Rental refresher
Whether you’re renting or simply looking to add easy decorative touches to the home, here are six fast, low-cost projects to fire up your imagination. Requiring few tools and no wall fixings, they can be completed (and removed) in record time. Start with thrift shop finds or salvaged items, then add your signature touch with paint, fabrics or stencils. Finish by installing a statement light fitting to really lift the room.
1. Amp up the appeal of a thrift shop furniture find with spray paint and patterned stencils! To add interest to a timber coffee table, lightly sand the top with fine-grit sandpaper and wipe with a slightly damp cloth. Place a doily template in position and mask the rest of the table to protect from overspray, then spray with Dulux Spraypak in Flat White. Repeat to create a decorative table runner. Allow time to dry completely, then apply a protective clear topcoat.
2. When considering wall art for your home, think beyond canvas and look toward your local hard rubbish collection for fabulous freebies. A keen eye can unearth everyday items, such as this section of an old timber ladder – which makes for a striking curiosity when painted bright blue and hung from a picture rail using chain and cup hooks. Dress it up with small posies of fresh flowers (don’t worry, a spot of Blu-Tack at the back will stop your ladder swinging in the breeze).
3. Found in an op shop, these vintage frames make a decorative statement atop a mantelpiece. An oversized ornate frame anchors the display, while smaller painted frames add colour and playful detail. The best bit? No wall fixings required!
4. Can’t part with your favourite magazines? Totally understandable! Rather than stacks of mags hogging floor space, put them to use as a handy stool. Screw a swivel castor at each corner of the underside of a piece of pine measuring 275 x 220 x 19mm. Flip the pine over, stack on your mags and secure with two men’s leather belts. Add a cushion for extra comfort. Cute!
5. For overhead interest, add an easy-to-install light shade to an existing pendant. With its feathery foliage-like appearance, this polypropylene shade softens the space and doesn’t require the aid of an electrician. Bonus!
6. When painting walls isn’t an option, inject colour and texture with moveable panels. This terrific triptych is made by stretching fabrics over flat doors, fixing them at the back with a staple gun. When finished, just lean against wall and enjoy!
