Frugal Decorating

[dianeeileen]

Hi, we are in the process of buying a house which is great but is tapping out my reserves plenty. Does anyone have any great but frugal decorating ideas. I have the basics stuff(used of course), bedroom set, living room set, dishes towels etc. What I really need is clever ideas for window treatments, paint ideas, etc. I am not very clever with stuff like that so send me those ideas ladies please. I am thinking shabby chic because it is all a mish-mash of stuff so far. Diane

[onencgirl]

Paint is your friend... is relatively cheap and easy to change if the color doesn't suit you. It can change the entire feel of a room.

[Nana2two]

Use flat sheets for curtains,You can open up the ends with a needle or seam splitter.If you have a patio door, you can do that for under $10 bucks with simple twin sheets.

[pollypurebred39]

Lowes and Home depot have $5 opps! cans of paint and Ikea has flat sheets for $1.99 a piece.

[Nana2two]

we don't have a Ikea around here. We have 1 near Chicago. I would like to go to one sometime..

[onencgirl]

If you go to IKEA website you can request a catalog.

[pollypurebred39]

Nana2two, I love IKEA. you shop them online, but I like having the catalog to browse through so I can get a good idea of their best prices and the kinds of things they have. The catalog also gives decorating and organizational ideas.

[Nana2two]

I will have to order the catalog, Like i need more things for my house.

[Judi Dial]

Also, you can buy used sheets and dye them perhaps? Most of our window coverings are miniblinds. Sears had a special when we bought the house and we got "custom" ones done for the 2 bathroom windows (the smallest in the house) for relatively cheap. The rest were either bought on super sale or when a former home center went bust.But they are all white mini blinds....

Also, this looked like it might have some good stuff here:
http://www.thebudgetdecorator.com/windows_walls.html

Judi

[Nana2two]

Can't go wrong with blinds Judi. It's cheap. I keep a list of measurments in my purse so when i hit thrifts or garage sales,I can buy them for 50 cents or so.

[momof42003]

I would suggest garage sales... My sis in law is literally selling BRAND NEW things in her garage sale for pennies of what she paid for them. I know for a fact decorator candles that sell for 10.00 or more at Ashelys Furniture will be in the sale, and she is only wanting a dollar or two... Just a thought.

[FrugalMomof3]

I agree that paint is your friend and is relatively inexpensive but surely shop flea markets/yard sales for cheap items. I bought 2 windows valances for $1 for both at a yard sale. Also, check out your local freecycle or craigslist for cheap decor for the home.

Ikea has some great ideas for decorating and the catalog is FREE!

[miss_thrifty]

finding letters like love, family, life from a dollar store and painting them to put on a wall over some pics or door way can make a statment and is very cheap.
for ur kitchen finiding colored plates designs or plain and hanging them on a wall as a accent color.
cheap blinds and yes curtains made from sheets as stated above we do too.
i love prim and country style blogs. google for what you might be lookin for ideas.
heres some of my fav sites:
http://joysofhome.blogspot.com/searc...oliday%20decor

http://thissimplelifeofmine.blogspot...bel/Decorating

http://sweets-mycountryhome.blogspot.../label/kitchen

http://movingdesignz.blogspot.com/

http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/

[dianeeileen]

Thank you so much for the wonderful idea's. I am so happy but so scared. Tomorrow is our inspection, it is a really old house so I have some grounds for fear. It is a 2 family flat so we will have an income from that. Again keep the ideas coming they have been great so far. Diane

[Nana2two]

Don't forget even garagesale items can be repainted to suit your decor. Decoupage is also fun to do.