knock off decor, copycat decor
With a kitchen full of recessed lighting, Jessie from Imperfectly Polished had been dreaming of adding pendants above her island. After some research, she and her husband figured out how to convert one of the lights into a 3-light hanging pendant. They built a rustic beam and used Edison bulbs with glass vases as pendants to add some personality.
The thrifty lady over at Fifty Five South was inspired to amp up her use of decorative accessories that reflect the rustic, earthy style she loves. When she saw an “incredibly easy and cheap West Elm knock-off DIY project” that involved layering embroidery hoops to make a sphere, she couldn’t help but “pounce” on it. The hoops only cost her $2.20, making this a project that can’t be beat when it comes to ease or expense.
Kristen from Inspired Whims loved a festive triangle garland the second she saw it pop up on West Elm’s after Christmas sale, but it sold out almost instantly. She knew it would make a great addition to her daughter’s big girl room year-round and made her own by sewing together paper triangles. Here’s from Kristen, “I love my version… because it’s much more custom to my little gal’s room! And, I didn’t pay $20 for it!! (only about $6)”
In preparation for the day of love, Lidy from Hello Lidy had a little fun recreating some heart mugs she spied at West Elm that were “modern, fun and playful.” Following in line with the year’s metallic trend, Lidy used a gold leaf pen to add her hearts to plain white mugs for a quick transformation. This is a project anyone can tackle, and Lidy points out that imperfection is just part of the beauty.
My painted stripe curtains have been one of the biggest difference-makers in my living room update, so I can totally share in Melissa’s excitement over these curtains she painted for her craft space. Over at The Happier Homemaker Melissa shares how she beat the big price tag for long, pooling panels with the help of IKEA’s budget-friendly prices and some paint samples. I just love those chunky stripes!
Shari at Turnstyle Vogue used only items she had on hand to create this classy wood bottle stopper. That’s right… she just happened to have a carafe and wooden knob that were practically begging to be joined together. Working with what she had, Shari used the “ol’ pencil trick” to transfer her text and then filled it in with a wood stain marker. Although simple to create, this wine stopper would make an impressive gift for a wine drinker.
If you have childhood toys sitting in boxes and have wondered what in the world you will ever do with them, Meream from Bored and Crafty has an entire series dedicated to creative repurposes for childhood toys. One upcycle involves turning them into fun and quirky rocking animals perfect for gathering on shelves or even using as ornaments. Meream attached her plastic animals to embroidery hoops and then glammed them up with gold spray paint.
Erin from One Project at a Time couldn’t help but do “a little happy dance” when she found plans for a geometric daybed over at Ana White. It was just the bed she had been wanting for her baby’s nursery, and Erin was more than thrilled to save some cash through DIY. She pretty much sums it up when she says, “The best thing about DIY is with a little courage and practice you can have West Elm taste on a Kmart budget.”
