How to Spice Up Bland Curtains

With the dreariness of winter upon us I decided to spice up my bland curtains.  I took the plain black curtain panel in my guest bath/laundry room and added black and white ribbon adorned with yellow buttons to the center of the curtain.  I attached the ribbon with velcro and the ribbon now serves to shorten the too long curtains as well.

A while back I made valances for my kitchen windows out of old sheets and fusible web since sewing isn't my thing.  To give them an update and tie in the color of my new antique kitchen cupboard I used a stencil and some green acrylic paint to create a vertical striped design along each valance.

Just these minor changes made such a difference.  Now my curtains are bright and cheery.

Lamp Renovation

Above are the before and after pictures of a small bronze lamp I found at my local thrift store for $2.99.  You would normally put a round shade on a lamp with a round base but I wanted to mix it up a bit.  I found the square shade for $2.99 at the same thrift store.   The shade was a bit dingy but I figured I could do something with it and I really loved the shape.

To update the lamp I picked up a can of silver metallic spray paint, a roll of adhesive shelf liner and some decorative ribbon that had elements of the green and pink found in the shelf paper.  I spray painted the base and the electric chord and when dry I cut a piece of the shelf paper to fit, pulled off the backing and adhered it to the shade.  I then glued the ribbon around the top and bottom edges of the shade.   I actually purchased two of the lamps and shades so for $12 and the cost of about $6 in supplies I now have a cute pair of bedside lamps to grace my guest bedroom.