DIY Network

Quick Fixes for Your Home Use these tips to update your home and keep it looking great. From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-113

(Continued from page 2)

Applying this film to an appliance gives it the look of stainless steel.

Give Appliances a Facelift

If you would love to have stainless-steel appliances in your kitchen but can't justify replacing your existing appliances or if you rent your home, there's a way to give your appliances that techno look inexpensively. Stainless-steel film is like shelf paper: You just pull the backing off and smooth the film onto the appliance. Use a squeegee to prevent any wrinkles, but be careful with it.

The film is also available in black, white and red. It's an easy project, and it makes a huge difference for very little money.

advertisement

Upholstered Headboards

Materials and Tools:

tape measure
1/2" plywood (precut at home-improvement store)
upholstery foam
upholstery batting
fabric
circular saw
jig saw
electric drill
screws
staple gun

1. Measure the bed frame and decide how wide and how tall to make the headboard. In general, the headboard is equal to, or slightly wider, than the width of the mattress. As for height, about 8 inches of the headboard should be visible above the pillows leaning against it.

2. Cut the plywood is cut to designated size and shape. Cut a sheet of upholstery foam to the size of the wood frame plus 1 inch. Lay the foam over the frame and tack it in three or four places with a staple gun, or secure it in place with spray adhesive.

3. Cover the layer of foam with a sheet of upholstery batting. Cut it 2 inches to 4 inches larger than the wood. Tack the batting to the back of the frame with staples, making sure that the top and side edges look smooth and even from the front.

Figure A

4. Iron the outer layer of decorative fabric and smooth it facedown on the work area. Set the covered headboard face down on top of it. Cut the fabric the same size and shape, adding about 4 inches extra to wrap around the back of the headboard.

5. Starting at the center top, begin stapling the fabric to the back, making sure that any pattern on the fabric is properly centered and straight (figure A). Pull it just enough to get a smooth front, but not so much that it puckers.

6. Once you have about 12 inches of the top stapled, switch to the bottom edge. Smooth the fabric around the wood and staple it in several places along the bottom edge. Continue working in sections along the top and bottom.

7. Check to make sure the fabric is smooth on the front. If everything looks good, set the headboard back down and begin to secure the fabric to the sides, folding over the outer sides and stapling the fabric to the back. When you reach the corners, just wrap the fabric as you would if you were wrapping a gift. Make sure the corners look neat from the front.

8. You can either attach the headboard directly to the wall or fasten it to the bed frame.

1 | 2 | 3