Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity at home with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

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How to Clean an Outdoor Rug (Without Bleach)

Outdoor rugs are an amazing way to add color and style to a deck or patio – when they’re clean, that is!  Not surprisingly, outdoor rugs can go from fabulous to forlorn (and even disgusting) in no time, since they’re exposed to the elements.  My outdoor rug was totally nasty: covered in mold and mildew and completely discolored.  But I figured out a way to get it looking brand new again, and I’m happy to share with you how to clean an outdoor rug without bleach!  Even an outdoor rug covered in mold and mildew can be cleaned! See how to get your outdoor rug looking brand new with this cleaning technique.

In order to get my outdoor rug clean again, I started by sweeping off all the loose debris and marveling at all of the nasty mold and mildew spots covering the rug.  This rug was truly disgusting!Gross! This nasty outdoor rug may seem impossible to clean, but this post will show you how to clean an outdoor rug and get it looking brand new!

Next, I mixed up a batch of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover in a small plastic bucket.  Getting specific, I measured 16 ounces of hot water and poured it in the bucket, and then used the scoop that came in the OxiClean bucket to fill it to the line marked 1.  I mixed the solution together and headed outside.  (Note: make sure to read package directions if you purchase OxiClean.  If you purchase a type different from the kind I used, the instructions may be different.)Mix a solution of OxiClean to get an outdoor rug clean.

From there, I liberally applied the OxiClean solution to the rug with a sponge.  Of course, I made sure to do this in an area where it didn’t matter if OxiClean seeped through the rug and onto the surface below.Scrub an outdoor rug with OxiClean to get it clean!

I let the OxiClean solution sit on the rug for about an hour.  Then I hosed it off to reveal a rug that was cleaner, but not yet pristine!  In order to properly clean an outdoor rug, it may take two times with cleaning solution.

Because there was still some mold and mildew and/or staining on the outdoor rug, I repeated the process of mixing up the OxiClean solution and liberally applying it to the rug.  And this time, I rubbed it in to the rug even more – making sure to pay special attention to the green spots.

I again let the rug sit with the OxiClean solution for approximately one hour, and then I hosed it off again.  The second time was a charm!  The outdoor rug was clean and bright and fresh!  I pulled it over to a sunny spot in the driveway to start drying out.  When cleaning an outdoor rug, let it dry in the sun for at least 12 hours.

It took about 12 hours to fully dry (which was really surprising to me), so keep this in mind if you plan to wash your outdoor rug!  Once it was dry, I pulled it back over to the lounge area of the patio and admired how bright the whites were and how there was no more mold on my outdoor rug!

Get your outdoor rug clean with help from this blog post! This method takes care of mold and mildew stains, too!

Make your outdoor rug look brand new with this easy method for cleaning outdoor rugs!

This rug cleaning process really made a difference in the look of my outdoor space! 

Now when we enjoy making s’mores out here in our DIY Outdoor Fire Pit, we won’t be thinking how the patio is so nice EXCEPT for the nasty rug. (HA! I’m pretty sure I was the only one thinking that.  My family definitely does not notice those types of things.)   

Thank goodness for this easy way to clean an outdoor rug without bleach!  Please make sure to save this image to Pinterest if you agree!

This is SO helpful! See how she cleaned her outdoor rug and made it look brand new again! No bleach involved. This is a great way to get rid of mold, mildew, and other stains on outdoor rugs!

-Bre

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Vintage Tin Tile Wall Art: a Dollar Tree DIY

Last week was my daughter’s end of school year party, and I had to get some last minute supplies at Dollar Tree.  Of course some non-party related items just happened to pop into my cart, like a wooden board game and these new peel and stick tin tiles I found in the kitchen section.  After the party I got to work creating some vintage tin tile wall art with these supplies, and it turned out so cute! 

  Vintage Tin Tile Wall Art Supplies

I used a mix of items from Dollar Tree and craft supplies I had on hand:

  • Dollar Tree 3-in-1 Board Game
  • Dollar Tree peel and stick wall tiles
  • Dollar Tree twine
  • Dollar Tree foam brush
  • Dollar Tree flat push pins (optional)
  • Craft paint in brown and aqua
  • Stencil brush
  • Wooden beads
  • Hot glue
  • Scissors

How to Make Dollar Tree Vintage Tin Tile Wall Art

Don’t you just love when a project is too easy?  I know I do!  That’s definitely the case for this one.  Begin by painting the chess/checkers side of the game board how you like.  I used brown paint as a base coat so that it would hide the game board pattern and have a rustic look in the end.  A wooden game board from Dollar Tree is a perfect backer for signs, wall art, and more.

Once that coat of paint dried, I dry brushed a topcoat of aqua paint on top, leaving some of the brown base coat to show through.  Create beautiful vintage look tin tile wall art with supplies from Dollar Tree.

After that dried, I removed the tin tile decal and pressed it onto the game board.  Dollar Tree's removable tile wall decor pieces are great for creating vintage tin tile wall art.

Next, I strung wooden beads onto a piece of twine, knotted the ends, and hot glued the twine to the back of the game board.  Notice that I didn’t paint the back of the game board because I’m a lazy crafter.  Hot glue the beads and twine to the back of the game board to create a hanger for the vintage tin tile wall art.

I flipped it back over and pressed flat push pins into the board.  Because the board is thin, the sharp edges poked through the back.  I covered those with electrical tape that I had in the drawer, but something like the poster mounting ticky tack stuff at Dollar Tree would work great, too.  Adding push pins to the vintage tin tile wall art gives it the look of nails.

I dry brushed some of the aqua paint onto the push pin heads to give them the look of nails.  After that, this vintage tin tile wall art was finished!  Love it! This post shows you how to make your own vintage tin tile wall art with supplies from Dollar Tree. Seriously!

Create pretty tin tile wall art with supplies from the dollar store. You won't believe how easy it is!

I love the look of this copper patina version, but I saw silver tiles, too.  Those would look really cute with a distressed white finish all over.  These would also be awesome in a group of three or four – whether on individual boards or one large board.  The possibilities are endless!  Love this! Create beautiful vintage look tin tile wall art with supplies from Dollar Tree. It's so easy to create faux tin tile decor and this post shows you how to do it!

Can you believe what you can make with dollar store items?  I just love the challenge of creating something beautiful with bargain supplies!

-Bre

You May Also Like These Dollar Store DIY Decorative Plates

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Rattan Basket Wall Art: A Thrift Store DIY

As part of our master bathroom renovation (reveal coming soon!), we made some improvements to our master bedroom, too.  New paint, new moulding, and moving the ceiling light to the center of the room were the “big” fixes.  Of course I had to seize the opportunity to mix up the decor a bit, too, and that required some wall art swaps.  Over the bed I hung some rattan basket wall art, which is a super inexpensive thrift store DIY project!  

Thrifted flat rattan basket wall art is such an inexpensive way to decorate a blank wall! Learn how to hang baskets on the wall in this post.

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Except for in a post on DIY Wrapping Paper Wall Art, I never shared much about our master bedroom because it was totally neglected.  You know how it is – you put everything else first and your own space gets lowest priority.  While our tiny master bedroom isn’t totally finished yet, it is already so much better and feeling like a comfortable space we love to be in!

These rattan baskets hanging on the wall help create a comfortable, cottage feel we wanted.  We started with $4 worth of rattan chargers from Goodwill.  My local Goodwill is always overflowing with these things!  (I also use one on my basement coffee table as a tray of sorts!)  Flat baskets from the thrift store are such a versatile home decor piece! Learn how to hang baskets on the wall and use them as wall decor in this post.

I got out my trusty Pop Up Spray Shelter, which is a total project saver for spray paint projects (my projects were always being ruined by debris flying onto them!) . . . 

Spray paint flat rattan baskets to create beautiful wall art for your home.

and a can of chalky finish spray paint in Coastal Blue (if you’re curious about chalk paint in spray form, read my review of chalky finish spray paint!), and got to work!  

Chalky finish spray paint is perfect for painting baskets! This chalk spray paint works on baskets and other items.

Once I spray painted two coats on each of the baskets and let them dry, I strung pipe cleaners through the backs of each to serve as hangers for the baskets.  

It's so easy to hang baskets on the wall to serve as decor. Learn how to hang a basket on the wall with this trick!

Then I used my favorite product ever – 3M Command Hooks – to place and hang the painted baskets on the wall above our bed.  

Use this trick to hang baskets on the wall.

These are so much better than nails because I can take them down with no damage to the wall whenever I want!  Flat baskets from the thrift store can be spray painted and used as beautiful wall decor.

I wasn’t sure if my husband would like these (he’d much prefer to have nothing hanging on any wall!), so I figured the Command Strips were the way to go.  🙂  A trio of painted baskets used as wall art adds a pretty, cottage touch to this master bedroom.

Thankfully he really likes them and the basket wall art will stay.  At least for now.  You know I can’t leave something as it is for too long!  (Especially when it cost under $10 for the entire look.)  Chalk painted rattan baskets hanging on the wall are wonderful wall decor for over a bed. This budget-friendly project is super easy, too!

P.S. see that embroidered pillow behind Jasper?  My husband’s grandmother made that for our wedding present.  I love having this personal gift on display!  (See how we used other other pillows she made as wall art in my daughter’s tween girl bedroom.)  

Next time you see flat rattan baskets at the thrift store, scoop them up!  They’re super versatile as functional items or as decorative wall art.

-Bre

You May Also Like This Post on 8 Home Decor Essentials to Buy at the Thrift Store

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Dollar Store DIY Decorative Ball Vase Fillers

My kids start summer vacation pretty soon, and while cruising Dollar Tree’s aisles looking for activities to keep them busy, I picked up some baseballs, among other things.  Unfortunately for my kids, I kept the baseballs and turned them into decorative ball vase fillers.  They’re super cute and an inexpensive dollar store decor item you can make really quickly!  

Love this! See how she turned dollar store baseballs into gorgeous home decor! These decorative ball vase fillers can be customized to suit any style!

 

Supplies Needed to Make Decorative Ball Vase Fillers

For this project, I purchased every single supply from Dollar Tree!  

  • Plastic baseballs 
  • Optional: floral foam ball multi-pack (I used this for smaller balls in my vase)
  • Decorative napkins
  • Mod Podge (Dollar Tree sells smaller containers of Mod Podge than the container I used, which I already had on hand)
  • Foam brush
  • Scissors

How to Make Decorative Ball Vase Fillers

This is a perfect project to make while watching TV because it is 100% mindless.  🙂  Begin by cutting strips of decorative paper napkins.  (Check out another favorite post of mine where I used decorative napkins to create a beautiful trinket dish!)Decorative paper napkins are transformed into gorgeous decor ball vase fillers in this fun post!

Next, spread a thin coat of Mod Podge onto part of a plastic baseball.  Don’t cover the whole baseball at once or your hands will become incredibly sticky!  Apply Mod Podge to a plastic baseball to create decorative ball vase fillers!

Pick up a strip of napkin press it onto the baseball.  Repeat this process of applying Mod Podge and pressing napkin strips onto the baseball until the baseball is covered.  (NOTE: I removed the plain napkin liner from each strip before I applied the strips to the baseball, but that is optional.  I think the napkins pieces stick better if you remove the liner.)  Learn how to make your own decorative ball vase fillers with supplies from Dollar Tree!

Yikes, I need a manicure . . . but getting back to the project – once the baseball is covered, set it aside to dry.  After the napkin and Mod Podge combo has dried, cover the entire baseball with a thin coat of Mod Podge to seal the decorative ball and push down any parts of the napkins that didn’t stick the first go round.  Learn how to create your own decorative balls for decor and vase fillers! Paper napkins give a beautiful pattern.

I set the decorative balls on a sheet of wax paper so that they were easier to remove once dry.  A plastic trash bag would probably work well, too.  Don’t set them on a surface they might really stick to (like a paper plate), or you’ll end up ruining your decorative balls!  Dollar store items are easily transformed into decorative ball vase fillers! This is an easy decor DIY that is made completely with Dollar Tree items.

These decorative balls work great as a vase filler!  Create beautiful decorative balls that are wonderful as vase fillers or centerpiece balls, by using supplies purchased at Dollar Tree!

I plan to put them in a lantern on my patio once it stops raining here.  Use items from the dollar store to create beautiful DIY decorative ball vase fillers! This easy dollar store craft uses surprising items for a pretty project!

I’ve seen similar decorative ball vase filler packs at my favorite stores starting at $10 – this set cost $3 (because I already had the Mod Podge and foam brush).  Create dollar store diy decorative ball vase fillers with surprising items!

I love it when I get the look for less, and I guess I can use my savings to get my kids some baseballs they can actually play with.  🙂  

-Bre

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1920s Bathroom Renovation – Our True-to-Period Remodel

Just about eight weeks ago we started the gut renovation of our upstairs hallway bathroom.  This 1920s bathroom renovation is our attempt at a true-to-period remodel, and I am so excited to share it with you!  It came out better than I envisioned, and my family is so happy with it!

Before and During the Bathroom Renovation

You can see all of the before photos of this bathroom in this blog post (with everything in it being original, except for the yellow paint a previous owner covered the wall tile with), and here’s a picture of the space before it was gutted just to give you an idea of the dramatic improvement!  This BEFORE photo of an original 1920s bathroom shows the poor condition of the space. Cracked tile and failing plumbing were among the problems.

Because this bathroom backs up to our master bathroom, and because the master bathroom also needed to be re-done due to shoddy construction in the past, we decided to renovate both of these bathrooms at the same time.  (More on the master bathroom renovation in the future.)

This was pretty darn hectic for me, at first especially.  I had to pick out all of the finishes for two bathrooms really quickly (our contractor was able to start sooner than we had expected), order everything, and manage the chaos of construction, family, and work.  I definitely had one mega breakdown during the process, but in the end, it was all worth it!  (If you’re going through a bathroom renovation anytime soon, check out my post on 5 Tips for How to Survive a Bathroom Renovation!)   

Photos from the renovation of a 1920s bathroom that was given a look that is true to period.

The True-to-Period 1920s Bathroom Renovation All Finished!

Did I mention how happy we are with this bathroom?  🙂  This 1920s bathroom renovation turned out amazing! The homeowners worked to keep charm and features of the home's period in tact, to create a space that is both vintage and modern.

Bright, fresh, clean, and (most importantly to me), characteristic of the old home we live in.  Let me show you around.  I’ve linked to the products you’ll see in this post, and many of them are affiliate links (you can read my full disclosure policy here).

This vintage look milk glass schoolhouse bathroom sconce paired with moody blue paint (Charlotte Slate by Benjamin Moore) make a beautiful statement in a small bathroom.

Light Fixture | Floating Wall Shelves

White subway tile, white and black hexagon mosaic floor tile, and a console sink with chrome legs make for a gorgeous 1920s inspired bathroom.

Porcelain Sink with Chrome Console | Faucet | Hand Towels | Towel Bar

My husband really didn’t want to install a sink that looked just like the original sink, but I forced him to let us do it.  It was really important to me to have this space look as close to original as it could.  While this sink is gorgeous to me, it, of course, has its drawback – there is NO storage space!  And with two kiddos who come with a lot of “stuff,” storage space is important.  

Because of that, we “hacked” an IKEA Silveran Sink Cabinet (adding legs and a quartz countertop, among other things), and turned it into a vanity of-sorts right next to the console sink.  The Silveran Sink Cabinet is extremely shallow depth at just 9″, so it was the perfect solution for this tight space!  

This shallow depth bathroom vanity is an IKEA Silveran hack!

The period-style faucet also looks so close to original.  It’s weird, but using this sink makes me so happy.  

This gorgeous vintage sink faucet makes this 1920s bathroom renovation feel authentic to the time period.

We managed to save the original medicine cabinet, which is so special to me because it was restored at some point and bears a photograph of the date stamp inside.  I cleaned up the inside of it with spray paint and it’s good as new!  Look at that etching and beveled edges – I swoon!  

This original 1927 mirrored medicine cabinet is one of the features saved in this bathroom renovation.

Can you believe this mirror is 92 years old?  Incredible.  It’s an actual treasure and I’m thankful we were able to keep it in its home.

This date stamp shows the age of the mirrored medicine cabinet that was saved as part of this bathroom renovation.

Over the toilet is where I got to have some fun.  Floating shelves add functionality, but are also a place to display fun pops of personality.  This is, after all, a kids bathroom, so there has to be some levity in the space.

Floating shelves above the toilet are a place to display artwork, useful items for the bathroom like cotton swabs and cotton balls, and a nice candle. Wall color is Charlotte Slate by Benjamin Moore.

Floating Wall Shelves | Art Print 

Notice the jar on the far left of the top shelf?  Those are the original knobs from the bathtub!  Like a crazy lady, I asked the contractor to save them for me.  I didn’t know what I was going to do with them, but I think this is a great way to display yet another piece of the original bathroom in this new space.  

The original bath tub faucet handles were saved in this bathroom renovation and put on display to add some authenticity to the bathroom.

Floating shelves above the toilet are a place to display art and other decorative items, as well as functional items for the bathroom.

I made the faux roman shade for the window by mixing a few tutorials I found online (like this one from Home Stories A to Z and this one from Lantern Lane Designs).  I should have made the no-sew version, but I got cocky and thought it would be no problem to sew.  I was wrong; I am not a seamstress.  But, the shade turned out cute anyway and I adore the Rifle Paper Co. fabric with little jungle animals mixed throughout that I found in this awesome Etsy shop.  

This bathroom features beautiful white subway tile with chair rail and light gray grout. Wall color is Charlotte Slate by Benjamin Moore.

This fabric adds a nice bit of color to the space, and that’s why I went ultra-white on the shower curtain (but with a little texture for some playfulness).  A faux roman shade with pretty fabric and a white shower curtain complement the white subway tile and light gray grout.

Fabric | Shower Curtain | Toilet Paper Holder

The shower faucet is the one place where my plan for 1920s originality was foiled.  We purchased an authentic-looking three handle set and had the plumbing done for that, but the inspector said that type of fixture is not allowed (why???) and we had to get a single handle set.  It made no sense to me and made me really upset, but I got over it in the end and tried to find one that looked sort of authentic with its cross-handle styling.  

Vintage inspired bath fixtures help make this white subway tile shower surround feel true to the 1920s period of the home.

Valve Trim | Tub Spout | Tub Spout | Shower Arm

Finally, rounding the corner is where the kids’ towels hang, from the most adorable painted towel hooks.  

Painted ceramic towel hooks look gorgeous paired with Charlotte Slate walls.

We purchased all of the tile at Floor & Decor, and I cannot say enough about their great pricing on ceramic tile.  This white subway tile (and accompanying pieces, like bullnose tile, chair rail, and cove base tile) is bargain priced, and the mini-hex floor tile was significantly cheaper than I found it elsewhere.  

Black and white hexagon mosaic tile with light gray grout looks vintage and fresh at the same time.

They also have a wonderful return policy, so I felt just fine over-buying, knowing that I could return what I didn’t need.  And no, this is not an ad for Floor & Decor at all – I was just really pleased with the tile we purchased for this bathroom!  It gave us the 1920s look we wanted at a really amazing price.  

So there you have it – our 1920s bathroom renovation is now complete!  I hope you like it as much as we do.  I can only hope that this new version of the bathroom lasts as long as the original version! 

This 1920s bathroom renovation is amazing! See how the owners transformed this bathroom while keeping the vintage charm and period detailing alive. Wall color is Charlotte Slate.

1920s Bathroom Source List and Shopping 

If you are curious about any of the products we used in our 1920s bathroom renovation, click on any of the links below for more info or to purchase!

TILE

Black and white hexagon mosaic flooring

White subway tile

White subway bullnose tile

White chair rail tile

White cove base tile

Light gray grout (Cobblestone)

THE BIG STUFF

Cast iron bathtub

Toilet

Sink with chrome console legs

FIXTURES

Sink faucet

Shower head

Tub faucet

Valve trim / tub handle

Toilet paper holder

Towel bar

Vanity light fixture

DECORATIVE ITEMS

Yellow and white bathroom rug

Yellow print hand towels

Painted ceramic towel hooks

White shower curtain with white polka dots

Floating wood shelves

PAINT

Wall paint color

 

Stenciled Chair Seats – A Thrifty and Fun Kitchen Chair Makeover

Thank you to Cutting Edge Stencils for providing the stencil used in this project and the prize to be awarded in the giveaway.  The project and opinions are all my own. One thing I love is giving a plain object new life and personality with a simple change.  Stenciling the seats of my beat up kitchen […]

Two-Tone Painted Dresser Makeover in Cypress Vine Green and Wood

Have you ever had a vision of how something would look in your home – and you were convinced it would be awesome?  That’s what happened to me when I purchased this antique tall dresser in a Facebook resale group recently.  I knew it would be gorgeous in my living room (to take the place […]

Chalk Painted Drop Leaf Table Makeover

Several weeks ago my kids and I were driving when I spotted a table in the alley behind our church.  Like the dedicated furniture hoarder that I am, I immediately threw the car into reverse and backed into the alley to check it out.  It was an old drop leaf table that hadn’t sold at […]