Coordinating DecorThis is my frugal idea for decorating your home. I choose a picture that I like and then decorate the room based on the objects/colors of the picture. The decor that I purchase has been found at garage sales or thrift stores. The end result makes my home look well decorated but I am able to do it on a budget. These are some of the pictures and decor I have used.
Hanging a Picture FrameWant to learn a quick way to hang a picture frame or wall art? With some painters tape - line up where you want your nail to be. Then tape it down. Now you have your guide ready for you to make a dot to hang your nail!
Feng Shui Decorating IdeasFeng shui is an ancient Chinese practice for arranging items in a harmonious way, also called geomancy. Feng shui is directly translated as wind/water. It is believed that properly placed items will increase the chi or qi, which translates into life force energy.
Unusual VasesI like the items in my household to have functional uses. The items in these pictures also have a sentimental value. The jars are old canning jars from my grandma's old cellar. I use them for vases in my kitchen. The can is an old battery can from my grandpa's old plumbing truck. I am using it as a large vase in my family room.
Helping Artwork Do Double-dutyToday I was organizing my plastic bags, yes, I am that bored. But I stood up and bumped a metal frame off the wall. When I thought my little tiny bottle from last year's fair was broken, I decided if it was, I would move the rest.
Mood Lighting for DepressionThe other day, I read an article on the increase of depression due to people having to stay in the house. I liked this one particular idea, it said to use mood lighting. I read on and they said to just get out some clear small Christmas lights and put them in a room where you spend a lot of your time.
Happy Accidental DecorI was cleaning the bathroom yesterday and was moving the plastic goblet full of marbles and glass nuggets. My brain went "It would be nice to get these up off the counters". I looked up and wondered if they would fit behind the towel rack.
Hanging Un-level Wall ArtI recently bought two wooden cat pictures. They were the exact same size, but I wanted them to be glued together in a staggered manner. So I got out the wood glue and went to town.
Glue Dots to Secure Photos to the WallI was working on a really cool photo wall in my room and I just couldn't keep a few of the photos up on the wall. I tried everything from tape to sticky tack. Then I found out that these Elmer's glue dots from Walmart work great!
Fairy Lights for a Dreary DayYou can brighten up a sad corner by reusing white Christmas lights. "Fairy" lights are all over shops and YouTube right now, why not have them in your house to lift up your spirits? :) I smile because it gives me a little reminder of Jesus' light all throughout the year.
Dress Up a Vase With RibbonChinese New Year is tomorrow! Instead of buying flowers, we used flowers right from our yard.
Using Natures Own For Decorations, While Going GreenI love creating decorations from items that are free! Not only is it free, it smells nice, adds earthy freshness, and can be changed out and composted, eaten, or dried for arrangements. With apples from the tree, pine cones, and my favorite magnolia leaves, all of earth's freshness, can go back to the earth.
Keeping Colored Water from EvaporatingI change water in two glasses by the season. Right now they are red and blue. But they seemed to be evaporating really fast. So today, I refilled and re-colored them, and made some plastic disks to sit on top of each.
Extending Candle Life and Cleaning CandleholdersA great way to extend the life of a candle is by putting it in the freezer for a day right before you use it. Keeping the wax cool will make it burn slowly. When you're done burning the candle and you're left with a waxy mess on your candleholder, pop the holder in the freezer for about an hour, then you can chip the wax right off.
Hanging a Frame with an Easel BackI moved to a place where I don't have many places to sit photos. So I decided to hang some on the walls. This is a good example. Just make a yarn loop, tie it tight, and hang it around the easel. Make sure it doesn't come up too far but isn't too short, either.
Change Decorative Colored Water SeasonallyI have had blue in these jars for almost two years. It's my "signature color" for my blue and yellow kitchen. But today I thought "I can have these different colors for each season, even for each holiday". So that is when I took the glass nuggets out and changed the water color.
Buy Faux Quilts to Save MoneyI love quilts so much because they are not only warm, but they are colorful and useful, and they are a part of our history. I was at Walmart and I found this colorful pillow sham and I had to buy it. The sham looks like a quilt but is not sewed like a quilt, but rather just a print.
T-Shirt as Pillow CoversHere is a way to make pillow covers with t-shirts. Whether they are too big, bright, or loud, they can be reused as fun and funky decorative pillows.
Easily Hang a TapestryTo easily hang tapestries on your walls, just take a clothespin and add a Command strip on the back of it. Stick the command strip to the wall and clip the tapestry in the pins. Add decorative tape to make the pins match your design and color.
Hang Posters with Washi TapeTo hang posters use washi tape. Washi tape leaves behind no residue on the wall like regular tape. It easily rips off the roll or you could cut it for a straight line. You might have to replace the tape eventually, but it won't take off the poster's ink.
Spiffing Up a Balcony for Under $45I had a blank slate. A balcony that faced west, with astroturf on the floor and a railing around, pretty standard. The first two shots are the "before".
Hanging Tin Tops and Pretty BoxesI often find tins I love but the bottoms lose their luster, usefulness or take up more space then I have. When this happens and the tops are important to me, I simply hot glue some scrap yarn to the top and hang them up.
My Alaska CornerBeing in Alaska 5 times has made me fall in love with bears, moose, and all things Alaska, so I decided to put all my Alaska stuff together in the corner where I will sit and either watch Netflix on the computer, or crochet, or both.
Converting a Twin Bed into a Day BedI recently moved into my own place after 28 months of home sharing. The apartment is tiny, so I gave up my bedroom for my "Croffice" or 'craft room/office'. I found I enjoy sleeping in the living room. I can stay up a bit and not disturb the lady below me.
Decorate Windows with JewelryIf you don't wear those old Christmas pins, display them in your window. Just get $1 store suction cups, attach, and enjoy.
Nature as a Winter Pick Me UpI need a bit of nature after the holidays are over and things get cold and colorless outside. I decided to highlight my lovely houseplants as a table centerpiece.
Double Use of Push PinsWhen I hang up puzzles, tins plates, or photos, I often hang something cute on the top or bottom push pins. This gives you twice the bang and half the holes in the wall.
Gold Painted Branch As Home DecorLast summer, I found a nice branch that I spray painted gold. Usually it sits in a decorative basket in the hallway. This past Christmas, I hung some small red bells from the branches, wrapped the basket with a seasonal tea towel and placed it on a side table in the family room.
Double Up Flat PillowsHere is a tip to to stretch dollars for those buying new pillows. What I do when they go flat is to put two flat pillows in my pillow shams to have a nice plump sham.
Use Old Crocs as Wall PocketI love Croc shoes but they don't love me. So, since my last pair was one of the colors of my bedroom, I came up with this little decorating tip.
Use Placemats as Modern Furniture "Doilies"They used to put doilies at points of wear on chairs and sofas. For a modern take on that, I use tapestry placemats to put on the edges of an easy chair where the arms have gotten dirty and worn.
Reuse Old or Torn Fitted Sheet on Box SpringI have lovely fitted sheets that complements my bedroom, but had a center tear. I like to save those for putting over the box spring.
Pretty Artwork for PenniesIf you are on a budget, but want some really pretty art work for your walls, I have a tip for you! All you need is an 8 x 10 picture frame from your local dollar store and a magazine with pretty photographs in it.
Pretty Party Centerpiece from Your GardenI planted hollyhocks for the first time this year and they are tall stalks with multiple blooms that look very similar to carnations. They are lovely, but they drop their beautiful blooms just when I think they are the prettiest.
Rake Head to Hang Wine GlassesUse an old rake head to hang wine glasses. Just hang the rake head on the wall and hook the stemware from the tines of the rake. Also you can use it in a closet for neck ties or belts.
Chives for Quick and Easy Flowers for the TablePicture graduation time and a house of boys. No fancy table decorations. Just the cake and then a quick run out to the herb garden to pick a bouquet of flowering chives. Beautiful purple blossoms on green stems.
Use Coke Tab to Hang a PictureIf you get a photo frame and there is no hook on the back, using a screw attach the Coke tab to the back of your frame. Then hang your picture!
Curtain Rod HeadboardUse a curtain rod and a couple pieces of fabric to make the most elegant headboard. Headboards can be expensive, and if you try to make your own from wood boards and foaming, it can be a little tough. Mounting a curtain rod over your bed is very easy. You can also change colors whenever you like!
Tea Cup and Saucer Tea Light HolderTea cups and saucers make nice tea light holders. Just put the tea light inside and you have a nice candle. Makes a nice gift too.
Decorating With Chemistry EquipmentWe acquired numerous pieces of chemistry equipment because we liked the way they looked. We placed clusters of the glassware on top of our kitchen cabinets. As an added benefit, the equipment is heat resistant, so you can even use it when you want to cook like a chemist.
Surprise Guests With Flowers in the BathroomHaving a party? Give your guests something more to talk about than the food and who did not show up. Surprise them with a bathtub full of lilacs. They're fun and inexpensive.
Make Your Flower Vases ColourfulAdd a drop of different colours of food colouring to your vases to make them look nice. I saw this idea at a friend's house who was having a party. She had pink, blue, and yellow. It looked really nice.
Old Door Knob VaseEven the tiniest flowers in the garden deserve their moment to shine. But how to display them? Most vases are way too large for these miniatures.
Upcycled McCoy PotteryI found this McCoy pottery ashtray at a flea market. I got it for a steal because it had a very small chip on one edge in the back. Not even noticeable from the front. But McCoy collectors know that condition is everything.
Vintage Folding Yardstick Photo EaselI love anything old with numbers on it. I'm funny that way. Here's a couple of old folding yardsticks that became frames for my photos. I like the B/W photos for these.
Picture Frame Wall ArtOver the last few months, I bought a handful of interesting picture frames from second hand stores. I then spray painted them various colors and hung them on the wall in our dining room to add some texture to a large blank wall.
Use Tube Conduit As Curtain-Drape RodWhile shopping for new curtain rods, I couldn't believe the prices, ranging from $10 to $29, per rod. I passed on that purchase and went to a local hardware store and purchased a 1/2" x 10 ft.
Decorating Your First HomeI've recently read several books on the aforementioned topic. I believe they are helpful to everyone, because no matter if it's our first residence or not, we all get desire to start over from time to time.
Two-Sided Table Runner for Door DecorationI love things that have more than one purpose. This table runner was 10 cents at a yard sale this summer. One side was fall leaves, the other was holiday snowmen.
Uses for Christmas LightsDon't pack away the lights. When you pack away your Christmas decorations, leave out a strand of clear lights. You can use these to brighten a room on some of the dull, gray winter days ahead. There are numerous ways to include these lights in your home decor.
Brown Bag WallpaperI live in an old home and many times the plastered walls have cracks in them. Here is an alternative if the cracks keep showing up soon after you paint. I "papered" my walls in brown paper and rosin paper that have been painted.
Consider Nature When Choosing PaintSome of you may recognize this suggestion, as I have written it several times. When I am in doubt about paint color I take a look at nature; I consider green to be a neutral color. Green grass, trees, leaves of all shades. Green seems to go with any color.
Recycled Carpeting Tube "Pillar"Here's a great use for that sturdy cardboard tube in which new carpeting is rolled. Decorate any way you choose to match your rooms decor.
Nearly Free Wall ArtA bare wall is a blank canvas waiting to be decorated. However, art can be expensive. I have found that I can decorate my walls at little or no cost simply by using photos from books or magazines.
Homemade Headboard IdeasA cheap door can make a good headboard. Laid on it's "side", of course, and attached to the wall. Gardening fencing, or garden decorations of metal look good also. Just attach to the wall.
Decorate With What Nature ProvidesYou can create an attractive, inexpensive holiday display using items that nature provides.
Create a Decorating Project BookGather your paint chips into a simple photo booklet. I use the 4x6 purse size vinyl photo book found at many thrift stores for $1.00. Write the date and room/or project on the sample.
Decorating Your Table with Seasonal FoodsA beautiful table using what is at the grocery store is a solution to all of those family dinners coming up. When I saw it, my imagination went crazy.
Decorating With BooksWhat do you do when your collection of books exceeds the space on your bookshelf? Make your books a functional part of your decor. Stack them on the floor, add a piece of glass or wood and use them as a base for a small table.
Hanging Things From an Upper ShelfYou can do this with pretties, or in a craft closet/shelf unit for keeping cords out of the way, for yarn or thread, or just about anything that hangs, with or without an "S" hook.
Decorating With Artificial PumpkinsTo preserve your decorator pumpkin and protect it from bacteria, mix a tablespoon of bleach with a quart of water and use a cloth to wipe it inside and out.
Incense Stick in Flower ArrangementI love the smells of Fall. I have a decorative bouquet of flowers that I bought at a garage sale for $4. And a table for $10. I might bring it in once it freezes outside so it won't break.
Removing Old Candle Wax from a Glass VotiveI used to put the glass votive candle holders in the freezer to 'pop' out the old candle wax and that works, but I have found a much easier way.
An Expensive Looking Home For CheapI love decorating and pore over magazines and books for ideas. So many of these ideas are way over budget for me. What I do is take the pictures of the ideas I like best, and go to places like thrift stores and even the dollar store and I look for similar items and styles.
Measuring For CurtainsFor a fuller look when curtains are closed, measure width of the window and multiply it by 2.5. Round up for the total number of panel inches you will need.
Add Water To Votive Candle HoldersBy pouring about one-fourth inch of water in the votive holder before adding the candle, I could easily remove the used candle and any wax that had accumulated before replacing it the next day.
Paint Old Picture Frames BlackI needed a new look in my living room and hall, so I swapped the frames around the house that were all different sizes and colours which cost nothing as I have already purchased them over many years from local charity shops.
Duplicate Catalog Style with Thrift Store FindsI love Pottery Barn styles for my decor, so when their catalog comes to my house I study it for weeks, until the new one comes. Then I go to garage sales/thrift shops and find "look-a-like" decor and refurbish it to fit in my home.
Decorate With Vintage MirrorsFor me, old mirrors hold stories from the past and can bring a unique feel to any room. I like mirrors with personality - evidence that they've been a daily part of someone's life.
Unique Place Settings Instead Of A SetWhy do my dishes have to match? Why can't I find unique place settings that give each guest a set of their own? So, at the local St. Vincent dePaul, I found these plates, saucers, and mugs and gave them a new home.
Stack Decorative TinsI recently moved from a larger to a smaller apartment. I love the decorator tins I get from thrift shops. They are an essential part of my kitchen/dining room decor, but this time, I had only enough room for one of them.
Decorating with a Paris ThemeI wanted people to feel like they were in Paris when they walked into my bedroom, so I started looking at different web sites getting ideas for my room. I got a mini Eiffel Tower and clock, and a pillow with a city that looked like Paris.
Renew Existing Window ShadesI wanted to change the shades on my dining room light to match my decor. I made a pattern with newspaper, transferred the pattern to fabric, added iron on interfacing for stability, used fabric glue at the seams, and glued a decorative braid at the top and bottom edges.
Needles as Alternative to NailsWhere nail holes are not allowed, use sewing needles. They hold up to 30 lbs.
Display Photos Under GlassHave a coffee table or end table? Sure we all do. This holiday season, have a piece of safety glass cut to fit the top and slide pictures of past holidays under the glass. A great way to bring back some of those fun memories.
Refurbishing CandlesIf you have warped candles, dunk them in a pan of warm water to make them pliable enough to bend back straight.
Paint Dishes for Wall DecorSpray paint decorative dishes to have a matched set for your hanging wall decor.
Woven Place Mats as Wall ArtI always find really nice place mats at local thrift stores. I like ones made from straw, seagrass, and other materials like that. I really like the ones that are loosely woven so you can see through them.
Frame Giftbags for Wall ArtGift bags are sometimes great for framing. You can receive them with gifts inside, or can buy them at your local dollar store. Some are very pretty and can be matted and framed with an old frame you might have around the house.
Use Two Shower Curtains for Opulent LookUsing two shower curtains, instead of one, makes your bathroom look pretty opulent. I use two (of the same pattern/colors/design), and they gather up nicely and look better than just one flat one. I try to find inexpensive ones, of course, and fabric curtains work best.
New Life For An Old LampshadeI just touched up the edges of a "found" lampshade with black permanent marker, sponged it off, and it's amazing how respectable it looks now. I found the shade on trash day on an old corroded brass lamp and rescued it.
Make Too Large Dust Ruffle Fit with Duct TapeLast winter I bought a really nice comforter set at a good price, but it was a queen and the bed is a full size. The dust ruffle was quite large but no problem, I grabbed the roll of duct tape and the fit was perfect in no time.
Make Bathmats Out of TowelsInstead of using bath rugs that are hard to keep clean, I use cheap small towels to step out of the tub on. I just replace it daily.
Keep Paint Samples to Coordinate Home PurchasesI always keep paint chip samples from the paint I have used in various rooms of the house in my purse. I write the room on the back.
Use Teacups As Votive HoldersIf you have teacups you want to display, maybe mismatched ones you don't want to get rid of, try this. Put a votive candle in them and place them on a stack of books on a bookshelf or an end table.
Hiding Furniture Imperfections and Upholstery DamageI have very badly damaged (due to cats scratching) upholstered couches. I also have a two year old so I would be interested in an inexpensive solution that could make them look better. I don't care for slip-covers and the blankets that I have covering them look sloppy.
Hang Decorative Flags in Your WindowIf you have trouble with winds whipping your decorative porch flags or you don't have a place for a pole holder, try hanging them inside a window. Just place the flag on a tension curtain rod and position it between the glass and the mini blinds at the top of the window frame.
Doorway DrapingsAny type of fabric can be used to drape door and entry ways. The pictured doorway is draped with two red tablecloths and one turquoise shower curtain. A staple gun was used to secure the fabric in place.
Reusing Old SheetsJust wanted to share an idea with you. I was at our local thrift shop to buy a sheet to re-cover the pads in our dogs cages and I bought a beautiful sheet for a $1.50 and find it's too nice to use in dog beds.
Frugal Window TreatmentI've always had an unconventional way of decorating and this is just one of many examples. This kitchen window treatment is actually a bed sheet topped with a valance.
Use Old Dresser as a Computer DeskI decided to decorate the spare bedroom in a "country" theme, but it still needs to house the family computer. I bought an old dresser with one long drawer in the center, and 3 drawers on each side, with the center open for a chair.
Creative Window TreatmentsI'm really happy with the window treatments that a friend helped me create for my family room. Instead of using curtain rods, we hung sheer panels on inexpensive metal candle holders purchased from Old Tyme Pottery.
Doll High Chair for a Plant StandI had a baby doll high chair that wasn't being used. I put a plant in it, and it makes a good plant stand. It is so cute!
Use Flat Sheet as a Bed SkirtSometimes when I buy sheet sets and don't use the flat sheet, I have found a very nifty use for them. Take your mattress off of your bed. Put the flat sheet on the box springs, and let it hang.
Use Plastic Tablecloth Under a Decorative TableclothI put a cheap plain white flannel back plastic table cloth over my dining room table then put my nice decorative table cloth over it. The white cover does not show, but protects my table from spills and warm items.
Seasonal Wall For Easy DecoratingThe various seasonal holidays have always been fun to celebrate with lots of decorations throughout the house. But I now find my storage space is more limited and I often am rushed to get all the decorations up in time for the holiday.
Craft: Vinyl Disc Wall DisplayAfter years hating this blank wall but having no ideas to improve it finally I've made this! Calm down! I only used those I didn't like it! I still have my vinyl collection.
Bookshelves With PizazzTo better showcase your knick-knacks, treasured keepsakes, and collectibles, paint the inside of bookcases, armories, etc. with a color which complements your collection.
Frame Greeting Cards as a Holiday DecorationI love to save greeting cards people have sent me over the years. One day, while going through my box of cards, I thought how pretty they were and it was a shame they were packed away in a box.
Use Bandannas for Cloth NapkinsFor a cute, country touch to your dinner table, use colorful bandannas for napkins. We used to use a roll of paper towels, instead of paper napkins, but then I discovered how inexpensive bandannas are, when purchased through online websites.
Picking Colors When DecoratingWhen you are decorating a room, paint it white or cream then pick one of your favourite dark colours. Use this color for the curtains, light shade, bedding and throw. Add a light colour that you like for the accessories.
Be Creative When Hanging PicturesYou don't always have to hang your pictures at eye level. I have two "half walls" separating my kitchen from my family room. These two little walls needed something to jazz them up so I hung two of my 'Gregg Brown' prints.
