing that ended up working (and I use that term loosely) was a 1-inch diameter tension rod. The result was always something I didn’t love, partly due to the fact that it has a plastic ring at eye level where the rod extends, but also because the inset of the window is barely any deeper, so the curtains puff out weirdly without room to move.

You can see the flaring of the curtains here better, which frankly is mostly due to the fact that I fell in love with this Rebecca Atwood fabric but failed to ask them if it worked well for drapery. This is much better suited for upholstery and pillows as it doesn’t hang very well—something I only came to realize after spending the time to sew the panels. I can still remember the night I put them up, and immediately felt my excitement tank, only to be replaced with regret and disappointment.

Unrelated, this is a good photo to see the space a bit better and how it typically looks. The bar is cluttered, my workspace takes up one side of the dining table, the corner is the only place we can plug in our Tineco wet mop, and there are a few plants by that window holding on for dear life. It feels busy, overly tight, but also somehow kind of boring.

How I Can Make It Work

There’s a world where I lean in and just make this work. We won’t be living here forever (or possibly even much longer than this year), so why spend the mental/creative energy and money on doing too much to change it if it’s a short-term solution? I’ve lived with it this long; I can surely keep living with it with a few tweaks. I outlined a few make-it-work options below.

Make-It-Work Option #1: Add an interesting border to the sides and bottom of existing curtains.

Something that isn’t super obvious in my photos is that the curtains are too small. I sewed them and slightly undershot their length and very much underestimated their width after pleating. In order to close them, you have to place them *just so* so you can’t see in from the street. And I let go of some of the bottom hem to lengthen them, but they are still hovering over an inch above the windowsill.

A way to fix that, I thought, was to simply add to the finished curtain, either pleated or unpleated. I actually let the pleat out on the left panel to see how that would look. Spoiler: I didn’t love it, but I left it that way so that we could actually close the curtains at night. And then I forgot I did that and never went back to deal with the other panel, so now I have one pleated and one non-pleated curtain. Cool.

However, I could go back, pleat the left panel, then add two-inch ribbon all along the sides and bottom. I think this would be better in theory than in practice, given the thickness of the fabric and how flimsy a ribbon may look when affixed to it. This, however, would not improve the look of the tension rod.

Make-It-Work Option #2: Remake curtains with a different fabric and dimensions.

I decided to mock up what some lighter linen or cotton would look like. Maybe the issue isn’t the idea of the cafe curtains but rather the curtain I made itself. A wispy semi-sheer fabric would drape much better, still let in some light, and not be as heavy if I figure out a different rod.

I know the colors here would look better IRL, but I’m not that into this. (Also, it is just now that I’m realizing the vertical blinds track is STILL on the top of this window…) Possibly a different fabric would be better, but meh.

Cafe Curtain Fabric by Tonic

I do like this more than the first option, but I’m starting to think not all windows can make cafe curtains work.

Other Options If I Move On

Maybe I should cut my losses and try something else. Though I originally didn’t want curtain panels here, I’m softening to the idea. As long as I simplify the styling on all my surfaces and pare back the plants, it may not be as visually overwhelming as I thought it would be. Let’s see how this option fares in Photoshop.

Move On Option #1: Install curtain panels.

As I mentioned, I was hesitant from the get-go to do curtains here, but I acknowledge that they are the most versatile choice for the future. Whenever we decide to move, we could take these with us and reuse them (as long as the height works). I went ahead and mocked up a neutral option and a colorful one.

Curtain Panels from West Elm

Okay! Wait…I like this. Pay no mind to the quick Photoshop job of extending the panels. West Elm’s product page only shows a tiny bit of the top, so this is the best I could do without bringing in AI (no thanks). This feels lovely and light, but still interesting thanks to the subtle pattern and scalloped edges.

Curtain Panels from West Elm

I am surprised by how much I love this. I do worry that it’ll come off heavier in person, but the mauve-y hue helps to bridge the gap between the wood tones in the room and the rug (the Danish Floral Flat-Weave Wool Rug from Garnet Hill, which adds some nice pattern to this otherwise simple space).

Move On Option #2: Install Roman shades.

Now, I wanted to explore some Roman shades here, as I think that will be a cleaner, more tailored look for the small space. Truthfully, though, the investment is too much for this window size to justify how long we’ll be here. Maybe if I had done this three years ago, but I can’t spend this much for something that would be custom-sized for this specific window and can’t come with us.

But by looks alone, I can see that it’s a top contender.

Roman Shade by Select Blinds

The streamlined look of a Roman shade is exactly what this room needs, TBH. A shade leaves the valuable floor space open, I can better control the light during the day, and they don’t overwhelm the low ceilings. A blue pulls in the palette from the rug and adds some interest to the landlord white walls.

Roman Shade by Select Blinds

To scratch the neutral itch I sometimes have due to internet overload, here’s a mock-up of a neutral beige Roman shade. I like it enough as a rest for the eyes, but it doesn’t do much for me. This would be better for me if there were a subtle pinstripe or pattern.

So…What’s The Solution?

Good question! Scrolling back through the images I Photoshopped, I keep going back to those earthy mauve curtains. I would have never guessed that’s what I’d like the most had I not mocked them up. I was convinced a Roman shade would look best, and while it suits the space well, the colored curtain better suits my personal tastes. Given that two of those panels will run me nearly $350, I had a bonus idea: Take two white curtain panels I already have in storage, try to dye them a similar color, and hang those on a pretty brass curtain rod that was meant for my bedroom, I never hung because I didn’t end up having the wall clearance for it. That way, my only expense is the dye and the time it takes me to work through the project.

If it ends up being ugly, then I’ve lost almost nothing and am no worse off. But if it’s pretty good, I can always upgrade to the real deal if it feels like we’ll be here longer than anticipated.

I’m pretty excited, tbh. My deadline? The end of the month. I’ll be sure to share an update when I make some moves. Stay tuned until next time, friends.

Let me start by saying – I know. It’s December 13th. You’re probably tired of hearing about gifts, especially if you have your life together. You probably even finished shopping for gifts weeks ago, and maybe you even have them wrapped already. If that’s the case, I am SINCERELY proud of you and even… I aspire to be like you. But this week, I woke up every day with the rapidly impending doom of St. Nick’s deadline in the back of my mind, reminded that I’m a *horrible* procrastinator. Yes, this does happen every year, and while I don’t love the feeling of procrastination guilt, it’s only once I reach this headspace that I whip out my Pinterest boards and suddenly feel more creative motivation in a week than I’ve felt the entire year. THIS…this is my opportunity to further overflow my craft bins with more random supplies.

Some of these ideas I’ve made myself, some I’m planning to make this year, some I’m not sure if I’ll ever make because one can only do so many DIYs – but it’s nice to imagine that I will. For the most part, these ideas aren’t too complicated and don’t require too much $$$ in materials (which to me sometimes defeats the purpose). May I present to you the DIY gift ideas that I love, some of which I will absolutely be scrambling to pull together this weekend:

Don’t Sleep On Easy-Bake-Clay

This is my personal favorite tool to have on hand in case of last-minute gifts. There is truly so much that you can make out of a little bit of Sculpey, your hands, and some imagination (or a quick Pinterest peruse). Here are some of my favorite ideas…

Clay Candlestick or Tea Light Holders

I made these for friends and family a few years ago. My mom used them in her Thanksgiving table setting this year and made a comment about how she would be very happy to receive more of them. Coming right up:)

Some tips – get your clay really soft, roll it out, and assemble your candlestick holders as if you were taping together pieces of paper. Or go pinch pot style. Use a taper candle or tea light as a guide to make sure it’s the right size. Once baked + dry, I used acrylic paint to add color, stripes, patterns, etc., and finished it off with a coat of clear glossy spray paint to seal it. I’ve also seen people use clear nail polish! If you want to add a little bit of texture, you can mix baking soda into your paint to give it a cool look, too (this also helps prevent being able to see the paint streaks if you’re doing thinner layers).

Trinket Dishes

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In a similar vein, you could also use this to make little tiny trinket dishes. These are so cute and incredibly easy – get creative with your shapes! If you don’t like the organic look, you can use a paintbrush and some water to smooth out any deformities/fingerprints once you have your shape down. Don’t overthink the baking part – just follow the recommendation on the packaging. It’s hard to mess it up. Also, if you’re feeling particularly inspired to create from scratch, you can always make some salt dough with flour, salt, and water.

Fridge Magnets

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This would make a really cute housewarming gift. Same process as above, then you just hot glue or superglue some of these small magnets on the back. 

I love how this person did these letters. I believe the person who created these started offering them on Etsy after going viral on TikTok, so if you don’t feel like making them yourself you should definitely bookmark her shop!

Match Box / Matchstick Holder

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Make a little matchstick holder (or box!) and attach some matchbook paper to the side or bottom. They make these multipacks of adhesive striking paper that come in all different sizes.

Dishwasher Marker

BRASS DISHWASHER MARKER $20

I loved this clean/dirty dishwasher magnet that we shared on our shop page this year, and I had the idea of hand-making one of these with clay and paint.

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A quick Pinterest search told me I’m not the first person to think of this – there’s a ton of cute ones on Etsy, too.

Bonus Clay Ideas

What do you get when you combine creative framing, Sculpey, and another reason to buy a pack of magnets??  These adorable fridge frames. A few more rapid-fire ideas you could make with clay: Mancala board + clay beads, coasters, ornaments, mini domino set, ring stand, keychain, incense holder, picture holder, stash-box, tic tac toe board, bud vase, magnet bud vase to put on your fridge, soap tray… so many things!

Stamps!

Hand-Carved Library Stamp

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I went to a birthday party this summer, and a friend of a friend had handmade this for the birthday girl – I IMMEDIATELY wrote it down in my notes app because it’s too good. If you have a big reader in your life, I’m sure they would be so honored to receive this. It definitely takes a little more time to do and requires some investment in supplies, but it’s incredibly thoughtful and something they would have forever. I think this would also be such a cute gift for a young budding reader 🙂 If you love this idea but don’t feel like making it yourself, this Etsy shop offers really cute designs.

To DIY it, you’ll need rubber blocks, a pencil, and a carving tool (or just snag this kit). I have this one from Speedball, and it’s really easy to figure out – it comes with a few different-sized nibs so you can get a little more granular. Here’s a little tutorial:

You can draw your design directly on the stamp and then carve, but remember, if you have words, they’ll need to be in reverse. This one would be super cute to gift along with an inkpad and your favorite book.

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Similarly, I love the idea of carving a little return label stamp for letters – this would be adorable to give to some newlyweds:)

Stamped Tea Towels

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A classic! Once you have your stamp carving tools, why not make some little stamped tea towels? Check your local thrift store for used linens. All they really need is a good soak in some OxiClean and they’ll be good as new 🙂 You can use fabric block printing ink for this (but I would recommend using a roller). 

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You can also find some decently priced plain tea towels online – I was only able to find multipacks, but if you’re wanting to batch make gifts for a few people, it comes out to just a couple bucks per towel. Also, you don’t need a full stamp carving kit to do this – don’t forget about potato stamping! This would be really fun to do with kids. Or just use any normal stamps you have laying around.

Custom Batch Cocktail Bottle

Okay, this does not fall into the stamp category (but technically you could use stamps for this). Shoutout to my friend Sophie who I got this idea from (her creation for our friend, Madeline, seen above!), which has become a personal favorite of mine to gift because it can be pulled together in less than an hour (more time if you want to get fancy with it). I like to save my wine bottles to bank for this – give it a good wash, soak it in some warm water to get the label off, and then craft up a big batch of your gift recipient’s favorite cocktail. Maybe put a seasonal twist on it! You could also use these bottles (that I buy at IKEA but I’m sure you could find almost anywhere) or just gift it in a mason jar.

I keep a batch of sticker paper on hand (which has randomly been so useful to have) and draw a fun label for the bottle. You can also print on sticker paper, which is what Sophie did here – use Canva to create a design (either from scratch, or they have hundreds of templates) and print it onto the sticker paper. Tie some cute ribbon around it and boom! This would be a really cute hostess gift, and if you want to layer onto it, gift it with a fun set of vintage cocktail glasses 🙂

Frames… So Many Frames…

Handpainted Frames & Mats

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I’m not sure about your local Goodwill, but mine is literally overflowing in the art and frame aisle. I feel like I pick one frame up and they all come violently crashing down on me (I dropped a huge one on my foot the other week, woo). The internet has definitely been getting really creative in the framing department and I feel like I’m seeing more and more whimsical art/framing/photo display ideas. Personally there is no gift I love more than something pretty that I can display in my space somehow and these handpainted frames are so fun.

Get creative with your matting! If the frame comes with an old mat, you could paint that too – either another pattern, or the same color as your frame for a monochromatic look… or try wrapping it in fabric:

Now for ideas of what to put in said frames???

Mal’s Silhouettes 

Some of you might remember this small detail in Mal’s Living Room makeover, and I want to revisit it because it’s so sweet. She made these mini silhouette photos of her and her roommate and also made a quick video about how she did it:

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My mom has silhouettes of my siblings and I that we got done when we were kids – I remember an artist came to an event at my elementary school and cut our faces out of paper on the spot. Like, no tracing, no computer, no outline – just her eyes and a pair of scissors. It was so cool and I still think about her insane talent every time I pick up a pair of scissors. This would be a super cute gift to someone with kids, of their kids, and would make a really little cute ornament too. 

Vintage Postcards

Okay, we’re slightly slipping out of DIY territory here, but just wanted to throw this in. Mal also did this in her dining room! If someone has a place that’s super special to them, like their hometown, somewhere they studied abroad, maybe where they got engaged, it would be really sweet to find a vintage postcard from that place on ebay/Etsy and frame it for them 🙂 and if you really want to spice it up, you could always draw, paint, stamp or collage on top of it.

Justice For Perler Beads (AKA Fuse Beads)

Okay, these might not be for everyone. I’m a sucker for anything nostalgic, and I love the opportunity to play with pattern and color here. These were my favorite as a kid and they’ve really been back on my mind ever since I received the cutest perler bead themed puzzle a couple of birthdays ago. I could see how perhaps some people may not be able to move past the fact that these gifts inherently look like they were made at summer camp (to me that makes it even better), and that’s okay. But seriously, when was the last time you played with these… they’re a really really good time, I promise 🙂 

Perler Bead Coasters

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A post shared by Caitlin Bentley (@feralnotions)

This example isn’t necessarily meant to be a coaster, but I had to share it because the pattern is so fun. Caitlin Bentley is the creator of these and she shares a ton of super cute designs on her Instagram.

Look how cute these Marimekko-inspired ones are – there are literally TONS of patterns on Pinterest that you can reference if you need ideas.

Fridge Magnet Frames

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Ok, I guess we’re really sticking to a theme of fridge decor and framing. But look how cute these are – you could go bigger scale for classic picture size, or I love the idea of making mini Instax Polaroid frames. This would be a fun and easy one for kids to make too! You can snag a starter kit here (again, the magnets here).

Felt-able Ideas

Okay, now felt crafts have been around – but if you’re one foot in craft-tok you know that felt has had somewhat of a renaissance this holiday season. Maybe it’s just Gen Z discovering it for the first time, but regardless I’ve been overwhelmed with felt ideas this past month.

Felt Ornaments

This is definitely slightly more advanced (just because it takes a little practice to get your stitches clean, I learned the hard way), but SO worth the effort. The easiest and most popular option here is to make some fun little ornaments – this is the TikTok I saw that really convinced me to get all the supplies for this.

The supplies my friends and I used: small round beads, longer skinny beads, felt, embroidery thread, beading needles, embroidery needs, thread (I would recommend getting these materials in much smaller/more normal quantities at your local craft store). You’d also need some sort of filling like polyfill, but I just used felt scraps and… paper towels, haha. Here’s another video that shows the process a little more clearly. The order of operations here is: cut your shapes, add your beads or any felt layers, then stitch 90% of the way, add your filling, and ta-da. This blanket-stitch tutorial was also helpful.

Look how cute this ornament frame is – I made one of these last week for my boyfriend but we don’t need to see it here because it was my first attempt and my craftsmanship had a *disturbing* amount of room for improvement. I’ve gathered a ton of ideas for these so I’m very excited to practice and make more over Christmas time.

Felt Crowns

Now a moment to brag about how talented my BFF (Tess) is, who made me the most adorable birthday crown this past year that I will cherish forever.

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I’ve seen lots of creators make these for their kids and it would be such a cute yearly tradition. (Also, hand-sewing is not your vibe, you could totally just hot glue this.

Felt Photo Album Cover

I love the idea of putting together a mini photo album but making an adorable felt cover for it – this would make such a special gift and feels so thoughtful. You can of course get photos printed at Walgreens etc., but this printer is probably one of my most used devices at home and makes last minute photo printing so easy and is more affordable in the long run (also just worth the convenience).

To do this, I would just cut a large piece of felt to the size of your book (or piece a few scraps together), do any stitching or felt collaging on it, and then just hot glue it to the outside of the album.

This example is quilted so not exactly the same as a felted book but I love it as inspiration. The creator of these, Emma, is one of my favorite creators to follow on TikTok and is the most talented, whimsical artist. Her and her partner are full time artists and sell custom photo books and banners on Etsy made of all vintage fabrics.

If you’ve already dialed in your gifting, I hope that these can give you ideas for the rest of the year – these would all make great housewarming, birthday, or just-because gifts year round. So bookmark this for later if you’re feeling inspired…  I am always hunting for more ideas so I would love to hear any other ideas or go-tos that you have. Thank you for reading and cheers to my fellow procrastinators 🙂

Opening Image Credits: Kaitlin Green

On a scale of 1-10, I love decorating for the Christmas/holiday season about a 7–generally enthusiastic about the idea of adding a fresh hit of festive decor to my home for a special few months, but often discouraged by the price tag or appearance of in-store offerings (you will simply NEVER catch me with a blow-up lawn ornament. I REFUSE). There’s still plenty I love to shop for…all of the twinkly lights, greenery, and glittery swag (minus the clean-up), a cute Christmas pillow or two. I love the festive colors and warm whimsy that come along with the season, and I have no problem leaning in each year. But whenever I can involve some kind of crafty decor element in my holiday home, that original spirit rating cranks to an 11. Off the charts! If you’re like me and want to make some DIY holiday decorations, but don’t know where to start, keep reading for some fun and easy ideas to bring a little bit of that crafty charm to your own space this winter season.

The “need-to-handmake” trait is one I was either born with or was drilled into me too early on to choose otherwise. I learned my ABCs (always be crafting) and never forgot their power. My mom and I spent countless hours of my childhood coming up with new ways to be creative. One year in particular, we made this Halloween art piece from a piece of scrap wood and about a million little magazine cut-outs.

We spent a good while cutting and separating tons of colors from a magazine into little triangles to glue them into the mosaic Jack-O-Lantern you see here. She still puts it out every year, and it’s a project that has inspired me 20 years later to make the first DIY of this year’s Christmas decor! Let me show you what I made:

Collage Christmas Trees

I love to collage, the EHD team can vouch. When we made our vision boards on our last retreat, I stayed up an extra few hours to keep working on mine. It’s a kind of flow state you just can’t disrupt, even if it’s 2 am. The cutting, the pasting, the admiring of images…it’s meditation for me. A few years ago, I decided to make some silly little collage Christmas trees that I could hang from my curtains using old magazines, chipboard, glue, a handful of brads, and some clothespins. It was so incredibly easy, and it’s a project I still bring out each year to display.

To make them, I started by collecting a variety of greens and festive, colored textures, patterns, and interesting shapes from my magazine pile. Then I cut random triangles from some chipboard (I used the back piece of old art pads, but any cardboard or sturdy material would work too).

I collaged the various greens onto each triangle, trimming the excess around the edges. I decided which triangles worked best together and stacked them, punching a hole through two pieces at a time to connect them with a little brad. Using a brad to attach them allows the pieces to move somewhat like a puppet. I love that added whimsy.

For the backsides, I just painted them with some watercolors I had on hand. You don’t have to do this if you’re just going to hang them against a wall, but since I wanted to hang mine from my window curtains, I wanted both sides to feel somewhat “done” and different.

Once enough trees were made, I simply clipped them to my sheer curtains with clothespins. They’re super easy to move around and style however you like!

You could also decide to make a garland with these trees, stringing them together through their top hole, even clipping the clothespins to the bottom instead to act as the “trunks”. I’ve done that with these exact trees in years past, and it worked out great. But as you can see in this pic, I’d already made a garland…which is the DIY I want to show you next!

Grocery Bag Garland

This holiday garland DIY was inspired by a TikTok. If you didn’t grow up crafting like I did, fear not. There are about a TRILLION quick, inspiring videos out there to show you just how simple and fun it can be (I gathered a handful of my favorites to show you for even more ideas, just keep scrolling).

This girl took her Trader Joe’s bags and decided to cut out the sweetest star garland to hang around her house. She started by drawing the shapes with Sharpie, then painting them, gave them cute little faces, and then strung them together to hang. Super simple.

Well, instead, I just decided to paint the whole bag. Actually, I painted a bunch of brown grocery bags with all kinds of different patterns and colors. You’ll want to cut open the bag to make the most of your material, paint it mostly solid with cheap craft paints or whatever you have on hand (doesn’t need to be perfect), and layer it with new colors–stripes, dots, squiggles, etc. Honestly, the messier, the more fun!

Next, I went in and drew the shapes to cut out with my metallic marker, because I wanted them to have a bit of “sparkle”. These are some of my favorite metallic pens to use. I loved her original simple stars, but I really wanted to stretch how many pieces I could get out of one bag, so I drew stars, spirals, little bursts, diamonds, and even little orange wedges. Idk why, I just thought it was fun. Go crazy here or stick to simplicity, it’s up to you!

Drawing with the metallic marker last made them even easier to cut out, and having a variety of patterns and colors made stringing them together like a fun game. No two colors next to each other. I poked two holes with a big needle and wove my string through, just like the TikTok girl.

I added it to my already tree-filled window and just love how they pair together! A little tricky to see the full pay-off in these pics because they’re so backlit and I’m no Kaitlin Green, but trust me that they are just so fun and colorful in person. The trees have held up for years, and the garland I plan to reuse as many times as it’ll last me. Neither are they so precious (or expensive) should I decide to let them go someday. But the joy of looking around your home to see holiday decor you made by hand? Priceless.

Here are some more easy ideas I’m saving for next year (or later this week if the mood strikes).

Paper Stars

These have been a HIT on my feed lately. I love that they’re so colorful and easy and that there are a number of styles and ways to make them. If you decide you want them to be reusable, use paper clips or velcro dots to secure the last pieces so you can fold them flat again for storage!

Paper Snowflakes

Like the paper stars, these snowflakes follow a similar technique, and I’m not actually sure if I can categorize them differently apart from the cut-outs. I’ve made the lunch bag versions in years past and loved them, but I recycled them after one use. I think the doily version is just to die for! Em actually showed me that one. The colorful ones would add a nice pop to any big display, and the twisty ones are a fun…twist on the classic snowflake look.

Paper Chain Garland

This one is truly a CLASSIC. Low lift with big payoff. Em and her kids made some paper chains for her tree this year from old wallpaper samples (such a cute idea), and sooooo many people on the internet are leaning in with their own colorful chains.

This girl shows you three ways to make them, each with their own vibe. I’m partial to the super short and chunky.

Gingerbread Garland

I HAVE TO TRY THIS. Such a simple idea, but oh so cute. I think it’d be fun to extend this idea beyond a garland. It would be so easy to make 3D “gingerbread” houses with cardboard and white paint, and they would last so much longer than the real, edible version does in my house. I can’t help myself but to immediately bite off the chimney each year.

So what are some of your favorite holiday crafts? Did you grow up making dried orange slice garland or string popcorn together? Are you a classic folded paper snowflake type? Have you tried making any of these fun paper crafts yourself? Or are there other festive crafts you made this year that I NEED to know about?? Sound off in the comments 🙂 I’m always looking for new inspiration!

Welcome back to another installment of what I’m loosely calling “Marketplace Marvels.” Or perhaps “Secondhand Scores”…[edits headline because I like that better]. The title is a work in progress, but the heart is the same: What can you do with all those interesting, affordable, and durable vintage and antique finds you scroll or walk past on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or at your local flea market? Don’t get furniture FOMO; let’s learn about them, figure out what they should cost you, and see how other people are using and styling them, shall we?

What Exactly Is An Antique Dry Sink?

A dry sink is exactly what its name suggests: A “sink” without running water. Prior to homes having indoor plumbing, this piece of furniture was used to hold a large wash bowl and pitcher that people used to wash their hands, faces, food, bodies, and the like. They had a small backsplash made of either wood, stone, or tile to protect the wall behind it from getting wet. The cabinet-like piece came into popularity in the early to mid-1800s, the predecessor to the simpler washstand, which was a compact wooden stand without enough room to set the bowl and hold the water, possibly even a towel.

Once plumbing came into play (that was the early 20th century in the US), these fell out of favor, and now are used for decorative purposes…more on that if you keep reading.

How Do You Find One & How Much Do They Cost When You Do?

As I learned from the comment section of my first article about barrister bookcases, prices vary widely on secondhand items sold on local marketplaces, depending on where you are. Perhaps it’s supply and demand. Or maybe it’s simply different inventory in different parts of the country. But regardless, I wanted to walk through some of the dry sinks I found within 50 miles of me here in Los Angeles.

Before dry sinks emerged, washstands and wash basins were the norm. As you can see from above, it was just large enough for a bowl or basin, with room to place the pitcher below when in use. This one even has a mirror and side rails for towels. I can’t envision much of a use for this these days, but nostalgic, nonetheless.

And here is a proper dry sink, as I mentioned, it’s the evolution of the wash stand we saw prior. This one is so special with its pink marble and delicate detailing. And at $100 (!!!), it’s a complete and utter steal. If you’re near Oak Park, California, please grab this one.

Here is one that’s a bit pricier, but still far less expensive than anything you could buy on the market new today. Solid wood, marble top, brass hardware, cute little carvings, are you kidding me? Note that this one is called a wash stand, so be sure to check both names when you’re hunting for one.

A tick more expensive than the last, but a good size at 44 inches wide. This one is in a Shaker style, which you can see through limited ornamentation and the cabinet door design we all know (and still use) today. It has a lip around the front to prevent any spills from landing on the floor.

This one is called a “wash table,” so get creative with those naming conventions while you search, people! You’ll find a lot of these leggier versions on casters, which at the time, made them easy to move around as needed.

Tile work can be simple and solid colored, like the previous dry sink, or more decorative, like the one above.

The Different Kinds Of Dry Sinks

As is standard with antiques, different eras and regions dictate what materials were used and what their styling was. I’m sure there are plenty more I’m not covering here, but I do not have a degree in dry sinks (yet). Here are some of the most common ones I see when secondhand shopping:

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Marble-Topped: These came into popularity in the Victorian era (mid-1800s to early 1900s). Marble was a common material at the time and was used for its durability. Around this time, a recessed basin was scrapped in place of a flat surface. Dry sinks from this time period are also a bit more ornate in their woodworking, as things were in the Victorian age.

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A post shared by Kansas City Used Furniture (@kansascityusedfurniture)

Tile Backsplash: Tiles as a backsplash came into play in the early 1900s, when plumbing began appearing in homes. Some are in the Arts & Crafts or Mission style, others are Edwardian, such as the one above (though the seller said it might also be Victorian; it doesn’t look ornate enough for that IMHO).

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A post shared by Charnock Richard Antiques (@charnockrichardantiques)

Here is another dry sink with a tiled backsplash. The lister notes that it’s Edwardian; after a quick little looksie into what the hallmarks of Edwardian furniture are, I can see how this one checks the boxes: lighter-toned woods, less ornate woodworking, and floral motifs.

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A post shared by Cypress House | Restoration & Design (@cypresshousedesign)

All-Wood With Bottom Cabinet: Some dry sinks have more storage than others, such as the one above. This one is a primitive design, from the early 19th century, and you can tell because of the recessed basin (the lip around the surface).

Some Ideas For How To Repurpose & Style One

Now that we’ve met some different kinds of dry sinks, let’s see how some people are using them in their homes. Spoiler alert: I’m gonna need a dry sink soon.

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A post shared by Caroline Winkler (@thegoodsitter)

I have to admit that I didn’t really know much about these prior to a few years ago, and the petite dry sink in Caroline Winkler’s rental kitchen I watched come to life on YouTube, was one of the first I took true notice of. Anyhow, a dry sink works great in a kitchen where you need to add a little more counter space to hold fruit bowls, a coffee bar, mixing bowls…anything you need!

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A post shared by Emily Berger (@eeberger)

Here is a primitive all-wood dry sink used as a console table (or perhaps an entry table?). It’s hard to take my eyes off that amazing stained glass door, but the beautiful, rich tone of the wood on the dry sink cabinet also draws the eye.

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This type of dry sink is primed to be in a dining room as a service piece. The high back and built-in shelves are pretty unique and great for little floral moments or a prized trinket.

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Another primitive design, being used as a bar.

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A post shared by Saint Loup Decorative (@saintloupdecorative)

This sweet little marble-topped dry sink looks so great as a vanity table in a bathroom with some pretty apothecary jars, rolled up towels, or your most aesthetic makeup and beauty supplies.

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A post shared by Anna | Interiors, Renovation & Styling (@theinteriorframe)

Dry sink turned wet sink! Don’t forget you can take one of these pretty pieces and retrofit it with actual plumbing and a sink vessel. If this is the case, it’s best to find one with a natural stone surface for durability, as wood can’t handle constant water exposure.

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A post shared by Natalie Kolter/ Vintage Porch (@vintageporch)

This little kitchen station is giving me Emily Bowser vibes for some reason. Maybe it’s the collection of little…rolling pins, maybe?

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A post shared by Jen Green | Vintage Furniture & Decor (@greensprucedesigns)

Juxtapose a rustic, worn dry sink with your fanciest crystal, glass decanters and brass ice buckets or pitchers. This technique takes something old and makes it feel fresh and interesting, as opposed to looking like something sitting in an old storage unit.

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A post shared by @roughedgesto

Looking for a unique entry table? Grab a dry sink with some interesting tile work. It adds color and pattern without trying too hard.

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A post shared by Lauren Williams (@littlevintagehouse)

As long as the integrity of the wood is intact, yes, you can use one of these as a changing table! It has a built-in lip to keep the baby from rolling. I’d suggest adding a little cushion with a built-in buckle for extra safety.

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Raise your hand if you’ve envisioned at least two spots in your own home where an antique dry sink could add some interest and function. I don’t have a single open space of wall in my current home for one, but believe me when I tell you that whenever we move into a larger home (hopefully in the next few years), I’m going to hunt one of these down.

What pieces do you regularly see on Marketplace or when vintage shopping? I’d love to deep dive, learn, and share my findings!

Until next time, friends…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Moody Dining Room Reveal Is All About the Insane Power of Paint | Vintage Dry Sink via Facebook Marketplace

We’ve all been there: You’re at the thrift store and something catches your eye. It’s interesting, but…meh, you’re not sure what you’d do with it, so you move on. Then, some time later, you stumble upon an image in a magazine or social feed of that very item styled beautifully, and your body is consumed with instant FOMO. You missed out, and chances are, it’s long been scooped up by someone else.

Well, today, I’m preempting that FOPOTBTI (Fear of Passing on That Beautiful Thrifted Item…clunky, I know), by sharing a piece of furniture I see over and over again any time I’m thumb-cruising through Facebook Marketplace Furniture: The barrister’s bookcase. This solid wood stacking furnishing is usually made of oak, has top-sliding glass fronts, and lends a collegiate or library vibe to any room it graces. What were all the kids calling that style recently…grandpa chic? Well…this is peak grandpa chic in all the best ways.

I love to see them in their original wood finish, though they can easily be upcycled with paint if you prefer that look. And the best part? They’re usually around $100, easy to move, and endlessly versatile.

How To Find A Barrister’s Bookcase Secondhand

For whatever reason, any time I open a secondhand marketplace app, I get served with these bookcases. They’re like a dropped penny… You find them everywhere (but, imho, not used often enough in beautiful, finished projects). I don’t find them; they find me. There have even been a few times when they have been offered for free, but typically, I see them for around $100, as mentioned. There are, of course, far more expensive ones depending on their provenance and age, but at most, they’ll run you a few hundred dollars. They are typically made from solid hardwood and sometimes have decorative leaded work in the glass fronts.

As you can see from the listing above, many people list them as lawyers’ bookcases, as well. This one is solid oak for $80, which, honestly, is such an immensely good deal for anything constructed from a wood like this. It appears to have an open section on the bottom middle tier, though most will have the glass doors that open from the top and slide in to be out of the way.

You may find that some listers get the name right, but it’s unclear if it’s an antique or what the above seller is calling “vintage style.” That’s kind of the name of the game with peer-to-peer marketplaces. People are posting things however they think best, so just be sure to ask some questions about the construction, age, and condition. The most common issue is the functionality of the sliding glass doors.

I love the glasswork on the top door, and the fact that this is $50 is mindblowing! If you’re near Corona, California, GRAB IT NOW!

A Little History Lesson On The Barrister’s Bookcase

Before we get into all the pretty stuff (feel free to keep scrolling if you’re getting antsy), I gotta drop a little history into what these things even are. Called barrister bookcases (though sometimes listed as lawyer bookcases or bookshelves on marketplaces), they originated in England around the 17th century. As their name suggests, they were first created for courthouses and lawyers—or barristers as they are called in England—to transport their valuable law books between offices or to store important legal documents in the courtroom. The cool thing about these is that they are modular and stackable units, a feature that, back then, made it easy to take them apart for transport.

Eventually, as things do, this type of bookcase made its way to the U.S., popularized by a company called Globe-Wernicke that marketed them as “elastic bookcases.” From there, they spread beyond law offices into homes, libraries, and even schools. Thanks to their separate sections, you could move entire libraries without packing and unpacking books! They are truly a good, functional design.

How To Style This Facebook Marketplace Marvel

The more I see these in people’s homes, styled beautifully with all kinds of trinkets, the more I’m convinced I’m going to need to add one to my case good collection when my home is larger and I have space for it. Because they are shallow, narrow, and not that tall, the barrister’s bookcase works in so many rooms, from the dining room to a home office to a living space, and even a bathroom. Though I’ll share my favorite creative use for it last (it’s a good one).

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A post shared by Matthew James (@brooklynartboy)

First up, from Brooklyn Art Boy, you can see how perfect it is for smaller collections like candlesticks, vessels, and vintage brass wares. The scale of it is ideal for older homes where the ceilings may be lower and rooms may be smaller, though I’m sure it would also work beautifully in a larger house, too.

How I see this piece used most often is in the dining room, housing wine and drinking glasses, alcohol, and barware. And as you can see from the two images in two separate homes, the height of a three-stacked bookcase is just begging for a piece of art, a vase, and two taper candles (how funny is that…though perhaps one informed the other??).

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A post shared by Minnesota Rust (@minnesota_rust)

Have extra dinnerware and platters you want to show off? These are great as China cabinets, too. And as you can see in the image above from Minnesota Rust, you can skip the library/grandpa aesthetic with a coat of paint in a color that better suits your style and home decor.

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A post shared by Kimberly (@simplybeyoutified)

Like perhaps a matte black as Simply Beyoutified did above (you can click the “play” arrow to see the transformation).

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A post shared by Bre Bertolini (@brepurposed)

Want it to feel even more modern? Swap out the petite knobs for a bar pull, add something to the back panel (here, from Bre Purposed, it looks like they did a reeded or fluted paneling). If you’re going to go all in, maybe even a punchy wallpaper or a different colored interior than the exterior would be absolutely fabulous!

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A post shared by Chrissy Irvine – Antiques & Vintage (@the.workers.cottage)

Yes! This is so wildly charming to me, put to use to store old quilts and linens. It’s such a beautiful way to showcase pretty things that are normally hidden behind a solid door in a linen closet. In a bathroom with some open floor space, you can put beauty products, folded towels, bath salts, and give it an apothecary look.

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A post shared by Heartwood Designs (@heartwooddesignsltd)

But above all, my absolute favorite store-away-in-my-brain-until-I-renovate-a-home concept is in a kitchen, as shown above by Heartwood Designs. This beats open shelving any day but still lends an open, airy feel that also speaks to the English kitchen style everyone loves so much (for a reason). Sure, you could have a custom-built piece atop your counters, or you could find a barrister’s bookcase for like $50 and just update the interior to match your cabinetry. I’m swooning.

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Now that you’re inspired (I hope), onward to your favorite secondhand marketplace to find your own barrister’s bookcase. And because I personally love this “How to Make It Shine” format for secondhand home decor and furnishings, please let me know in the comments below if you’re seeing something in store or online time and again that you need a little help making look swoon-worthy.

Until next time, friends…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Malcolm Simmons | Photo by Malcolm Simmons and Andrew Hill | From: Malcolm’s DIY-FILLED Office Reveal

Last week, a reader popped into my DMs on Instagram to ask me if there was a reason they never saw us using what she called “natural fiber” rugs in our room reveals. I had to confirm what she meant by that, but I assumed she was referring to materials like seagrass and sisal. I couldn’t speak for the rest of the wonderful women on this website who design their spaces, but for me, it was simple: They are just not kid-friendly.

I say this from experience, as someone with a natural woven rug that, after nearly four years of existing with a child around it, looks like it came out of the employee lounge at the Play-Doh factory. “I’m looking for something neutral, soft, and child-friendly. You answered my question,” said the reader, after I told her I much prefer a wool rug with a thick pile or something washable.

But then I got to thinking. What else would I tell someone who has young kids or plans to have them soon to avoid buying? I sat in my living room looking around, taking mental notes of what works and what is less than ideal for my preschooler. Then, I moved around my house, space by space, tagging more notes in my brain. And here, I present to you my list of seven things that maybe just aren’t the best pick for curious little peanut butter hands. These all come with my typical caveat that none of this is make-or-break, of course (well, maybe with one as an exception). I had and have at least half of what’s detailed below, and we all survived, even if things are looking kind of scruffy around here. This is not a “throw it all away and start from scratch” situation by any means, but more of a good-to-know and tuck away in your mind for when you may be adding to your home’s design and furniture plan.

The Furniture & Decor Items To Avoid If You Have—or Are Planning On Having—Kids

Don’t #1: Seagrass Or Sisal Rugs

Wow, my Lulu & Georgia rug, which was acquired many years before my daughter came around, was SO CLEAN at one point. Honestly, it stayed looking that good until about two years ago, when our living room became our playroom and our immobile baby turned into a creative toddler. With the exception of the time I spilled an ENTIRE glass of a green smoothie onto this rug and somehow managed to clean it all up without a trace, it has not fared as well since. Why? Because it’s made of this woven natural wool-sisal blend, and it’s nearly impossible to get anything off of it!

Here is exhibit one and two of a freshly vacuumed rug. You may THINK it needs a cleaning, but this IS it clean. Dot markers simply do not come off a rug of this material. Not with an upholstery cleaning machine, not with Folex (though it does work wonders on many other things), not with elbow grease and some prayer chants. Play-Doh and kinetic sand that you didn’t realize was already smooshed into all the fibers, then dried up before you could get around to it? Those don’t come out, either. My wool rug in the kitchen that has *seen things*? It’s doing great, with barely any battle wounds.

Do Instead: Wool Or Washable Rug

As I suggested to the reader who contacted me, I’ll suggest to you: Stick with a cut-pile wool or something washable if you’re okay with polyester. The reason I like a cut-pile wool rug over something woven is because that tight texture acts as a barrier against absorption. Whatever spills just sits on top, like water on a duck’s feathers, giving us enough time to act and wipe. Anything that’s been smooshed into it has also been very easy to clean with an all-purpose spray and a rag. I could never say the same for a seagrass rug.

As for washable rugs, I admit, I don’t love them because they aren’t something that is going to last you for decades (or centuries) like wool will, but they are a great “for now” solution for someone who wants to style and softness of a rug without the headache.

From Left: Pierce & Ward Deco Border Handwoven Wool Rug | Via Machine Washable Rug | Prism Handwoven Performance Rug

Don’t #2: Textured Or Light-Colored Fabric Sofa

I can’t imagine I have to do much explaining here on the light-colored part. Are there homes out there with white or beige sofas that co-exist with children? I bet there are. And before I became a mother, I’m absolutely certain I would have said something naive, such as “I’ll just teach my child not to dirty my furniture.” I have a fairly cautious, mindful child who is not destructive or takes joy in messing things up, and there is still plenty of proof of toddler life in most spots in my home. It’s just how it is, no matter how angelic you think your offspring will be. As for texture, it’s for the same reason I gave for the natural fiber rugs. Texture = crevices that collect everything, which makes it so difficult to properly clean.

Do Instead: Velvet Or Performance Fabric Upholstery

Boy, do I have a bone to pick with the internet, which constantly says velvet is a high-maintenance fabric that should be avoided. Sure, it’s not great for everyone, but I’ve only ever had positive experiences with cleaning up everything you can imagine on a dark blue velvet sofa. I do not have pets, but I also hear it’s a decent solution for anything clawed since it doesn’t have any loops to catch on nails.

In general, velvet or not, buy something in a performance fabric that will work with you, not against you, in a busy household. A slipcover is also great for washing yourself or letting the pros at the dry cleaner handle.

From Left: Oscar Sofa | Raffiné Sofa by Athena Calderone | Sloan Slipcovered Chaise Sectional

Don’t #3: Any Glass-Top or -Front Furniture

At my daughter’s six-month pediatrician’s appointment, we told her doctor that she was crawling and pulling herself up on furniture. I’ll never forget the first thing out of her mouth: “If you have any glass furniture—coffee tables, side tables, glass-front cabinets—get rid of them now.” It wasn’t a suggestion, it was a command. Newsflash: Babies and toddlers love to take their hard toys, or anything they can find for that matter, and bang them on any surface they can reach. Banging + glass isn’t a combination that should exist around a tiny human. Also, apart from safety, it’s just SO FREAKING LOUD. You will have enough audio stimulation, I promise. You will not be hoping for me. Stick to wood.

Do Instead: Wood Furniture

Bonus points for wood furniture with rounded edges, particularly in a room that gets a lot of foot traffic. Yes, you can add foam bumpers (we did) for the first year or two of their walking careers, but even after, they manage to rough-house, jump, and dance their way to injury somehow.

From Left: Panos Brown Solid Acacia Wood 51″ Oval Coffee Table | Pierce & Ward Wood Tiered Side Table (18″) | Voyage Natural 2-Door 3-Drawer Bedroom Armoire Closet By Nate Berkus + Jeremiah Brent

Don’t #4: Furniture With Narrow Grooves Or Texture

At this point, I sound like a broken record about this texture stuff. But clearly, I cannot say it enough. Those early years, when they can’t wipe their hands properly or their curiosity about how the world (and their slime) works is at an all-time high, is not when you should be investing in a gorgeous piece like the nightstand in the above photo.

I also wanted to bring this one up because so much furniture on the market today looks like it has shiplap on the front of it, with small, narrow seams multiple times over. That, or deep ridges and fluting. If you value your free time and the cleanliness of your home, avoid, avoid, avoid! I cannot tell you how many times I was on my hands and knees with a toothpick and a wet rag, cleaning out the tiny lines on my storage cabinet doors in my living room. And again, I have a kid who likes cleaning up and doesn’t go rogue with markers or finger paints often.

Do Instead: Smooth, Easily To Clean Surfaces

What you want instead is a smooth surface. Flat panel fronts. Limited seams. Enough sheen that things wipe off. Matte finishes are magnets to dirt and grime, and god help you if oily things splatter on it. You can be cool in another 10-15 years, okay? But for now, just go ahead and make your life easier. Your home is still going to be beautiful, even without that caned-front media cabinet.

From Left: Rest Easy Nightstand With Drawer | Mid Century Modern Wood Curio Cabinet Black Oak | Anders Media Console, 72″ in Walnut

Don’t #5: Upholstered Or Leather Dining Chairs

I still have those dining chairs above. And thankfully, they are doing okay, with the exception of the melted chocolate that was pressed into it just this weekend from making pretzel-chocolate spider webs. Shiny leather is one thing, but that raw, matte leather you see everywhere that looks so chic? Do not get that on your dining chairs because good luck cleaning them. I haven’t had much luck with leather cleaners for this specific finish of leather, and again, my chairs are in decent shape considering they are at the perfect height for a new walker to grab to steady themselves fresh off a bowl of strawberry Greek yogurt.

The same goes for fabric upholstery. Can it be cleaned? Yeah probably. Is that something you’ll want to do or have time to do? No. What should you get instead? Glad you asked…

Do Instead: Wood Or Performance Fabric Dining Chairs

There’s a theme here with the versatility of wood in a home with children. If you’re concerned with comfort, you can always add a removable seat pad that can be cleaned or swapped if worse comes to worst. Oh, and like in the sofa world, there’s also performance fabric. The offering is less wide in dining chairs than for couches, but you can find them. Or you can source your own Sunbrella or Crypton fabric, for instance, and get your chairs reupholstered.

From Left: Morton Dining Chair – Black | Petrie Barley Ash Mustard Upholstered Dining Chair with Performance Fabric | Merritt Oak Dining Chair

Don’t #6: Furniture on Casters That Don’t Lock

You see that little cabinet up there? With the cute casters? Those don’t lock, and on wood or tile floors, it’s so easy to move around. When your kid is young, this is a bad thing because it’s not stable as they learn to stand or walk. They can either topple over due to the furniture moving, or something on the top of it could fall over onto them, too. When they’re older, they’ll have different motivations. I still have this cabinet and thankfully, my kid has no interest in it, but that may not be the same truth for another kid that comes along or in a different family. Your best bet is sturdy, immovable furniture.

Do Instead: Furniture You Can Secure

If you already have something on casters or that hasn’t been secured, take this as your opportunity to get what you need, and don’t be sorry later. Dressers, cabinets, TVs not mounted to the wall…it’s all fair game for safety concerns. It *should* go without saying that any heavy furniture, especially anything with drawers or shelves that can be climbed, should be secured to the wall, but I’m saying it again because it’s immensely important. I have the ones on the bottom right and like them because you can’t really see them behind things, and the zip tie is removable/adjustable. That peace of mind is priceless.

From Left: Hangman Black Furniture Anti-Tip Kit 400 lb 1 pk | TV & Furniture Safety Straps | 4our Kiddies Furniture Straps (10 Pack) Baby Proofing Anti Tip Furniture Anchors Kit

Don’t #7: Wallpaper On The Lower Half Of Your Walls

Unlike paint, wallpaper can’t just be easily touched up. Crayons, markers, permanent markers ::gasps!!!!::, and even just all the scruff marks of thrown toys, and vrooming cars and trucks are not compatible with expensive, delicate wallpaper. But don’t worry, it’s not all or nothing (see below).

Do Instead: Wallpaper Above A Chair Rail (Or Just Satin Wall Paint)

My advice to anyone who wants the color and pattern of wallpaper but is stressed about a kid ruining it is to keep it on the top 1/3 of the wall, above trimwork or a chair rail. That way, it’s far more out of reach from all the action but still checks the boxes of your design needs.

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So, have anything to add here? Have something I mentioned but you’d like to refute my caution? I’m all ears. Thanks for being here today. Until next time…

*Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain House Reveal: How We Designed Our Super Kid-Friendly Family Room

The other week, for fun, Marlee put up an Instastory asking the followers what they needed advice on in their homes. It was meant to just be an Instagram thing, but then we decided that it was silly not to share our suggestions on the blog, too! So that’s what we’re doing today. Here are 3 rooms, 3 different design problems, and 3 (or more) potential solutions. Let’s jump right in!

The Accent Wall…

First off, it’s definitely not terrible, but we have some suggestions to give her ideas to get the look we think she wants. Also, as a general design “rule”, accent walls are hard. They were a massive trend in the early 2000s, but since then, designers advise against them unless it’s drawing attention to an architectural feature, such as a nook. Arlyn wrote a great post about it here. They are advised against because they can feel jarring and stop your eye abruptly. I think that’s what she’s feeling with her’s.

We’re not sure if this room is a part of an open concept plan; if it isn’t, we suggest really committing fully and painting all of the walls like Ryann did in her last home. It feels intentional in a great way and keeps the eye moving around the whole space. Then, if it’s in the budget, a deep-toned, colorful rug would really help to visually balance the space. Also, going up a size will also make the space feel better scale-wise. Much like Ryann’s home, we recommend leaning into richer-toned furniture and decor. In conclusion, we think that the overarching issue she feels is that the space doesn’t feel balanced. So, by painting all the walls and leaning into those richer tones throughout will definitely fix that.

And for fun, here are some rug options with a reminder of what the space looks like:)

Aymer Copper Rug | Plaid Wool Reversible Rug

From what we gather from the baskets on the wall, loving pattern isn’t an issue. Both of these rugs are rich and warm with a pattern that won’t overwhelm the room. The copper rug is a little more neutral and has a similar vibe to the baskets, while the brown and blue one is a little more unexpected and modern.

Pierce & Ward Deco Border Handwoven Wool Rug | Katasha Checked Wool Area Rug

Then, if they wanted to choose a rug with a less intense pattern, I think this golden colored rug would be very fun and complement the bright color of the wall. Or they could tone it down but still add richness with the checked one that would also talk to the brick on the fireplace.

Hope this helped!

A Bathroom That Needs More Color

This follower really wants to add more color because she thinks there’s too much white. Well, fear not because we’ve got you. The good news is that this is a beautiful bathroom, so this is going to be a breeze.

We decided to really only recommend decor changes. Could they paint the walls? Sure. But we don’t think it’s necessary to inject a healthy dose of color to cure her from her “boring bathroom” blues. Naturally, there are two mood boards (we can’t help ourselves), and we based the style and some colors on what was already there – florals, pink tones, and a modern traditional look.

Deco Blossom Shower Curtain | Blair Warm Brass 3-Light Bath Light | Half Moon Dual Mount Shower Rod | V Hook Shower Curtain Rings | Sahar Bath Mat | Raspberry Vine Print | Caspian Soap Pump | Marble Toothbrush Mug | Metalla Trash Can | Candle | Luxe Faux Marble Bath Tray | Black Round Toilet Seat

This first one is definitely more green-forward, but we love that shower curtain so much that we couldn’t not include it. Speaking of the shower curtain, they should get a rod, hang it towards the ceiling, and make sure the curtain is long enough to almost touch the floor. This will make the whole room feel taller. Now, as you can see, we mixed metals. This is totally allowed, but make sure each metal looks balanced. We did, however, feel that the rod should match the shower doorframe. Then, while it’s not necessary, we liked the idea of switching out the current vanity light for a brass one to warm up the space. Just an option. Remember when I said the metal tones should be balanced? That’s why the soap pump and the waste bin are also brass. A little brass high, medium, and low. And if you’ve been paying attention, then you know our deep love for burgundy. It’s rich, is a warm neutral that is anything but boring, and it’s a perfect match for green. So that bath mat and tray (that would work on top of the toilet’s tank) are perfect additions and will really add in the color this follower is looking for. But their current bath mat could also be great. Now, for the toilet seat, I am very pro black seat cover. I have one myself, and I think it really makes the room look so much better. It feels vintage-like but not old, and since this is a modern traditional bathroom, it’s kinda perfect, right?? I also love the added green textures of the toothbrush holder and candle. And finally, the piece of art. There’s nothing wrong with the beautiful piece they have, but it does look a little small and/or hung a little too high. So if they are looking for a new piece of art, I love this idea of this print because it’s got all of the tones of the established color palette, but a little more saturated/bright to add a little pop to the whole space.

Deco Blossom Shower Curtain | Blair Warm Brass 3-Light Bath Light | Half Moon Dual Mount Shower Rod | V Hook Shower Curtain Rings | Sahar Bath Mat | Velas, Vinho e Flores Fine Art Print | Caspian Soap Pump | Marble Toothbrush Mug | Wicker Waste Basket | Candle | Rattan Tray | Black Round Toilet Seat

This mood board leaned much harder into the warm tones, so you can see the same color palette but with a different color emphasized. We also swapped out the waste bin and tray to be in a natural woven material, since bathrooms inherently have a lot of hard surfaces like tile and stone. Oh, and that wonderful print is again, a brighter version of the rest of the colors to add freshness. The only thing that I didn’t mention that could also be switched out is the mirror, if they wanted. It’s totally great, but a slimmer frame might feel more balanced in the space. I think a black frame would still be a perfect color, but silver or brass would also look awesome. Happy decorating!!

Adding Character To The Builder Grade Kitchen

Now, this follower has a great kitchen, but given that it’s builder-grade, they really want to add more character to it. Clearly, it’s very modern, so we’re hesitant to recommend going “too vintage”. That doesn’t feel quite right for a design like this because it may feel like too much of an overall contrast. Like they are fighting each other instead of working in harmony. We only say that because when most people hear “character,” they mostly only think “add all vintage”. Keep reading:)

So what we are about to recommend is a little vintage, but mostly things that add color and texture. It’s really about adding personality, right? With that said, the biggest change they could make is the handles. The brushed silver they currently have isn’t helping the space to feel warm. But to be fair, the cabinet colors are also not warm, so adding on bright gold pulls that would highly contrast (and may visually overwhelm) isn’t the answer either. So what could work??

Lacquered Oak Wood “Join” Cabinet Handle | Oval Bar Wood Handle Cabinet Pull

We first thought a mid-toned wood handle pulls. They could warm the cabinets up a little and be a more unexpected choice. The other issue is that we couldn’t find any wood pulls over 12″, and some of those drawers look much longer than that. It’s an option, but we think we have a better idea.

Linear Pull Bronze | Antique Brass Cabinet Pulls

Bronze. It’s not as bright as gold brass, and it seems like it’s easier to find extra-long options. We think this could be the most elevated option for what they have. Warm but not too warm, you know? 🙂 Plus, we LOVE a knurled detail like the ones above have.

Onto decor!

Vintage Bamboo Basket

We want to start with the space above the cabinets. Currently, all they have are a few gray-brown baskets that look too similar to the gray undertone of the brown cabinets. A rich, warm vintage basket like this (with others) would look great up there. It’s texture, it’s warmth, and it’s anything but builder-grade.

Orcino Green Marble Fruit Bowl | Hand Carved Wild Olive Wood Bowl

But as we said at the start of this space, decorating with all vintage isn’t necessarily the move in a super modern kitchen. So adding in pieces like this beautiful green marble footed bowl (that also adds a great rich color) would look awesome displayed above the cabinets. The same goes for these hand carved bowls. They aren’t vintage, but they have so much texture and movement. The biggest thing when decorating an area like above cabinets is to make sure not all of your pieces are the same height, and that they are big enough to make a visual impact when you’re looking at them from the ground. Create levels and don’t forget scale!

Handmade Studio Pottery Polka Dot Utensil Holder | XL Utensil Holder

We also think this kitchen could use more color and/or pattern. We love a well-placed polka dot, and that utensil holder is the perfect amount. But you know a splash of color is just as impactful, and you bet that Nickey Kehoe sells the most beautiful green utensil holder in town:)

Rechargeable Dimmable Rattan Touch Table Lamp | Ryland LED Table Lamp

This one may be tricky because it’s clear this kitchen gets a lot of action with at least one baby living under their roof. But if they can clear a little corner, we LOVE a kitchen lamp. It adds so much personality, ambiance, and guaranteed character. Both of these are rechargeable, so no need to take up any outlet space.

Moon Face Vine Dinner Plate | Antique Upper Hanley Semi Porcelain Dinner Plate | My Main Passion in Life is Bagel Plate

Ok, at first, the idea was to maybe hang a mix of modern handmade and vintage plates on the tile backsplash, but obviously, they would be difficult/potentially require holes to secure, and there’s the whole cooking grease mess issue. However, we still think that maybe the wall with the window or the wall next to the fridge could be options. Even if it’s just a single vertical line of plates or more of a gallery like this. The great thing about plates is that they are great to thrift, too! But again, for this kitchen, make sure it’s at least a mix of more contemporary and antique.

To the people who submitted, THANK YOU! And when we do this again, those who weren’t chosen will absolutely be looked at again, and we will also, of course, make sure you ask our blog-only readers too<3

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Ryann Trombetti | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Ryann’s Living and Dining Room Reveal

I really try not to step foot in an antique mall/vintage store if I don’t have a photo shoot/room reveal coming up – it’s just too dangerous. I will find something, and it’s not necessary to keep hoarding if I don’t think I have a place for something immediately (right???).

But…recently Brian and I were on our biking trip in the San Juan Islands, and we popped into a vintage shop, Smorgasbord on Orcas Island, and I would have left with far more if I had the room in my carry-on. It was so good. And the owner, Melanie (I think!!), was a reader, which made me feel good (she has great taste and was very cool). I wanted everything, so I came home with some “souvenirs” to memorialize the trip. I also like to think of it as my duty to make sure these really good stores and dealers stay in business, especially if their prices are excellent (so fair). Here’s what I came home with (in addition to a few other recent finds)

This watercolor came from an estate on the island, and I thought it was the perfect piece to remind me of this trip (which was super special with Brian). I can always find a place for more art (especially this size), and I think I’m going to hang it in my bathroom. Unsure if I want to reframe it in a darker wood, maybe even with a green matte, but we’ll see if/when I get to it.

Brian and I both really loved this wooden handled piece – we thought it would be the perfect napkin holder for our dining table (or outside).

As if I needed more wooden pieces, but these are so good and were such a good price, and easy to pack. The wooden dish is perfect for a nightstand or bathroom for jewelry, and the mixed candlesticks are perfectly eclectic and special. Yes, a hoard, but also a great gift?

I couldn’t pass up this beautiful footed green piece of pottery, obviously. I think it was $22 and just felt both really special and easy to style with.

Ok, now these weren’t from Smorgasborg. I needed art for my brother’s family room reveal, and it needed to be moody with hits of burgundy (in a perfect world). So I texted Purl and said, “Any cool art for this room?” and sent him a photo of it. He had a grouping of these, unframed, and I chose these three. He framed them in simple wood, which is perfect, and we hung them vertically on the wall together. I really love all three. After framing, they ended up being $330 for all three, which I felt was fair for both original art and the framing labor/supplies.

This guy (and the lamp below) I bought for myself on Mother’s Day at Monticello Antique Mall, which also sells mimosas 🙂 I think it was under $20 (I hope, lol, I actually think it might have been $12?) and I’m not sure when/where it’s going to make its debut, but it’s quirky and weird and cool, so clearly I had to buy it.

Now THIS lamp is pretty incredible. It wasn’t cheap ($120), but I figured if I were in Italy and I stumbled upon it for that price, I would buy it, so why not save the money on the flight/shipping?? Let me know if you need help rationalizing anything vintage – it’s a real skill. I still have to get it rewired, which will likely cost more than the cost of the lamp, so I’m waiting til I know where it will go but it reminded me of the colorful Tiffany lamp in our kitchen that I’m absolutely obsessed with so I feel confident that I can find a place to add another colorful lamp that truly delights the eyes.

I LOVE this little piece of art and bought it for myself. It’s simple, with good texture and easy to incorporate into a lot of my gallery walls that have more abstract paintings in them. It’s by designer Anastasia Ratia.

Last but not least, another piece of art by Purl, a local artist whom I’ve commissioned for my coffee table, my corbels, and my oversized paintbrush and pencil from. He’s an artist who can do anything, honestly. I love the colors and the odd sense of balance.

What’s your favorite piece????

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

My main goal in life has always been to have a custom built-in bookcase in my living room. You know the ones – they’re all over Pinterest and Instagram. They instantly make a space look super elevated and cozy. Bookcases and built-ins are among the most high-impact design elements, and they can take a boring blank white box and instantly transform it into a cozy home. My dream, however, felt so far away because my god, they are EXPENSIVE, time-consuming, and invasive. It’s why so many people do IKEA bookcase hacks to try to achieve that luxe built-in look (which those hacks, FYI, also typically cost $3k or more depending on the size). The other issue, beyond the cost, is the fact that I live in a rental – so I can recognize that it would be unwise of me to hire a contractor and install a whole shelving/storage system that I can’t take with me to my next place. But once I get an idea in my head, I make it happen one way or another, so I started doing some research on how I could get a similar look for much, much less. But first, let me show you where I wanted to put said bookcase:

This is what my living room looked like when I moved in a year ago. My boyfriend, Austin, and I gave the entire apartment a fresh coat of white paint since the walls were originally a weird light brown color (and we did it all on a weekend where it was like 90 degrees and I didn’t realize the AC unit in here was broken – so bless this man). Also, shoutout to Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams – it’s such a good white paint color. The apartment I moved into is a month-to-month, rent-controlled place in my perfect location in Los Feliz, and it’s been in my friend group for a while, so I know deals on apartments like these don’t always come easy. While the place was such a good find and checked so many boxes, the condition of my new apartment certainly wasn’t what my last new-build, studio apartment was, and it desperately needed a clean, blank slate. Here’s what it looked like a year ago after we painted it:

That smaller, skinnier room in the photo on the right is the dining area – I wanted to give you a sense of the entire space so you can understand that my precious dream bookcase had limited wall options in which to live. The wall that needed the most love and could best handle the statement of the bookcase was clearly this space between the two doors (the door on the left is the front entrance to the apartment, and the door on the right is now my closet speakeasy – which we just took professional photos of and have a full blog post reveal coming soon!!) This wall is also definitely the right spot for the TV in the living room, so I needed to find a bookcase that had room in the middle for said TV. There are A TON of ready-made media unit/tv console bookcase options online, so I felt like it should be a fairly easy thing to find until I realized…they’re also SUPER expensive! I wasn’t surprised by the cost of the Crate and Barrel, West Elm, or Article – the quality from those brands is great, and it’s a big space to fill, so I get it! It makes sense that these pieces range between $3k and $7k. I’ll show you – here are some of the pieces I found (and really love and actually considered purchasing) that would be great alternatives if you want to invest in quality but don’t want to pay for a full built-in bookcase/you can’t do a built-in bookcase because you live in a rental…

Left: Crate and Barrel Rattan Media Unit | Right: Article Torme Media Center

See? They’re so pretty and are truly not bad options when you consider the quality and how high-impact they are. BUT my main issue (again) was that I won’t be in this apartment forever, so I didn’t want to invest that much in this bookcase – especially since I wasn’t positive that I could take these pieces with me to my next place. The other small issue that bothered me with these readymade options was that they generally weren’t enclosed on the top. It’s a subtle thing, but I really wanted this to look more like a built-in, and the openness above the TV area just feels a bit unfinished to me. So I went back to the drawing board and started looking for options at more affordable furniture brands. And you guys…it’s crazy out there. I learned that even the IKEA media units are about $1,500 or more – WILD!!! I REALLY didn’t want to spend over $1,000 for this (and even that felt like too much). I wanted to spend more like $500 or $600 max because again, I knew this bookcase was most likely not coming with me to my next place, and I would probably just leave it at my apartment for whoever is coming in next. So I needed to find a balance of A.) not setting up a bookcase that’s actual garbage, B.) making sure it looked cute and stylish because I do design content creation for a living after all, and C.) not spending a crazy amount.

But after A TON of searching, I ended up finding THE PERFECT bookcase on clearance for $360, which was insane (it’s out of stock because it was on clearance). Don’t worry, I’m sharing super similar options at the bottom of the post, should you want to attempt something like this! It checked almost every box – enclosed storage on the bottom, and all of the bottom cabinets were uniform (which I think looks most like a real built-in bookcase). The size was perfect so that I could fit my 65-inch frame TV in the middle, and the bookcase itself would take up most of the wall space between those doors. The problems? For $360, you best believe there were a few. It was grey, first off, and it had glass doors so I couldn’t hide the messy TV box and such inside the cabinet, and it was still open on the top. For $360 bucks though (still a crazy deal to me), there was nothing I couldn’t fix – so I added to cart SO FAST and started my DIY journey to make it look custom.

Once the bookcase arrived, it was actually pretty easy to set up – my TaskRabbit/boyfriend helped, and he’s great at building furniture, so it only took about 3 hours from start to finish, which was surprising to me. For $360, I was impressed with the quality – but that said, it’s still mostly MDF, and anything you buy for this kind of price is not going to be the same level of quality as the pieces I linked above. I’m prioritizing budget, style, ease, and the impact this piece will have in the room. But even though this is where I decided to “save” instead of “splurge” in this living room, it truly did make the biggest impact in the space. The second it was up (even with the grey wood and openness above the TV), it already felt so much cozier. See for yourself:

Once I put the doors on, I started mocking up how I could enclose the top – and then I got ambitious and thought…wait, could we build shelves on top of this and take it all the way to the ceiling?! I highly considered it, but then decided maybe it’s not wise to have that much weight on a budget-friendly bookcase when I live in an earthquake-prone state… So I thought about how I could reinforce it a bit instead. I had some trim left over from another project and thought, “omg that’s exactly what it needs!!” So we screwed in an 11 in wide x 8ft long piece of primed wood on top of the bookcase (which conveniently was the exact width of the top and we didn’t need to cut it down at all). It looked like this:

As you can see, before I installed the trim, I started painting the bookcase the same white as my walls to give it more of that “built-in” effect. I would highly recommend sanding and then using a shellac primer. I ended up just sanding and then painting because I watched this video, which showed scratch tests, and it seemed like just sanding was the best route to go, BUT after finishing this project, I wish I had sanded AND used the primer because I think it would have been even more durable. After my paint dried, I would say it’s hard to scratch the paint off, but if you REALLY try to scratch the paint, it will come off. All this to say – if you’re attempting this – learn from me and just sand and prime to be safe. Since I didn’t get the primer, I ended up getting a “more durable” paint specifically for trim – but if you sanded and primed properly, you could likely just get a normal paint in a semigloss finish and it should be fine!

Then this is where things get crazy. I enlisted my parents to bring their circular saw up to help me miter the trim pieces (no, I’ve never done that before, but how hard could it be? Boys do it…) We followed this YouTube video and couldn’t stop quoting the part where they say, “Now that’s a tight fit, Tommy,” the entire day. And this was pretty much a full-day experience – lining up the moulding was so much harder than we anticipated. If you are attempting this project, I’d honestly give the foam/lightweight mouldings a try (might be easier?). This was definitely the most difficult part, but seriously, once I get an idea in my head, it’s happening no matter what. We also screwed in a few smaller pieces of wood to the larger, primed wood piece we screwed in on top (which you’ll see made the weight of the wood droop down in the middle a bit for a second, but once we finished putting on the smaller wood pieces and the moulding, everything straightened out, so it doesn’t droop anymore. So – I would also just make sure that the top wood piece is really solid if you attempt this – definitely don’t get something too flimsy. The photo might scare you for a second, but I promise it’s perfectly straight and looks great at the end (this was a total trust-the-process moment).

I also would highly advise using a nail gun to nail the trim in if you’re using wood crown moulding like this – my dad brought one that was 15 years old (bless his heart) and it died on us mid project so we finished hanging the moulding with a few smaller wood screws and nails (which I would not advice for a seamless look but it worked when we were in our time of need – and starving and very much over it). I caulked and painted over the nails/nail holes so you can honestly barely see them, but again – DEFINITELY use a nail gun if you’re going to attempt this with wood trim! If you don’t want to use a nail gun, the foam/lightweight moulding and some heavy-duty adhesive are going to be your best friends!

Once the trim was up (which was a miracle since my mom, dad, and I are NOT woodworkers per se) – this is what it looked like!! I’ll be honest we struggled to get the “tight fit tommy” aka the pieces to perfectly line up over on the left side as you can see (but somehow we did the corner cuts perfectly and so that was good) but once I sanded it down and caulked it – the joining pieces were not super noticeable (again, would probably have been easier with lighter trim). I was proud of my parents and I, so we celebrated our accomplishment with some margaritas, and overall it turned out SO great!! Such an upgrade from how it started. Now it was time to finish caulking the gaps, plus painting the trim and the bottom of the bookcase. Oh, and did you see those glass cabinet doors that hide nothing?? Yeah, don’t worry – I fixed those!! Check it out:

I found these perforated brass metal sheets for $20 each on Amazon, and they were the perfect size, so I ordered them and secured them to the back of the door behind the glass. I actually really liked the hardware that the bookcase came with, but remember, you could always swap that out if you found a bookcase with hardware you didn’t love as much! But anyway – ready to see the before/after?! Here you go!!

So here’s the full cost breakdown:

• Bookcase: $360 ($400 after tax)
• Paint: $70 (I bought the fancy, expensive trim-specific paint since I didn’t prime, but this could’ve been more like $45)
• Metal Sheets: $20 each (I got 8)
• Trim: $42 each (We used 3 of them! I already had these)
• Shellac Primer: $30 for 1 qt (Might need more depending on how big your bookcase is – again, I didn’t do the primer, but wish I did in addition to sanding!)
• Orbital Sander: $30+ (I already had this one!)
• Nail Gun: $40+ (Could rent or borrow! Or use until it dies and then give up and use some wood screws lol)

Total I spent: $630 (I already had the trim, but it would be more like $755 if you included that cost)

MAN, I’m so happy I was able to achieve my bookcase dreams for that price! I thought it wouldn’t be possible, but you can do anything if you just believe. It turned out so cozy and custom – you would never know this bookcase started as a $360 ready-to-assemble piece. But curious to know your thoughts – do you think it was worth it?! Would you attempt something like this? Let’s chat in the comments.

Also sharing some ready-made bookcase options if you want to DIY and customize them on your own. Note, some of them might not need to be painted/they don’t have the glass doors (those metal sheets added up!), so also factor the elements you may or may not need into the cost of DIYing these! Most of these run around $400-$500. You could also take the doors off if you want open shelving on top, and don’t forget you can always swap out or add hardware. Just thought I’d share some ideas, but get creative and have fun with it! xx

Left: White Oak Colored Bookcase | Right: White Bookcase With Glass Doors

Left: Industrial Black Bookcase | Right: White Bookcase With Enclosed Doors

And lastly, here’s a sneak peek of the pretty photos EHD alum and amazing LA-based photographer, Sara Ligorria-Tramp, took of my full living room makeover with AllModern – which I’m going to be sharing with you next week! Stay tuned, friends!

Thanks so much for reading and for your support!! You guys are the best xx

Opening Image By: Sara Ligorria-Tramp | Design and Styling by Mallory Wackerman