How to Create Cottage Bedroom Furniture

Cottage bedroom furniture is a great way to do a room make over on a budget. It can make your room feel lighter. It is also a way to bring a more feminine feeling to the room without going over the top with pink & lace. This is also an unusual theme in a little girl's room & it will grow with her over several years. Here is how to create your own cottage bedroom furniture from found objects or the pieces that you already have.

Instructions

1. Be a messy painter. In order to create cottage bedroom furniture, you don't have to be a perfect painter. Granted, you don't want a lot of drips. Sand your wood down or prime it if your existing furniture is laminate. Dry brush a coat of paint or two over the piece for a weathered look. You can also try painting the piece a darker color & then rubbing candle wax over the edges & the other parts that would naturally endure a lot of use. When you apply a lighter coat of paint over it, the paint won't stick to the wax, leaving the edges exposed. You can also experiment with sandpaper. Just make sure that it's shabby chic instead of just shabby.

2. Make your own inserts. This will make your cottage bedroom furniture stand out from all the rest. Look around for items with interesting texture. You can use anaglyptic wallpaper, wicker placements, or even cornstarch & a floral fabric. Cut it to match the center of your drawers or cupboard doors. If these are totally flat, you can finish them off with molding, but you might already have an existing frame around them.

3. Add details. Cottage bedroom furniture is exactly the opposite of modern furniture. It's for anyone who doesn't like things too plain or boring. You can buy inexpensive wood molding or appliques at any home improvement store. They usually just cost a couple of dollars. Your furniture will be special & no one will know that you did it yourself after you refinish everything.

4. Pick up an iron bed. Even if you are buying a new bed, this can still save you hundreds of dollars. You'll probably be able to find one at a garage sale. You can always spray paint it cream, blue, green, yellow or even pink.

5. Create a reading nook. A sign of cottage furniture is overstuffed chairs or chairs & a half. This is a great place to cuddle in any living room. Bring this into the bedroom as a place to relax at the end of a hard day. Floral chairs are often on clearance so you can get the look you are going for & still spend less.

6. Mix & match your pieces. You might use an iron plant stand as a small night side table. Just make sure that you still have all of the storage that you need. You'll save a lot of money by foregoing a traditional bedroom set. Gather your pieces from thrift stores, craigslist & even the side of the road. They'll all look great once you finish them to match. Plus, you'll have a one of a kind bedroom set without breaking the bank.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your cottage bedroom furniture even more special by adding crystal knobs or drawer pulls.