By: Olivia Munson
Decorating is one of my favorite things to do. Whether it be for holidays or just for fun, I am constantly rearranging my room.
As a college student, I know I cannot always afford some of the pricier decor pieces I want — so I make my own!
Here’s a list of my DIY secrets for chic and affordable room decor.
Urban Outfitters Logo Pillow & Beauty Sleep Pillow
Urban Outfitters Logo Pillow
You will need:
An Urban Outfitters bag
A sewing needle and black thread
Poly-Fil Stuffing
This is probably one of the easiest sewing projects I have done. To make the pillow, start by flipping it inside-out so the logo is facing inward. Cut off the handle of the bag and use a blanket stitch on the new raw edge. Do NOT sew the entire line of fabric — leave about a 2-inch gap and before flipping the pillow outward so the logo is facing you again. Stuff the Poly-Fil to your desired level of fluffiness. Once finished adding the stuffing, sew up the remaining gap and you are done!
Beauty Sleep Pillow
You will need:
Square pillow insert
White pillow case
Black fabric paint and paintbrush
Cardboard
To make the pillow start by inserting a piece of cardboard into the pillow case. This will separate the two sides to ensure the paint does not bleed through or smudge. With your black paint, draw two comma shapes that are not too close to each other. At the base of the comma, drag down the paint to create eyelashes. Allow to dry for a couple hours and remember to leave in the cardboard during this process. Once the paint is fully dry, slip the case onto the pillow and you are finished!
Check out this cheap pillow insert and pillow case
Hexagon Cork Tiles
You will need:
Ruler and pencil
Scissors
Square cork board tiles
Hexagon shapes are very trendy right now and cork boards are the perfect decoration for any room. Combine these together, and you have a match made in heaven. Most hexagon cork tiles retail for over $20. To make your own for a fraction of the cost, all you need to do is cut square cork board tiles into hexagons. Measure the lengths and widths with a ruler. Once everything is level and even, start cutting. I made three large hexagon tiles with cork from the Dollar Store, and I still have leftover material to make more! I use mine in my dorm to hang up pictures and notes but you can use yours for whatever you want.
Decorative Ombre Initial Letters
You will need:
Paper plate for mixing
White acrylic paint
A pencil and paintbrush
Extra acrylic paint color of your choice (I used pink)
Optional: Mod Podge gloss
This is my favorite DIY on the list. It is super easy and ties together any room in a cute, yet minimalistic way. Start off by painting your letter white. This may seem redundant, but this will cover up any scratches or imperfections and provide a base for the other paint to stick onto. On a small plate, mix the white paint with whatever other color you chose to make a dark (without white), medium (add a little white) and light (add a lot of white) shade. With the eraser end of a pencil, begin to dot the paint on the letter in ombre pattern. Start with the darkest color then transition to the lighter ones. When that paint is dry feel free to add a top coat of Mod Podge gloss to protect your design. Other than that you are done!
Decorative Jewelry Bowl
You will need:
Polymer clay (color of your choice)
Acrylic paint and paintbrush
Mod Podge gloss
To make this jewelry bowl, start by molding the clay into a cup shape. Be careful when doing this since you do not want to stretch the clay too thin. If it is, the clay can chip or break when baking. I added handles to mine by using the score and slip method I learned in high school ceramics. Bake the clay according the instructions and allow for it cool. Now, it’s time to decorate your cup! I painted eyelashes on mine, but you could do whatever you like — flowers, constellations and zodiac signs, etc. Don’t forget to add Mod Podge top coat to give it a glossy look!
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