One easy way to add color to your home decor is to use the dip dye technique.

Even if you are a novice to doing-it-yourself, dip-dyeing is super easy to complete. The key is making certain that you have enough and the right kind of space to handle the project. Depending on the size of what you are dyeing you may need a good amount of space and a large enough vessel to hold your paint, i.e. dying salt and pepper shakers takes less space than dyeing a kitchen chair. You may also want to consider doing your dyeing outside or in the garage or basement.

The necessary supplies are pretty straightforward. You will need dye appropriate for the material you are dyeing–for example RIT fabric dyes should cover most of the textile objects. Rubber gloves are recommended and you will need a large enough vessel in which to dip your object. Big plastic tubs work for many items and offer easy cleanup, too.

11 Items to Dip Dye Now!

1. Pillows – Everything from throw pillows to floor pillows cases can be dip-dyed and is an easy way to bring in more color to your decor.

2. Bedding – Give plain white bedding some pizzaz or freshen bedding that needs a new life by dip-dyeing.

3. Pallets – Even pallets can be dyed, either before or after repurposing them into some useful piece of furniture or home decor piece.

4. Wall Canvases – Channel your inner Picasso by dip-dyeing pre-stretched art canvases found at the arts and crafts store. Everyone can do this, no matter a newbie or established artist.

5. Baskets – Baskets are ubiquitous in most homes. Liven them up with some color. Go monochromatic or use different colors for a bold impact.

6. Rugs – Turn plain canvas rugs into a work of art for your floor with a little dye and some drying time.

7. Candles – Looking to spice up your table for your next dinner party without a lot of fuss and money? Dip-dye a collection of candles for a dramatic centerpiece.

8. Tablecloths/Placemats/Napkins – By the same token, kick things up a notch by adding color to plain table linens with a little planning ahead.

9. Chairs – Turn a collection of mismatched wooden chairs into a matching collection. Dip just the ends of the legs, the backs of the chairs, or mix it up for some a fun and colorful effect.

10. Lamps – Turn thrift lamps into colorful and elegant lighting fixtures. Dip-dye the lampshades or the bases for a simple afternoon project.

11. Wall Hangings/Plant Holder – For extra points, macrame a pretty wall hanging or plant holder and dip-dye it. Here is a simple tutorial to get you started.

Related on EcoSalon

13 Elegant DIY Shibori Dyeing Projects for Your Home
7 Modern Ikat and Tie-dye Home Decor Prints without A Hint of Hippie
DIY Dye with Natural Indigo to Revamp Your Clothes : On Trend

The post 11 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Dip-Dye appeared first on EcoSalon.

In case you didn’t know, painted wall stenciling is the new paint—and the new wallpaper. Wall stencils are the latest rage in the home design world because it’s a fairly easy and inexpensive way to create custom wall treatments in your home.

And in case you are wondering just what wall stenciling is, it is what it sounds like—using a template or stencil to paint a design, pattern or words on walls. It’s a great way to create one-of-a-kind artistic wallpaper-like designs without having to be an artist or having to commit to wallpaper–just purchase the stencil you like, affix it the wall and paint away for a creative and unique space. Of course, using wall stencils are a little more complicated than that, but the guide below explains how it works. 

Where to Buy Wall Stencils

First of all, where can one purchase wall stencils? They are pretty much available at all your home improvement stores, but one of our favorite place to look for wall stencils is on Etsy.

Two other great resources are:

•  Royal Design Studio

• Cutting Edge Stencils

You just might get lost looking at all the unbelievable options on both of these sites!

How to Apply Wall Stencils 

Image: Cutting Edge Stencils

There is somewhat of a learning curve to painting with stencils, but it’s not anything you wouldn’t be able to pick up quickly. Just don’t expect to be perfect with your first attempt, and give yourself some practice time.

Here are some great tutorials for how to paint using wall stencils:

1. Basic Stenciling 101 – Cutting Edge Stencils
2. Stenciling Tips – Wall to Wall Stencils
3. How to Stencil a Focal Wall – HGTV
4. Stenciled Ceiling Tips – Not Just a Housewife
5. Trellis Stencil – Courtney Out Loud
6. Damask Stencil – Cutting Edge Stencils
7. How to Stencil a Wall Tips – Chi Chi Studio
8. How to Stencil All Over Patterns – Royal Design Studio Stencils
9. How to Paint with Wall Stencils – Apartment Therapy
10. Stencil a Wall: A Beginner’s Guide – Practically Functional
11. DIY Wall Stenciling – Bob Villa

How to Use Wall Stencils 

Image: Cutting Edge Stencils

Painting with wall stencils allows for so much creativity and so many options, the sky is really the limit.

• Stencil an accent wall.
• Use stencils on your furniture (the seat bottom of a wooden chair, a headboard, etc.).
• Create an all-over stenciled wall.
• Add corner accents to a room.
• Create a  framed piece of artwork by stenciling a portion of your wall and adding a frame to it.
• For something completely different stencil the ceiling OR the floor.

Top Image: Royal Design Studio

Related on EcoSalon:

DIY Creative Wallpaper Decorating Ideas: Wallpaper Everywhere But Walls

Color Trend in Home Decorating: Yellow is the New Black

The post Wall Stencils Are The New Paint: Where to Buy, How to DIY appeared first on EcoSalon.

Pigeons as art? At what price?

“Augmented reality” is going to be the next big thing in tech – but here’s an artist with a low-budget version: pigeon-painting.

Pigeons have a credibility problem. As a species, we increasingly hate on them (there’s even a technical term for fear of pigeons: peristerophobia). With nicknames including “sky rats” and “flying ashtrays,” their current-day status belies their importance in world history…and so it’s overdue for a makeover.

Berlin artists Julian Charriere and Julius von Bismarck decided to take this sentiment at face value.

…and paint the pigeons of Venice…

…all colors of the rainbow.

The aim was to try to make pigeons more attractive to the public in the most straightforward way possible. Fun way to raise awareness? Perhaps, but there’s the question of how it benefits the unwilling participants and their mating habits (unless they were painted in pairs?) – not to mention the fact that they’re suddenly far more visible to natural predators and pigeon haters alike…

How do you feel about it?

All images: Julian Charriere & Julius von Bismark, via design boom.

The post What Not To Wear: The Pigeon Edition appeared first on EcoSalon.

1. Reface Rather Than Replace Cabinets

Innovative companies can work with your existing wood and reface those cabinet doors with sustainable woods rather than trashing and starting anew. Read this post for more tips for the kitchen cabinet facelift.

2. Swap Decor with Family and Friends

You don’t need a piano and I don’t need that daybed in the TV nook, so let’s trade and recycle our stuff and get what we really need. It’s a match made in eco heaven when it doesn’t cost you a dime to swap decor, especially with people who have a good eye like you do, and are low on storage space. It’s how they did it in the olden days before widespread consumer waste and climate change. Here’s more.

3. Baby Steps Can Equal Full Grown Changes in a Room

Rearrange the furniture, buy a few new pillow covers, paint a wall. These easy fixes will refresh your pad without sinking lots of cash. As you’ll discover in this handy how-to post, it can all be done for under $30.

4. Repurpose Excess Upholstery Materials

Those fabric rolls are not doing anyone any good just sitting in the closet. Cut them up and redirect them to your interiors for pillow covers, framed art, bedding, even wall coverage like the picture shown above, if you have enough for adequate padding. See these great ideas for repurposing your excess.

5. Clean Before You Replace

Perhaps that rug can come clean with eco spot remover techniques. Why rip it out if it’s still useful? Another option is to cover a damaged section of the carpet by layering with a small, affordable area rug, one made of eco fibers that won’t cost the same as new carpeting or a large are rug. Go shagging for answers here.

6. Seasonal Accents Make Great Distractions

A collection of seasonal organic blooms and greens from your garden, lanterns, greeting cards, photos and tablecloths – they all can act as happy distractions in a room that is begging for a redux. Don’t have a garden? Head to the farmers’ market, the flea shop, the vintage shop in your hood, and spend little to stage your spaces with renewed charm. Head over here for inspiration.

7. Paint can Perk it Up

Even a dingy clawfoot tub can look ultra modern and cool by finding the right low VOC paints and giving the bath a new coat. You will find sprucing up furniture with paint can be a great cheap fix that refreshes your spaces.

8. Be a Thrift Shopper

It’s no wonder second hand shops in cities nationwide do well during hard times. These are outlets that actually offer discounts while more upscale sights like 1st Dibs are peddling vintage treasures that cater to those with lots of spare cash. Do some research and check out the shops in various neighborhoods to find out where nifty castaways are being parked.

9. A Room of Her Own

Sometimes just carving out one room of your own in your dwelling can suffice until you have a bigger budget to fix up the place. Are you craving that Project Runway sewing room? How about a closeted dressing room out of a spare bedroom? Having a blast doing just one space for yourself can be very rewarding, even if it is a multi-use corner for working, painting and reading. Own it with visuals on the walls and a fun rug that speaks to you. Experts say you will accomplish the most in a space you gravitate towards.

10. Spa Makeover

So you can’t afford to tear out the old tile and tired tub to make way for stone and steam. Use zen decor touches and nurturing elements to turn your blah bath into spa bath: Ideas include indulgent, organic towels; sensuous beeswax candles in an array of holders; yummy creams and oils displayed in a vintage tray; and my favorite Nob Hill Day Spa element – a large pitcher of spring water filled with sliced cucumbers or lemons and a pretty glass.

Each week here at EcoSalon, the editors choose a post from the archives that we think you’ll love. The original post can be found here.

Image: Elle Decor

The post 10 Easy & Inexpensive Decorating Tips appeared first on EcoSalon.

“I will sell this house today!” affirmed a manically confident Carolyn Burnham in American Beauty. Donning rubber gloves, the anal agent spruced up the Formica and tile, trying to get the hopeless dud she was saddled with to sparkle.

These days, agents still mired in the recession also contemplate how to simply get buyers in the door, and curb appeal is everything when it comes to this lure. These five fixes can make a big difference:

1. Leaner and Cleaner Landscape

If the entrance has a patch of grass, make sure it is manicured. Too many agents and homeowners simply let the grass grow under their feet while waiting for a home to sell and the once landscaped lawn becomes a major turn off to potential buyers, unless of course they are hippies who like overgrown grass. It also helps to replace some of the water sucking plants with drought resistance cactus, and other xeriscape choices that show off your conservation commitment.  It also spells low maintenance!

2. Fresh Coat of Exterior Paint

Paint is the one fix that goes the distance since buyers really do judge a listing by its cover.  Go with an eco brand like Benjamin Moore and select a popular neutral, cream, white, beige or taupe with pretty trims (greens, browns, reds, blacks).

3. Eliminate all Debris and Encourage Neighbors to do the Same

I fell in love with a charming Mediterranean cottage in a desirable hood of San Francisco and probably would have made an offer if it were not for the butt-ugly neighboring homes spilling over with car and lawn equipment and other debris. It was shocking how one side of the street was pretty well maintained and the opposite site was a blight. Make cookies to bribe your neighbors into helping you with the cause by cleaning up their acts. In the end it will boost the value and saleability of  their homes, as well.

4. Patch broken Concrete, Bricks and Tiles

Unless you are marketing a diamond in the rough, it pays to invest in repairing broken chimney bricks, cracked concrete drive ways and flagstone steps. It makes a statement about how you have maintained the inside of the home, just as a well groomed physical appearance often spells a healthy internal system.

5. Clean Windows

You can do this yourself with a sizeable ladder and the right materials or hire a neighborhood service to come out (they usually charge per window) right before you put the house on the market. Weather will dirty them again, but the cleaning should last a couple of months and add also make a statement about the condition of the home. Filmy windows are a deterrent for getting curious lookers inside, unless it is Halloween.

Photo credits: Main image of “Painted Ladies” opposite Alamo Square in San Francisco, licensed for commercial use under Creative Commons by Marit and Toomas Hinnosaar on Flickr.

The post 5 Fast Fixes for Improved Curb Appeal appeared first on EcoSalon.

Let me paint you a picture: You’re at the paint store. After sorting through thousands of slightly different colors and arduously selecting the perfect tint or shade to embellish your bedroom walls, the indifferent sales clerk asks, “What finish do you want?” Wait, what? You are already emotionally exhausted from sorting through heaps of colors. Dearest reader, let me help.

Choosing the right paint finish is dictated by two things, appearance and function. Finish options range from dull matte to overwhelming sheen.

FLAT paint provides a smooth, matte finish that softens facades and disguises surface imperfections. This finish is difficult to keep clean, so avoid high traffic areas (children and pets will not get along well with flat finish paint). Flat paint is less durable than other options, so keep a reserve of the paint for touch ups. This finish absorbs light and is ideal for hiding bumps, cracks, and flaws.

“¢ Suitable for (adult) bedrooms, dining rooms, formal living rooms, libraries, and ceilings.

EGGSHELL/PEARL/SATIN finishes are similar to flat, but with an added hint of sheen and a large dose of functionality. This cleanable, velvety finish has a charming texture and is ideal for high traffic areas.

“¢ Suitable for hallways, bedrooms (even children’s), family rooms, living rooms, powder rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and woodwork.

SEMIGLOSS paint is lustrous and durable, perfect for areas that are exposed to moisture and get cleaned frequently.

“¢ Suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, utility areas, laundry rooms, doors, trim, and woodwork.

GLOSS paint is an extremely hard and durable finish that exudes a glossy, shiny luster. Gloss finish reflects light and tends to magnify imperfections, so meticulous sanding and surface preparation is essential.

“¢ Suitable for woodwork, trim, floors, cabinets, doors, and furniture.

ADDITIONAL WISDOM

Because the different finishes absorb and reflect light in different ways, consider the lighting of your space when selecting your sheen. For example, if your dining room has very dim lighting, the space will benefit from a finish with enough gloss to subtly reflect light. In this scenario, an eggshell finish would add a little more sparkle and ambiance than a flat finish.

Add a handful of contrast and dimension to any room by combining several paint finishes. Cover the ceiling with a flat finish to hide surface flaws. Use an eggshell or satin finish on walls for a functional surface with a bit of shine. Select a semigloss finish for doors, trim, and woodwork for a durable, easy to clean surface. Using different sheens within a space is aesthetically pleasing, but ultimately it’s a functional solution, too.

Need a few more tips? The EcoSalon archives offer great painting advice. How about a guide to eco-friendly paints? Or a little color guidance? Grab your paintbrush!

(Photographs by Emma Lee of Pearson Lyle Management.)

The post Shine and Sheen appeared first on EcoSalon.

In my household, we love decorating almost as much as we love our homemade java. We even get giddy when it’s time to paint – well, not the actual act of painting, that can be boring. We get excited over the endless possibilities and the fresh new look. We’re huge fans of eco-friendly paint, so the next time you’re thinking of taking on a redecorating project, here’s everything you need to know about finding the right type of paint for your project.

Buh-Bye VOC’s

VOC’s, the solvents used to make standard paint are fumey and gag-worthy, not to mention a proven health hazard. Fortunately, companies like YOLO Colorhouse, Benjamin Moore and Freshaire Choice have come up with VOC-free paint that’s less harmful to the environment and far better for people and animals. In fact, we’ve named low VOC paints as one of the top 20 greenest materials on the market.

If it’s spray paint you need for smaller projects, there are a few lower-toxicity ones out there if you dig around. They’re not completely risk-free, but they’re far better than what you’ll find in a standard can of the spray stuff.

Can I Have Cookies With That?

Milk paint is a big favorite around here. Originally made from milk, lime and earth, and used in cave paintings, milk paint has been around for centuries. There are many different ways to make your own, including a super-simple method that uses just two ingredients: nonfat dry milk and water. Of course, you can always spring for a pre-made batch from green businesses like The Real Milk Paint Company.

Painting Frenzy

There are a ton of ways to use your eco-friendly paint around the house. Color an accent wall, decorate mirrors and glass, or spruce up the entire place before putting it on the market. No matter what kind of project you tackle, check out some color tricks you can use to make the most out of your rooms.

Images: Photocapy, Mess of Pottage, redeye, and lejoe

The post Everything You Need to Know About Eco-Friendly Paint appeared first on EcoSalon.

1. Reface Rather Than Replace Cabinets

Innovative companies can work with your existing wood and reface those cabinet doors with sustainable woods rather than trashing and starting anew. Read this post for more tips for the kitchen cabinet facelift.

2. Swap Decor with Family and Friends

You don’t need a piano and I don’t need that daybed in the TV nook, so let’s trade and recycle our stuff and get what we really need. It’s a match made in eco heaven when it doesn’t cost you a dime to swap decor, especially with people who have a good eye like you do, and are low on storage space. It’s how they did it in the olden days before widespread consumer waste and climate change. Here’s more.

3. Baby Steps Can Equal Full Grown Changes in a Room

Rearrange the furniture, buy a few new pillow covers, paint a wall. These easy fixes will refresh your pad without sinking lots of cash. As you’ll discover in this handy how-to post, it can all be done for under $30.

4. Repurpose Excess Upholstery Materials

Those fabric rolls are not doing anyone any good just sitting in the closet. Cut them up and redirect them to your interiors for pillow covers, framed art, bedding, even wall coverage like the picture shown above, if you have enough for adequate padding. See these great ideas for repurposing your excess.

5. Clean Before You Replace

Perhaps that rug can come clean with eco spot remover techniques. Why rip it out if it’s still useful? Another option is to cover a damaged section of the carpet by layering with a small, affordable area rug, one made of eco fibers that won’t cost the same as new carpeting or a large are rug. Go shagging for answers here.

6. Seasonal Accents Make Great Distractions

A collection of seasonal organic blooms and greens from your garden, lanterns, greeting cards, photos and tablecloths – they all can act as happy distractions in a room that is begging for a redux. Don’t have a garden? Head to the farmers’ market, the flea shop, the vintage shop in your hood, and spend little to stage your spaces with renewed charm. Head over here for inspiration.

7. Paint can Perk it Up

Even a dingy clawfoot tub can look ultra modern and cool by finding the right low VOC paints and giving the bath a new coat. You will find sprucing up furniture with paint can be a great cheap fix that refreshes your spaces.

8. Be a Thrift Shopper

It’s no wonder second hand shops in cities nationwide do well during hard times. These are outlets that actually offer discounts while more upscale sights like 1st Dibs are peddling vintage treasures that cater to those with lots of spare cash. Do some research and check out the shops in various neighborhoods to find out where nifty castaways are being parked.

9. A Room of Her Own

Sometimes just carving out one room of your own in your dwelling can suffice until you have a bigger budget to fix up the place. Are you craving that Project Runway sewing room? How about a closeted dressing room out of a spare bedroom? Having a blast doing just one space for yourself can be very rewarding, even if it is a multi-use corner for working, painting and reading. Own it with visuals on the walls and a fun rug that speaks to you. Experts say you will accomplish the most in a space you gravitate towards.

10. Spa Makeover

So you can’t afford to tear out the old tile and tired tub to make way for stone and steam. Use zen decor touches and nurturing elements to turn your blah bath into spa bath: Ideas include indulgent, organic towels; sensuous beeswax candles in an array of holders; yummy creams and oils displayed in a vintage tray; and my favorite Nob Hill Day Spa element – a large pitcher of spring water filled with sliced cucumbers or lemons and a pretty glass.

Image: Elle Decor

The post 10 DIY Tips for Redecorating on the Cheap appeared first on EcoSalon.

Before you check out more swatches of paint and fabrics and pore over back issues of Met Home, check out our posts on perky colors that are home runs because they are not only attractive – they are accessible in green materials that show our commitment to the planet, and prove that it only takes a simple, affordable dose of color to change a whole room.

Still Seeing Purple

Proud as a peacock to showcase this plum of a shade, purple has been hot for two years and still going, with upholstery, rugs, bedding and pillows that are berry nice for your eco habitat. Locate more here.

Pink, Orange and Red, Cool Shades for Spring and Summer

Those soft corals are no shrimps when it comes to making design statements! Why are we so drawn to these pinky feminine hues? I only know they are easy on the eye and pleasant to live with, day after day, and that’s important when it comes to investing in your rooms. Powder puff design? Naw. Call it grapefruit groovy. Here’s more.

Lemon Aids Your Space

If lemon is your squeeze, you will be sweet on yellow for your rooms. Really, is there anything more cheerful and sunny? It also can be quite chic when applied to modern furnishings, especially the ones we love which are made with healthy materials. So go bananas, and shop for bedding, chairs, and textiles that bring on the rays.

Anchors Away

We all love blues because they give us anything but their name. You don’t have to live at the beach to surround yourself with the shades of the sea and sky, as proven in the nautical trend in home design.

An Eco Solution to Boring Walls

Don’t just look to low-VOC paints to give those walls a facelift when the hot trend is cool murals. Some gorgeous designs that are printed on PVC-free textiles with eco-friendly processes are now available and don’t need to be glued down to your walls with nasty adhesives. For that real boost of color with original flare, go no further.

For extraordinary green accents for filling in with color, check out all these posts that connect you with organic bedding, furniture, textiles and home trends.

Amy Butler Carpets; Trina Turk for the Home; Ikat Prints; Decorating with Polka Dots; Henna Neutrals in Decor; Painting Old Clawfoot Tubs; Pure Green Plaids; Scandinavian Home Textiles; Butterfly Print Wallpapers; Chic Wall Coverage that Pops

The post Redecorating? Color Tricks to Make the Most Out of Your Rooms appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s the kind of lab I wish they offered in school instead of chemistry.

Meet Chroma Lab, a collaboration of two furniture doctors, Alicia Cornwell and Tony Bevilacqua, who merged their fine art skills and history backgrounds to transform “neglected but promising” decor.

Salvaging the treasures in the attic beats buying new any day. Why not go the distance, like Cornwell and Bevilacqua, and reclaim one man’s junk instead of tossing it?

The artful pair began dabbling in recycling, repainting and repairing castaways from their work digs in Boston a couple of years ago for their own pleasure. It was so much fun (Yippee, pass me another chair!) they went legit, embellishing everything from timeworn, high quality furniture to tired handcrafted lamps and clocks –  customizing oldies but goodies from clients with pick-me-up colors and geometric flourishes.

Check out the lab’s new online store at Etsy. You can order painted treasures ready to ship. Or, if you live within 50 miles, they will deliver for free.

Bright spots from their lively portfolio include the Gum Drop Table; Glowing Tree Nightstands; Limeade Plant Stand; and an orange Table for a Rainy Day. The team has  partnered with Grand, adding its furniture and clocks to one of Boston’s design most well-curated haunts for home accessories, clothing and gifts.

Images: Chroma Lab

The post Furniture Lab Experiment with Facelifts appeared first on EcoSalon.