Sweet Dreams!

Hello my friends, today I am sharing a post by Merri, an interior designer.  I do not receive any compensation, but I think this is a fun project that my readers will enjoy.

Sweet Dreams: DIY Travel Memories Nightstand

By Merri Cvetan

 



 

It doesn’t matter if you travel once a year or once a decade—the memories you make while away from home are important. Relive those moments by keeping photos and souvenirs nearby. Instead of displaying your souvenirs in the living room, there are plenty of travel-inspired decorating ideas for your bedroom. Try creating a little shrine to your travels next to your bed.

Before you start, envision your final project. What do your vacation memories look like? Time spent relaxing on the beach, riding amusement park rides with the kids or dashing from museum to museum in a big city? I prefer the latter. I love big cities, especially old, historic ones with lots of museums, so I decided to go with a New York City-themed nightstand.



 

Before you start, envision your final project. What do your vacation memories look like? Time spent relaxing on the beach, riding amusement park rides with the kids or dashing from museum to museum in a big city? I prefer the latter. I love big cities, especially old, historic ones with lots of museums, so I decided to go with a New York City-themed nightstand.

 

 

I found a little nightstand at a resale shop. It’s in good condition, but a little dated. (Think country decor from the 80s!) I planned to cover the solid panel door with a map.

After gently sanding the old finish, I gave the nightstand three coats of a pretty turquoise blue. I chose a satin finish. You can also use semi-gloss, but it’s important to note that a shinier finish (like a gloss) tends to highlight flaws. I didn’t paint the front of the door since I planned to cover it up in a different way.

 

New York is one of my favorite cities. I love the hustle and bustle, the theaters on Broadway, the shopping and museums. I cut an atlas map of the city boroughs to fit the front panel of the door. A map of the subway system or Central Park would be fun alternatives, too.

I applied the map onto the door with a decoupage technique, using my fingers to smooth out the bubbles. Once the top coat was dry, most of the remaining bubbles disappeared.

I lucked out when I found a compass cabinet knob. How appropriate!

 

I pinned photos of special buildings and parts of the city on the wall. I plan to make it a revolving display by swapping out the pictures or postcards every month. On top of the nightstand, I displayed my collection of memorabilia, including Empire State Building souvenirs and a key chain—but you can gather any items that remind you of your trip or are important to you.



Now every morning, I can wake up thinking about my time in the Big Apple. This is the perfect way to keep your vacation memories alive!


　
Merri Cvetan is a crafty interior designer who likes to create beautiful one-of-kind pieces and write about them for The Home Depot. She provides step-by-step instructions on everything from spicing up your nightstand to creating your own backsplash. If you are looking for that special nightstand to jazz up your bedroom, visit The Home Depot.

hugs,

Jann