I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford expensive furniture. I’ve grown accustomed to cheaper options like IKEA and Target, where I’ve found pieces that I absolutely love with one problem – the hardware is very plain. After my latest furniture purchase of a new media unit with two cabinet doors, I decided to upgrade the hardware myself and make DIY faceted handles out of clay.
Things like furniture hardware make a huge impact and can dramatically change a piece of furniture, so this really simple DIY adds some homemade flair and character to an otherwise cookie cutter piece of furniture. Plus, you can easily paint it to match your decor. In this case, I chose copper.
Materials:
- 3-inch screw (should match size of existing hardware)
- Air dry clay
- Craft knife
- Craft paint
- Paintbrush
- Clay glaze
- Screwdriver
- E6000 glue (optional)
Step
Roll the clay into a ball about 1 ½ inches wide or larger depending on the size of the furniture. Wet your hands as needed to create a smooth ball.
Step
Insert the screw into the ball to indent where it will screw onto the furniture. Make sure it is deep enough to be fully secured to the existing hardware holes.
Step
Use a craft knife to carefully cut off shards of clay from all angles to create a faceted gem look, but be careful not to cut too deep. (Remember, if you make a mistake, you can easily ball up the clay and start over.)
Step
Once you’re satisfied with the appearance, remove the screw and let the clay dry completely overnight. Because it’s thick, it will take time to fully dry.
Step
When the clay is hard to the touch, paint it (if desired) or even use a splattering effect. Let the paint dry and apply a second coat. Once the paint is dry, cover it with a coat of the clay glaze to seal it and give it a glossy look.
Step
Once the glaze is dry, screw the new hardware into your furniture and use a spot of glue to secure the clay to the screw if it feels loose.
See what a difference it makes?! I love how something so simple adds that personal, homemade touch to a home. Plus, you can easily switch them out if you ever want a change.
