Geometric Designs

Skewer Decor Designs That Are Simple And Fun

Wooden skewers, or similar wooden dowels, can be used to decorate everything from vases to walls. Skewers have pointed ends and wooden dowels have flat ends. If using the pointed skewers it may be necessary to snip the points off before beginning the project.

The wooden sticks can be used to redecorate lots of different things around your house. Make a unique pattern on an interior door, use them to enhance baseboards, or just glue them onto an old vase for a new look. A serrated knife or small handsaw are perfect for trimming the wood pieces down to the size needed.

You'll find wooden dowel rods in many sizes and diameters at your local home improvement store. Usually home improvement stores only carry then natural look in wood. Visit a craft store to look at skewers and dowel rods and you'll find them in colors, too. Purchase long dowel rods, then cut them to the needed sizes, and you'll save money over purchasing lots of smaller dowels.

Try attaching the dowels or skewers to doors, dressers, living room tables, headboards, footboards, or even mirrors. Paint the sticks, cover them with fabric, or even cover them with glue and glitter. After decorating the sticks to your liking, and setting them aside to dry completely, you can then glue them to the desired surface.

You'll be surprised at how different the wooden dowels or skewers make most any object look. And, depending upon the design you make, you can create a look that's elegant, rustic or even whimsical. Wrap foam and fabric around several dowels to create a cool frame for a mirror. Or, glue the dowels directly onto an interior door, then paint them the same color as the door. The design can be just dowels that go around the perimeter of the door or even a tic-tac-toe pattern for a child's room.

It's easy to make simple designs like geometric shapes or a row of the sticks butted together. Or, position the sticks so that you can form words or sayings. There are really no limits when it comes to decorating with dowels.

Cover old items with the dowels and you'll have created a brand new item! One example is a small plastic trash can. Glue the dowels all around the can and you'll have a whole new look. After attaching the dowels to the desired object you can decorate the dowels yourself, using any number of techniques or craft items. Rubber stamping, tiny stickers, small wooden shapes, and other items are easy to attach to the finished project.

Something as ordinary as a cardboard box can become sturdier and useful by attaching the skewers or rods. After decorating the wooden pieces, and attaching them to the box, you'll have a basket-type organizer that's handy in any room of the home.

Start by trying a small project and working your way up to larger arrangements. You'll get good at measuring and cutting the dowels or skewers to fit the current project. Create a new look in one room of the house by using the skewers or dowels on several projects in the room. This will create a coordinated look that's unusual but impressive.

This project should come with a warning, though. It's somewhat addictive to create the skewer or dowel look on various objects, so be prepared to start one project after another. Get your kids and friends involved. They'll have a blast and your home will have a whole new look!