Simple Arts and Crafts for Updating Your Home Interior By Harvey Mcewan

For many of us there comes a time when even the most exciting of home interiors becomes dull and boring. Tastes change with time, as do requirements. When couples have children, their previously minimalist home design may no longer be suitable, for example. Kids like colours and patterns.

Unfortunately, a full on redesign is not always an option as this costs money and can be quite time-consuming as furniture and other items have to be packed away until the work is carried out.

Fortunately, there are a couple of simple arts and crafts which anyone can do and which can really make a big change. They are affordable too!

Wall Stencils

Slightly bored of your block coloured walls? Fancy jazzing them up a bit but don't have the money to splurge on wallpaper or new paint? Wall stencils are an affordable investment that can really transform a room.

Stencils come in very many different styles and sizes. Popular patterns are floral, oriental, tribal, calligraphy and abstract. Some are greatly suited to kids' bedrooms while others might fit into bathroom and kitchen interiors.

All kits come with instructions on how to apply the stencil. Instructions may differ according to the material from which it is made.

Choose a colour that blends or contrasts nicely with the colour of your walls, furniture and soft furnishings. The pattern should also suit the overall feel of the room.

Tie-Dyeing

Tie-dyeing requires neither a long period of time nor a lot of investment and materials. It's a great way to update home fabrics and is also a fun activity to do with kids.

Cotton is the most common fabric to dye, but most knit or woven fabrics will work. If you're apprehensive about the results, try it out first on a piece of scrap fabric before attempting your bigger project and potentially ruining your sheets, a table cloth or curtains. This method works really well on bed linen.

The materials you need are dye in the colours of your choice, rubber bands, dye fixer, work space protection such as plastic sheets, personal protection including gloves, glasses and a dust mask, and the piece you intend to dye. You can buy these materials individually, as well as in ready made kits. A whole host of colours are available to suit all interiors.

Instructions on how to carry out the activity are readily available in arts and crafts books for kids and adults, as well as online.