About

The First Rug I Made Was Supposed to Be a Pile of Old T-Shirts

I was going to throw them out. Instead I cut them into strips, braided them on my living room floor over a long weekend, and ended up with a rug that is still down today, a little lopsided and completely mine. That rug is the reason Ella Home Styling exists. It taught me the thing this whole site is built on: a lot of what a home needs, you can make with your own hands and what you already own.

My name is Sienna Shaw, I write every post here, and I organize the site around that idea, from the floor you can braid yourself to the room around it.

The floor you can make yourself

Walls & Flooring is my largest category, and the rugs are the heart of it. It is full of step-by-step, no-fancy-tools projects: braided, woven and crochet rag rugs, a T-shirt rug from scraps, latch hook, a no-sew braided rug, a jelly roll rug, and rugs made from old clothes. The other half of the category is walls you can transform with paneling: full-wall and TV-wall paneling, wainscoting, and modern wood slats for inside and out. If a post here has a number of steps in the title, I have walked through each one.

The kitchen, one honest project at a time

Kitchen is where the cozy, lived-in look comes together: oak and vinyl flooring, checkerboard floors, light blue cabinets, breakfast bars and nooks, open shelves, a wood cook stove, and small-kitchen layouts that still fit a table. I write it for real kitchens that get used, not showrooms.

Everything in its place

Storage & Organization is my smallest and most focused category, and right now it is honest about that: nearly every post grew out of the kitchen, from wall cabinets and pantries to utensil holders, towel storage, appliance cupboards and space-saving folding and pull-out tables. It is the category I am building out into the rest of the house next.

And out the back door

Outdoor is where the hands-on spirit heads outside: wooden fences, a fire pit you can build in a weekend (and lay out so the smoke stays away from the house), patio fountains that run without a buried line, sheds with porches, porch storage, and planters and plant stands that hold up to a full season. These are weekend-sized projects, not full renovations.

What I am, and what I am not

I am not an interior designer, a contractor, an electrician or a carpenter. I am someone who would rather make a thing than buy it, who learned by doing it wrong first, and who writes down every step so your version goes smoother than my first one did. Everything here I have either made myself or researched carefully before writing, and when a job involves wiring, gas, or anything structural, I say so and point you to a licensed professional.

If a step or a measurement in one of my posts is wrong, please write to me. I will make it again and fix the post.

A few scraps about me

I cannot pass a bag of fabric scraps without imagining a rug in it, and my family has learned not to throw away old T-shirts without checking with me first. My first braided rug is still on the floor, still slightly oval when it was meant to be round, and I would not trade it.

Before you cut, build or plug in

Everything on this site is general information from my own experience. It is not professional advice, and I am not a builder, electrician, plumber or structural engineer. Please treat these points as the minimum.

Tools and crafting: rotary cutters, scissors, latch hooks, crochet hooks and sewing machines can cause cuts and injuries. Cut away from yourself, keep sharp tools and small parts away from children and pets, and follow each tool’s instructions.
Materials and fire safety: wash and dry fabric scraps before using them, and know that rugs made at home are not fire-rated. Keep any rug away from fireplaces, heaters and open flame, and add a non-slip pad underneath so it does not slide.
Walls, paneling and anchors: before nailing or gluing paneling, shelves or heavy decor, check for studs, wiring and pipes, and use anchors rated for the weight. Adding paneling can affect outlets, switches and trim.
Older homes: in a home built before 1978, assume paint may contain lead until a test says otherwise, and old tile, plaster and adhesives may contain asbestos. Have them tested before you sand, cut or remove them.
Electrical work: plug-in and hardwired lighting, pendants and any new wiring should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and anything hardwired should be done by a licensed electrician. Keep cords out of walkways and away from heat.
Fire pits and fountains: keep a fire pit well clear of the house, fences, decks and anything flammable, follow local fire rules, and never leave it unattended. Use outdoor-rated pumps and GFCI-protected outlets for fountains.
Fences, sheds and digging: fences, sheds and larger builds can be covered by permits, setbacks, drainage and homeowner association rules. Check them first, and call 811 before you dig for posts or footings.
Plants and pets: growing conditions vary by region, so check your local extension service, and look up any plant before placing it where children or pets can reach it.

Affiliate disclosure. Ella Home Styling is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through one of my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I write or what I tell you to skip.

About Sienna Shaw:

Full name: Sienna Shaw
Role: Founder and writer, Ella Home Styling
Email: [email protected]
Pinterest: pinterest.com/ellahomestyling
Contact page: ellastyling.com/contact
Based in: Portland, Maine
Background: A maker who would rather build it than buy it, starting with a braided rug made from old T-shirts. No formal design or trade credentials.
Focus: DIY rugs, wall paneling and flooring, kitchens, home storage, and weekend outdoor projects
Writing since: 2026