Funk Up Your House with Quirky Functional Home Decor

I'm all for decorating a house with all kinds of adorable, eclectic goodies but I also know hectic it can begin to look if you don't know how to organize your decor appropriately. I am currently trying to organize all of our collections and lusting over all of these super quirky DIY projects and products and just have to share them with you. From creative uses for a trunk to a stool made of old magazines, there's something just quirky enough for everyone and the storage these pieces offer is just what every home needs!

Which project will you take on first? I think I want to give hubs a to-do list that includes each of these projects and then some!

Check out Funk Up Your House with Quirky Functional Home Decor
by Lauren Paints at Mode

DIY Bedside Makeover: a Reinvented Nightstand + a Vintage-Inspired Birdhouse Lamp

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SleepAligned #CollectiveBias

DIY projects are probably the most fun you can have while at home... What's not to love about painting, sanding, and just simply creating (or re-creating) something? I'm always up for a challenge and luckily my hubby is as well. When I decided that I wanted a new bedside table and a new lamp to place upon my new nightstand earlier this week, we both started thinking creatively and came up with two really awesome DIY projects that I'm just gaga over.

Before I share our fun projects, let's start with the reason why I wanted a new nightstand though. I'm implementing a new routine in the evenings. While I've always been a "night owl", staying up until the wee hours of the morning is wearing on me and when I hit twenty-six last month, I knew it was time to give up my typical 4AM bedtime.

I am now reading in bed an hour before I fall asleep with my GE Align™ bulb inside my new birdhouse lamp, helping me improve my sleeping habits. I also apply lavender essential oils to my wrists and burn a relaxing scented candle, all in an effort to relax my mind and send me snoozin'!

While this may seem like a normal nightly routine, it's not what I'm used to. I've spent the last few years on a computer until late at night, literally working until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I'm so excited for this change and I know what an incredible difference sleeping more will have on my body.

So now that you know why we are adding this super cute new decor to our room, let's get to the fun part of it all!

This nightstand is a SUPER simple DIY project that anyone can complete. You'll only need sandpaper, paint, and paintbrushes... and of course, a nightstand. I found my nightstand at a thrift store for $12! I'm sure you could hit up a garage sale or a flea market and find one even cheaper.

After you have all your supplies, just sand the nightstand until it has a bit of grit to it and paint. We applied two coats over a couple hour process. Taking our nightstand from a thrift store reject to a refreshed, reinvented piece of furniture that matches our room perfectly!

Now that we had our nightstand finished, it was time to create a new light for our room that would be comforting and conducive to sleep while also matching our decor.. I originally went shopping for a lamp that I liked but I couldn't find anything that fit my eclectic style and the color scheme in our room. Then when I was browsing my local craft store, I saw this adorable birdhouse (err, bird feeder), and fell in love. The windows adding the little "details" that I wanted my lamp to have, the natural wood finish allowing me to paint the lamp whatever shade I wanted... that's when I decided hubby and I were officially going to become lamp makers. After worrying about actually assembling a lamp, we found that building a lamp is actually pretty easy, thank goodness!

For this project you will need:

a bird house/bird feeder
an electric drill
a lamp kit

acrylic paints (in preferred shades)

finishing wax
paint brushes
(general tools - i.e. hammer, screwdriver)

You'll want to begin by drilling a hole for the lamp kit's base in your birdhouse. I actually found a birdhouse that had a rope through a hole in the middle of the entire house so we simply widened the hole with our electric drill.

Once the hole is drilled and the "base" of the kit fits into the hole, the next step is painting. I decided I wanted my lamp to have a rustic, beachy feel to it so I used this simple technique (you'll want to keep in mind for all sorts of furniture)!

You can make anything look "chalk painted" so easily, a technique I love using for all sorts of pieces.

You'll start this simple process with a layer of dark paint, then apply a layer of white acrylic paint thinned with water, then ivory acrylic paint thinned with water.

Now you'll apply a coat of paint of the color you actually want your item to be (lavender purple, in my case), then white paint and water again. Allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.

Once all of the coats are applied, sand each side, making sure to only sand it until you like the way it looks... Be careful not to over sand, it's easy to do if you are multi-tasking!

After I sanded the project I applied a thin layer of finishing wax. Once the wax is dry, it's officially time to bring light into your world!

Bring the electrical wires through your birdhouse (using a stiffer item like a wire hanger to help you guide the wires), then assemble the light kit as instructed... I don't want to give exact advice on assembling the kit because I'm not an electrician, but you should tie an underwriter's knot and be sure to pay attention to the ribbing on the wires and connect the correct wire to the correct screw (as instructed on your lamp kit).

Once your lamp is assembled, you'll want to install a NEW GE Align™ PM LED Light Bulb to help promote your body's natural sleep cycle by helping it to produce more melatonin. You'll also want to add a lampshade!

If you don't already have a light bulb, you can buy one of the awesome GE Align™ PM LED Light Bulbs on Amazon.com and get it shipped to you fast!

They actually produce a lower amount of blue light, providing a soothing yellow light helping you rest easier. Maybe you are trying to implement a better morning routine instead? Check out the GE Align™ AM LED Light Bulbs, which help promote the body's natural wake cycle.

Now your new lamp is all set to use.. and I feel like I should warn you, I'm sitting here in awe. I like our new pieces of furniture so much because they are obviously adorable new pieces of decor, but because of the less obvious reason: the memories we made together.

Now that I've shared how we gave my bedside a total makeover, I'd love to know how you "wind down" and relax at night?

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Lucky Penny Rainbow St. Patrick's Day DIY Project

Everyone loves St. Patty's day, right? A holiday that includes green beer for adults and silly antics for the kids, with maybe a few pinches involved for those that forget to wear green!

Today I'm sharing a super cute craft I put together last-minute to decorate the house a bit for this Irish holiday. I made this little project using a handful of pennies, a piece of stock paper, school glue, and a green marker - it's that easy! This super simple project would be a lot of fun to work on with the kiddos, something adorable to put together quickly while you celebrate the holiday!

DIY Lucky Penny Rainbow
for St Patty's Day

What you'll need:
A large handful of pennies (some new, some tarnished)
Paper
Glue
Green marker

You'll begin this project by laying out the pennies the way you plan to glue them down. I made a small half circle with the bright fresh new pennies, then made another half circle with the tarnished pennies, and another with the new pennies... You could continue on with this pattern or use less. This lucky penny rainbow looks cool big or small.

After you lay the pennies out, begin to glue them down. Once the pennies have dried in place, you'll want to draw clouds at the end of the rainbow! I think if I made this again I might even draw a little black pot... you know, a pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow!

I decided to write lucky inside my penny rainbow, you could find a favorite Irish blessing or a friendly st. patty's day greeting, so many fun ways to personalize this project!

After your finished, place your new St. Patty's decor out for the world to see!

The Ultimate Pier 1 Bohemian Outdoor Oasis Party and a GIVEAWAY! {ends 6/15}

I may have received a product, sample, and/or compensation to facilitate this review, regardless all opinions expressed above are completely my own.

I've always been a huge fan of Pier 1, they offer such unique items and ummm hello - home decor is a favorite amongst almost all women, especially bloggers! I was so excited when they approached me to host an outdoor oasis party on their behalf, think happy-cry and a little bouncing up and down in my living room. I really love Pier 1!!

I wanted my shin-dig to have an offbeat, unconventional feel - I decided on a bohemian theme and I'm so pleased with the results. Florida is full of exotic beauty and sharing my version of an outdoor oasis was pretty easy to accomplish! My idea of an eclectic, free-spirited bohemian party turned out perfectly thanks to all the summer lines Pier 1 carries - I mainly stuck with the summer brights collection but you can see some of their coastal views collection mixed in as well!

To get the party set in motion,
I immediately sent out virtual invites to all of my guests, made by yours truly, that really set the vibe:

Since I live super close to the coast in Florida the beach is pretty much my backyard, I decided to host my party at one of my favorite beach inlets so that I could showcase my favorite part of Florida's outdoors. The view from the table was phenomenal, the weather was perfect - warm but not muggy, a slight breeze - a bit heavenly, if you ask me! Plus what could be a better form of entertainment than the beach and the ocean? I can't think of any!

I served a delicious Ocean Blue Spiked Lemonade, Vegetable Sushi Rolls, and Super Rich + Moist Chocolate cupcakes with a Creamy Coconut frosting! (Look for the recipes over the next few days!) Quiet the eclectic selection of food but it matched the theme of the party perfectly!

My decor was full of fun items from Pier 1, stuff that I already had around the house, and a few items were purchased from the thrift store just to give it that extra artsy, bohemian vibe! I mixed and matched with multiple rich colors and a few subtle patterns - adding little accents to complete the boho feel.

I wore a bohemian, hippy-esque lace shirt I've had forever and some bright green shorts with my black bikini underneath. I accessorized with a handcrafted no sew bohemian headband (be on the lookout for a tutorial on that later this month) as well as a some clearance section bracelets and sunglasses - a girl has to look good on a budget, right?!

The lantern stand was absolutely stunning on the table and really added an extra touch - I had no idea I had such a strong liking for lanterns until I visited Pier 1 recently. They had TONS of lantern options to choose from and I fell head-over-heels in love with every single lantern.

 The serving platters are another Pier 1 find and they are so beautiful - not to mention, super easy to clean since they are dishwasher safe! The colorful detail in the plates really made my tablescape pop, ask my guests -- they all wanted to get their hands on a serving platter set of their own!

The pillows are also a Pier 1 find and they served their purpose perfectly on the beach  - although I didn't snap a picture (I blame the spiked lemonade). We took our blankets and pillows (and lemonade) out to the beach once the party started wrapping up a little and had quiet the beach set up. It was SO incredibly comfortable and since the pillows are indoor/outdoor and totally made to be weather resistant, I wasn't worried about them being on the beach at all! Pier 1 has a HUGE selection of pillows but the bright cobalt blue and lime green from their summer line just spoke to me - they were so basic yet so beautiful and had to be included in the party decor!

The pitcher and margarita glasses were a huge hit as well! The cobalt blue rim matched the pillows perfectly. The set added to the aesthetic appeal of the whole tablescape, Blue Spiked Lemonade in a blue accented pitcher and glasses is a stunning combination.

I loved sharing my bohemian Pier 1 party with all of my friends, the event was a total hit! It's safe to say that Pier 1 Imports’ summer collection is full of personality, so you’re sure to find the perfect decor for your own home or the most fitting present for anyone on your list. Plus, all of the products I mentioned today are available at your local Pier 1 Imports.

Now I'm super excited to announce that I have the chance to host a giveaway for one lucky reader to win a $25 Pier1 Imports gift card! What is your favorite item from their summer collection? Check out Pier1.com and let me know!

Here's your chance to win some gorgeousness from Pier1 Imports,
enter with the giveaway form below:

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: I may have received a product, sample, and/or compensation to facilitate this review, regardless all opinions expressed above are completely my own.
This contest will run through June 15th at 4:59 pm EST. Must be 18 years or older to win.  This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company other than Pier1 Imports mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Facebook, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Also, You can only win gift card from Pier 1 during this campaign.