If youve recently changed the shutters on your house, or gotten rid of them entirely, you might not want to throw them out. Instead, make a lighted stand that is not only handy, but gorgeous as well. The stand is easy enough for anyone to create and is suitable for most any room of the house. And when you add one additional step to the stand it becomes easy to change the look of it any time you want.
You dont have to be a handyman to create the shutter stands. Nail or screw one shutter to the next one forming a ninety degree angle. Nail on another and another shutter until four of them form a very tall square. Use a piece of wood as a stand and nail the shutters to it. This will form the base of the stand.
Any number of things can be used to create the top of the stand. An old game board with the fold supported, a square of wood, or even an old cutting board. Nail, screw or glue the top youve chosen to the stand. If you decide to use a glass top check hardware or home improvement stores for the proper adhesive. If the glass is very lightweight you can use many glue dots, or several glue strips, to hold the glass in place. Clear glass is difficult to see so consider using metallic tape - which dispenses like Scotch tape - to decorate the corners or create another pattern. This will help others see the glass easily and prevent accidents. Easily make the shutter stand a lighted one by adding Christmas lights to the inside. Before putting the top and bottom on the shutters notch one shutter, in the center, at the bottom. Use Christmas lights, in any color, to illuminate the stand. Tape or staples can be used to affix the lights to the inside of the stand. Taping them to the inside of the shutters themselves makes the stand really glow. Small lights, like many people put on Christmas trees, will give the stand a soft glow whereas large lights, generally used for outdoor Christmas lighting, will create brighter lighting. The shutter stand can have an entirely different look any time you want when you take advantage of button magnets. Glue a button magnet to each shutter and affix anything metallic. Or, use a second button magnet to attach anything to the shutters - metallic or not. Simply glue the second magnet onto any wooden shape, ceramic piece, or other novelty. You dont necessarily have to add a button magnet to each side of the stand. Place one button magnet on the front of the stand and leave it at that. Or, put no ornaments on the shutters themselves, but glue the magnet on the solid wood piece at the bottom or top of each shutter. There are many different patterns you can create this way. Any time you want you can simply remove the ornamentation from the shutter(s) and replace it with a new one. That way, you can have a different look for each holiday, special occasion or just ordinary days. Craft stores are full of all sorts of small things that will make great magnets for your shutter stand. Use shapes, letters or numbers made of wood and paint them yourself. Or, purchase the type that is already painted. Hardware stores also sell items that will enhance the look of the stand. Drawer pulls, knobs, flat metal pieces and similar items are all great for giving your stand that one-of-a-kind look. The stands can be used indoors as end tables, game tables or even plant stands. Theyre suitable for just about any room. Use them to light a dim hallway at night or use them out on the front porch. Theyre easy to make, inexpensive and very versatile. The stands make great gifts, and once your family and friends see them, you can bet theyll add them to any future wish lists!
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