Better After

5 In bedroom/ kiddie

The bunk stops here.

This old bunkbed was headed where all the other abused, forgotten and outgrown childhood furniture eventually end up: the dump, the scrap heap, or the attic. Unceremoniously dumped alongside that leaky Dora the Explorer beanbag chair and train table that spent more time bruising shins than being used.

But there was still life left in there! It didn’t have to go the way of the beanbag! Adriana gave it a thorough sanding and a deep stain, and now it’s back in the game. Check out her blog Namely Original to see the rest of this ‘vintage car’ themed makeover, and her wall art made with old tools, my favorite part!

December 17, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

5 In desks/hutches/buffets

Is your table too tall?

This side table was in sad shape, not to mention weirdly tall. If you sit on the sofa and your side table towers far above you, that’s one indication it might be too tall. Or you might have an awfully low sofa. Investigate for yourself. If it turns out that your side table is indeed too tall, then consider doing what Kata did: she made a desk! Just whipped up an aged wood desktop, secured it right on top, and wham bam, thank you for the desk, ma’am.

See it all on her blog Kicsiház.

December 16, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

7 In bedroom

Zoning In – a tween boy bedroom makeover

How was your weekend? Mine was great! Matt and I met up with our good friends in Vegas for one last little getaway before the baby comes, wherein I managed to drag my 8-months-pregnant body to a Third Eye Blind concert. That got me some attention. (And a front place in line thanks to a security guard who took pity on me). (And hit on a couple of times too, GROSSWEIRD).

Anyway, I love 3EB; they were just as good as I remember from my alt-rock loving teenager days. My friend Shanell super loves them, and fought to the death for a drumstick that was tossed into the crowd. She won. It was pretty epic stuff.

And now, back to the grind! A tween bedroom makeover is coming your way, courtesy of Vel whose son had an abundance of stuff, and an abundance of space. Not such a bad problem to have. It just needed some ‘zones.’ Previously it was one big ‘stuff lined up against the walls’ zone. Now he has a ‘sleeping zone’ an ‘entertainment zone’ and a ‘study zone’ and even a ‘cute little reading nook zone.’ (I’m sure he calls it something much more manly).

Lot’s more to see on Vel’s blog Life & Home at 2102.

Perfect idea for this awkward dormer space. Kind of jealous my teenager self didn’t have such a rockin’ space. Ok, I’m really jealous.

The bold blue wall and stripes tie everything together, even wrapping into the nook area. Check out all the detail shots at Life & Home at 2102.

Hey hey! Congrats to our Linkel Designs giveaway winner: Chelsea Thornton! Check your email my dear! Thanks so much to everyone who entered, it made me smile to see how many of you loved their designs too, and were planning to make a purchase. Don’t forget you can still get 15% off with code Better15!

December 16, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

9 In decor/ miscellaneous

Organized Sublime

A fresh new year is right around the corner, and you know what that means, right? Time to get organized! There really is no better time to do it, except maybe the few weeks right before the new year, because then you can roll smugly into the new year feeling completely on top of your game. Of course, this never ever happens to me thanks to all the holiday hoopla and the laying around eating fudge that occurs during this time, but it’s a nice idea.

Here are some ideas if you want to get a jumpstart on organizing your life in 2014.

You could find a sad looking organizer like Jen at Girl in the Garage did, and fix it up pretty with scrapbook paper. Perfect for storing your small things!

Have bigger things? Here’s one from Jesse at Nine Red,who made over this card catalog cabinet with white, gold and varying shades of blue. The whole entryway looks refreshed.

Up close … so shiny.

Need a place to store your decoratively rolled sheet music? I thought you’d never ask. Here’s a lovely solution from Amanda at One Girl in Pink. (I know, I know, it’s meant for mail!)

And if your New Year’s resolution is to stop losing your keys and/or creating a place to hold memos and other paperphanelia, (just made that word up) (just Googled it and realized it’s already a giftshop in Kentucky, dangit!), then you might be inspired by Jennifer’s bulletin board makeover.

She was inspired by a $259 version from Pottery Barn. Her’s cost $15. Win! See more at Decorated Chaos.

Enter for your chance to win $75 at Linkel Designs! Easy entry, winner chosen Monday!

December 13, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

6 In office

Did not compute – an armoire makeover

Computer armoires seem like such a great idea in theory. Have your cake and eat it too! Meaning, have your computer workspace and all of its messy accompanying wires and cords and accessories, then neatly shut it all out of sight when you’re done. Well, HA. Just wait til you discover that using a computer armoire is nothing more than trying to get important stuff done in an overcrowded and hazardous closet. I’ve yet to see one of these things work efficiently.

Until today!

Check out this makeover from Christine at Let’s Get Crafty. It’s snazzy! Zig-zaggy! And she’s organized it so perfectly, there’s even room for decor and what I think is a pillow for napping. It’s totally restored my faith in the computer armoire.

Linkel Designs $75 giveaway going on now! Easy entry, winner chosen Monday!

December 12, 2013 By Lindsey @ Better After

20 In kiddie

Depp Conditioning

Since I’ve got babies on the brain (and one literally on my bladder), I loved this nursery makeover from Ashley at The Houston House. It’s for her little girl, but definitely neutral enough for a boy too.

Besides, I’ve always said that nurseries are more for the mom than the baby anyway. The baby doesn’t care if you hang black and white posters of Johnny Depp in there. Actually, black and white images are good for baby brain development. So just think about that.

I love the arrangement of frames on that wall, and the sconces over the changing table too! Check out her blog for all the sweet little details of this cozy room.