SHEDS

Greenhouse. If you love to garden, a classic greenhouse can make a beautiful and useful addition to the backyard. Use it to shelter delicate plants in winter, start seedlings in spring and store gardening tools out of the elements. Help your greenhouse fit in by matching a few architectural details to the main house, like shingles or similar windows.

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Clothespins. Extend a string, piece of raffia or wire for your favorite photos or pages from a book and clip them up like little pieces of laundry on a line.I like to do this with my holiday cards so that I can enjoy looking at them for a month.

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Mason jars. If those heirloom candlesticks are too fancy for your relaxed dinner party, get out that 100 pack of tea lights from Ikea and pop them into mason jars. These also work well as hurricanes outdoors

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Blankets. If you don't have a tablecloth that's meeting your needs, throw a clean wool blanket on top instead. It will transform your tablescape for a cozy wintry meal.

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Soup cans. Remember wrapping a can in paper in kindergarten and giving it to your Mom as a pencil holder? Even though a 5-year-old could do it, it's a great idea. These cans are simply stuck to a magnetic strip to corral small tools, brushes and pencils. Leave the Campbell's labels on for a Warholian vibe, or strip them off for a sleeker look

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Old newspapers and magazines. Get out the Modge Podge and rediscover the fun of decoupage. Whether it's lamps, a dresser or an entire wall, this retro art is making a big comeback.

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Maps. I love maps, but no one seems to use them anymore because they have GPS to help them get lost. At least GPS doesn't require a lot of complicated folding. Anyway, use maps to wrap shoeboxes and transform them into office-worthy organizers or Martha Stewart-caliber gift wrap.

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Binder clips. These metal clips have a nostalgic feel and are a great way to clip up art. You can use them on a magnetic board or attach them to the wall with tiny nails. I've used the giant ones before to hold up larger pieces and the look is clean and industrial.

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Clipboards. Whether made of particleboard, lucite or metal, clipboards make great makeshift frames for art as well as spots to pin up work and inspiration. Just hammer a long nail right through the little hole and into the wall. You can even make a mat underneath the art out of a piece of paper.

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Stretch a patterned fabric across said canvas and staple it to the back of the frame. Trust me, if your art talents are lacking like mine, it will be a major improvement and you'll actually want to hang it.

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