Want celebrity-style DIY projects? Try caulk

Robert Verdi, designer and stylist to the stars, shares his ideas on how to DIY: Celebrity Style when it comes to beautifying — or simply sprucing up — your home. Many of Verdi’s celebrity clients, underneath their glam exteriors, like to roll up their sleeves and are DIYers at heart. For example, Eva Longoria Parker proudly claims that in real life with husband Tony Parker she is not a desperate housewife, but rather, a very happy one who cooks, cleans and sews.

All of Verdi’s tips aim to simplify life and show ways to make essential home tasks easier and more accessible. “I’ll show you ways to make sure your hands stay clean in the necessary dirty work and that the process is as effortless and efficient as possible. So easy and time-friendly, you’ll feel like a celebrity,” promises Verdi.

First things first — a good foundation is essential. “Before even thinking about paint or fabric color,” advises Verdi, “take a good look around the room.” Gaps and cracks around doors and windows or mold and mildew around the sink in the bathroom sabotage even the most beautiful interior design. Use a discriminating eye and make sure to replace any cracked or dingy caulk.

While these fixes might conjure up thoughts of gooey, goopy caulk and hard-to-use guns, they’re not as difficult as they used to be. Verdi suggests using new single-use disposable packages of caulk. They dispense effortlessly with one hand, require no tools and leave essentially no waste in the package. And because they come in paintable white acrylic or waterproof white and waterproof clear silicone, it’s possible to create a polished, professional look throughout the home without a celebrity budget.

After the foundation work is done, it’s time to dress things up.

“Buy things you love and you’ll always find a place for them, no matter how many times you redecorate or move. A few really beautiful things can make anything purchased on a budget look that much more fabulous.” Overall, he says, celebrate your range and have fun.

Don’t forget lighting. It’s especially important in bathrooms. Another one of Verdi’s clients, Sandra Bernhard, has a wide variety of chandeliers, high-tech ceiling fixtures and votive candles to suit any mood. Verdi says dimmer switches are an energy efficient way to alter ambient lighting.

Here are a few of Verdi’s secrets to aid in your inner celebrity personal touch with minimal effort or cost:

• Play musical chairs (or sofas). Did you know that placing your sofa on an angle can make the room look bigger? Once you have a new layout, he suggests looking for a new rug to help further spice up the room. “Size up any unsightly marks on walls and baseboards or cracked molding that might now be exposed with furniture away from the wall,” he advises.

• Lighten up your bathroom without a paintbrush. “Fresh, crisp whites and neutrals are what I recommend for bathroom décor and towels,” says Verdi.

Despite best efforts, the wet, humid conditions in a bathroom, coupled with the use of cleansing products in tubs and shower stalls, can lead to mold growth. Verdi’s solution is quick and painless. “Clean and caulk the sink, tub or shower and you will instantly lighten up the room — literally.”

• Invest in beautiful and unique fabric. True to his roots — his mother was a dressmaker — Verdi loves textiles, and he recommends investing in a few yards of really beautiful and unique fabric that you absolutely adore.

“Pair sassy colors for a straight-out-of-nature look — such as green with a shiny gold to mirror a spring tulip. Or, go for texture so that the little details will pop when you walk into the room,” he says.

What to do with the fabric is up to you: gussy up a tired couch with throw pillows, or cover some boards to make a screen. All are much more affordable and versatile than buying new furniture. Quick and easy celebrity style for the home doesn’t require a celebrity-sized budget.

Trust your own sense of style. Simplify home care by finding products that make essential home tasks easier and more accessible. You don’t need a professional — trust your instincts, have fun, and make sure you have a solid foundation.