Average But Inspired

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

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DIY Accent Wall: How to Paint a Grid Accent Wall

In my old house, you saw a beautiful staircase and arched doorways when you walked in the front door.  In my new house, you see a large wall and a 1970’s-style funky staircase with ugly carpeting.  Not exactly the best first impression.  (This is the photo from the real estate listing.  Yes, multiple people asked if we’d be negotiating for the stager’s “come in we are awesome” sign. :-))

This is the BEFORE photo of the DIY accent wall.

Because of that, I needed to make the foyer feel more like “us” – not too serious but still put-together (most of the time).  On a whim I decided to paint a DIY accent wall to greet visitors to my home, and I think it turned out adorable!  I used trash (yes trash) and craft paint to paint this fun grid accent wall, and I can’t wait to show you how easy it was to add some style to my foyer!

This DIY accent wall is so fresh and fun! It's easy to paint a grid accent wall and this project took under 1 hour to complete.

So first off, let me remind you that I’m no stranger to the DIY accent wall.  A couple of years ago I added an adorable-but-subtle accent wall to my old home by putting up vinyl decals in a pattern to look like wallpaper.  I loved the burst of personality this added to a large blank wall, so I figured I would like something similar here.

What Supplies Do You Need to Paint an Accent Wall?

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

To paint this grid accent wall in my new home, I only needed a few supplies:

  • Craft paint (I used DecoArt Multi-Surface paint in Cactus)
  • Artist’s brush
  • Bowl of water
  • Pencil
  • Laser level (note: you could use a regular level if you don’t have a laser level)
  • Junk cardboard, foam, cardstock, poster board – anything with a little heft will do!

How Do You Paint a Grid Wall?

To begin, I fired up my laser level (which also came in handy for my vinyl decal accent wall!), and centered the red line cross on the wall I was going to paint.  When I had the red laser lines positioned where I wanted, I traced them onto the wall with a pencil.

Learn how to paint a grid accent wall in this post. The laser level is very helpful when painting a DIY accent wall.

Next, I grabbed a rectangular piece of foam padding that was in the box for my beautiful new rattan media console, and I held it parallel to the first vertical line that I’d drawn.  I traced along the edge of it, and brought it all the way down from ceiling to floor.  

Using a piece of trash foam, Bre creates a DIY accent wall with a grid pattern in her foyer.

I repeated this “hold the foam, trace the line” process until the entire wall was covered in perfectly-spaced vertical lines.  If you try this, you could use ANY rectangular piece of cardboard/foam/paper that has some heft to it, which will allow you to trace along the edge.  You’re not limited to trash foam from my media console – ha!

Then I did the same thing with the horizontal lines: I placed the foam parallel with the first horizontal line and traced along the edge; moving the foam from one side of the wall to the other.  

Draw the grid accent wall in pencil first.

When this was finished, I had a pencil grid on the entire wall.  This part of the process took about 20 minutes tops.  So fast!

Next, I got out my craft paint stash and found this lovely shade of green craft paint. I used craft paint because I had it already and I didn’t want to go to the store.  🙂  Regular latex paint would also work perfectly!

Bre used DecoArt Americana Multi-Surface Satin paint in Cactus to paint her DIY accent wall. 

I started by painting over the vertical pencil lines, making sure to vary the thickness of each stroke.  I intentionally wanted this DIY accent wall to be imperfect – no precise lines here!  

To paint a grid accent wall, go over the vertical lines with craft paint first.

And then . . . you guessed it . . . I painted over the horizontal pencil lines . . . starting at the top and working my way down.  

To paint a DIY accent wall with a grid pattern, paint over the horizontal lines with craft paint.

This entire painting process took around 40 minutes.

This hand-painted grid accent wall took under an hour to paint.

With my DIY grid accent wall complete, I moved my new console table into place.  

The Warwick 3-door cabinet from Target is a beautiful console table when paired with this hand-painted DIY accent wall.

And then I got to work on my favorite part: accessorizing!

Learn to paint a DIY accent wall in your home! This hand-painted grid accent wall cost nothing to paint and took under an hour to finish!

I rounded up a vintage painting I scored for $15, some other vintage finds (including the wicker tray, brass bowl, and postal scale), some big box store scores from years past (including the sunburst mirrors, pitcher and lamp), and my FAVORITE item: a watercolor family portrait painted by my nine-year-old daughter!

Hand-painted accent wall paired with vintage and meaningful decor makes for a beautiful entryway.

How CUTE is this little spot (and the doggie)???

This DIY accent wall with a hand-painted grid pattern and the cane console or rattan console make for a beautiful statement when entering this home.

Let’s do a quick recap: for $0 and an hour of time, I painted the cutest DIY accent wall in a fresh grid pattern.  Not bad, right?

If grids aren’t your thing, maybe you could try something different.  Perhaps a brushstroke accent wall, imperfect polka dot accent wall, crosses – whatever!  The point is that with no skill and no money (or very little money), you can add personality to your home.  So be encouraged and go get it done!  🙂

Painting your own accent wall is such a great way to add personality to your home! It's easy to paint a DIY accent wall and it doesn't cost much money at all. This painted grid accent wall is quirky and cute.

-Bre

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How to Update Mirrored Built-ins with Paint and Peel and Stick Wallpaper

You guys!  I thought I was excited about the limewash stone fireplace makeover I completed last month, but I think I’m even more excited about how I updated the flanking mirrored built-ins with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.  

Amazing! Previously dated 1970s mirror-backed built-in bookcases got a fresh new look with paint and removable wallpaper. See how she used grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrors, and Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray to paint these bookcases pretty!

This makeover totally transformed the look and feel of my living room in my new home!

And . . bonus . . it was very budget friendly.

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

In case you haven’t been following my progress on Instagram, here is what one of the mirrored built-ins looked like after the fireplace makeover but before I got to work.  So reflective.

Before these dated 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a makeover, they were an eyesore with thin trim and mirrored backs!

I started by ripping off the top piece of trim on each built-in, simply because I thought it was a little flimsy and I wanted it to be a bit more substantial.  

To updated 1970s built-ins, she removed the top piece of trim, which was too thin.

Once that trim was down, I built craftsman-style headers with two 1×2 pieces of lumber and one 1×4 piece of lumber per header.  I used this tutorial for building craftsman window trim as a guide, but modified the tutorial to just use my trusty Ryobi brad nailer instead of screws.  Much easier, in my humble opinion.

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a new craftsman-style header.

And yes, I did all of the building myself.  I also installed them myself, though my husband held them in place while I nailed them up so they wouldn’t move out of place.  (If you do this please make sure to find studs to nail into!)

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a craftsman-style header and attached it to the top of the built-ins.

Once I had the new headers on the built-ins, they already looked nicer!  

To update 1970's mirrored built-ins, she built a new craftsman-style header for the built-ins.

Next, I removed the shelves from the built-ins and admired myself in the mirrors.  It was wonderful. (ha!)  Then I primed the built-ins and the shelves.  I used the same Multi-Surface Primer that I used on my painted marble fireplace hearth, and I’m so glad I did because the shelves had A LOT of stains.

To prime 1970s oak built-ins, she used Behr Multi-Surface primer.

I set up folding tables all over my house and painted away.  My family wasn’t really thrilled but I told them sometimes you have to suffer for beauty.

When priming built-in shelves, she set out folding tables to have plenty of space for painting.

After priming, I painted with Behr’s new Cabinet & Trim Enamel paint in Manchester Gray.  I plan to paint my kitchen cabinets, so I wanted to give this product a test run in here first.     

Behr's Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray was used to update these 1970s built-in bookcases.

The Cabinet & Trim Enamel was a great paint to work with.  It had very little odor, covered well, and self-leveled nicely (meaning fewer brush strokes).    

As part of a makeover of these 1970s mirrored built-ins, she painted the wood portions with Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray.

I used a synthetic brush to paint it on, as well as a 1/4″ nap foam roller to roll it on wider swaths of the built-ins as well as the shelves.  To efficiently paint built-in bookcase shelves, she set out numerous folding tables as painting stations.

It took two coats of paint (plus the primer) to cover the old oak bookcases. 

If you don’t have mirrored built-ins, this is where your project can end!  Unfortunately for me, I had a lot more work to do.

I let the paint cure for a few days, and then I got to work covering the mirrors with peel and stick wallpaper.

My original plan was to cover large foam boards with fabric and rest those foam boards in the backs of the shelves, but for some reason I changed my mind and chose to use this grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper instead. 

I am going to write an entire post on covering mirrors with removable wallpaper (because it is a process!), so for now I will fast forward to the good stuff and show you how that self-adhesive wallpaper looks in my newly re-finished built-ins!  (P.S. you may notice we removed the carpet and had new floors installed – more on our choice of luxury vinyl plank soon! And yes, we don’t have baseboards up yet!)

These 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a gorgeous makeover with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper! Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper is a beautiful way to cover mirrors.

Outdated 1970s built-ins got a new look with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper. You won't believe the transformation.

Totally different, huh?  So much less shiny!  

Dated 1970s mirrored built-ins got a gorgeous update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.

Do you need a BEFORE photo to remind you where I started?  (I think you do!)  

This is the before of this blogger's stone fireplace and mirrored built-ins. See the after - you won't believe it!

Quite a difference!  Dated 1970s bookcases got a beautiful update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.Peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs of built-ins from the 1970s.

Instead of being an eyesore, these built-ins are now a perfect place for me to display my thrifted and vintage finds, family photos, and other little decor items I love.

Formerly an eyesore, these built-ins are now beautiful with a fresh coat of paint and peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrored backs.

The baskets on the bottom are also a perfect place to store blankets and other random junk I don’t want out on display!

Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs in these 1970s built-ins.

I’m proud to say that those two baskets are the only new things I bought to style these shelves, as I had everything else already.  Yay for being fiscally responsible! 🙂

If you have dated built-ins that could use some new personality, give this a try!  At the very least, paint will work wonders.

-Bre

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Life Takes You Unexpected Places, Love Brings You Home

As I sit down to write this post, I can’t help but feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience.  Is it really me writing this?  Is this actually happening?  

The news is still fresh as I share it with all of you, so it hasn’t completely sunk in yet; hence the strange feelings accompanying me as I click away at the keyboard.

My family is moving from the only home we’ve known.

We’re leaving our beloved home in Illinois to move to the Milwaukee area.  My husband accepted a new position there and we’re going to be closer to some of our family, so it’s a positive change. 

But it’s really freaking sad, too.

Sorry, there’s just no other way to put it.

My husband and I bought this 92-year-old home back in 2009 when we were practically still babies.  The day after we closed, we found out we were having a baby of our own.  So much excitement at once, and the timing could not have been better.

The house had good bones, as they say, but was in really, really rough shape. (Did the double “really” drive it home enough?)  Throughout the ten years we’ve been here, we’ve renovated, remodeled, and redone every single room – including the outdoor spaces and all of the mechanicals.  

Living room before and after

We brought both of our babies home to this house, and our home became the setting for many special occasions and memories, like baptism parties, holiday gatherings, and most recently, a pre-party for my sister’s wedding.  

Kitchen before and after

But the life that happened here on a regular basis is, perhaps, even more memorable.  Watching the kids learn to ride their bikes on the driveway, blowing out candles on birthday cakes at the kitchen table, and reading stories before bedtime – that’s the good stuff.

Basement before and after

Along the way we made wonderful friends that are going to be so difficult to leave behind.  Their friendship is part of the fabric of this home.  Their laughter and presence within helped make it such a happy place. 

Backyard before and after

My children are so upset – they can’t believe we’re making them leave their house and their school.  (If any of you have tips on transitioning kids to a new school, especially in the middle of the year, please share them with me!  Comment below or email me – [email protected])  Their sadness is making me have an even more difficult time coming to terms with all of this. 

Hall bathroom before and after

In my heart, I really felt like we’d live here forever.  At the risk of sounding like a total freak, I actually envisioned grandkids visiting me in this house a long, long time from now! 

Dining room before and after

But, truthfully, nestled amongst all of those heavy feelings is a small seed of excitement for a change and some more projects.  I can never sit still for long, so a new fixer upper is appealing to me and getting my mind thinking happy thoughts.  

Master bathroom before and after

Of course we don’t have a house in Wisconsin yet, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted on where we land.  Until then, please send good house selling vibes my way.  It’s a really tough market right now and we need all the help we can get!

Plus . . . I really don’t want to have to clean my house every single day for the foreseeable future.  🙂  

So, here’s to hoping that love brings us home to a new space that we can make our own, and that love brings a wonderful new family to the one we’ve worked so hard to fill with joy over the last ten.

-Bre

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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

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