Drop Zone Makeover {Back to School Organization} Before & After

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Roeshel

It’s back to school season! It’s the perfect time to re-think the “drop zone” to organize back packs, shoes, coats…all the things that get unloaded when walking in the door.

As a part of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas team, one of this month’s challenge options included a back to school organization theme. Since my sister is still recovering and her little one will be starting pre-school in a couple of weeks (AND her birthday is right around the corner), I surprised her with a 6-hour back door entryway makeover.

Here are the before pictures: this little space just wasn’t functioning well as an organized drop zone with storage options.

First up, we emptied the area then I freshened up the walls with paint to give the space more light and a bigger neutral vibe. I used Valspar Signature (Paint + Primer). Color is silver leaf. Isn’t it pretty? Just a touch of a gray-blue tint. Best part? It covered up the raspberry-painted paneling in just two coats.

While the paint was drying, I assembled the furniture consisting of a storage bench and cubby shelves. I even had a helper…

Once the paint was dry (use a fan to speed along the drying process), I added some coat hooks for back packs, coats and hats. Using a level (and screwing into the walls studs/using wall anchors) to secure the coat racks.

Since the previous window treatment on the door wasn’t a good fit, I replaced the curtain on the door with a new roman shade.

Once more, the before when opening the door…

After…

Then added in some pretty accessories and wall art.

And now…the room feels bigger, fresher, prettier.

My nephew started adding his shoes to bins and hanging his backpacks the minute we finished up. No more hunting for lost shoes and his backpack is ready to go. He also grabbed his ‘camera’ to take a few shots of his own.

My DIY and photography assistant for the day…

I’m considering incorporating a cork board for displaying his papers and drawings to the basement door. A project for another day.

Get the look!

Storage Cubes
3 – Cube Bench
Inspirational Decorative Canvases {yellow and gray} 1 – 2 – 3
Light Filtering Roman Shade {driftwood}
4 Hook Mounted Coat Rack
Beige Fabric Bin
Beige Fabric Milk Crates
Succulent Garden
Valspar Signature Paint + Primer {Silver Leaf/eggshell finish}
Limited Editions self-adhesive Decorative Hearts
Garden Treasures decorative pillow
beige floor mat

I received a Lowe’s gift card to put towards this challenge. Opinion and above idea is 100% my own. More DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas or follow Lowe’s on Instagram, Pinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app.

Wall Mounted Lantern Hanger

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Roeshel

As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas team, I participate in monthly DIY challenges. The challenge I chose for July is DIY decor with a DIY wall mounted lantern hanger.

Materials I used:

1/2 x 6 x 2 red oak craft board
RustOleum Ultimate Wood Stain (color is kona)
RustOleum Ultimate Polyurethane (matte finish)
3 black extendable curtain rod brackets
3/4 wood screws
hanging hardware (or screws and anchors to more permanently attach to the wall/for extra security)
3 lanterns (Allen + Roth lanterns)
candles or small potted succulents/plants

Here’s what I did:

1. Stain the wood plank by brushing stain on in the direction of the wood grain, let sit a few minutes and wipe away (same direction) with clean rags. Let dry one hour.

2. Apply a coat or two of polyurethane and let dry. It goes on with a milky look but dries transparent.

3. Attach hanging hardware to the back. I did two; one on each end.

4. Flip to the front stained side and attach the curtain rod brackets using 1/4″ screws (the screws that come with the brackets will be too deep). I measured and marked the center bracket first then measured the center from the edge to the center bracket on each side for the other two ‘hooks’.

5. Adjust the brackets to fit the depth of hanging a lantern on the hook.

6. Hang or secure to the wall.

7. Hang lanterns. Add candles, use as mini display cases to showcase your favorite small decorative items or use lanterns as mini-greenhouses for succulents or small plants.

I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this challenge. Opinion and above idea is 100% my own. More DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas or follow Lowe’s on Instagram, Pinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app.

DIY Sisal Rope Planters

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Roeshel

June’s Lowe’s Creative Ideas challenge had several themes. I chose rope and succulents…perfect for adding a little summer time decorative accents and texture with a DIY sisal rope planter.

Materials I used:

BlueHawk twisted sisal rope
(3) small terra cotta pots
(3) small terra cotta saucers
Valspar metallic spray paint (gold)
Valspar paint + primer (brown)
FrogTape
hot glue gun/sticks
(3) succulent plants

What I did:

Using hot glue to adhere, I added sisal rope to the terra cotta pots and saucers.

Use FrogTape to add decorative stripes.

Spray paint the pots and let dry. (I did two colors/two step spray painting.)

Remove FrogTape.

Add plants!

So easy to do! Instant texture and greenery for your decor to liven things up.

Works for flowers or plants too!

I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this challenge. Opinion and above idea is 100% my own. More DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas, follow Lowe’s on Instagram, Pinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app!

Check out more of my Lowe’s Creative Ideas challenges: