You are here: Home / Archives for DIY

Keep Your Bathroom Fresh With These All-Natural Scents

August 18, 2016 by

Here are a few quick, all-natural tips that will add a fresh, clean scent to your home's bathroom.

  • Add an essential oil diffuser. Essential oils are some of the most potent natural scents, and by adding a few drops to a wall outlet diffuser, you can easily permeate the air with fresh, clean fragrance.
  • Hang a eucalyptus bundle in the shower. Eucalyptus gives off a woodsy scent that's much fresher than a store-bought air freshener. Hang a bundle in the shower so that every time you run the hot water, the scent fills the whole room.
  • Fill a mason jar with baking soda. Baking soda is one of the best natural substances for dissolving odors, so fill a mason jar with the stuff and place it in a central location in the bathroom.
  • Make your own potpourri. Instead of purchasing pre-made potpourri at a home goods store, customize your own using only the scents that you love most. Dry some of your favorite flowers, and then add them to a jar and sprinkle them with some essential oils. For an extra touch, add things like cinnamon sticks, citrus peel, bark or pinecones.

6 Clever & Safe DIY Bathroom Deodorizers [Care 2]
Check Out These 10 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Home Smell Fresh [ViralNova]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

5 Unexpected Household Uses for Mayonnaise

June 16, 2016 by

Even if mayonnaise isn’t your favorite sandwich topper, you can’t deny that these unique uses for the condiment are downright brilliant! Try one of these new uses for mayonnaise in your home, your car, or even the shower.

  1. Fix cracks in wood furniture by simply dabbing mayonnaise all over the top, and then using a clean rag to wipe the entire surface. The mayo will stay inside of the crack, and after a few days, its oils will swell the wood and help close the cracked part.
  2. Create a DIY deep hair conditioner by applying mayo all over your head. Concentrate on the drier parts at the ends and work your way up to the roots, and then leave it on for at least five minutes. When you rinse, you’ll be left with smooth, soft locks.
  3. Remove the frustrating residue left behind by stickers and other adhesives. Simply rub the spot with mayo and a smooth, dry towel.
  4. Clean up crayon marks from walls and wood floors by rubbing mayonnaise on the affected area and letting it soak in for a few minutes. Wipe it away with a damp towel and you’ll wipe away the crayon as well.
  5. Get gum out of your (or your kids’) hair by rubbing the gum with mayonnaise. Once it’s worked in, simply slide the gum down the strands.

10 Unexpected Home Uses for Mayonnaise [Wise Bread]
9 Surprising Uses for Mayonnaise [Rachel Ray Everyday]
11 Home and Beauty Uses for Mayonnaise [Reader’s Digest]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Create a Chic and Stylish Bar Cart

May 5, 2016 by

Bar carts are the types of finishing touches that add a major pop of designer flair to any room in the home. From the living room to the dining room, adding a well-curated bar cart will really give your home the type of 1950s style that is right on trend. Here are just a few tips for creating a truly chic bar cart.

  1. Start with the perfect cart. Scour flea markets and thrift stores for an authentic vintage bar cart. If you can’t find one there, try purchasing one at an affordable furniture store or even using a small three-tiered bookshelf.
  2. Choose your spirits. The types of spirits that you add to your cart really depend on your personal preferences. Investing in three or four bottles of common spirits like vodka, gin, and bourbon is a good place to start.
  3. Add your glassware. Next, invest in new or secondhand sets of wine glasses, low tumblers and martini glasses. You may even want to add decanters to fill with mixers or to trade out unattractive liquor bottles.
  4. Add the accessories. Fill a glass jar with stirrers, add a small cutting board for slicing lemons and limes and even add stacks of mixology books for the finishing touches.

How to Style a Bar Cart [The DIY Playbook]
How To: Create and Stylize the Perfect Bar Cart [Guest of a Guest]
Assembling the Perfect Bar Cart [Primer Magazine]
How to Style the Perfect Bar Cart for Any Party [HGTV]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Host a Great Football Party at Paseo at Bee Cave

December 3, 2015 by

It's football season! If you're a fan, most of your Sundays will be spent gathered around the TV, cheering on your favorite team, and relaxing before the start of another work week. If you'd like to share your passion with friends and family, why not host a football viewing party? Here are a few tips to ensure your party wins big with your guests:

1) Reposition the TV.
A football viewing party is the one type of party where the television takes center stage. Be sure that the TV is easily viewed from different areas around the room so that all of your guests can get in on the action. Similarly, you might need to rearrange your furniture to provide the best vantage points.

2) Decorate for the occasion.
Head to a discount party supply store to pick up football-themed wares for your event. Paper cups, plates, a tablecloth, and inexpensive football decor will add a festive flair to your party, and they shouldn't cost you too much money.

3) Serve food buffet-style.
The only thing better than the game itself is the excuse to indulge in finger foods! Provide your guests with handheld treats and eats so they can keep their eyes glued to the game. If you prefer, position your buffet table away from the TV area so guests can mingle during commercial breaks.

How to Host a Football Party [eHow]
Host a Super Bowl Party [BHG]
5 Foolproof Football Parties [MyRecipes]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Where to Shop Monogrammed Gifts Online

October 22, 2015 by

Whether you're shopping for yourself or a friend, a monogram instantly transforms an ordinary gift into a keepsake. Here are two places to shop monogrammed items online.

1) Mark and Graham
Chic and classic personalized gifts are the focus of this online-only retailer, a sibling brand to Williams-Sonoma, West Elm, and Pottery Barn. Shop initial pendants and wristlets for her, monogrammed tech cases and pocket squares for him—even customizable leashes and collars for Fido. Note that Mark and Graham's sibling brands also offer personalized gift items.

3) 2PreppyGirls.com
The web presence of this online retailer is rooted in "Southern charm and a love of all things pink and green." If your style skews preppy, you'll be delighted to peruse everything from monogrammed flip flops, aprons, and belt buckles to beach towels, car decals, and coasters.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Add Color to Bare Walls With Washi Tape

July 23, 2015 by

Want to add color to your walls — without sacrificing your security deposit? Colorful washi tape is a great way to add a creative and temporary design to your walls, and it’s easy to install and remove. Here are a few ways to use washi tape to spice up your apartment.

DIY Triangle Wallpaper [brit.co]
If you want to craft a large-scale design that covers the entire wall, this beautiful geometric triangle tutorial is a great choice. By using a few different styles of washi tape in your choice of colors, some sharp scissors, and a measuring tape, you can create a floor-to-ceiling design that makes a major impact in any room.

DIY Picture Frames [washitapecrafts.com]
Instead of making holes all over your walls in order to hang traditional picture frames, follow this tutorial to craft flat frames using washi tape. The effect is eye-catching, artistic, and just as professional as a classic gallery wall.

Giant Geometric Washi Tape Jewels [curbly.com]
If you’re looking for a funky wall design for a kids’ room or an office, this unique washi tape jewel tutorial is the perfect choice. Use different colors of tape to craft large jewel shapes all over your walls for a wall covering that only looks expensive!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Style a Coffee Table Like the Pros

June 18, 2015 by

The coffee table may seem like a fairly standard piece of furniture found in any home, but by using a few designer-inspired home decor tips, you can transform yours into a statement piece that ties the whole room together. Try out these DIY decorating ideas made especially for your coffee table.

  1. Add a stack of books. Coffee table books got their name because they were designed for, well, the coffee table, so it only makes sense to use them as such! Place a stack of beautiful books right in the center of your table to provide visual interest and spur conversation.
  2. Place an accent piece on top. Once you stack your books, add something pretty on top, like a great smelling candle or a small figurine. This is also a great place for a lush, green plant.
  3. Add a tray. Next to the stack of books, place an attractive tray to corral small items. Something in clear plastic, natural wood, or chic metallic are all great options.
  4. Place knick-knacks inside. Fill the tray with smaller accent pieces, such as attractive ceramics, a flower vase, or even more candles. This tray can also serve a functional purpose if you use it to store remote controls or hold your keys once you enter the door.
  5. Choose a color scheme. Choose a color scheme such as natural wood and white, or forgo the color scheme for an intentionally mismatched effect.

How to Style a Coffee Table [The Everygirl]
How to Style Your Coffee Table [Style Me Pretty: Living]
8 Stylish Tricks to Dress Up Your Coffee Table [Good Housekeeping]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Host a Successful Toy Swap With Your Friends, Family and Neighbors

January 22, 2015 by

If your children are too old for their current toys but you can’t bear to simply toss them out, you may be interested in hosting a toy swap with fellow parents. A toy swap enables you to swap your child’s old or unused toys with those of other children, bringing home a whole new haul of toys without spending a penny. Here are a few tips to help you pull off a successful toy swap.

  1. Create a list of guests. Try to pick guests who you feel comfortable with, who have children in varying ages, and who live fairly close to one another.
  2. Choose the perfect location. Because of the group of people and the large amount of toys, you’ll need to hold the swap in a large, fairly spacious room. If you don’t have this type of space in your own home, see if someone else would be willing to lend their living room.
  3. Send out invitations and guidelines. Emailing invitations seems to be the most convenient way to get the word out, so include a list of guidelines for the swap at that time. Describe what types of toys to bring, if they should be cleaned beforehand, how many toys to bring, and if there are any items that you won’t accept.
  4. Make it fun. Set out snacks, make sure everyone understands the rules, and keep things light-hearted!

How To Organize a Toy Swap or Toy Exchange [About Parenting]
How to Host a Toy Swap [30 Handmade Days]
How to Throw a Toy Exchange [Shareable]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Plant 101: What’s the Difference Between a Cactus and a Succulent?

August 21, 2014 by

Fun to collect and easy to care for, succulents and cacti are popping up everywhere, from home decor blogs to the pages of interior design magazines. In fact, you might even have a few of these trendy plants on your windowsill right now! But what exactly is a succulent, and what differentiates a succulent from a cactus?

In short, a succulent is a plant that stores water in its tissues. This unique system of water storage enables succulents to survive dry, drought-like conditions. Examples of succulents include aloe, agave, and some bromeliads. That said, all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Cacti are set apart by the possession of an areole, an organ that resembles white, fluffy lumps on the body of a cactus. It's from these areoles that a cactus's flowers, spines, and branches sprout.

Cactus and Succulent Care [Lowes]
What are Succulent Plants? [Young's Garden Center]
How to Grow Healthy Succulent Plants [About]
What is a Succulent, Anyway? [Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society]
What is the difference between a Cactus and a Succulent? [Fickle Prickles]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Style a Coffee Table Like a Design Pro

July 24, 2014 by

When styled correctly, a coffee table can have a positive impact on the overall aesthetic of a space. However, there's a fine line between a chic display and a cluttered mess. Here are three tips to help ensure your table is making the right statement.

1) Only display items worthy of displaying.
That is to say, if you're not proud of the item, then said item doesn't deserve a spot on your coffee table–even if it is your favorite weekly tabloid! Stash keys, spare change, stray papers, remote controls, and mail elsewhere. Or if you prefer, a decorative box can provide storage for these items.

2) Display items of varying heights.
Use an eye-catching tray and stacks of hardcover books to create the bottom-most layer of your display. Shorter candles and bowls can complement taller pieces, like oversized hurricane vases and flower arrangements. Just be sure to edit your display so that the table doesn't become cluttered.

3) Make it yours.
Your table should reflect your personality. If you have a favorite quirky collectible or a treasured family heirloom, this is the place to show it off!

How to Style Your Coffee Table Like a Pro [House Beautiful]
How to Style a Coffee Table [The Everygirl]
Styling a Coffee Table With Kimberly Hughes [West Elm]
How to Style Your Coffee Table [Style Me Pretty]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,
Next Page »

Pin It on Pinterest