When you think of sewing, what comes to mind? The Women’s Institute? Darning socks? Failing home economics? Forget the old-school stereotypes because sewing is actually a great way of redecorating your home without having to empty your bank account.

All you need is some pretty fabric and a few bits and pieces such as ribbons, sequins or fabric paints to give your furnishings a new look! If you don’t have a swanky sewing machine then you can always pick up needles and thread.

Scarves: a simple DIY cushion cover

We have your cushion covered!

If you’ve got some old cushions lying around that are in need of a new look, then here are a few simple tricks you can use to spruce them up.

Scarves:

Have a look in your cupboard and see if you’ve got some old scarves you no longer wear, as they can easily create a new cover for your cushion.

● Lay the scarf, print side down on a table or flat surface.

● Place the cushion on the fabric so the corners of the cushion lay inbetween the corners of the fabric (it should look like a diamond shape when lying on the scarf).

● Take two opposite corners of the scarf and tie around your cushion into a knot.

● Repeat this step with the other corners of the scarf and you’ll have an instant new funky cover for your cushion.

● To secure, sew through the knots to keep them together or tie a matching ribbon around the knots.

Embellishment:

Another easy way to pretty up a pillow is to add embellishments – think corsages, brooches, strips of lace or sequins. You may have some lying around from old clothes, headbands or hats. If not, you can also buy these bits and bobs quite cheaply from craft shops.

● Stick on the corsage with a bit of fabric glue, or if it is a brooch, pin it on the cushion and stitch with some thread to secure.

● For a designer look, make sure to place the corsage or brooch in the corner of your cushion or if using a large piece, place it in the middle to create a statement look.

● You can also use ribbons. Tie them in a cute bow and sew them to the cushion to secure.

● Strips of lace or sequins can be glued or sewed on, depending on what works best for you. Place them in a chaotic pattern, overlapping each other, for a shabby chic effect or in vertical lines for a polished look.

● If you are feeling adventurous you can even try iron-on appliqué patterns.

Use cut-outs, markers or paints for striking silhouettes

Brighten up your lampshades!

Many of us have a lampshade lying around the house that doesn’t exactly set the style of the room on fire. So how do you light up the lampshade to make it a real statement piece?

Silhouettes:

● Create a silhouette effect by drawing an image on the side of a light lampshade and filling it in with a fabric marker or dark fabric paint.

● You can also update your lampshade temporarily by sticking a template to the inside of your lampshade.

● The DIY Life website shows you how you can do it with just paper and double-sided tape.

Stamps:

A fun way to decorate a lampshade is to use some stamps.

● All you need are some rubber stamps such as flower stamps if you have a big floral theme in your home or even stamps with animals designs or words.

● Choose an inkpad with a colour that will match or contrast with your deco theme.

● Press the stamp into the ink and start stamping your lampshade – try stamping the bottom of the shade for a trim effect or add horizontal or vertical stripes around the lampshade for a stripy look.

A strip of fabric can spruce up a room

Fabric:

● Find some fabric that matches your existing décor which you can use to cover an old lampshade for a more modern look.

● Watch the following DIY lampshade tutorial on YouTube to find out how to create your perfect lampshade with only a few items. They show you how to make a retro cover for a lampshade (but the same rules apply if you prefer a different style).

Beautiful bedding!

Bedding looking a bit tired and washed out? Or maybe you have lots of duvet covers and throws in plain tones? Instead of throwing them away, you can make a few adjustments to create a feature in your bedroom.

Ribbons:

● Look around your room and see what colour you’ve used most. If you have a certain colour on your walls or carpet that you like, then all you need is some matching silky ribbon.

● Attach the ribbon about a quarter of the way down your bedspread horizontally.

● Pin it and sew down both sides to secure it. You can do this using a few different widths and shades of ribbon within your chosen colour range.

A basic, yet bold painted bedspread

Vintage:

For a shabby chic vintage look, buy a strip of fabric with a vintage pattern such as a floral or patchwork design or perhaps something with checks or spots.

● Pin to the bedspread about three-quarters down, leaving about 15cm of the bedspread below it and sew down both sides. This will give your bedding a posh vintage feel without going overboard.

● If you have any fabric left over, why not try the same concept on your pillow covers?

Paint:

You could be really creative and paint a pattern onto your bedspread with fabric paints.

● For a contemporary look, don’t use too many colours and keep the patterns quite simple.

● Pick out elements that have a reoccurring theme in your room, for inspiration.

● If you aren’t confident with your painting ability, you can always buy stencils from craft shops.