It’s time for the June {ditto} DIY challenge!
Have you noticed gold is everywhere again? For me, gold and brass never really left. I’ve kept brass and gold accents throughout my home for years, and it’s fun to see the trend come back. When styles return, it’s nice not to have to rush to catch up — I’ve already been on board for a while.
Gold and brass add warmth and a classic touch to a room. I’ve had pieces like that brass whale, a brass box, and framed art for a long time — and that’s just a small sample of the metallic accents around my house.
You don’t need many items to make an impact. A hint of gold in every room can add a subtle sophistication, even in a casual, lived-in home like mine. I’m a metal mixer at heart, so I’m ready for whatever trend arrives next.
When this month’s DIY Ditto Challenge theme was “paint something gold,” I hesitated. I didn’t feel I needed more gold and I try not to do projects just for the sake of a challenge. Still, I committed to participate and set out to find something useful to refresh.
Sometimes a challenge is the nudge I need to tackle a small decorating problem I’ve been ignoring. I enjoy working on my home, but I’m also a procrastinator and I get stuck on solutions. Often I end up doing nothing until inspiration strikes.
You might remember a dresser that’s been in my house for years. It started in the dining room, then moved to the family room when it seemed to take up too much space. It fits better in the family room, but it still felt a little dull. The dresser is solid and useful for storing extra dishes and linens, so I wanted to make it look better without permanently altering it.
Life has taught me that sometimes you live with what you love and other times you make the best of what you already have. Perfection isn’t always possible or practical — being responsible, patient, or frugal can be the smarter choice for a while.
- My ideal would be custom built-ins, but that’s not in the budget right now.
- A freestanding cabinet with customizable components would be nice, but that’s not happening at the moment either.
- I didn’t want to paint the dresser — it belonged to my mom and she might want it back — and I didn’t want a painted dresser in this space.
- There’s nowhere else for it to go until my mom claims it, so it’s staying in the family room for now.
Just because something isn’t perfect doesn’t mean you can’t improve it. I toyed with changing the hardware, but couldn’t find replacements that fit the existing holes or matched the look I wanted — and I didn’t want to spend much since the piece isn’t permanent in this room.
Then I had a simple epiphany:
I had a dresser with bland hardware and a small tube of Rub n’ Buff Gold Leaf in my craft supplies. That was all I needed — a quick hardware makeover.
I pulled out the tube and five minutes later the dresser had a little more bling. After staring at the piece for four years wishing it looked different, this tiny change made a big visual difference. Rub n’ Buff is an easy, effective product that can transform many items.
Love how the gold hardware adds shine and ties into the gallery wall nearby — it helps the whole vignette feel more cohesive.
You can see more about the gallery wall in a separate post.
Rub n’ Buff Hardware Instructions:
Open the tube.
Put a small amount on your finger.
Apply it carefully to the hardware.
Buff gently with an old t-shirt until it shines.
Note: If you don’t remove the hardware before applying, be careful not to get the product on the furniture. It can be cleaned off, but it’s easier to avoid the extra cleanup.
This gold hardware update is just the start — I added coordinating sunburst mirrors and more to complete the gallery wall.
Would you like to try a gold project of your own? Each month a group of bloggers recreates a design element inspired by a haute couture image, aiming to bring elegant design into everyday homes in a way that suits individual styles.
Go for the GOLD was this month’s theme.
The {ditto} DIY Challenge:
Gild something, or paint it gold!
Now it’s your turn: Link up your own Go for the GOLD project and join the {ditto} DIY party. Browse other entries for inspiration and check back for next month’s challenge, which includes design tips for using gold accents in your home. This challenge might inspire you to turn something you already own into beautiful wall art.
Come link up your own DIY Ditto Gold Project!
Enjoy the party!! Have you ever used Rub n’ Buff?