I'm always looking for low-cost ways to make new accessories for my home decor projects. Did you know you can create unique items on a shoestring budget by using different types of pedestals? It's the perfect way to display a single item or a small collection. From dowel-mounted pieces to pedestal bowl units, you can make a custom accessory for your favorite room for very little money. Let me show you how.
• Candle Pillar Combo
Who can resist the combination of a wide candle on a wide pillar? Pottery Barn has some of the best turned wood pillars I've seen starting at $24. I love the shape and weight of these pedestals. Even though they sell them as candle holders, they're a good base for just about anything you'd want to display on a pedestal.
• Pillar and Bowl
Elevate your favorite group of accessories by placing them in a bowl and setting it on top of a wide pillar. What's neat about this idea is you can use a mismatched pillar and bowl - just glue them together and paint them up for a unified and substantial look. Or you can find a glass bowl you love and add it to the top of a fancy candle holder.
Check out the Louisville Wedding Blog - they've got a dynamite example of how good the pillar and bowl combination looks together and they put theirs together for about $13.
• One Dowel + One Block of Wood = Instant Pedestal Art
Here's one of my favorite decorating tricks. When I need a unique accessory, I find a simple object that works with the theme of my room and I drill a hole into the bottom of it to fit the width of a wooden dowel. Then I take a four-by-four chunk of lumber about six inches high and drill a hole into the top of it to also fit the width of the wooden dowel. My finale is fitting it all together for instant pedestal art. I've gotten some terrific compliments on these creations and usually they end up looking like a piece of high-end sculpture.
Check out the pictures and the inspiration for this article in the Pedestal Accessories ideabook on Houzz. You'll see just how easy it is to decorate on a pedestal and you just might get an idea for an item you can create for your next project.
Enjoy more home decor ideas from Terry Mulligan:
10 Tips to Take Your Next Decorating Project Over the Top
