How To Solve Problems Like A Designer: Reverse Brainstorming

Creative masterminds approach life’s challenges in unique ways. A designer’s job is to make something better than it was before. The designer recognizes the problems present with a given item or visual message and is tasked with creating something that provides the optimal solution to these issues. Accomplishing such a goal is not always as simple as brainstorming for a solution. So what’s a good designer’s secret? Reverse brainstorming.

Focus on how NOT to fix the problem before coming up with a solution

The process of reverse brainstorming helps you travel back and unravel a situation in order to come up with ways of solving a particular problem. Designers who employ reverse brainstorming start by focusing on how not to fix the problem they are dealing with. Instead of looking at a problem and thinking about its solution, designers look at different ways to cause the problem, or how to actually make it worse. By understanding the worse cases for a situation, creative thinkers are able to devise a collection of backup remedies and combine them in order to create an effective and unique solution.

Reverse Brainstorming Doesn’t Have to be Boring.

From individual thought processes to group activities, reverse brainstorming is a realistic and an effective way to succeed at problem solving. Here are four tactics to get your creative juices flowing.

1. Break Out Your Drawing Skills

Have some fun with reverse brainstorming! Look at problem solving from a Pictionary point of view—sketch a visual representation of your problem and have your team or study group take turns drawing elements that could make the situation worse. Come up with at least as many ideas as there are people in your group.

Next, have a team member write out the results on slips of paper and stick them in a basket. Then pass the basket around and have each team member pick one idea at random and instruct them to present at least two solutions corresponding to the problem they chose.

You don’t have to be the next Michelangelo to play a successful game of Pictionary, nor do you have to be MacGyver to come up with a creative answer to the problem at hand. You just need an open mind and good intentions.

2. Host Team Debates

Who doesn’t like a good old fashioned debate? Sometimes a social hour is just what your team needs to come up with the ultimate solution.

Split your group into two teams. You present the problem and have one team brainstorm ways it could be made even worse. Then, once that team presents its reverse solutions, invite the other team to play devil’s advocate and come up with ways to resolve the other team’s solutions.

3. Use Post-It Notes

Create a reverse brainstorming board out of Post-It Notes. Post-Its can help you prioritize your ideas. If you’re working with a group of people, dedicate a portion of an office wall to the project and invite each person to contribute his or her ideas on Post-It Notes throughout the week. Name the board after the obstacle your team is facing and create a column for (1) potential causes, (2) ideas on how the situation can be worse, and (3) ways to fix those concepts.

When you utilize this method, by the end of the week, you’ll be able to have an in-depth discussion with your team on how to address solutions from every possible angle in order to create a better product or service in the long run.

4. Freewrite

If you’re flying solo on a project, try freewriting to shake out some ideas. When you know your problem, let your imagination fly with this technique for generating ideas. Spend time with your stream of consciousness by dedicating a specific time frame for this activity. Spend 20 minutes on each of the following concepts:

Possible causes

• New problems that could arise from not fixing the first problem (how you could make the problem worse)
• How you could solve those problems

You don’t have to be a writer to put down ideas on paper. You don’t even have to show your rough drafts to anyone. This is just a method to personally assist you in identifying the potential causes of your initial problem, further obstacles brought on by your initial problem, and ways in which you can overcome all of these issues.

Reverse brainstorming allows you to release your inner creative being and enhance your problem solving abilities. It stimulates the mind and, when done effectively, can make work much more entertaining. With a bit of practice, you can easily throw your brainstorming process in reverse and think like a designer.

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10 Simple Daily Practices That Can Help You See A Bigger World

Have you ever just sat, got out of your own thoughts, and observed the world around you—the world for what it actually is and what it has to offer? This world is so big, so vast, and so replete with marvels that one can continue to be amazed every day. However, the world is only as big as you allow your perception to define it. It is only as big as you make conscious efforts to come out of our shells and observe.

We humans go through so much daily and have to do so many things that we forget to look around us, to just sit down and view nature as it is, and observe what is going on in our surroundings. Here are 10 simple daily practices that are fun, practical, and useful and help you see a bigger world.

1. Look up from your smartphones, take off your headphones

Our use of technology immensely limits our awareness of life around us. Engaged with the glowing screens in front of us, instead of the people and the environment around us, we often fail to notice what is going on in our surroundings and miss out simple joys of life. A whole new world exists beyond that glowing screen, but it requires from us to look around and experience all that it has to offer. The effects of the changing seasons, the aesthetics of a venue you are dining at, and a talented street performer beneath the park bridge are just some of the few things that you may find when you start observing. Similarly, while travelling in a vehicle or walking, you can observe better and listen to interesting conversations and sounds around you if you do not have your ears plugged. Therefore, one of the most important daily practices for seeing the bigger world is to limit your use of headphones and smartphones when you step outside.

2. Don’t take the same path to or from school/work

On your walk or drive to or from school/work, take a different path each day. You’ll be amazed at how much you discover when you do so! It is very easy to follow the same path daily, but what’s the point in that? You will see different patterns, different people, different architecture, different street art etc. when you keep changing your path and observe keenly on your way.

3. Close your eyes and listen to your surroundings

Stop and listen to the sounds of the natural environment around you–the chirping, whistling and singing of the birds, the buzzing of bees, rustling of tree leaves, and the various sounds of the city, all may bring new information to you. Train your ears to listen for new things and notice different sounds.

4. Observe and talk to people around you

From jogging in the park to the line in the café, there are countless opportunities to meet new people and talk to them, but we have to be looking around and observing them in order to notice and take advantage of the opportunity. Observing and talking to people is another of the simple daily practices that can help you see the bigger world and expand your worldview as people share their experiences with you.

5. Challenge yourself to pay attention to new things

Keeping a look out for new things is easier said than done. You cannot just plan that you will start observing the world more from today and expect that it happens too. Instead you might be able to produce better results when you challenge yourself to do so. For example, you can assign yourself a scavenger hunt, i.e. select something for you to look for during your walk or anytime you are out during the day. This could be anything, security cameras, orange flowers, people with headphones or anything. You can also challenge yourself to take a photo of a unique thing every day or with different challenges each day for keeping it interesting.

6. Sit in a public place and journal

Take out a few minutes to sit in a public place, such as a bus station, a park, a shopping mall, etc. Observe the people around and record details about them, such as how they are dressed, the expressions they are wearing on their faces, etc. Note the details and write about whatever comes to your mind or about the way the scene made you feel. This will also help you find out new things around you that you never noticed before.

7. Consume entertainment actively

While watching a movie or listening to a song, we are often tempted to zone out. But thinking about what the director of a movie was trying to get at when he/she added a particular aspect in the story or what the song’s lyrics actually mean may be another of the important simple daily practices to make you see the bigger world and practice observation.

8. Get lost—explore the streets and alleys you have never been to before

When you have free time, get outside and explore places you have never been to before. You may discover a new café or restaurant, different new street performers, another breed of dogs that you never knew about, or a new way back to home. You become so mindful of your surroundings when you explore new streets and alleys.

9. Analyse what you see or read, and ask questions

When you observe your surroundings or read something, stop and question your thoughts. Start asking as much questions as you can, which will help you think critically. This also helps in boosting your skills of deduction and observation in general, while also expanding your knowledge about the world.

10. Make connections between what you see and the knowledge you have

For seeing a bigger world, your daily practices also need to include connecting your previous knowledge to what you see or observe. For example, you see a child having trouble in reading. You know this could be related to vision problems or it may be dyslexia so you look for symptoms of both and make a deduction on the basis of the ones that are found more prominently in the child. In this way you will be able to learn more and enhance your knowledge in general.

Featured photo credit: Viktor Hanacek via picjumbo.com

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7 Things Will Happen When You Start Looking Back At Your Old Facebook Profile Pictures

Facebook has been around for over a decade now, and many of us have been members along for the ride for most of that time. Have you looked back recently to review your old posts? The etiquette has certainly changed over the years, not just for what we post but also for what we choose as our profile pictures. Take a walk down memory lane and click through your past profile pictures, and you will find yourself thinking these seven things:

1. What is that outfit I’m wearing?

The early 2000’s were not a universally flattering time when it came to fashion. So the first thing I usually notice flipping through old profile pictures is my clothes. Sometimes the clothes weren’t the right size, too big and baggy or too tight, and they definitely lacked the fashion sense that comes with time and age. Hopefully you saved a few of those bad fashion choices, though, because there sure will be ’00s throwback parties sooner or later.

2. Why did I ever date him?

This thought doesn’t need much of an explanation. With time comes closure, but when you actually flip back through those pictures and see the person who was once the “love of your life”… well, you’ll probably cringe a little. We live and we love and we learn, and today it’s easier to look back at romantic missteps with confidence that all things work out as they’re supposed to.

3. Did my eyebrows really look like that?

The guy version of this thought may be, “What’s going on with my facial hair?” But for the ladies, eyebrows today are the frame of the face–a work of art that takes thought and time, waxing, and plucking. The art of the eyebrow has developed only in recent years, though, so older pictures are often a little painful to look at. For the gentlemen who currently have facial hair, old pictures without it remind them of their old baby face looks.

4. Did I think that selfie actually looked good?

The “duck face,” the peace sign, the weird angle… Old selfies can be scary! Can you remember the days when we didn’t have front-facing cameras on our phones? No wonder some pictures turned out so bizarre, we had to balance a camera backwards in the air!

5. Where was that taken?

More often than not, the picture that makes you wonder, “Where was this even taken?” features you hold an alcoholic beverage… or two. During our heyday of craziness, we all liked to show off how frequently we went out to bars or parties. As we age, this pictures tend to fade away and be deleted or hidden. Let’s be real, our ability to party, though fun, is not the part of our character we want displayed first and foremost on our profile. Plus, with the expansion of social media, employers and future employers tend to look down on those sort of displays of craziness.

6. Why did I crop half my face out?

This one is inevitable. In the early days of Facebook and other forms of social media, we all had the tendency to crop confusingly. You’ll see an old picture that’s far too zoomed in, cropped right around the corners of your face–or one with an excess of blank background floating about your head. Facebook itself encouraged better use of the crop tool by implementing the square profile picture, and thankfully many people learned how to use it.

7. Wow! I’ve grown up.

Some people choose to delete old profile pictures–but I think they’re a great way to look back on how we’ve grown and changed. The good, the bad, the ugly. The poor fashion choices, the old boyfriends, the awkward selfies. They all serve to remind us that we’re all growing and changing, and that’s not a bad thing. So stroll down memory lane and look through your old profile pictures… and then, for a little extra fun, check out your friends’ old pictures!

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What Nobody Tells You About Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is a thrilling idea. When you started to tell people about your year abroad, everyone told you that you would have an amazing time. They were right, but they neglected to mention the less than amazing things that happen when you study abroad, too. If you can relate, check out 8 things that no-one told you about studying abroad.

1. The first night panic

The journey to your new home is exciting, and it is great meeting all of your new housemates for the first time. However, once you have unpacked, total panic sets in. You can’t stop thinking “Why did I do this again?”

Home can feel very far away during the first few nights in an unfamiliar location. If you are feeling scared, consider going out to meet new people. It can feel very scary to start off with, but remind yourself that lots of other students are probably going through the same thing. If you want to meet other students, try visiting your University’s café or library.

2. Being bewildered by new currency

Who knew foreign currency could be so confusing? It took you weeks to get the grip with the exchange rate – you regularly held up long queues while you figured out the currency in your hand. If you are still struggling with the currency, there are lots of apps available that help to make currency conversion more understandable. This will help you to figure out prices no matter where you are.

3. The difficulties of the language barrier

You thought you were pretty clued-up on the language you would be using, but you regularly find yourself in scenarios where there is a miscommunication. On particularly tough days it can feel like no-one understands you, even though you know they aren’t used to your accent.

If you are frustrated by the language barrier, remember that every miscommunication teaches you something new; after a few months you will feel like a natural. If you want to learn quicker, consider taking a night class or asking your housemates to help you learn colloquial phrases.

4. Missing the strangest things

You expected to miss your friends and family, but not your make-up remover. Lots of products are not sold abroad, which can leave you missing your favorite snacks or brands. Your new friends showed you alternatives, but they just don’t compare to the brands that you know and love.

Next time you go home, stock up on all of your favorite products that you can’t buy abroad. You can also bulk order products online – no-one should have to go without their essentials!

5. Random feelings of homesickness

You are now fully settled into your new life; you have started your classes, befriended the people you live with and you even own a blender. Despite this, every so often you find yourself feeling incredibly lonely.

Don’t worry if you feel this way. It can take a long time to fully settle into your new life. Try talking to another international student about your feelings, as it is very likely that they will know what you are going through.

6. Repeatedly answering the same questions

Every time you meet new people, you go through the same motions. Everyone asks the same questions about where you come from, and often they will throw in a few incorrect myths too.

If this is starting to bother you, realize that there are advantages to the conversation. People are genuinely interested in the subject, and you will feel more confident because you know what you are talking about. Take the chance to tell strangers about all of the little-known, awesome things about your country!

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People With Multicultural Experiences Are More Creative, Study Finds

What is creativity?

Oxford dictionary defines creativity as: “The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness”. And according to research, if you are able to see things from a different perspective, and to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts and materialize them, then you can be considered a creative person.

But how do we acquire this ability? Reading books, listening to music, etc. are pretty good ideas. But they are all done within the confinement and comfort of the room. In fact, recent research by Adam Galinsky and his colleagues at Columbia Business School suggest that people with multicultural experiences are more creative and open minded. This might give us additional reason to go out, travel and meet new friends around the world.

Getting to know other cultures will open your mind to a whole host of new ideas.

By spending time incorporated in multiculturalism, you will, undoubtedly, start seeing the world through different eyes. Old elements, scenarios and places will take on new forms under a different light.

Once you step into another society, a few things will happen to you. You will get to know other societies – their ideas, customs, language. Every country or group of people has a set of rules according to which they live their lives. These are the customs and ideas those people have. Moreover, it influences how they speak to each other or to a stranger.

You will see the world from a different perspective.

You will get first-hand experience of all that. Once you immerse yourself in various cultures you will see how others talk to you, and what they find to be polite or rude. Furthermore, you will be treated according to their customs. This will show you how they perceive the world, what they believe in, what they like or what are they scared of.

You will think differently when you encounter problems in life.

And thirdly, you will get a new perspective on what you already know – on your own culture. Perhaps you will figure out a new way to deal with stressful situations, or act during a job interview. Additionally, you will get new solutions to some other problems you might have. For example, if you are an artist, a multicultural experience can open your eyes to new ideas that you can use for your work. All in all, the experience will make you more creative.

What can we do to have more multicultural experiences in our life?

There are a number of ways to reach out to people from different cultures and broaden your horizons:

Travel abroad

The best way to dive into other cultures is to travel. Visiting different countries and even different continents is a marvelous experience, just make sure to go beyond the usual tourist attractions and experience the culture from the eyes of a local.

Meet people of other ethnicity locally

Even if you cannot afford to go halfway across the world, you can start by spending more time around people of different ethnicity in your city. All it takes is to go to a few ethnic stores, and start a conversation with someone new.

Find a foreign friend online

If you cannot travel, you can always learn with the help of the Internet. We all spend a lot of time looking at the little screens of our gadgets, but this allows us to connect to people from all over the globe and experience different cultures from the privacy of own home, or as we take the first sip of coffee at the local coffee shop on our lunch break. Simple, right?

Try out different cuisines

You can tell a lot about a culture by experiencing the food they eat on a daily basis. You need to go full ethnic and get the right ingredients, authentic sauces and use traditional cooking methods.

Read foreign literature and history

If you truly want to take in the spirit of another nation, you will want to read about their history and the thoughts of their most eloquent writers and poets. Find some good foreign books and start your journey.

These are just a few good suggestions, and you can always ask your new friends from different cultures to give you a few more tips.

Do Not Be Confined: Open Yourself And Start Learning

The beauty of the world lies in its vastness and diversity. Once we humble ourselves and open our eyes, we will be able to see it. And the truth is, the earlier you start, the better. So don’t hesitate, go out and travel. Then you will see and learn much more than you can ever imagine.

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How To Find Your Purpose Through Community

How can you find purpose and meaning through community? The traditional perspective on this is that religious community is vital for finding meaning and purpose in life. Yet what does the actual research on this topic show?

 First, Why Care About Meaning and Purpose?

Well, as research shows, a strong perception of meaning in life leads to significantly higher mental well-being and physical health. Now, should you worry about your health and well-being based on your current sense of meaning and purpose? It’s wise to evaluate it, which you can do using this handy science-based web app. If you find it lower than you want, there are plenty of science-based resources to improve your sense of meaning and purpose, such as this book, this online class, this videotaped workshop, and plenty of other resources.

Benefits of Religious Belief

According to the science, those who believe in God and go to church have an overall more powerful sense of purpose and meaning in life, although some recent studies nuance these conclusions. But is it the belief in God that creates this stronger sense of life meaning and purpose, or something else going on?

Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging

Other research indicates that religion satisfies people’s desire to belong. Studies show that people have a higher sense of life meaning and purpose when they are part of a community and have strong social bonds. Likewise, people have a stronger sense of life meaning when they have an opportunity to reflect on this question, by themselves and especially together with others. Religion provides the primary opportunity for community ties and the main venue for discussing life meaning and purpose, at least in the United States. In other societies different institutions offer many of the same benefits as churches do in the US.

As an example, take Present-day societies with a more secular orientation than the United States have similar stories to tell, as illustrated by research on contemporary Denmark and Sweden. Most Danes and Swedes do not worship any god. At the same time these countries score at the very top of the “happiness index,” have very low crime and corruption rates, great educational systems, strong economies, well-supported arts, free health care, egalitarian social policies. They have a wide variety of strong social institutions that provide community connections, opportunities for serving others, and other benefits that religion provides in the United States.

Non-Religious Communities and Meaning and Purpose

So believing in God and going to church is not the only way to attain a strong sense of life purpose and meaning. You can gain it in venues that are secular and provide an opportunity for community ties and a chance to reflect on life purpose and meaning just as religious communities have traditionally offered. Research indicates that those who engage with such deep questions in a setting that does not expect conformity to a specific dogma overall gain a deeper perception of meaning and purpose.

In the United States, such venues are few and far between, but their numbers are growing. So if you want to gain a rich sense of life meaning and purpose, without an externally imposed and God-oriented framework, check out local affiliates of these national organizations. You will find a place to reflect on deep life questions from reason-based perspectives, and gain an opportunity to enter communities where you can form strong social bonds and great friendships. Also, check out workshops and videos by Intentional Insights on finding purpose and meaning from an evidence-based perspective, and discuss your thoughts on this topic in a virtual forum on our blog.

Questions To Consider

What is your experience reflecting on life meaning and purpose in a community setting?

If you are part of a community, do you find that such social ties help reinforce your sense of life meaning and purpose?

If not, what steps might you take to gain this benefit and thus increase your mental and physical well-being?

Featured photo credit: Communiy via flickr.com

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How Mentally Strong People Find Their Purpose

Imagine the following scenario: you have been raised in a deeply evangelical household. From an early age, your parents taught you to pray daily and told you that the purpose and meaning of life were found in God. Attending Sunday school reinforced this message. So did the television that your family watched, the books that they gave you to read, and the music to which they encouraged you to listen. You grew up in this environment throughout your early teenage years, attending a religious elementary and junior high school. Then, you went off to a local high school, because your parents could not afford a religious high school. There, you met an environment that challenged your beliefs that the purpose and meaning in life were to be found only in God. You started to question and doubt, maybe even attended meetings of the local affiliate of the Secular Student Alliance to find out what it was all about. You wanted to explore more broadly, but were afraid of losing your sense of purpose and meaning in life.

This is the story of many students that I have taught in my role as a professor. They were deeply confused about meaning and purpose in life, questioning what it was all about. They are wise to do so, as research shows that having a clear answer to the question of life meaning and purpose can greatly improve our mental wellbeing. This questioning correlates with the growing number of “nones,” people without any religious affiliation in American society, especially among younger adults. Many nones, and young people in general, are seeking for answers that don’t necessarily include a God as part of the equation.

So what does research on this issue show? Apparently, the important thing is simply to gain a sense of life purpose and meaning: the source of the purpose itself is not so important.

Religion can be one among many channels to help someone gain a sense of life meaning. The pioneer in this field, Victor Frankl, was a Viennese psychiatrist who lived through the Holocaust concentration camps. In his research and work, both in the camps and afterward in private practice, he found that the crucial thing for individuals surviving and thriving in life is to develop a personal sense of purpose and meaning, what he terms the “will-to-meaning.” There are many paths to do so. For example, Frankl helped people find purpose and meaning in life through helping others to remember their joys, sorrows, sacrifices, and blessings, and thereby bring to mind the meaningfulness of their lives as already lived.

So where does this leave us? Religion is only one among many ways of developing a personal sense of life meaning and greater sense of personal agency. Mentally strong people find their purpose from within, regardless of their religious belief or the lack thereof!

One intentional approach to gaining life meaning and purpose involves occasionally stopping and thinking about our lives and experiences: we can find an individual sense of life purpose and meaning through the lives we already lead. A great way to do so is through journaling – it can help us deal with stress, process sorrows, experience personal growth, learn more effectively, and gain positive emotions through expressing gratitude. If you don’t have time for a lot of journaling, write down what you are thankful for in short sentences or take time to count your blessings during your daily commute.

Did you ever try journaling? If not, I encourage you to try it out and let us know what you found. If you did, what kind of benefits did you get? What kind of challenges did you run into? From your experience, how can the process of journaling be optimized?

Featured photo credit: Field via flickr.com

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10 Step Furniture Makeover Idea To Make Your Home Brand New

Everyone has that one piece of furniture that is functional and came at just the right price. Unfortunately, the furniture is also usually ugly.

Whether it is a tired old cabinet from the 80s or a standard Ikea set, there are plenty of ways for you to update your own furniture. You do not need any special skills or tools. All you need to transform your home is some inspiration and a fresh coat of paint.

1. Choose a color scheme

To create an updated piece of furniture, you will need to choose two colors. The first will be the principle color, the one that dominates the furniture. The second will serve as the undercoat and will complement the principle color.

There are no limits to your color combinations. You can try as many different combinations as you like. Just try to ensure that the colors complement each other vaguely.

A good rule of thumb is to use a darker color underneath because it will be easier to spot.

2. Prep your furniture

When using traditional paint, you might need to strip your furniture before adding that fresh coat. This will improve the look of the colors and help the paint stay longer.

The stripping process is not necessary. It all depends on your furniture, your paint and your goals.

If the furniture you are painting is old and not originally your own, check the furniture for woodworm. If you find any, be sure to treat it before you begin painting.

3. Paint on the undercoat

The undercoat is the first layer of paint to go onto the furniture.

If you’re distressing your furniture, you should paint the undercoat in places where you are going to scuff the furniture. Be sure to remember the places where natural scuffing would occur, paying close attention to the edges and corners of the furniture.

Be sure to note which parts you have covered with the undercoat if you plan to distress the furniture. You will cover this with a second coat of paint after the first layer has dried. Forgetting where you painted can cause trouble.

4. Let the undercoat dry

Most undercoats will dry in around 20 minutes. Be sure to let it dry fully before you move on to the second coat.

If you’re in a rush or just can’t wait, you can use a hair dryer to speed up the process.

5. Add a second coat

The second coat of paint is key for upcycling furniture. This is where you add your principle color.

The second coat of paint is also where you get to start having more fun with the paint. You can take this time to use different types of brushes or painting techniques on the furniture. This can add texture and depth to the furniture.

6. Dry and wax

You will need to let your second coat dry, too. Again, you can speed up this process with a quick blast of the hair dryer.

Once the second coat is dry, you should apply a layer of wax. This wax will protect the second coat. You need this protection even if you are distressing the furniture.

7. Distress the paint

Distressed furniture gets its name because the technique involves upsetting your fresh paint job to make it look shabby.

The way that you do this is up to your own taste. If you’re not sure how far you want to go, start out with a medium-grade sandpaper and sand the furniture by hand. This will provide a soft, aged look that remains classic without looking too beat up.

You want to avoid heavy sanding unless it will achieve the specific look that you are going for.

Remember that you can always sand more of the furniture later. There is no need to go overboard the first time around.

Sanding is not the only tool you can use for distressing. Depending on the look you desire, you can hit the furniture with a hammer or whack it with some chains.

8. Add more wax

Once you have reached the right level of distressing, you can add another layer of wax. This will seal all your hard work in. Try to leave it to set overnight.

9. Buff it out

Once your wax is sealed, give your furniture a good buff with a furniture cloth. This will clean it up and add a shine to your brand new old furniture.

10. Optional waxing

If you want to add more years onto your furniture add on some dark wax. The dark wax with add a rich depth and texture to your furniture. Be sure to buff it out afterwards.

Upcycling your furniture takes less time and effort that you think. Combine these 10 steps with your own creativity to breathe new life into your furniture.

Featured photo credit: Patrick Feller via flickr.com

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