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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!
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.
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.
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!
For this project you will need:
a bird house/bird feeder
an electric drill
a lamp kit
an electric drill
a lamp kit
acrylic paints (in preferred shades)
finishing wax
paint brushes
(general tools - i.e. hammer, screwdriver)
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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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.
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!
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 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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