(Family Features) If you're looking to make some upgrades around the house, but don't have the budget for brand new designer curtains or rugs, you can still get the latest looks on the cheap. Here are a few do-it-yourself fabric painting tips and tutorials to help you get your place looking like you spent a fortune, while keeping everything within budget.
Curtains
Window treatments can really tie a room together, no matter how large or small the space you're decorating. But if you're looking to replicate a designer's look straight from the glossy page of a home décor magazine, a few swaths of expensive fabric curtains can quickly break your budget.
Take a note from Apartment Therapy's DIY Printed Fabric tutorial. Using cotton fabric, latex paint and a pattern created using a stencil, you can easily recreate your favorite designer curtains and window treatments.
Rugs and Carpets
Add some color to your home by following this simple DIY Painted Rug tutorial from the blog The House of Smiths. Dressing up an inexpensive rug is an easy way to add some sophistication to your home that mimics patterns and styles found in design magazines. Using tape, latex paint, vinyl stencils or pattern pieces, you can easily recreate the look of a high dollar area rug. For a larger rug, check out this DIY Rug Tutorial from Pudel-design.
Throw pillows and furniture
You can also use similar painting techniques with fabric paint to create throw pillows or fabric and upholstered furniture as well. Whether you're working on pillows or furniture, make sure you start by painting the pattern on the fabric, just as a professional would start with professionally printed fabric.
Stencils and patterns
Whether you're looking to recreate the look of a specific pillow, window treatment or even a shower curtain, you can find stencils online to help you master the design. Here are some resources for online stencils and patterns:
- Find designer stencils covering everything from contemporary patterns to Celtic designs at www.designerstencils.com.
- For designer-quality stencils in everything from Mediterranean Florentine to Indian floral, www.royaldesignstudio.com has you covered.
- If you're looking for free patterns, you can find a variety by simply searching the Internet for free stencils as well.
The best part about creating your own stenciled fabrics and rugs is that because you're saving on the cost of a designer price tag, mistakes can be rectified by simply purchasing extra fabric or an extra rug. To avoid mistakes, try creating your pattern on newsprint or paper first before executing the design directly onto the fabric or rug itself.
