IKEA Dresser Hacks (as Nightstands)

Hey there all! As you know, I'm in the middle of finishing up two bedroom redos -- our master bedroom that has been in the works for like five years or something. Seriously, I've lost count. And the guest room that I started last year. I absolutely LOVE the direction both are going. It's funny because the styles are different but I just adore each room.

Both are close to being done but the guest room is closer. I had a few updates done to the room a couple weeks ago, including adding an overhead light (which is amazing after going without all these years!) and crown molding. It was the last room in the house other than the mudroom to get that trim and it finishes off the space nicely.

Now to the last big project in that room -- the nightstands. I tried hard to be cool with mismatched nightstands my friends. REAL hard. I can't do it. I am a lover of symmetry and I have to have matching nightstands.

So of course finding two matching in the style I want is not easy. When it comes to nightstands I love a dresser look -- and for a year now I've searched Craigslist for "small dressers" to no avail. Sometimes I can find one, but never two with the look I wanted. At least for what I was willing to pay.

Last year I did some digging on the IKEA site and found two options -- one was the Rast and one was the Tarva. Both are labeled dressers and both are available with three drawers. The Rast was out of stock at our IKEA so I ended up looking at the Tarva for our master bedroom to see how I liked them:

The size was perfect, the price was great and I knew I could dress them up. I wanted to see how I liked the quality before I went back for the Rast. 

I was pleasantly surprised -- the Tarva is kind of the "grown up" version of the Rast. It's much bigger and taller and just more substantial. The drawer mechanisms are metal and it's just more sturdy in general:

I cut down the legs for two reasons -- it was two tall with them at full height and I plan to wrap the bottom with trim. We've been using them unfinished for months now and I quite like them -- now I just need to get them painted! 

We decided to take a last minute trip to IKEA a couple weeks ago and luckily there were plenty of the Rast in stock that day. I grabbed a couple up for the guest room: 

This is the little sister version of the Tarva. ;) It's less than half the price -- only $35! It's much smaller though, and the drawer hardware is plastic instead of metal. Because these will be mostly for storage (that we'll rarely need to access), I'm not worried about that. 

I gotta say, they are pretty adorable!:

The wood is inexpensive pine so I will need a good primer for both. The Rast has a lot more knots to cover than the Tarva -- even in IKEA furniture you get what you pay for! :) 

Now to decide what I'll do with them! I've actually already come up with a general plan for the master bedroom dressers and of course when I searched hacks for this post it was probably the number one way people have updated it: 

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Just changing the hardware and adding simple lattice wood to the front of the drawers makes a big difference!

I loved this version too, with the simple hardware in the middle and the wheels:

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I also liked the contrast of stain and paint -- this is always a great look:

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Again with the wood trim -- love that! The added base around the bottom really makes a big difference too, right? It helps to beef up this small dresser.

The Tarva is a little bigger and the ideas for this one are endless too! What a great idea for a small desk:

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I think this would still be a great nightstand and would do double duty!

There are overlays you can buy for IKEA furniture -- have you seen those? They have tons of options from very ornate to small details like this one:

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They are an added expense (some get pricey) but would be a great way to update it if you aren't a big DIYer.

I LOVE how the just a simple cut to the legs of the Tarva completely changes the way it looks:

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It looks fantastic paired with the long, modern hardware (these are cabinets pulls you can find at the hardware store).

Great ideas, right? I will most likely go more traditional with our dressers, but I don't want to do the same thing in each room. I plan to change it up a little and I'll be sure to share what I do! Spring break will be a perfect time to tackle at least one set! (Putting them together was enough DIY for me for the time being!)

Have you used either of these dressers in your home? If you've done your own hack feel free to leave a link in the comments. They are such a great, inexpensive option for pretty nightstands -- I'll let you know over time how they hold up!

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What's in My Bag? (It's Not Tools for Once!)

Hello my friends! I hope you had a lovely holiday weekend! Our was wonderful. :) Today I have a different post for you all and I'm excited about it. This DIY girl rarely talks fashion or beauty (and it will stay that way) but I am a girl and I do love both. The beauty stuff more than fashion really (I find most of my clothes at TJ Maxx)-- but makeup I love!

I'm joining in with a few of my favorite bloggers today to share what's in my makeup bag. So fun for a change! (Thank you to my beautiful friend Chris for having me!) I've been looking forward to this because the products I use are those that it's taken me years to find -- I feel like it's a science to find makeup that work best for you. I LOVE to tell people about them because I'm so thrilled with each of these:

Let's start with the eyes shall we? This is my favorite part because I think the eyes are most important. First up, I should tell you most days I wear only some under eye concealer and mascara. If I'm going out running errands I'll amp it up with more eye makeup and blush as well. And if I'm going out out I'll add in foundation, eye liner and more dramatic color. 

I've learned with age to take good care of my eyebrows (I get them shaped up every two months or so)  -- remember thicker eyebrows are a good thing! One of my absolute favorite products is the Gimme Brow by Benefit: 

I think some eye pencils can look just like that -- filling in your brow with a pencil. This stuff is awesome -- it makes your brows darker and fills them in so they look much fuller and prettier. It's pretty amazing stuff. I use this most days that I wear makeup. It's so fast and the best part is it looks natural. 

Another favorite product of mine (I'll say "favorite" a lot because it's taken me years to find all of these that work so well!) are the mascaras I use. Yes, two. :) For every day I like the They're Real mascara by Benefit: 

I love this stuff so much -- it covers great and the brush is fantastic because you can get every little lash with it. I use this nearly every day. They only negative with this is that there's not a lot in the tube. About four weeks in it's drying up or running low -- but I can usually stretch it for longer. 

Now when I want more drama I use the Younique mascara. This stuff is different and takes two steps. Well, three really. I put my regular mascara on first, then while it's still wet I'll do a coat of the Younique mascara. Then you use the smaller tube which is filled with the "fibers" -- you brush these on your lashes where you want some more fullness and length. The little fibers really make your lashes transform -- it's really cool. 

You finish up with another coat of the regular Younique mascara. I find that over time I can just do my regular stuff and then a coat of the Younique mascara because it seems to hold on to some of the fibers -- just that makes my lashes crazy pretty. This stuff really is cool (and no, I'm not being paid to say that) and I use it all the time. You just have to have a light hand with it. It takes some practice to make them not get too full and clumpy. 

My favorite eye shadow is the Urban Decay Naked palette: 

This is not cheap! I put it off for quite some time because of the price, but it is worth it. The palletes are beautiful (the original Naked is my favorite) and of course, you are getting 12 eye shadows in the kit for the price. I use the tones to the left for every day and add the darker ones for a more dramatic eye. 

I've used the Laura Mercier under eye concealer for years and it works well, but I still feel like there's probably a better one out there: 

The price is high on this one too but it lasts forever! Seriously, I probably shouldn't say how long (I know there's a shelf life to makeup). ;) Like I said though, the coverage is good but not amazing. If you have one you love please let me know!

OK, this is one of my best finds! I tell everyone about this foundation because it's so good. I don't wear foundation much, but this stuff is awesome. It always surprises me when I use it. It's the bareMinerals bareSkin foundation: 

I got it in a kit with the foundation brush, which I highly recommend using: 

Here's the thing -- I use a couple drops for my entire face. The coverage is incredible. TWO drops. Shake up the bottle well and then drop the foundation into the top of the brush (it's hard to see here but it's concave). I started using a brush instead of my fingers for foundation years ago and I love it. I will blend with a blending sponge at the end if needed. 

The coverage is better than any other foundation I've tried. Plus it's light (duh, you're only using a few drops) so it doesn't feel cakey or gross. I can't stand that feeling of having makeup on so I just adore this stuff.

My favorite blush is quite a find -- I use two regularly and they are only a couple and three dollars each. Have you seen the E.L.F. cosmetics? You can find them at drug stores and grocery stores and they range from a dollar to a few for most. 

I won the shimmering facial whip at a baby shower a year ago (most of us thought it was lipgloss at first, that was fun) and have used it since. Again, a little goes a very long way. It's a gel that you rub into your cheekbones and I LOVE IT. It's only a dollar! 

It creates a very natural, pretty glow. It's perfect for every day and really great for the summer months. It says shimmer but it's not overly so at all. 

My other favorite of theirs is the $3 powder baked blush: 

It looks like it would go on brown but it's a rosy color (I use Rich Rose). It's definitely more of a dramatic look though so I tend to use this more when going out. I love the way it goes on and come on, you can't beat $3!

Finally, one of my favorite lipsticks to finish off the look -- I love the Clinique Chubby Sticks: 

They go on so smooth and pretty and stay put well. I love the colors too -- I lean toward red or berry tones. They don't feel quite as heavy as lipstick to me but have all the color and staying power. 

There you go! Some of my makeup favorites! It's fun to be girly in a post for once! ;) If you'd like to see what I look like with all of this makeup on, go here. (A friend took professional pics of me last year and I'm slowly updating my old pics. I rarely share pictures of myself on here so this will be my profile photo for at least seven more years I'm guessing!)

I store all of my makeup in a pretty storage box and have a spot near our bedroom window where I sit and put it on (I use a mirror) when I'm doing my every day looks: 

Most days I take less than a minute to apply my makeup. If I'm running out it takes less than five minutes. I love it but don't like to spend a lot of time on it! :) 

I love finding new products that work well so please do share what you love! Do you use a great concealer? This list includes my absolute favorites -- I do use primer and other products as well, but these perform the best for me. 

Please check out the other ladies (some of my favorites in blogland) on the makeup tour today! 

Chris at Just a Girl

Kate at Censtational Girl

Beth at Home Stories A to Z

Courtney at A Thoughtful Place 

*Some affiliate links included for your convenience! 

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Five IKEA Favorites (for Under $10)

Hello and happy Good Friday to you! I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned -- we have family visiting for Easter dinner but it will be low key and relaxed, just the way we like it. :)

Last Sunday I got a wild hair and decided to take a last minute trip to IKEA -- I called a girlfriend and we packed up the kids and headed out. The two hour drive is much more bearable with someone to talk to! We got the news a few months ago that Indiana is getting an IKEA (I may have cried with joy) but we've got another year and half before that one is ready. 

I've purchased a number of items from this wondrous place, from less than five bucks to furniture for a few hundred, and I've been really happy with every one. I can't think of one thing I was disappointed with. I like mixing in pieces from IKEA around the house and I think my favorites are some of their most inexpensive. 

I've pulled together a list of my five favorites and it turns out all are under $10. Actually all but one are under $7 -- so good! 

I LOVE love love these FRASERA glasses. I grabbed a few of the smaller ones a few trips ago, then got the taller versions on the next trip. 

They call the smaller one a whiskey glass but we use it for juice and milk: 

They are really beautiful glasses. I just love them. I replaced most of our mix matched glasses with these. The price is great -- $2.50 for the smaller ones and a dollar more for the large. 

They are nice and heavy too -- very substantial feeling. The taller ones are perfect for margaritas. :) See how pretty they are?:

We've had them for about two years now and they've held up great -- although I did find a small chip in one literally within an hour of getting home from IKEA. Of course.

I think faux plants are coming back! That's a whole other post but these little faux FEJKA plants have always been a favorite!:

They are honestly some of the most realistic faux plants I've ever seen. I especially love the one on the right -- it has fuzzy leaves that look really natural. That is one I have in a couple places around our house. I love it in our laundry room that has no natural light!

Of course they have super cute planters that these fit into perfectly:

This next one is a new fave -- I got it just last weekend but as soon as I placed it down on the floor I fell in love. It's the SINDAL door mat:

I don't find this photo that they use to be a good example of what it looks like. This picture looks more like a jute woven rug, but it is actually much thinner than typical jute. 

This is exactly what the texture looks like: 

I love it because it is so thin -- it makes it easy to open doors. Also, the fibers don't slough off like some natural rugs. And it has a backing underneath that prevents water from going through to the floor and keeps it from sliding around (no rug pad needed!). 

I am kicking myself for not grabbing at least one more -- next trip for sure! And oh yeah, it's only $5!

Here's one that's purely functional but I love it. The VARIERA iron holder works great: 

We have two irons -- a nicer one for clothes and a cheaper one I use for sewing and craft projects and I use this in a closet upstairs for that one. It's so easy to slip the iron in there and the cord hang on the bottom part (it looks like it would hold a ironing board but it doesn't). I also like that it holds the iron upright -- it's just easier to stash it away with this.

And finally, one of the best deals you will find at IKEA -- the FJADRAR feather insert. I only use feather inserts in our throw pillows (I just think they look better and are more comfy) and the day I found this one at IKEA I swear I heard singing:

If you go to a fabric store (or somewhere like Pottery Barn) to buy them you'll pay around $20 for a 20x20 insert. These are SIX BUCKS. That is crazy, crazy good. And I'll tell you what -- I actually like these better than the more expensive versions because the feathers on those will poke through the covers. It drives me crazy. IKEA inserts will do that occasionally but not nearly as much. I LOVE them. 

There you go! Five of my IKEA favorites for under $10! Have you tried any of these? Any inexpensive items you love that I didn't have on this list? Do tell! 

By the way, here's how I use the $6 feather inserts to make "Pottery Barn" pillows (for way less): 

Have a great holiday weekend!

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Haven Mentor -- Let's Meet in August!

Hello all! I'm joining in on a fun blog hop today -- if you're visiting from Katie's place, welcome! :) 

As some of you know, about six years ago I took a leap of faith with some blog friends and created the Haven Conference -- a conference dedicated to those of us in the "shelter" field of blogging. For those who love talking about and sharing home decor and DIY projects with all of you. 

We were nervous but knew a conference like this was needed. Thankfully it was a huge success, and has continued to be over the years. I am crazy proud of what we've accomplished! I decided to leave the planning team last year purely to have more time in my life for my family and my own blog. The dedication and time to create an event of that magnitude is no joke -- I felt like I was falling behind with the rest of life and I hate that feeling. 

It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, but it was the right one. I'm thrilled to still be involved in the conference as one of the Mentors: 

The mentor group is new this year and I love the idea. Do you see all of that talent?? Those of us involved will have a group of attendees we will meet with numerous times during the conference. Think of me as your guide throughout the experience. :) 

If you're thinking of starting a blog, just started a blog or been at it for years -- this experience is extremely valuable! I will hit my eight year anniversary in a couple months and I always walk away having learned so much. 

Our mentor group is introducing ourselves to you this week through this blog hop, so be sure to click through to find some incredible blogs full of inspiration. Our assignment is to answer a few questions to share more about ourselves and our experiences with you this week, so here we go!

1. How many years have you been blogging? 

I answered this one already but I'll start my ninth year in May -- I can hardly believe it. I was in marketing for years (even went back to get my masters) but when I had my son my heart was not in it anymore. I then followed a dream of design work and was a decorator with a local firm for two years. It was during that time that I started TDC. It turned out I enjoyed working on my own home and sharing it with you all way more than doing it for others so I decided to take a chance and focus on blogging only. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made -- I know this is my calling. Although blogging has changed SO MUCH since the early days, there's always something to learn! 

2. What's the favorite DIY project you've completed? 

I'm all about adding character where there was none in our home. I add built ins wherever possible and lots of trim work throughout the house. 

One of my top three favorite projects I've ever tackled was definitely changing our dining room into a library: 

I worked on it for years and finally finished up the last details a few months ago. It is such a pretty space but extremely functional too -- I have SO MUCH storage in those cabinets!: 

I finished up our kitchen renovation late last year and it's my favorite project, hands down. I'm crazy proud of what I accomplished in there. One of my favorite aspects of the space is the new window seat:

The room is completely transformed! I still walk in there and smile, every day. This is another one that functions so much better for us now -- even though I removed a few upper cabinets to open things up a bit: 

Not every favorite project is a big one though! I recently painted my son's bathroom after eight years of bright yellow walls that were driving me crazy. The difference new paint and a few new accessories made was huge!:

You really have to see the before to understand why I'm so excited about that room. A can of paint can work wonders my friends!

3. What was something significant you learned from a conference? 

This one is tough because I've learned more than I can even begin to express here -- but the I believe the real value in conferences is the feeling of community and friendship. Anyone who works from home knows that it is wonderful, but you miss that connection with coworkers. Blogging is weird because your coworkers live all over the world. 

Beyond that -- these bloggers will become some of your closest and dearest friends. They are the ones who "get" what you do. Some of my closest friends are those I see once a year and that in itself is something most don't understand. 

You will walk away with connections to businesses -- but the real value in my eyes is the connections you make with people who do what you do. 

4. What is is one piece of advice you would offer a blogger -- new or otherwise -- who is attending Haven? 

Conferences can be overwhelming. So many people (most you don't know but feel like you know because you see their faces every day -- another weird thing), so many things to look at, so much information to retain. My advice to anyone attending Haven, but especially those who are new or thinking about blogging, is to remember you do not have to do everything the second you get home.

Take your best bits of information and incorporate them over time. Know while you are there that you will get more information than you know what to do with and that is OK. Focus on building relationships while you are there, not worrying about what you will do when you get home.

If you are interesting in attending Haven (I would love to meet you!!), go here to register. 

Here is the list of bloggers participating in the hop today:

Liz Marie Blog

My Repurposed Life

Just a Girl

Bower Power

And be sure to check out tomorrow's group starting with Beth at Unskinny Boppy!

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It's Spring so Let's Decrapify!

Yay, spring is here! It was warm for weeks and now we're in coats again! Yay! 

At least the sun has been out, the trees are blooming and the tulips are coming up -- I just hope they survive these cold nights. Even though we have a few more chilly days in the forecast, I'm in full out spring-mode. It's time to decrapify my friends! 

This time of year you'll hear me use that term a lot but I can't take credit for that brilliance. It's so funny because I see it everywhere now (it's an awesome word) but it was a sweet reader about seven years ago or so that first used it in a comment. I emailed her immediately and asked if I could take her word because…brilliant. 

Anyway. It's about that time. I mentioned last fall that I had been reading a little book that has completely changed how I look at decluttering and organization in our home. I haven't even finished it yet but I can honestly say it has changed our lives. 

I was in full "tidying" mode last summer and paused to finish up the kitchen renovation. Then the holidays hit and I wasn't even going to attempt it then. Now I'm ready to complete the process. The book is called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I tell everyone I know to wait until life is quiet to start it -- before the holidays is not a good time. I say that because if you are like most, you will want to tear through your entire house within the first few pages. She speaks to our reasoning for stuff in a way I've never heard before. It's truly eye-opening. 

I didn't go in the order she recommends at first, which goes back to what I just said. You'll just start filling bags with stuff. :) But now I'm starting from scratch and starting with the clothes, per her instructions. The author (Marie Kondo) recommends bringing all like items from all over the house to one spot before you start deciding what you will keep and discard. 

I didn't do that last time because it felt like too much work, but the difference when you do it is staggering. There is one big reason for this -- she believes when you see the sheer volume of similar items you have in one place, it changes the way you look at what you love and really want to keep. She's right. 

I started with the t-shirts. Just MY t-shirts. I think I counted 50-something? I usually only wear t-shirts at home or in bed so why I have so many is beyond me. The reason I love the way Kondo thinks is that her process is simple. It's not about what you've worn in the last six months, it's not about what fits perfectly, it's not about what you want to fit into again…it's purely about what you LOVE. 

Does the shirt with paint stains on it from high school bring you joy? I have one that does. I kept it. Does the shirt that's stretched out and ugly bring you joy because it sparks a happy memory or it's super comfy? Keep it. 

I laid them all out on the bed and this is what I'm talking about -- I don't need this many t-shirts!: 

I found I loved about half of mine -- not because I was like OMG THIS T-SHIRT IS AMAZING but more because it just made me happy to wear. It is SO much easier to decide what to keep when you look at it that way. I used to think about what I wanted to get rid of. Now I decide what I'm going to keep. It's different, I promise you. 

I did the same for my sweaters, pants, even socks. Then I tackled the biggest section -- the hanging shirts: 

I got rid of about 60 shirts. I went through them on the bed and then hung them all back up, and then went through them again and grabbed at least ten more to discard (when I say discard I mean donate or sell). 

The mantra in your head the whole time should be do you love it? I've added a second question too, and that's is it useful? I mean, we need to be smart about this. You don't adore everything in your house, but if it serves a purpose and you use it -- you keep it. 

As I went through the clothes that's what I asked myself as I touched every item. It works. 

I started with the t-shirts and folded items:

As I waited for a few items to get washed I went through the Bub's closet and dresser: 

Then finally tackled my hanging clothes: 

It is such a good feeling my friends. Your mindset changes over time and now when I'm out shopping I bring a lot less home. It has to be something I LOVE and I have to know what I'll do with it -- when it comes to decor that means I need to be able to bring it in the house and know exactly where it's going to go. 

Kondo talks about a specific method of folding clothes -- she goes so far as to fold underwear and socks but I don't think I'll ever get to that point. But I've actually always used her method for our shirts. I was ahead of the game for once! Ha! 

If you watch a video of how to do this, it seems to take forever. Here are the basic steps: 

1. Lay the shirt face down towards you. 

2. Fold the sides in (if sleeves are long fold them down the length).

3. Bring the bottom of the shirt up and fold.

4. Fold one more time into thirds.

The Konmari method actually folds it twice after that third picture -- so the shirt is even skinnier. I don't do that because I think it takes up more space in a drawer (folding in in two is less thick and takes up less vertical space). 

Changing the way you fold clothes sounds trivial, I know. But there are two reasons I've always done it this way -- first, you can fit a TON more in your drawers: 

I have nearly 30 t-shirts in this drawer and can easily fit another ten. 

The biggest reason I fold and place them in drawers like this is that you can see the shirts. When you fold them and place them in the drawer you have to lift them up to find the one you want, then the pile gets tossed around. This stays so much nicer. I can attest to it. :) 

As I said, her folding method looks tedious when you see it in pictures and videos (ain't nobody got time for that crosses my mind) but I have it down to seconds for each shirt. I use both hands and flip the sleeves and sides back, lay it down either on a surface or my chest, fold it in half, then one more time. It  takes no time at all. 

I will share more about the Konmari process as I go through it -- have you read this book? Did you change the way you folded clothes? Do you fold your socks? (Gotta admit, it does look really nice!) I'm hooked on this book and it has completely changed the way I look at clutter in our house. 

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