DIY Project Parade and a Stairwell Landing Makeover using what we have.

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Roeshel

Inspired by Shoshana earlier this week, I decided to do an accent wall at the top of our stairs. My decision was that quick and crazy. I bought NOTHING for this makeover. Leftover paint, supplies, and decorative accessories we already had on hand (+ the felted reindeer head, rug and clock I got for Christmas). Before was boring. {Check out that brass and faux-oak light – niiiiiiiice, huh? Good-bye!}

I had a little patching to do first from previous nail holes and a plaster wall boo-boo. Fill (it’s pink when wet/white when dry), dry, lightly sand.

I cut out a diamond shaped stencil from posterboard and using a pencil, lightly traced the pattern on the wall.

I taped off the pattern with Frog tape. Cutting tape at an angle made for easier taping in the corners of the diamond.

Important: use a credit card and rub all over the tape to make sure it’s all stuck to the wall for a crisp clean paint line. Otherwise paint will seep under the edges.

My original plan was for the pattern to turn out like this (just solid diamonds). More of the original wall color would show through this way…

but I with taping, I decided to go with this pattern (more like a large diamond trellis)…

Original wall color {BM Smokey Taupe} is behind the tape. Top wall color (paint I’m using) is Glidden “Linen”.

I did two coats and peeled off the tape immediately after the second coat, while the paint was still wet. Touch up paint as needed. I’m not a perfectionist, so I didn’t bother but I doubt you’ll see anything noticeable in the after pictures.

Take a look at the before of the small landing one more time:

And now the stairwell landing reveal…

I’m thinking of adding more stencils/pattern/design to the accent wall {thinking. thinking.} but for now it’s a big improvement and fun compared to the boring before. At least I think so. Maybe a little crazy – but doesn’t it look so much better? Maybe that window needs a little Krylon Looking Glass treatment or photos or scrapbook paper or something fun.

{original hardwood floors upstairs need redone…please ignore those}

Old corner table before and after.There might be more coming with the corner table makeover too – I can’t just leave well enough alone and I ran out of the mustard paint color so it’s just a quick DIY that needs another coat…

I gave the actual stairs a makeover in the past {here}. Here’s a look at what we started with four years ago after we removed really gross carpet:

then I filled those gouges and repainted the risers…

Now the risers need freshened up because now they’re all scuffed – maybe another creative DIY. I’d also love to do wainscoting on the wall going up the stairs, a photo gallery (can you have too many of those?) and a little DIY on the light fixture. One project leads to more! A DIY girl’s work is never done. 😉

What do you think?

See it decorated for Christmas here with a ribbon wreath tutorial.

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TaterTots & Jello