Comfy, Outdoor Pallet Bed - DIY

I am super excited about this project!  Last fall, I started to see outdoor pallet beds FLOOD Pinterest! And like most things on Pinterest, I wanted one for myself.  So I stacked 2 pallets twice (2 pallets stacked, side by side), and put a twin mattress on top and called it a day.......well, it was ok, put totally thrown together. So a few weeks ago, I got tired of looking at the "eyesore" as I had begun to think of it.  I decided to do something to make this junk look AMAZING....and that I did!

First, I cut some length off one of the pallets so that the mattress would fit perfectly on it, with no excess hanging out.  

 

Next, I had some old baseboards that came out of the Old Feed Store & Antiques in Woodbury, TN.  They redid part of the building, and I lucked into being in the right place at the right time.  All I did was used some wood screws to attach the boards to the pallets. Easy-peesy.

Although I loved the mint green color of the old trim, there were several spots that were unpainted so I couldn't leave it so unfinished looking.  I used a thin layer of Blackberry House Paint in Fresh Eggs to give it the finished look.  Last I put my mattress back on the pallets (already covered in a waterproof mattress cover), and simply a twin sheet.  Decorative outdoor pillow give it a finished look.  

And let me tell you, this is the most popular seat in the house when I have company!

Shopping Your Home (FOR FREE) - DIY

I have so many comments on my Facebook and Instagram accounts when I post pictures of my home decor asking "where'd you get that" or "how'd you come up with that idea".  Well...I will say that Pinterest has a lot to do with a lot of these ideas, BUT you can make your home look put together and "gathered" (the term for a space that looks like it has been collected over time).

What's the BIG secret?

SHOP YOUR HOUSE!

Yes, that's right!  Go shopping right in your very own home!  Hmmm...that might seem strange to some, but for me this is a monthly, if not weekly occurrence in my house.  I am constantly moving items and rearranging to get a look that I love.  And if I get tired of an item, I don't necessarily go buy something else to fill the space (although I do at times), I shop my house.

Follow these simple steps to shop your house:

1. Find a large space that you aren't using where items won't be in the way like your kitchen table (unless you actually eat at it), your bed, the floor, etc.

2. Collect items all over your house and put in the designated spot.  You can start with knick knacks if you are uncertain about this process, but I go all out.  I'm talking wall hangings, knick knacks, throw pillows, handmade items, etc.

3. Next, group like items together.  I like to group items by their color palette, but that is totally up to you.  Some people like to group according to theme, like birds, pictures, etc.  I don't find that this works well for me because I like to throw all sorts of items into a vignette, but I like them to be in the same color palette.  Take for example the mantle that I recently put together for spring.

All the items are in the same color palette with pops of green throughout.

4.  After you have grouped your items to your liking find a place to display.  Now this is the fun part...let your creativity flow friends!  

Some people like to create a decor closet or shelf in their home where they stash items that they aren't using at the time and rotate these items in their home.  Personally, I would love to do this, but I don't have the space for it right now so my items are spread throughout several of my closets and my shed.

Ultimately, this is about making your home beautiful and expressing your creativity.  So have fun with it and get "shopping".