Woohoo! I’m so excited about this post today – I’ve been dying to share the outcome of this project, but I had to wait until today because…
Dun dun dunnnn….
It’s…
Welcome to “Scarf Week,” the week-long scarf-a-palooza that takes place each year during the slightly-more-well-known but slightly-less-awesome “Shark Week.”
Scarves > sharks.
I’m sorry, it’s just an undeniable fact. Take it up with the universe. But I ask you… Which has less (if any) scary rows of teeth? I rest my case…
Scarf Week is the creative brainchild of Lauren from The Thinking Closet and Vanessa from Tried and True, who have gathered together a huge group of bloggers to participate in themed days of the week (which you can find right here) with blog posts featuring all-things-scarves. And you can also explore all of the creative scarf projects on social media by checking out the hashtag, #ScarfWeek2015!
When I heard that today’s theme was all about refashioning and repurposing scarves, I volunteered right away! I love a good neck adornment as much as the next person (although maybe not this much), but I get a little more excited about creating something for my home than for my wardrobe.
I immediately knew that I wanted to do something with the colorful, vintage silk scarves I spot at the thrift store all the time but never brought home because, well, I didn’t know what to do with them!
When I turned our under-utilized office closet into a reading nook back in March, I really wanted it to feel insanely colorful and cozy, like being tucked away in a gypsy caravan. Bryan and I talked about draping the ceiling in scarves to totally embrace the boho vibe, but I wasn’t sure exactly how that would work and so the idea ended up getting dropped.
As I was sitting and chatting to him about Scarf Week and trying to come up with an awesome project (can you tell I think through things by talking?), he brought the idea back up and encouraged me to just go for it. So I hit up the thrift store the next day and brought home a whole pinwheel of gorgeous scarves…
Then I spent an entire afternoon with a pack of push pins trying to figure out how to swag scarves effortlessly from the ceiling.
Spoiler alert: it was not effortless.
The next day, I took it all back down. Then I spent two or three hours trying again.
And took it all back down.
The third time was the charm, however. I finally figured out the best configuration for the scarves and the best way to tack them up and let them swoop nonchalantly.
Still, on their own, I didn’t think the scarves were quite enough. I wanted gaudiness, pizzazz – a riot of colors and textures!
Colorful wooden beads and yarn tassels came to my rescue! I strung together the beads and tassels to make a garland to swag from the ceiling, and then I hand-tied leftover tassels to each push pin to hide them (and because more tassels always = better).
And now, this is finally the perfect little hideaway I always wanted to have growing up! I’m still on the search for the perfect comfy seating solution for in here, but welcome to my zany, bizarre, yet wonderful closet reading nook…
It’s a tight space with no natural light, so it was a bit of a challenge to photograph, but hopefully you can get a sense of the nook and just how crazy fun the new scarf ceiling is!
(Plus, you can always picture me squeezed into a corner, lying on the floor, or contorting myself ridiculously to get these shots, and at least you’ll be entertained!)
What would YOU do with a whole bundle of colorful silk scarves like this?
Want More Scarf Week Inspiration?
We’ve got you covered! Be sure to check out each of these inspirational DIY projects that are making waves (hehe) in the blogging world this morning…
Click the images above or visit the links below.
1. From Childhood Memorabilia to Wall Art by It Was Weekend
2. A Vintage Boho Reading Nook: The Ceiling by The Gathered Home
3. Pom Pom Tassel Bag Charm by Ciburbanity
4. DIY Scarf Tray by Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer
5. How to Turn Your Scarf into a Vest by Burlap & Babies
6. Turn a Vintage Scarf into a Lumbar Pillow by The Silly Pearl
7. Inexpensive Framed Scarf Art by Crafty Bonds
8. The Scarf: A Necessary Item in Every Child’s Dress-Up Box by Apron Strings & Other Things
9. Upcycled Scarf Planter by Upcycled Treasures
10. DIY Sparkling Infinity Scarf Refashion by The Crafting Nook
11. PJ Pants to Scarf Upcycle by Southern State of Mind
12. Furoshiki Book Bag by Tried & True
13. DIY Scarf Camera Strap by The Thinking Closet
Such a cool idea! I love the bright colors!
Thanks Mackenzie! It makes me so happy!
What a fun little nook!
Thanks Haley! It was so fun to create!
how marvelous! I have a teen-aged daughter who could easily get lost in your reading nook.
It’s the sort of hideaway I always wanted to have growing up – my teenage self would be so jealous! There’s something so perfect about curling up in a tiny space with a good book!
1. Reminds me of my old dorm rooms which is an excellent thing. That might have been the last time I used incense which was also an excellent thing.
2. I spy Nancy Drew which always makes me happy.
3. Love this! The more bohemian the better if you ask me!
xx
Thanks Charlotte! I’ll have to add some of your pom poms in here to up the bohemian factor even more!
Whole nook is totally great–the scarves are just the icing on the cake! And the light is the cherry on top of the icing! Mixed metaphor, or is this a black forest cake? Not totally sure but delicious either way. 🙂
Haha – just layers and layers, right? 🙂 Thanks Brittany!
Oooohhh Brynne! This is so pretty! i LOVE! 🙂 I am so into boho right now, you nailed it!!!
Thanks so much Tania! It was so fun to go all out boho in here!
Those scarves added the perfect amount of pizzazz and gypsy style to your fun little nook!
Thanks Trisha! I love them!
A beautiful collection of scarves! I LOVE how the reading nook turned out! The beads and tassels were the perfect addition.
Thank you so much, Steph! I think the beaded tassel garland would be so fun in other contexts too – Christmas tree garland? 🙂
such a fun reading nook! and i love your original idea! i would have been stumped as to what to do with scarves. maybe just tie them on my dogs? but you rocked it!
Thanks Cassie! Oh my – Catcher and Jake would be so adorable in vintage floral scarves!!!
I love this! I used my stash of scarves collected while in Tajikistan and made a curtain for my kitchen window. I love the bright colors!
I considered doing some kind of curtain! I bet it’s gorgeous, Ranjani!
You had me at “Boho” and “colorful” — my two favorite things! You certainly found some wonderful scarves, and I love the color on the walls. Good luck with your quest for the “perfect chair”.
Thank you so much, Ellen!
oh what fun this is i love it….. perfect chair? how about a gaming chair they have them on craigs list all the time xx
Great idea – low to the ground, definitely comfy, and I could throw a quilt over it to maintain the boho vibe! I’ll have to keep my eyes out on Craigslist!
I love this! You need a giant bean-bag chair in there so you can lean way back and enjoy the view of your beautiful ceiling!
Yes – I’m definitely thinking something along those lines! 🙂 Thanks Christy!
I think you photographed it beautifully! Much better than my lighting.
If I had a bunch of vintage scarves, I would make the vintage scarves shower curtain I’ve been avoiding purchasing on Etsy!
A vintage scarf shower curtain sounds BRILLIANT – love that idea!
Oh!!! I love this!! It’s totally gypsy caravan boho amazingness! Love the colourful bead/tassels and the additional texture/interest they bring 🙂 You are so bloody creative!! Gah! Love it 🙂 xxx
Thank you so much, Kimberly!!! 🙂
This is so insanely creative and gorgeous and magical. I’m in LOVE.
Aw, thank you Amy! I’m so glad it turned out the way I was envisioning it – it was a little iffy halfway through! 🙂
Squeeeeeeal! I’m truly DYING over here as I soak up those bright colors and fun textures of your draped masterpiece. I’m so impressed with your fervent commitment to find a configuration and approach that worked…because it was certainly worth the effort. And you’re so right: the wooden beads and tassels really give it that extra oomph. I’m in full agreement: scarves > sharks. And Scarf Week is all the better for having you be a part of it, Brynne. Thanks for rocking us with your inspiration over here! Off to pin now…
Thank you so much Lauren! I absolutely loved getting to join in with the Scarf Week fun! I’m so glad it gave me the push I needed to finally tackle the scarf ceiling and the motivation to keep trying to make it work – thank you for organizing!
Brynne, your projects are always so beautiful and creative and living in your home must be so exciting with inspiring projects and nooks and crannies all around. This looks like the perfect place to escape and feel like you’re in another world. Love it!
Thank you Katie! It’s definitely the most fun little corner of the house – I just need to get some music in there, a little fan, a candle… I might never leave!
Oh my goodness, I could sit in your reading nook ALL DAY LONG! That ceiling is seriously the perfect touch. Thanks so much for joining in on the scarfy fun of Scarf Week!
Thanks so much for organizing such a fun week, Vanessa! I absolutely loved getting to participate!
Fabulous! I hope it’s not going to freak you out too much one day when you walk into this room to find me reading in here. Because I think it’s pretty much inevitable at this point 😉
Hahaha! If I scream and act all freaked out, just interpret it as happiness to see you 😉
Love it! The bead and tassel garland is perfect!!
Thank you so much, sweet friend!
So you used push pins, in the end?
Yes! I reread my post and realized I hadn’t made that clear – oops! The pushpins have held up just fine for the past year!