Cover unsightly unused wall plates with ceiling tile wall art

If you are like me and have a few weird plates on your walls you don't use, here's an easy way to hide them. Use a ceiling tile!

I used one that is intended to hand on the wall. It goes right over them. In my case it was a phone outlet and audio control we don't use. It might be an unused plug, light switch, cable outlet, etc. Because these metal wall art pieces are hollow on the back, there is room for the switch plates to hide behind it and the tin still lies flat on the wall.

Easy fix for any spot on your wall that would require new sheetrock, texture and paint. Easy solution!

Hang a chandelier in your master bath

If you have ever seen my blog, you know I'm a fan of chandeliers : )  One place I absolutely love to see a chandelier hanging in a home is in the master bath.  It makes a rather sterile room come to life and become the retreat it should be for you.  If you have any sort of overhead light in there, transform the look of that room with a chandelier that compliments your decor.

For me it was a crystal chandelier I found on clearance at Tuesday Morning for $20.  I had an overhead light over my tub that was just crying out for a statement light fixture.  Twenty minutes after getting it home, it was up and turned out better than I could have ever imagined.

If you don't have an overhead light in your bathroom, look around your house.  There is somewhere you can bring a little more elegance into your home.  You're worth it :)

Terrarium from a fish bowl and iron basket

I've been looking for a glass candle holder to put this old fish bowl on to make another footed jar. Unfortunately I just can't find anything large enough.

Today I went to store it under my china hutch, so I set it in this iron basket that was under there. I realized it actually looked really good together. Sort of like a decorative terrarium. New decoration without even trying :)

I might use it to hold wine corks when I run out of space in my other jar, too. Lots of display ideas of course :)

Another refinished polished brass light fixture

This one is in my master bath.  In this case I had a lot of finishes competing, so I had to mix it up.  Since the mirror molding is a black and metallic dark brown finish and a blacker iron piece is hanging above, I decided the fixture needed to be different enough that it didn't start all looking the same.  So I painted this one with brown craft paint first. Again right on the original finish. 

This is the original fixture (before the mirror frame was added).  I did not sand or prime it (since it won't be touched) or take it down (I just taped around it and removed the light globes).  I used the stipple painting technique again so it has texture.

This is after the brown (no mirror frame up yet).

As you can see its a little flat at this point.  Then I drybrushed the whole thing with the lighter metallic bronze craft paint to give it shine and interest, then I highlighted with Modern Options Sophisticated Finishes Blackened Bronze (its darker, so it gives it more richness and helps it coordinate with the darker frame and iron piece).  Notice the frame is on the mirror now : )

Here's a close up shot of the finish.

Here's the before and after shot  (quite a difference!).

Another 7 years and counting...at least I know the finish lasts : )   Good luck painting yours!

Refinish your polished brass light fixtures

I know a lot of us still have some polished brass around our house that we would love to update.

Did you know you can easily and inexpensively paint your polished brass light fixtures to update them?

This fixture is in my half bath. The only prep work I did was tape off the outer edge of the light and remove the globes. Because you don't touch light fixtures there is no risk of ruining the finish.  My fixtures have been painted for 7 years now with no issues (is was supposed to be temporary, but I won't replace them until I find a deal :)

I stipple painted on the Modern Options Sophisticated Finishes Blackened Bronze paint (to give it texture) then I dry brushed "highlights" of an espresso metallic craft paint on some of the raised parts (the color is lighter so it gives the piece more interest and depth).

Took about 30 minutes total time and it was almost free (it uses so little of the paint that is already inexpensive). Hope this helps inspire you...happy updating!

Add His and Hers Signs above your towels in your bathroom

I will admit that I bought these and they happen to fit in the exact spot I had, but you could easily make them.  Mine have a beveled mirror layer on back, then a cream and tan scrolly pattern layer on top with HIS and HERS printed on that.

 

If you can't find some online that you like or will fit (etsy, ebay, etc.), you could easily create your own.  Frame HIS and HERS printed designs (find them online or easily create your own in Microsoft Paint or Photoshop). You could frame a decorative piece of paper and then stencil his and hers onto it (or use cricket letters or sticker letters).  You could even use a framed mirror for the back, then add the framed words on top.  Adds a decorative detail to a boring hook : )  Happy decorating!

Use oven cleaner to "darken" brass

If you still have shiny brass items lying around your house, you can always paint them like I have demonstrated in several of my posts, but did you know you can chemically darken them?

This piece was a bright brass planter from garden ridge.  It is real brass.

If you have any real brass that isn't lacquered, just spray it with oven cleaner and it will tarnish to a dark finish. Of course do this outside since oven cleaner fumes are bad. I leave it on and reapply as needed to get the darkness I want. If it is lacquered or polished with something preventing the oven cleaner from penetrating, you can try mineral spirits or paint thinner to break through the coating. I know steel wool will get through it, but it will scratch.

Obviously don't do this on something expensive you care about and wouldn't be willing to paint if it didn't turn out the way you want. It also won't work on fake brass. Good luck updating :)