Maximum Impact — 5 Easy Upcycles to Try this Weekend!

Repotted house plants with river rocks

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The indestructible Ponytail Palm

1. Just Add Plant!

Let's face it, some projects are just easier than others. 
A stool versus an armoire for example.
And some techniques are just faster than others. 
Although there is a time  for  layering, distressing  and experimenting with paint, 
sometimes it's just good for the soul to get something  done, 
start to finish...and bask in the success!

I don't get much time to paint for myself, so when I can, 
I squeeze in a project here and there that I can complete 
quickly and easily, but with the hope of maximum impact!
Here are five such fabulous projects
to inspire the DIY Weekend Warrior in you:

It's fairly easy to find a random disused garden pot  
lurking about the shed, yard or garage, right?
It's not just me who keeps random, old stuff that most people dump, right?
You can always pick one up for $1-$2 at Salvos.


On a whim I gave some river rocks a quick coat of 
Lumiere Metallic Paint in True Gold  and I'm so glad I did!
What a fantastic result and an unexpected addition...

We've all heard about the benefits of having indoor plants. 
Bonus? They're back in fashion in interior styling so you 
no longer look like the crazy-jungle-treehugger
 if you have them scattered about your home. 

This is a ponytail palm (Beaucarnea Guatamalensis) and 
the label promises me I can't kill it. 
 It was $26.99 at the local hardware but 
 I've seen them at Ikea for a lot less.
 

Who doesn't need gold rocks in their life?

Bringing life to a workspace with a plant and some painted metallic rocks

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It's very likely everyone has a chair either in use or in storage that can use a new life.

If not, a quick trip to the local second hand store will solve that problem. 
There are still gems to be discovered out there!

I found this in an Adelaide junk shop, forgotten in a corner. 
A perfect vintage solid oak swivel office chair....a wheel-less dream come true! 
I have been looking for one to fix up for years.

My vintage office chair discovery in its wheel-less BEFORE state

2. Take a Seat...

I painted  the dirty terracotta pot 
(complete with leftover bits of potting soil and a few spider legs!!!)
with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Typewriter
before adding an Art Deco stencil in Lumiere's True Gold.

Is it my best work? Nope. But was it done in about 3 minutes
and did I have fun? Yup!
And it turned an ordinary houseplant into a statement accessory
for my office bringing life and a bit-o-bling to my workspace.

Once dry,  MMS Hemp Oil was randomly applied before
being roughly painted with Autentico Chalk Paint in Bright Green. 
Next up,  a coat of Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Wax followed by Antiquing Wax. 
The hardest part was waiting for the timber wheels to show up from overseas, 
especially when in my excitement I ordered 4 wheels — for 5 legs.
(Arrrrgggghhhhhhhh!!!)

Not enough wheels to go around...

Now, I confess.
I'm in love with how this chair turned out...and the reason it doesn't have
 a blog post dedicated solely to its transformation...
I lost the photos. 
(Who does that?! And how in this world of clouds?)

It's fairly straight-forward upstyle,
she was painted in Miss Mustard Seeds Milk Paint in Typewriter 
with Bonding Agent because I did not want any chippy action.

DURING: Getting a coat of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Typewriter

But it was worth the wait .
This chair is one of my very favourite projects and is the 
design inspo for my home office renovation. 
She's so happy and welcoming don't you think?!

AFTER: All finished and ready to get to work

Lumiere Metallic Paint in Metallic Copper was used on the base. 
I think a better name for this colour would be Rose Gold—a very popular 
colour in fashion which translates extremely well to interiors.


The lampshade was replaced 
with an amazing work-of-art lampshade from Anna Chandler
who has swoon-worthy homewares aplenty.
(That's an Anna Chandler tile on the wall as well.) 
This upstyle brought a whole lot of life to this dull corner
of my guest bedroom with minimum effort.

An easy pick-me-up for most rooms is to restyle a lamp. 
Minimal effort for maximum impact! 
Lamps can often be forgotten and before you know it, 
you've got a dated or dull home accessory that isn't bringing 
style or inspiration to a space.
And why replace it when you can simply paint it!?!

This pineapple lamp is awesome but with a black-and-brassy-gold base,
 it wasn't so much past its due date, 
it just...well...could be better!

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Lamp base painted in Lumiere Metallic Copper for instant update

BEFORE: Lamp base waiting for its new styling

3. Let There be Light!

You can use Chalk Paint or MMS Milk Paint to paint a lampshade

A Few Other Simple Lamp Revamps:

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Bringing colour and life to a dark corner affordably with metallic paint

Oftentimes we forget the obvious. What's right in front of us. 
It may be a jewellery box, a vase or candlesticks. 
Instead of replacing, restyle!
Most times updating accessories can inject new life into a room.

A Few Other Projects to Spark the Imagination...

Inventive artwork with sentimental meaning

AFTER: Coastal and bright with colour change, some dry-brushing and White Wax

In my world, a room isn't complete without a bit of artwork. 
Artwork doesn't have to be traditional paintings or prints, 
although supporting local artists is often affordable AND fabulous! 

I also believe thinking outside the box is a great idea. 
Textile wall hangings, mirrors, hanging bookshelves and DIY art 
add variety and will personalise a space
making it a one-of-a-kind representation of YOU.

My husband found this little goody in a shed, we cleaned it up and it now
graces our family room filled with mementos and sentimental gifts. 
Every time I dust it (not very often...he he) or walk by it, 
it makes me smile. How is that NOT art at work?

Spicing up a timber frame with a modern metallic

$7 Mid-Century artwork...not to everyone's taste, but I love it!

Not wanting to touch the 3D art itself, 
I taped it off so I could give the frame a little zing with 
Lumiere Metallic Paint in Metallic Olive.

When working on smaller surfaces, art brushes provide better control.
These metallic paints dry pretty fast,
 I gave the frame a quick second coat 
in less than an hour.

5. Accessories, Accents, Knick-Knacks & Such...

Use what you have to provide interesting visual meaning to your home

I have a gate hanging in my hallway wall with photos and special
mementos that is admired and commented on by 
nearly every visitor I'm blessed to have in my home.
It's a great non-traditional way to get people to pause
in an area that is typically a thoroughfare.
And again, the gate has special meaning to me 
(I drug it up from the gully on our property, a few meters every day during a bit of a life "rough patch.")
The point?
Get creative! Express yourself...it's your space!

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4. Get Art Smart.

The BEFORE: A client wanted a lighter, brighter look for these black timber candlesticks

Although these are gorgeous timber candlesticks
and the black is stunning, the room needed lightening and 
why not use what you have?

These were painted with Autentico Chalk Paint in Sand then 
subtlely dry-brushed with Autentico in Milk 
before being sealed with Miss Mustard Seed's White Wax.

Just as quirky upcycled art has its place, so too does traditional artwork 
and Op Shops can be an inexpensive and creative  source for interesting pieces. 
I found this Mid-Century beauty in the 
dusty corner of a thrift store. 
It was $7....yes....$7!

$24 Target lamp updated with MMS Milk Paint in Flow Blue , lampshade stencilled with Lumiere Metallic Paint

Before and after of a simple pine box painted with MMS Milk Paint

A $3 paper box is transformed into an "old" book

Bringing a vintage magazine rack into 2015 with modern stripes

My greatest hope is that you found something here to
 inspire and motivate you to get out there this weekend and 
make something BEAUTIFUL foryour home. 


As always, I love your comments and of course, any questions, 
just email me at sada@forthelovecreations.com.au

It's all here...for the love...
Sada