Author: Maria Woodward

This post is all about repurposing and rethinking to complete the project and remodel goals you have for less money and more style!

Recently, Workshop Tools completed some aesthetic updates to their retail locations bringing a sense of warmth and style, fitting to its atmosphere, to their displays. Keep in mind this project was applied to retail displays, but the concept translates into so many other spaces for both the home and workplace! It is a project based on repurposed, industrial, and price conscious details which is the foundation of what we want to offer every customer!

Workshop Tools has displays in all locations showcasing a large selection of high-quality bits and other drill attachments along with a huge selection of router bits! The bin looks very nice on top, but the back-stock is all stored below. Curtains were sewn and installed on these wood display bins to cover the back-stock and storage underneath. The bins were up to 12’ in length. These measurements present a challenge when pricing rods and other hardware. We found a way around the cost and each issue was tackled with style and cost efficiency.

Fabric Preparation

• Clean all fabric in cold water and dry prior to cutting or sewing anything
• Iron
• Measure panels and cut remembering to measure the panels to the projects needs while adding the measurement needed for the seams
• Measure, iron, and pin seams prior to sewing
• The key to all the prep is to ensure when you wash the curtains sometime in the future after the initial installation they were pre-shrunk allowing for them to clean and hang again with the desired fit and appearance

Fabric and Sewing

We chose shirting fabric in flannel red and black. It was the fabric in the style and pattern we wanted that offered the most durability. They will be moved often and need to last through the constant use. A warm pattern that complements our store concept hid the storage and tied in our existing color themes.

• Key points to remember when sewing curtains is to measure the top seams of the curtain to fit your rods and measure the lower seams with a width at least two inches more than the top. Honestly, I would go as far as doubling the measurement for the bottom seam in relation to the top, at the very least… The entire purpose of this is to add weight to your curtains base which helps to keep them smooth and neat. They will maintain a “just ironed” look more easily this way with little effort! I am not a fan of ironing so bring on the wider seam at the base!!

• Top seam for our curtain was 3”
• The base measurements varied from 5” to 6” depending on the bin and scenario.
• Seams on the sides of the curtains were just an inch to secure all lose ends and avoid fraying
• We chose to make 4-6 panels (depending on the bins length) for each side of the displays to allow for less sliding back and forth of the curtain, easier access to back-stock, creating less wear and tear in general.

3″ measurement

3” top seam and pin

1” side seam

Curtain Rods and Installation

• Rods for the length we needed were hard to find and a higher price than the goal for the project, so we researched other options and decided on metal conduit. This product was available in the lengths we needed for less than $5.00 a rod! We chose ¾ “ as a minimum width because it was the thinnest option that did not show signs of sagging when installed at full length.
• If we had chosen a traditional curtain rod at the same length the cost was at least $80.00 for something durable! Plus, this look really suites our store.
• Hardware to keep the rods up was another thing to consider as well. One of our managers and long-time valued members of the WST team, Steve, figured out the solution! He simply cut wooden blocks to fit the install spaces we were working with and drilled holes to allow the rods to set in either side. Cost for hardware…….. $0.00! We just used what we had on hand. 😊

Bin prior to curtain installation

During installation one side of the finished product!! One of our owners, Will Swann, and a member of our valued staff, Nathan, working to install all the new curtains.

Again, one of the main keys to this project is the versatility of application! Consider the other items you know about or may see while perusing the isles of your favorite local tool store 😊. You could apply the same concepts from this specific project to curtains, room dividers in a small apartment, dressing rooms, closets, children’s playhouses, and so much more. You can find so many options to substitute the traditional items marketed for their purpose at high prices. Another important value to this approach is in using common fabrics, textures, and decorative elements you effectively create a cohesive theme. Your home or store will gain a sense of flow from one space to another and in our case a look that we hope you warmly recognize with each visit to our retail locations.

Thanks for stopping by and please leave your thoughts below! Also, feel free to note some other DIY topics you may like to see with future postings, and we will do our best to make it happen!

Sincerely,

The Workshop Tools Team

It is such a fun time of year with planning for the holidays, large meals with the family followed by cozy naps from too much turkey and pie, and shopping for all of the special people in your life! It’s also the time when you look around your home and want to decorate, add twinkle light, and make changes to the decor to match the season while preparing for guests. Just remember there is no need for all of these projects to mean a lot of money spent (another thing to add a smile to your face during the season!). Projects can be cost efficient and lovely at the same time and as you will see with this project you can make a total change to your bedroom with less than $90 spent and we carry all of the tools to make it happen! 😉

Now, when I give the $90 spent mark it’s important to note that this was for my king-sized bed to receive a total makeover and that is a great gift to yourself as the holidays approach! This kind of project cost could allow all kinds of opportunities for the holidays.

Materials needed:

*Pallets – 4 for one layer or 8 if you want a second layer for more height
*Plywood – you can choose to purchase in solid larger sheet form or sometimes they come in pre-cut squares at your local hardware stores that will match the measurements you need
*Foam
*Batting – optional in this project (explained below)
*Nice thick fabric

Tools needed: (All available on our website at great prices!)

*Staple gun
*Mini pry-bar staple remover
*Circular saw
*Electric Screwdriver
*Spray Paint Gun or Paint brush

I am so excited about this project! Details are included for a beautiful DIY headboard, platform bed concept from up-cycled pallets, and a bed skirt! Really a total overhaul of our master bed! Now remember we chose to redo our bedroom, but you could easily be redoing guest bedrooms with a festive holiday theme for upcoming visitors as well!!

For the bed frame you need four pallets to make the king-sized base or eight if you want a second layer to add more height. Be sure to secure the top stack of pallets to the bottom four pallets if you want that extra height to make sure that they are sturdy and in no way wobbly or dangerous. Just ensure your dimensions are the same or super close on all four pallets, especially the height!

Regarding the color of the pallets – we debated between staining the pallets or painting them white. White paint won because I really liked the bright color and we already had that at the house. 🙂 We just put the pallets outside and used an electric spray painter (love these!) and before you knew it two beautiful layers of white paint were on all four pallets. As soon as they were dry they were in the bedroom and set out to the dimensions of the box spring. We secured the pallets together with lag bolts and the base of bed is done! Cost…… FREE. (Often your local hardware stores or anywhere that receives large amounts of palletized shipments will just give these away if you ask. That is what I did.)

Box springs and mattresses were put in place and now we move on to the upholstered headboard! I decided I wanted an odd number of square upholstered boards set side by side as a floating headboard. I had seen various ideas and decided I loved the odd number of three large squares best. The size of each square needed to be between 24” – 26″ to extend the full width of the king-sized mattress. I found pre-cut boards already measuring 24×24 for $6.00.

I purchased a roll of foam (pictures below with dimensions) from Hobby Lobby along with my fabric. I used a 40% off coupon and the fabric was $47.00. The foam was $11 total.

I did not get batting after a talk with the lady in fabric. I chose nice thick fabric and I cut the foam to slightly overlap the boards for a more soft / less straight lined look so we felt batting was not needed. The roll of foam was 2 x 27 x 76 and I cut three pieces of foam to the measurement of 25×25 to overlap the 24×24 boards.

When cutting my fabric I allowed 6″ of length beyond the 25×25 measurement so that I had no issues getting a sufficient amount of fabric to staple to my board.

I folded my ends under and stapled in to that to give more support for the fabric under the staples.

It took me a few hours to upholster all three boards and then it was done!!!

I made a couple of pillows with the left over fabric from the headboard as you can see in pictures below. Also, I plan to find a few more throw pillows to set on the bed for added color. When you choose a neutral color for your base and headboard you can alternate throw pillows and totally change your color scheme with ease. Add Christmas throws for example! I plan to find some festive pillows for the holidays and sew some bells on them for fun!

I purchased hardware to attach my upholstered boards to my wall and screws with anchors in case I had to mount them to the wall in between studs in some places. The hardware total was about $6.00.

Total cost of new headboard $82.00!!!! I’m very happy with this project and the price! Also, this was my first upholstery project so it’s not a gorgeous picture from the back of the upholstered headboard pieces, but it is not awful for my first time either. 🙂 I hope this was helpful and inspires you to remake a space in your home as well!! Please continue to shop our website for more tools and project ideas!! Thanks and Happy Holidays!!

For more DIY projects for the home and family I would love to have you visit and post your thoughts at: mommamiamoments.blogspot.com

*Maria (Momma Mia) handles our A/P and A/R department here at Workshop Tools as well as multiple other crises that randomly occur throughout the operation.  She has been an exemplary employee for 10+ years and is a leading figure in the Workshop Tools family.  She was nice enough to document her project and give us a write up about it on her own time.  We appreciate her time and dedication with the highest affections.