Give home accents a facelift with tips from upcycling expert

 After a long winter, spring is finally here – a great excuse to liven up spaces with a fresh twist on ho-hum home accents. From art décor to organization, now is the perfect time for your readers to jumpstart those fun, resourceful DIY projects they’re always pinning but forever putting off.

The Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds™ campaign recently teamed up with upcycling aficionado and blogger Dinah Wulf from DIY Inspired to craft five non-intimidating ways to transform living areas using common household items and some paper and packaging magic:

Coffee Filter Paper Flowers

1. Shoebox Lid Wall Art – Use the lid of a shoebox as a paint canvas. Spray the lid with primer and then paint the lid in the color of choice. Use stencils to create unique artwork.
2. Drawer Organization – Cut the bottoms of food boxes so they are approximately two and a half inches high. Wrap each bottom with decorative paper and use them inside drawers for organization. Use different-sized boxes to organize pencils, pens and paper clips.
3. DIY Map Lampshade – Paper maps are great for upcycling home décor accents like lampshades. Cut the map to the desired shape and size, and use decoupage medium to cover the shade.
4. Coffee Filter Paper Flowers – Pinch the center of a coffee filter upwards to create a bunch. One by one, add three more until one full bunch has four coffee filters. Use a child-sized hair band to tie the “stem” together. Cut out flower petals out of old book pages and glue them to the flower, then use a dowel rod to create a sturdy stem.
5. DIY Napkin Rings – Cardboard tubes should never be thrown away! Cut a tube into two-inch-thick pieces. Paint them your favorite color, then glue a shell or a flower on top for spring.

Fresh Design Ideas for Summer!

The change of seasons brings about many new aesthetics from clothing style to interior design. If you’re thinking about updating your space this summer, I’d like to introduce you to J Design Group. CEO/Founder Jennifer Corredor has worked on premier projects around the world.

Beyond luxury homes, J Design Group has been responsible for the sensational interiors of hotels, restaurants, financial institutions, corporate facilities, casinos, and resorts on an international scale. They have accumulated many prestigious accolades including the Best of Houzz 2015 award in Design and Client Satisfaction.


Read the interview with Jennifer.

Faten (FA): How should one get started without feeling overwhelmed?

Jennifer Corredor (JC):  If one is concerned about being overwhelmed, this could be achieved by doing room by room, so as not to feel the effects of pressure. However, the design as a whole should be done on the onset so that the design overall at the end will flow.

FA:  What are some must have pieces that should be in a living space?
JC: One very important piece of furniture that is always necessary is to have is a comfortable sofa that one can enjoy and relax.

FA: What are some tips on updating for those on a budget?
JC: Always remember designing these days that there is an array of products that are very well priced and it can be more easily achieved and cost effective.Having the space plan is a must before purchasing or making any decisions.

FA: Which celebrity did you update their space? 

JC: We have designed homes for several celebrities, though our clients are very private and prefer not to be mentioned.

 For additional information or to schedule a design consultation, visit www.jdesigngroup.com.