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Bring glamour with glorious gold tones with this budget DIY trick

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Every room needs something gold, or at least some kind of metallic element - be it a lamp, décor pieces, or even shelving. Two interior design lovers have shared a genius way to transform plain old bedroom shelving into a luxurious feature.

Reece and Paul from London used brushed brass sheets from metals4U to cover the edges of the shelves in their bedroom, and the result is really eye-catching. 

The DIY shelving hack brings an instant hit of urban glamour and maximalism, with the shiny metal surface catching the light that floods in from the nearby window. It's brilliant for those on a budget - given that similar golden shelving online will set you back around £100/$140 per shelf.

'Metal sheets are inexpensive and can really upscale the look of a home,' says Paul McFadyen, Managing Director at metals4U (opens in new tab) . 'Brass is great for the golden shades, whereas aluminium will give you a brilliant silver shine. 

'If a darker metallic is more to your taste, then copper could be a great choice,' he adds. We love how the golden hue looks here against the grey cloud patterned wallpaper.

The hack could equally work in a modern kitchen or as a children's bedroom design idea if used with silver tones to make a fun and futuristic look.

To get the look, Reece and Paul purchased brushed brass sheets from metals4U for just £15 (opens in new tab)  in a ‘satin polish’ finish. Although, if you enjoy the glistening shine of brass you can also buy the sheets in polished brass (opens in new tab)  to create a more vibrant appearance.

Creating the shelves yourself is relatively easy. If you're starting from scratch without any shelving up on the walls, let us point you to our guide on how to put up a shelf.

Inexpensive ones like the LACK shelves from IKEA (opens in new tab) will work just fine. To cut the metal sheets at home you will need an electric saw and a safe workshop space, making sure you have protective gloves, eyewear and sturdy shoes. 

Once you’ve cut the sheet to your preferred size you can then use polyurethane-based adhesive such as Gorilla super glue (opens in new tab) to put the sheet into place on the wood.

Last of all, make sure you use the correct metal polish for upkeep. This will help the material to maintain its vibrant sheen. 

Check out Reece and Paul's renovation projects in their beautiful Edwardian home on their Instagram @littleedwardian.

Will you be trying this hack?

Millie joined Real Homes in early 2021 as a homes news writer. When she isn't writing about trends, makeovers and houseplant care, she spends her free time making tweaks to her rented flat in North London. Her next project is a very basic armchair reupholstering job to help create a cosy reading nook in her living room. She loves browsing antique centres, tending to her small front garden, and is never without some fresh flowers at home.

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