Worn out furniture Wednesday: overhauling your cabinet

Emma's been getting all creative and turning some plain old cabinets into some really special pieces! It's really cost effective to consider DIY rather than seeking out a sometimes pricey vintage or vintage inspired option. Plus it means you will get exactly the furniture you want without having to compromise on style, colour or finish - it's a win win all round plus it gives you an exciting project to plan which won't take up all your time but will give you a finished product which can stand in pride of place in your room of choice!

This was the original cabinet which was purchased for £5 at a second hand shop.

You will need:
- Small sample paint pots (these were £2.99 from Homebase)
- Clear varnish (this pot was £7.99)
- Sandpaper

Step one: clean the unit with soapy water then gently sand it down.

Step two: paint it twice, leaving to dry between each coat.

Step three: add a coat of clear varnish which will protect it from chipping.

Step four: sand down the edges and the feet to give it that shabby chic vintage feel!

H & E x

Traditional Thursday: making your own bunting

Today we're going all traditional with a post about beautiful bunting! It's a decoration that's been around for years and years but the beauty of it is each one is different. Adding bunting to your wall is one of the simplest, cheapest and easiest ways you can brighten up a room without needing to pick up a paintbrush or start hanging wallpaper. If you're not the kind of person who wants an 'in your face' bright room, you can use bunting to add a little touch of colour. It really is so versatile and can be used in any room and doesn't need to be confined just to the walls - you can hang it from the top of your curtain rail, from shelves, above a mirror, off the mantelpiece or why not try making a miniature version to hang off a picture frame?

You will need:
- Decorative paper (ours is from Hobbycraft)
- Or sections of old fabric, offcuts of wallpaper, pieces of old books or any other material you like!
- Ribbon (ours was also from Hobbycraft)
- Mini pegs if you're going to peg them, otherwise you can sew or glue them on

Step one: Cut your fabric in to the shape you want, traditionally bunting is triangular but you can always choose a different shape!

Step two: Sew, glue or peg the pieces along the ribbon. You can use as many or as few as you like depending how long you want your bunting to be.

Step three: Why not try adding embellishments? Gems, sequins, different material cut in to cute shapes like hearts - the possibilities are endless!

How cute is this mini bunting?!

You could theme your bunting, for example if you were getting married why not add your names or Mr and Mrs across the bunting? Or make a 'happy birthday' themed string instead of a banner?

How cute are these examples of kitchens and dining areas decorated using bunting?

And these bedrooms are simply amazing! On the left they've made Winnie the Pooh themed bunting for a child's room - so cute!

(Last two images all from www.weheartit.com)

H & E x