The rest of the year, items
take their place around the home serving their original purpose. But who says you can’t have a little more fun
in the summertime? Here are some everyday
items that can be purchased for just a little, and then you can do a lot more
with them.
Take the classic wooden TV
stand. It’s a simple throwback piece
that was found in many a family room before and now may be found in a few
garage sales amid all the flat screens and entertainment centers that replaced
it. Take that style of small furniture piece,
paint it a sharp color, add some rolling wheels and some decorative hardware,
and you have a bar cart perfect for entertaining indoors and out. It would make a great companion in a
breakfast nook or at the end of the kitchen cabinets to house serveware,
glasses, and snacks.
If you have old patio
furniture that’s seen its better day, opt for a makeover before you jump to a
replacement. Thoroughly clean those
plastic or metal chairs, then give them a couple of coats of spray paint in a
vibrant color. Add in some bright
printed outdoor pillows and potted plants at their feet for a welcoming spot to
sit out in.
That large woven basket with
handles usually holds shoes, toys, or magazines. For the summer months, upgrade it to seasonal
assistant by filling it with rolled beach towels, flip flops, or sand
toys. Once you bring out those
must-haves, you must have a place to stow them in style.
For a crafty spin on a
birdbath, combine an old lamp base and a flea-market-find platter or bowl. Remove the lamp’s bulb, chord, and harp, and
use the appropriate glue to affix the platter or bowl to the ring usually
reserved for the bulb. It would make a
nice addition to your garden area or front walk.
A wheelbarrow can double as
an outdoor bin to ice down drinks for a party.
Glass votives can be mini pots for individual succulents to create a
tiny garden. Gather maps of any travel
spots you hit over the next couple of months to use later as frame matting for
vacation photos or in decoupage craft projects.
Use glass canisters usually reserved for the kitchen counter to house
sidewalk chalk, little bottles of bubbles, and other supplies ready for
afternoon artwork. As you finish up
those glass bottles of soda at steamy evening cookouts, save them to spray
paint for a growing collection of custom bud vases.
Now what can you take and
offer a summer switch-up in order to really make a splash?
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star June 1st.
