Using fabric for small decorating updates

February 19, 2009

I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show you all a few more of the quick, cheap updates I've made to our cozy office.

Earlier this week, I showed you the difference fabric made to the bookcase: I've used fabric a few other places in this room too. Ya'll know my hatred for cords. I mean....yuck, scrunched-up-face, HATE THEM.

I fell in love with this desk years ago (I miss you Bombay Company! Sniff.) and love it, but it also shows everything, including the cords:
That box is one everyone needs -- I throw every single random thing in that when people come over. And it serves as my foot rest. :) 

So I got $5 of fabric, squeezed my bootay back in the corner and hot glued the fabric to the back:

Buh bye cords:
I wanted a little more closed storage, and found a little storage chest/ottoman. 

Problem was I hated the fabric:

I covered it with an inexpensive olive fabric I found:
The goldfish are the added bonus you get when you bribe your two-year-old with them so you can finish this ten minute project. (This one really does take ten minutes!)

Viola! Perfect as a side table, ottoman, and to house big toy trucks:

Finally, what do you do when you repaint the whole room and the cushion you bought to match the old room doesn't work anymore?:

Huh. In this picture it matches perfect. Imagine that. 

Anyway...you buy fabric and wrap it around the cushion till you get it sewn!: There you go, each project took less than ten minutes, and what a difference they have made! 

This weekend I'll show you the entire room...I'm waiting on one more project to dry. :)

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Comments

  1. I've never left a comment before, BUT I just saw that fabric at Joann's yesterday and could get the number for you? I love all your fun ideas!

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  2. Gotta laugh about the goldfish! Love the fabric on the desk, hides perfectly!

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  3. That is so clever about the fabric in the back of your desk!
    Also, all of the other fabric touches look very nice. :o)
    Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

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  4. Oh c'mon, you know you just wanted to be fashionably late :).

    I love your fabric solutions! I especially love the cord cover. Genius I tell you.

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  6. I love all your ten minute projects. The fabric behind the desk to hide all the wire stuff was great as well as all the others. Anyway, I just love fabric. Hugs, Marty

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  7. Yes! The fabric covering the computer cords is ingenious. I just found a new desk that I love at Target but was wasnt loving the idea of the cords hanging down and visible. My problems are now solved! The hubs will be thrilled ;)
    The new green storage chest is very cute too.

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  8. I never would have thought to use the fabric behind the desk...what a great idea!

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  9. pretty neat stuff there- you always do such good work!

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  10. Fabric behind the desk?? Fabulous!! Okay, so tell me what you do about phone cords!! I HATE the phone cords everywhere in my kitchen.

    The office looks great, and the ottoman, too!

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  11. What a great idea to cover all of the cords in the corner of your desk with fabric. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the inspiration!
    Blessings
    Roxanne

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  12. Great transformation ideas! I love the fabric panel that covers the cord!

    So great!

    Jen

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  13. thanks for the advice. love the blog.. i think i need to learn to hide cords... seems like i have extention cords everywhere... hmmm.. project anyone?

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  14. genius! i never would have thought to use such a cheap, quick, easy & totally effective way to hide cords. i'm definitely stealing this idea. thanks!!

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  15. Great ideas, Sarah! Thanks!

    -Dawn
    www.lifeateventuallycottage.blogspot.com

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  16. Great idea, I can always count on you for those! Love the fabric covering the cords.

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  17. I love the fabric panel to hide those cords! So clever! Your blog is full of great things like this and I always enjoy reading your posts!

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  18. I absolutely love how you used the fabric to hide the cords!! I have been after my hubby for such a long time to do something with all these cords under our computer desk! I may have to steal your idea!! Thanks so much for the ideas!

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  19. You rock girl!!

    I had this great idea....you can move in with me and be my roomate and I will give you total creative control over decorating my house. Sound good?? LOL

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  20. Love your pesky cord solutions!

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  21. Lovin' it! Thanks for posting such great ideas.

    So, when you covered the ottomon with the olive fabric, did you remove the old fabric, or did you just staple over the old stuff? Or hot glue?

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  22. Love all of your 10 minute projects!! All the fabrics you pick out are so pretty.

    Thanks for the shout out. :) I can't wait to see your curtain!

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  23. I have never left a comment. But, I love your blog and all your ideas. You are so inspiring!!!

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  24. You never fail me! My mind is now boiling over with visions of fabric and glue! I NEED to de-clutter my spare bedroom, buuuuttttttt... I'd rather glue! :) Hooray for cheap, easy projects!!!!
    ~Jill

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  25. Great projects as always! Fabric makes such a huge difference!

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  26. Love your cord covering solution. We have way too many cords showing around here and I need to get busy with some solutions. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  27. Please tell Knittingnirvana (or however it's spelled), that I had my master bath painted chocolate brown, and have never looked back. I'll post photos if she wants to see. It looks SOOOOOOOO much that builder's beige that was making me want to puke E-VER-Y SINGLE DAY!

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  28. Thanks for answering my question! *sigh* I'll have to love that fabric form afar! MY bath is Choc brown too and I love it! It's so rich looking!

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  29. My cheapo cord-hiding solution is duct tape. I just tape the cords to the backs of table legs, bookcases, etc. Fabric is a MUCH prettier solution!

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  30. So, I am happily reading along and then all of a sudden you are talking to ME! Very good points! Thank you!!

    I'll be informing my husband tonight that it is 2 to 1, oh no wait Tardevil makes it 3 to 1.

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  31. So, I am happily reading along and then all of a sudden you are talking to ME! Very good points! Thank you!!

    I'll be informing my husband tonight that it is 2 to 1, oh no wait Tardevil makes it 3 to 1.

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  32. I like how you hid the cords!

    You are so busy and productive. You must take vitamins! Is that your secret?

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  33. Love the fabric to hid the cords! I hate hate hate cords!

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  34. All your fabric is great! I love putting fabric in rooms. Instant art and color.

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  35. Great idea to glue fabric to the back of the desk! My computer cords drive me crazy.

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  36. Everything looks great! I like your style...

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  37. I love everything! What a great idea for hiding cords!

    And thanks for the bookshelf backed with fabric idea. I'm going to be attempting it on my own very soon! Wish me luck!

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  38. I especially love that you use the word Grody. I thought only me and my Aunt Shelly said that! You are awesome!

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  39. Love the creative concealment for the cords! Awesome! When I finally get a grown up computer desk I am going to remember that little tip!

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  40. You are a genius! I ~LoVe~ the idea to drape fabric to hide cords. I am SO doing that!
    Thanks so much!
    Rebekah

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  41. The fabric covering the cords is genius!

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  42. *Love* the idea of fabric behind the desk!! I may steal this for my son's bookcase!

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  43. Clever! Clever! Clever!

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THANKS so much for reading!