9 Decorating Projects for Lazy Summer Days
Have fun and redecorate with blackboard ‘wallpaper’, giant washi tape, photos, scrap wood and more
Laura Gaskill
29 May 2014
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Take advantage of extra free time during your summer staycation or long weekend to whip up one of these colourful, crafty projects for the home. From DIY wallpaper and spray paint art to giant washi tape for your walls, these nine projects spied around Houzz are sure to get your creative wheels turning.
Stamped cushions and chairs
Spice up a plain white cushion, sofa cover or vintage chair with a splash of bright paint. Either splatter the paint à la Jackson Pollack or use a simple stencil or stamp with fabric paint to create a repeating pattern, like the hearts shown here. Practice your design on paper and scraps of cloth first, until you’ve mastered the tools you are using.
Spice up a plain white cushion, sofa cover or vintage chair with a splash of bright paint. Either splatter the paint à la Jackson Pollack or use a simple stencil or stamp with fabric paint to create a repeating pattern, like the hearts shown here. Practice your design on paper and scraps of cloth first, until you’ve mastered the tools you are using.
Blackboard ‘wallpaper’
A blackboard wall can go beyond the playroom when you treat it as your own customisable (and easily changed) wallpaper. Just use white chalk to create your own pattern – try tiny plus signs, dots, stars, triangles or waves.
A blackboard wall can go beyond the playroom when you treat it as your own customisable (and easily changed) wallpaper. Just use white chalk to create your own pattern – try tiny plus signs, dots, stars, triangles or waves.
Giant washi tape wall decorations
Like the popular Japanese paper crafting tape but on steroids, this supersize washi tape can be used directly on your walls to add colour and pattern, without the commitment of wallpaper. It comes in beautiful colours, and when you get tired of it, it will peel right off.
Like the popular Japanese paper crafting tape but on steroids, this supersize washi tape can be used directly on your walls to add colour and pattern, without the commitment of wallpaper. It comes in beautiful colours, and when you get tired of it, it will peel right off.
Surfboard bar
If you have an old surfboard lying around or spy one at a bargain price, consider transforming it into a one-of-a-kind outdoor bar. Attach it to a basic table, and top it with summer bar essentials before your next party.
If you have an old surfboard lying around or spy one at a bargain price, consider transforming it into a one-of-a-kind outdoor bar. Attach it to a basic table, and top it with summer bar essentials before your next party.
Spray paint art
Pick up a blank prepared canvas and a can of gold spray paint at your local art shop, and spritz your own design.
Set up your workspace outdoors, cover the ground with a sheet and protect yourself with a mask and gloves. Test your design on plain paper first until you feel comfortable with the spray paint; then move on to the canvas.
Pick up a blank prepared canvas and a can of gold spray paint at your local art shop, and spritz your own design.
Set up your workspace outdoors, cover the ground with a sheet and protect yourself with a mask and gloves. Test your design on plain paper first until you feel comfortable with the spray paint; then move on to the canvas.
Giant letter magnets
Turn papier-mâché letters from the craft store into a major statement for your fridge by attaching magnets to the back. Choose a favourite word to spell out, cover the letters with colourful fabric or paint, and glue magnets to the back of each one (you may need several magnets per letter).
Turn papier-mâché letters from the craft store into a major statement for your fridge by attaching magnets to the back. Choose a favourite word to spell out, cover the letters with colourful fabric or paint, and glue magnets to the back of each one (you may need several magnets per letter).
Scrap-wood wall art
Put your own spin on typography wall art, like the pieces shown here, using scrap wood and letter stencils. Fasten the wood pieces together, then paint on a short quote or phrase using letter stencils and white paint.
Put your own spin on typography wall art, like the pieces shown here, using scrap wood and letter stencils. Fasten the wood pieces together, then paint on a short quote or phrase using letter stencils and white paint.
Photo booth wall display
Do you have a drawer full of photo booth strips somewhere? If so, it’s time to dig them out! Hung together in rows on mini clotheslines, these little mementos make a big impact. No photo strips? Try using Polaroids, black and white photos or any photos with a theme (oceans, portraits etc) instead.
Do you have a drawer full of photo booth strips somewhere? If so, it’s time to dig them out! Hung together in rows on mini clotheslines, these little mementos make a big impact. No photo strips? Try using Polaroids, black and white photos or any photos with a theme (oceans, portraits etc) instead.
Photo grid wall
Whip up a dramatic-looking but deceptively easy display for all of those summer vacation photos by using a grid of identical inexpensive frames (those shown here are from Ikea). The tricky part is measuring precisely so that the frames hang flush with one another, but once you manage that, it’s a piece of cake - and the results are pretty impressive.
Tip: Don’t have enough photos to fill every frame? Fill a few randomly placed frames with plain white paper instead — look closely and you’ll see that was done in the room here.
Tell us…
Have you made anything this summer? Itching to try something new? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
Whip up a dramatic-looking but deceptively easy display for all of those summer vacation photos by using a grid of identical inexpensive frames (those shown here are from Ikea). The tricky part is measuring precisely so that the frames hang flush with one another, but once you manage that, it’s a piece of cake - and the results are pretty impressive.
Tip: Don’t have enough photos to fill every frame? Fill a few randomly placed frames with plain white paper instead — look closely and you’ll see that was done in the room here.
Tell us…
Have you made anything this summer? Itching to try something new? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
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It might peel off but you will have the 'ghosts' of the tape still on the walls and then need to paint...if left on for a long time.