Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

  • Shop Our Houses
    • Our Current House
    • Our Richmond House
    • Our Beach House
    • Our Duplex
  • Before & Afters
    • Our Current House
    • Our Previous House
    • Our Beach House
    • Our Duplex
    • Our First House
    • Our Second House
    • Our Showhouse
  • DIY & Decorating Tips
    • Most Popular
    • Home Improvement
    • Painting
    • Cleaning & Organizing
    • Crafting & Art
    • More . . .
  • Painting Projects
  • Plants Guides
  • Shop
    • Our Fav Home Finds
    • Our Lighting Line
    • Our Books
    • Book Club Picks
    • Black-Owned Businesses

Young House Love » Random » A Quick Bedroom Makeover With Some DIY Wall Art

| By Sherry Petersik | July 22, 2009 | 30 Comments

A Quick Bedroom Makeover With Some DIY Wall Art

Remember our fun playdate with Katie & Jeremy of All Bower Power back in May? Well, here’s a never-before-seen look at what happens when you put two female home bloggers in a room together. Within minutes they start ordering the boys around and before you know it you have a little mini makeover on your hands. For precisely zero dollars and zero cents.

But let’s back up. The room where the sprucing took place was actually Katie & Jeremy’s bedroom. Which is poetic since it’s the room that brought us together in the first place (we virtually met Katie back when she shared her bedroom makeover which was inspired by ours). We became fast friends and before we knew it we were spending a weekend in the guest bedroom, just steps away from the room that brought us together (happy sigh). Anyway, if you ask me the room already looked lovely when we arrived:

katie-bower-sherry-petersik-young-house-love

See? Gorge. But before I could even say “gor” Katie was a blur of motion, chatting about how she’d been meaning to move a few things around and how we should redecorate a bit together. Uh, where do I sign? So we called on the boys to lift a heavy dresser that was once in one corner of the room and place it in the other side of the space where a slipper chair used to be. Here they are demonstrating their masculinity. Then we just popped a mirror from the hallway and a vase on top to add height and bounce around even more light.

boys-moving-the-dresser-new-floor-plan-redo-bedroom

There, doesn’t that look nice? Now instead of entering into the side of the chair there’s a more open flow from the door into the room and even around the bed. But where would that slipper chair go? Why in the corner that previously housed the dresser of course. And we didn’t even need the boys for that task so they were dismissed to go watch some strange TV show about restaurants who serve giant pancakes and twenty pound burgers. We also added an old floor lamp Katie had laying around next to the chair, but it didn’t have a shade. Yet.

bower-power-and-young-house-love

Then we decided to tackle that blank wall. We already borrowed a mirror from the hallway to put on top of the dresser so we were fresh out of things on hand to hang. Until I stumbled upon an old parasol tossed in a basket in Katie’s office. Katie explained they were actually left over from her wedding day and she had quite a few laying around. And then we both got the same glimmer in our eyes and decided to make a little 3-D art with it. Katie took me down to her basement (yes, people used to speculate that she might hold me captive there if I ever visited her but that was far from the actual course of events) and we got to work playing around with power tools. And you bet your buns we didn’t call the boys for help. When it comes to power tools we’re all about girl power:

katie-cutting-the-parasol-umbrella-wall-decor

As you can see, we cut the stem of the parasol off so it only protruded about three inches from the wall. And then we flipped it over to see if there would be a way to hang it from the opposite side so that super cool string pattern inside of the parasol could face out into the room. Lucky for us, peeling back the paper on the top nub of the parasol revealed a small hole which was perfect for slipping over a nail that we could hammer into the wall to hold it in place.

hanging-a-parasol-on-the-wall-art

Here’s Katie getting her hang on. Oh and check out the light. Although we didn’t find a drum shade while we ran around readying the parasol for sculptural status in the room, we did see a blue wire basket candle holder (pictured a few photos up on the brown ottoman to the right of the chair) and placed it atop the floor lamp to create a cool wire “shade” that was just as graphic and linear as the parasol we hung behind it.

3-D-art

parasol-hanging-art

Then we did a quick pillow change for a bit more contrast with the tan chair (which happens to be the same Dolce Lounge Chair from Target that we have in our living room and den) and presto. A sweet little reading corner (or a place to toss clothes if you’re me). And all for no money and a bit of weird blogger x 2 creativity. Ah the memories.

final-corner-with-parasol-art-and-birdcage-lamp

Sure a parasol probably isn’t usually used as art and a metal candle holder isn’t typically thought of as a lamp shade substitute… but we had too much use-what-you-have fun not to share our odd little corner creation. And that my friends, is the magic of fostering internet relationships with strangers and then agreeing to a three day sleepover.

Wanna see me and Katie Bower in almost-3D? We whipped up a fun little table setting video that you can laugh at/watch right here. Let the mispronunication and potty humor begin!

More posts from Young House Love

Filed Under: Random

Grouping Olive Oil Bottles On A Platter
Starting A Nursery Makeover

Comments

  1. kasey at thriftylittleblog says

    July 22, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    I’m glad that you shared this. You two are so creative!

    Reply
  2. Jill Stigs says

    July 22, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    Very cool. I can usually pull this kind of thing off at someone else’s, but can’t do it for myself (sigh). Darn it now I am singing Umbrella!! LOL

    Reply
  3. ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage & Junkologie says

    July 22, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    This is one my favorite posts ever! This is what junking is all about! Putting unused items to use in a new way! The lampshade and the parasol ideas are absolutely fabulous!! Kudos to you!

    Amy

    Reply
  4. Jenny says

    July 22, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    You two are so funny. This a a great post!

    Reply
  5. Natalie says

    July 22, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    uhh was the show on the Travel Channel?! If so, I have to admit that I am disgusted/fascinated with it :)

    Love the bedroom transformation – you girls are fabulous!

    Reply
  6. susan the shoppe owner says

    July 22, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    Awesome!!!

    ‘Makes me want to move my furniture (again) and dig through what’s lying around :O)

    Reply
  7. L@JourneyChic says

    July 22, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    What a cool way to recycle! You gals are so creative!

    Reply
  8. Danielle says

    July 22, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    I think you could of hung the umbrella the other way as well! But it does really soften up that corner.

    Reply
  9. heather s. says

    July 22, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    I like the dresser and the pillow you put on the chair but I’m not sold on the parasol or wire basket on the light. I’m a fan of lights not being so blindingly bright and without a shade the light is just too stark and bright for my tastes.

    Reply
  10. Focipresley says

    July 22, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    Sherry – Do you happen to know the colour Katie used for her bedroom wall? It looks similar to yours, but am just confirming!

    Thank you!

    Reply
  11. Focipresley says

    July 22, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    Oh – and BTW – what a lovely result!! I enjoyed the post :)

    Reply
  12. Megan says

    July 22, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    Great post! Two questions: 1.) what is the paint color in Katie’s bedroom (same as yours?) and 2.) are the legs on the Dolce chair dark brown or black? I’m wondering, because I might get one for my bedroom, too! I need a place for clothes-tossing :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      July 22, 2009 at 5:44 pm

      Hey Megan & Ficopresley

      We can attest to the fact that the Dolce Chair legs are deep brown and oh so lovely. Hope it helps! As for Katie’s bedroom wall color it’s actually Valspar’s Sage Bud (very similar but a bit more blue and saturated than ours). Happy painting…

      xo,
      s

  13. Christie Stearns says

    July 22, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    Love it!! And I followed the link to watch your video from doing table settings with Katie. That was sooo cute! You guys make it look so easy :)

    Reply
  14. Amy @ Renovation Innovation says

    July 22, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    Very creative! It might also look good if the parasol was spray painted to give that corner a pop of color!

    Reply
  15. jbhat says

    July 22, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    What fun! And I’m sure I’m not the only YHL<3 fan who is pea-green with envy that the Bowers get to hang/have decorating fun with the Youngsters. Maybe you should start a traveling show?

    Reply
  16. Tara says

    July 22, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    Check this out! Even in Walla Walla – you’re gettin’ the love….

    http://blogs.ublabs.org/fromthestorageroom/2009/07/22/young-house-love/

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      July 22, 2009 at 9:06 pm

      Thanks for the heads up, Tara! We’ll have to check it out. Fun!

      xo,
      s

  17. Victoria says

    July 22, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    OMG, I love the parasol! Super fun way to add some texture! And it’s also super cool that when I hovered over “dolce lounge chair” (too see the link at the bottom of my browser) a little window popped up immediately with a picture and the price. Amazing! Ok, I’m a dork, but I thought that was sooo cool!

    Reply
  18. Melissa says

    July 22, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    I love when you do posts like this – it keeps your blog oh so interesting and we all love seeing bloggers come together. I have always loved the curtain behind the bed with the trim, it really makes the room so soft and relaxing.

    Reply
  19. Jay says

    July 22, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Im in love. yet again. You guys never cease to amaze me!! At first before i finished reading your post i thought you were going to connect two of them together making like a clam shell ish and use that as a lampshade… but thats probably a way over complicated project for something that just needs a simple solution!
    again. I love.

    Reply
  20. amber says

    July 22, 2009 at 10:18 pm

    STICK IT TO MY COMPUTER…Please!!

    Current computer flair only goes as far as some super cute photos of our corgi pups as a background image. Love the screen shot, but the lap top exterior needs some help!!!

    Reply
  21. Danielle Melnyczenko says

    July 22, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    I’m in love with her room! I’m also super impressed you found a way to display parasols as I have beautiful ones from my wedding sitting sadly in a corner. I’m going to attempt this myself and I’ll be sure to post photos…

    Reply
  22. Katrina says

    July 22, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    I love this post! I have two paper umbrellas like that and could not think of how to display them. Thanks!

    Reply
  23. Ally says

    July 22, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    I love this! It’s a simple yet really dramatic mini-make over. More, please!! Can’t you just show up at your neighbors’ houses and redecorate? :)

    Reply
  24. Tenille says

    July 23, 2009 at 12:34 am

    That turned out fabulous! I have a random question for you! …i bought some old wood furniture that i want to paint and since youre the EXPERT i was curious if its better to use a paint sprayer or a brush to paint furniture? Which looks better? And what type of paint do you like using the most on furniture? (eggshell, semi-gloss etc..) HeLp Me!! :0)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      July 23, 2009 at 9:22 am

      Hey Tenille,

      Good question. We always recommend a high quality paint brush unless you have experience with a paint sprayer (if you don’t you’re likely to deal with drips and an uneven application in the end). So if you’re well versed with the paint sprayer and can get an even drip-free coat on there, definitely go with that. And if you’re not, a good paint brush with thin, even coats (and lots of drying time between them) is sure to produce professional results (it’s how we’ve painted every piece of furniture in our house). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  25. dinah says

    July 23, 2009 at 1:27 am

    i loooovvvee this post! tiny changes with big and beautiful results! this is definitely inspiring me to find something you wouldn’t expect to use as decoration. i especially love what you did with the bare lamp.

    Reply
  26. Kyle says

    July 23, 2009 at 8:14 am

    Thanks for the step-by-step. I really like the lampshade and parasol wall art especially–in my experience (and as my wife always reminds me) using materials in ways they were not intended to be used generally yields interesting results!

    Reply
  27. Ali says

    July 23, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    What a fun visit you girls had! Love how you switched things around in Katie’s room! Thanks for the link to that awesome slipper chair! I totally want one! Can’t wait till my husband gets home tonight to convince him we need a slipper chair! Quick question – where did Katie buy her bedroom furniture!?! I love it and I WANT it! I’ve been married for 8 years and we have been waiting to buy the perfect bedroom set!

    ~ Ali

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
*This site contains ads and affiliate links*
See our disclaimer & privacy policy to learn more

Latest Finds

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

SHOP OUR LIGHTING

Young House Love Shades Of Light Capiz Chandelier

GET POSTS BY EMAIL

We’re Digging

Traditional Rug
The “Magic” Rug
Smokeless Solo Stove Firepit
Smokeless Firepit
Outdoor Solar LED Path Lights
Solar Path Lights
Criss Cross Office Chair
Our Desk Chair
Blue Air 211 Air Purifier
Our Air Purifiers
Eufy 11S Max Robot Vacuum
Our Robot Vacuum
Kohler Memoirs Toilet
Our Favorite Toilet
Livable Luxe Book
Fav Design Book
SEE MORE OF OUR FAVORITE FINDS > >

  • About
  • FAQs
  • Press
  • Contact
  • :)

© 2025 Young House Love ® · Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · A Fun Wordpress theme on Genesis Framework · Hosted by Liquid Web