Mother's Day Makeover
Posted by Kevin SharkeyShe deserves appreciation year round, but Mother's Day is definitely the time to to pay her back -- if only slightly -- for all of those years of love, encouragement, and support.
Instead of the usual flowers or perfume, why not give her a lasting gift...a simple, chic decorative accent that she can enjoy every day.
Here are some of my favorite ideas for a small but memorable Mother's Day makeover...
1 These striking silk-taffeta squares are like a deconstructed quilt. They are also an exploration of color, inspired by the work of Bauhaus designer and 20th-century abstract artist Josef Albers. (marthastewart.com)
2 Add a splash of personality to her work space by covering plain floating bookshelves with wallpaper. (marthastewart.com)
3 Brighten up a simple floral arrangement by using a colorful paper lantern as a sleeve for a vase. (marthastewart.com)
4 Flowing jasmine vines, with chartreuse gradations and crisp silhouettes, recall richly painted textiles in this folding screen. (marthastewart.com)
5 Turn empty gift baskets into stylish household organizers. (Similar receptacles are sold at floral shops and crafts stores if you need to supplement your supply.) Unify the mismatched containers by coating them with a single color of latex paint; dry overnight. (marthastewart.com)
6 Brighten up her plain shades with a pretty lining that comes to life when she flips the switch. (marthastewart.com)
7 Apply delicate silhouettes such as the cherry branches to colored photo books and albums for a stunning memory keeper. (marthastewart.com)
8 Black-and-white images of nature form photo cubes, which can also be used as bookends. The photographs aren't glued to the cube. Instead, a special gel is used to transfer the images onto blocks. Transfers last longer than paper photographs, so this decoration can remain a fixture for years. (marthastewart.com)
9 It's a snap to turn your favorite photographs into original home accents for Mom like this gorgeous pillow. (marthastewart.com)
10 Create a lasting bouquet she can display anytime. A bunch of branches wrapped in seam binding and bedecked with fabric flowers makes a striking alternative to a traditional floral arrangement. (marthastewart.com)
11 This mirror -- embellished with a stenciled overlay of glass -- looks like an heirloom. (marthastewart.com)
12 Give her sunroom some beach-house appeal. Nautical stripes in faded blues combine with neutrals and naturals for a room that's modern and inviting. (marthastewart.com)
13 This sophisticated and dramatic headboard looks like raw linen but in reality required nothing more than a paintbrush and tinted glaze. (marthastewart.com)
14 Swap the utilitarian look and feel of her office magazine organizers for something more artful using a decorative paper. (marthastewart.com)
15 A length of wallpaper is all it takes to turn a plain roller shade into a work of art -- complete with its own frame. Showcase her special piece, a favorite vintage paper, or a remnant. (marthastewart.com)
16 Use crisscrossed lengths of twill tape to turn a plain linen shade into a striking graphic one. (marthastewart.com)
17 Bring a natural note to Mom's home office with coordinated wood-grain accessories. All it takes to make a matched set of mouse pads, file boxes, and straight-sided glass jars is self-adhesive shelf liner. (marthastewart.com)
18 Give her bar a stylish update. Two disparate pieces -- a cabinet and a desk -- become one, thanks to the clever use of wallpaper. The sophisticated pattern makes a beautiful backdrop for a collection of glasses. To get this look, adhere a wallpaper panel above the desk and mount the cabinet. Remove cabinet shelves, and line the back with wallpaper; be sure to line up the center of the cabinet panel with the center of the wall panel below (marthastewart.com)
19 Her work will always be more pleasant with flowers on the desk. Place a swath of bloom-themed wallpaper (use double-sided tape if the edges curl) on a desk, and then top it with a piece of custom-cut glass. (marthastewart.com)
20 Personalize Mom's desk with a free-form stone-shaped blotter; it's a great way to protect the surface or to designate a writing area. Plus it takes just minutes to make: Outline the shape you want on the back of the leather, and cut it out with heavy-duty scissors (marthastewart.com)
21 Create a rainbow of colorful mats is a prime example to bring a bit of zip to a collection of black-and-white images. Try old family photographs or convert color ones to black-and-white, and then unify the group with slender, gallery-style black frames. (marthastewart.com)
22 What mom wouldn't appreciate a brand new bedroom? I love the Martha Stewart Collection 24-piece room in a bag kit. Available at Macy's, it gives you everything you need to freshen a bedroom's look. This pattern is called Chantilly. The color combination of charcoal, aqua and ivory is so calming.
23 I also love the color and pattern of Terrace Mosaic, another 24-piece room in a bag set from the Martha Stewart Bedding Collection at Macy's.
24 Mademoiselle is a six-piece bed in a bag set from our Macy's collection. This pattern is one of Martha's personal favorites.
25 For our Collector's Quilts at Macy's, Martha and I went through her collection of quilts at Skylands, her home in Maine. This pattern, Wedding Rings, was inspired by one of those vintage quilts.
26 The pattern on this Sunflower Medallion quilt was inspired by another one of Martha's own textiles.
Mother's Day Makeover How-To Instructions
There's more ideas to be found in our Mother's Day Gift Guide.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and moms-t0-be out there!
Kevin Sharkey 
