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This easy-to-make DIY decor idea uses basic embroidery hoops to create eye-catching orbs, perfect for decorating bookshelves, entryway consoles, and coffee tables.
This is such a fun and quick little DIY project, and it’s perfect for fall decor, festive holiday decorations, or for everyday display. I first tried making these handmade orbs a few years ago and it was just one of those projects that has proven to still be just a beautiful today as it was back then. These DIY decor pieces fit into a number of different decorating styles, from traditional rooms to farmhouse style homes and even to spaces decorated in a more minimalist style. They’re just a beautiful, eye-catching decorative element to add to open shelving, tabletops, or consoles. You’ll see from the photos below that I originally used these pieces as part of my rustic autumn decor one year, but there’s really no reason that you have to put these away once the season is over.
Where to Find Embroidery Hoops for Decorative Crafts
When looking for embroidery hoops to repurpose for home decor ideas or holiday decorations, there are quite a few places you can go that you might not consider at first. Of course, your local craft store will have a great selection of embroidery hoops of all different sizes, but there might be other more affordable options as well.
Embroidery hoops are quite basic, and there isn’t a lot of difference in quality between a name-brand craft store hoop and any other hoop, so consider looking in the craft section of your local dollar store or online at discount craft retailers.
The very best way to find hoops for this purpose is to buy them secondhand, if possible. You’re likely to come across old recycled embroidery hoops at garage sales or in thrift stores or flea markets if you keep an eye out for them.
If you find a great deal in a thrift-store bin, it’s a good idea to pick up a few extras because there are so many things you can do with embroidery hoops, from wreaths to DIY wall art to Christmas tree ornaments.
How to decorate with embroidery hoop crafts: Spooky Halloween Embroidery Hoop Wreath
How to Create Decor Orbs Room Decor for Your Home
Start the DIY home decor project by preparing your embroidery hoops. You can use whatever size hoops you like, but I used the 8″ size so I could have something really substantial. A 10″ embroidery hoop would really fill a large space, and a 4″ size would make for a perfect small-scale tabletop accessory. You’ll need to pick up three hoops for each quick-and-easy orb that you make.
Separate each hoop into its two parts, so all the surfaces of each circle are exposed.
Next, paint or stain all of the hoop pieces inside and out to give them the look of reclaimed wood, then let them dry. I used my favorite “Early American” stain yet again. I find this color is always reliably perfect, especially with my other DIY fall decor.
These hoops can be painted or stained in many different hues for different effects. White paint would achieve a rustic shabby chic look and gold-leaf paint would give you something more glam. You could even use orange paint to make the orbs look like pumpkins if you’re into coming up with creative ideas to decorate your home for Halloween.
Read next: How to Properly Clean a Ruggable Rug
Grab four hoop pieces and place them all together like this so they form a spherical shape.
Make sure that one of your leftover pieces is one of the outer rings with the metal tightener on it. Take that outer piece, loosen it, and slide it over the middle of all 4 of the pieces you arranged into a sphere in the last step. Tighten it up, and then you’re done!
Do it yourself decorating ideas to inspire your next project: Top 10 Thrift Store Home Decor Finds You Should Never Pass Up
The best easy room decoration ideas: How to Sew DIY 10-Minute Pillows
The Finished Rustic Home Decor Orbs
Pictured above: Similar white pumpkin soup tureen | Harvest salad plates | White beaded dinnerware | Similar white turkey platter | Classic navy ticking stripe fabric | Embroidery hoops
These orbs look great on tables, shelves, or just about anywhere you have a surface you’d like to decorate. I also think these would be really amazing as outdoor projects in the garden or in planters if you used outdoor paint or stain and sealed them really well. Where would you use these crafty, versatile decorations in your home?
Next home decoration idea: The Secret Formula for the Perfect Painted Gold Picture Frame
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Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.