2 Things To Consider When Choosing River Stones For DIY Decor Projects
River stones are perfectly shaped and sized to be used for DIY home and garden decor projects. The stones are naturally smooth and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. They are also lightweight, yet sturdy, which makes them a great medium to use in DIY decor projects.
If you've decided to use river stones to decorate various areas in your yard and in your home, such as in a mosaic tile stepping stone or as a counter top, there are two important things to consider before you make your selections through a stone supplier.
River stones can adhere to nearly anything by using mortar, cement, or hot glue
Depending on the projects you have in mind, you can use just about any type of adhesive to secure the river stones to your projects. Mortar, cement, and hot glue are several of the more popular options. Depending on the density of the stones, you may be able to drill holes into the stones if they are not too small. If this will be your first time working with this type of art medium for DIY decor projects, purchase more stones than your projects will need so you can practice securing the stones by your preferred method.
River stones are bright when wet and muted when dry
River stones are different colors when they are wet versus when they are dry. Water will bring out the color in the river stones and make them brighter. When the same river stones are dry, the color gets muted. Therefore, it's important for you to choose your river stones with this understanding in mind. If you want the river stones to all be very similar in color, it's a good idea to wet the stones beforehand. Of course, stone supply stores understand this as well, so don't be afraid to ask the store clerk if you can dunk some stones in a cup of water to see their true colors.
If you love the wet look and the brighter colors the wet look gives, you can seal the stones with acrylic. Be sure to ask the stone supply store clerk for their recommendations based on the particular river stones you choose. If you prefer the more muted look of a dry stone, there's not much you can do about it if your stones are used outdoors and it rains. However, it would only be temporary until the stones have a chance to dry out.
