Frugal Decorating Tips

PlantGeek · 01-26-2008, 06:14 AM

My hubby and I just went under contract on a new townhome and I'm already thinking ahead to how I want to decorate it. The trouble is, it will have to be on a small budget.

I'm a crafty person but this is our first home and I've never put an emphasis on decorating before. What are some of your ideas/patterns for decorating frugally?

Thanks in advance!

Julie Rains · 01-26-2008, 07:28 AM

Some WB bloggers have posted on inexpensive home decor:
Super-Cheap Building Supplies and a Way to Help Your Community! | Wise Bread
Spa Bathrooms on the Cheap | Wise Bread

I read their posts and watch HGTV -- they have great ideas on inexpensive ways to fix things up. I am not very handy but if I have acquired something inexpensively, then I am more daring with my decorating experiments.

lucille · 01-26-2008, 08:37 AM

My suggestion would be to figure out some loose ideas of what you want to do with each room first. Then make lists of what you already have that will work with that and what you need.

I keep lists of what items were looking for for various rooms were trying to decorate or remodel. Then when I stumble across a really good sale I can refer back to my list of things I need to make sure it fits into a specific use.

We have gotten some great deals by looking at thrift stores, antique stores, freecycle, habitat restore and clearance sections at Lowes and Home Depot.

Our bedroom is almost done and most of the items were from freecycle or a thrift store. Except the paint we bought on sale at Lowes.

DIYnet, HGTV and google are your friend. Lots of tips and instructions on how to do things.

leslieinbham · 01-26-2008, 01:57 PM

All good ideas and good places to explore. I would add Curbly as a resource as well. As far as decorating, Man, I have twigs hanging on my wall--that's budgety! And I like them. Anyway, I would say that paint is a good investment--if the paint looks good then you won't be so driven to buy stuff to cover it up. I used and used and used my architectural stencils with regular paint and it turned out well. Also helps to learn how to sew enough (or use fusable (sp?) webbing) to make simple curtains, roman shades, etc. I'm a lousy sewer (person who sews??) and I've been able to do both. Finally, the huge cloth dropcloth is your friend. Good neutral fabric, strong, cheap...slipcovers, curtains, floorclothes, room dividers, covers for piles of stuff you don't want dropper-byers to see...and you can just wash it and wash it. Can you tell I have many small children?

Oh, and check w/parents and grandparents and such. I'm well beyond the age at which one might do this, but they have attics and basements like shopping malls sometimes.

Good luck.

leslie

Ginger · 01-27-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucille

My suggestion would be to figure out some loose ideas of what you want to do with each room first. Then make lists of what you already have that will work with that and what you need.

I keep lists of what items were looking for for various rooms were trying to decorate or remodel. Then when I stumble across a really good sale I can refer back to my list of things I need to make sure it fits into a specific use.

We have gotten some great deals by looking at thrift stores, antique stores, freecycle, habitat restore and clearance sections at Lowes and Home Depot.

Our bedroom is almost done and most of the items were from freecycle or a thrift store. Except the paint we bought on sale at Lowes.

DIYnet, HGTV and google are your friend. Lots of tips and instructions on how to do things.

Great suggestions! Add to that Craigslist. People are always giving away free or used stuff which is great when you're just starting out!

Megan · 01-27-2008, 08:58 AM

Photos! I have a wall filled with various black and white photos in cheap black photo frames.

Miss Rosie · 01-27-2008, 11:02 AM

Work with what you have.

I'm a long-time apartment dweller, which means I'm stuck with the carpet and paint whether I like it or not. Thankfully, it's usually neutral, but it has taught me to that I don't have to customize absolutely everything in order to be happy with my surroundings. Usually one or two really attractive things can overwhelm boring closet doorknobs or beige carpeting, and really attractive things can be had pretty cheaply if one is patient.

Which brings me to point #2: be patient. One thing that makes interior decor expensive is being in a rush to get it all right all at once.

lucille · 01-27-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megan

Photos! I have a wall filled with various black and white photos in cheap black photo frames.

My sister in law did this in a townhouse they were renting. The entire living room was white on white including the fireplace. She took some of her favorite family and travel photos, had them redone in B&W and put them in black frames. Such a simple thing made the room look custom rather than rental.

lucille · 01-27-2008, 11:15 AM

Depending on where you live the used hotel furniture outlets can be a huge bargain. Some of the ones in bigger cities have furniture from five star hotels for really cheap.

dan82 · 01-27-2008, 03:56 PM

wonderful ideas..yeah..this is simple to do..I wil try some then I will let you guys know...thanks

01-26-2008, 06:14 AM	#1
PlantGeek Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Frugal Decorating Tips My hubby and I just went under contract on a new townhome and I'm already thinking ahead to how I want to decorate it. The trouble is, it will have to be on a small budget. I'm a crafty person but this is our first home and I've never put an emphasis on decorating before. What are some of your ideas/patterns for decorating frugally? Thanks in advance!

01-27-2008, 08:58 AM	#6
Megan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 321 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (63)	Photos! I have a wall filled with various black and white photos in cheap black photo frames. __________________ Counting My Pennies

01-27-2008, 03:56 PM	#10
dan82 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	wonderful ideas..yeah..this is simple to do..I wil try some then I will let you guys know...thanks __________________ The best Bathroom decorating ideas at Housetohome - Home Decorating

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01-26-2008, 07:28 AM	#2
Julie Rains Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 399 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (189)	Some WB bloggers have posted on inexpensive home decor: Super-Cheap Building Supplies and a Way to Help Your Community! \| Wise Bread Spa Bathrooms on the Cheap \| Wise Bread I read their posts and watch HGTV -- they have great ideas on inexpensive ways to fix things up. I am not very handy but if I have acquired something inexpensively, then I am more daring with my decorating experiments.

01-26-2008, 08:37 AM	#3
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 670 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	My suggestion would be to figure out some loose ideas of what you want to do with each room first. Then make lists of what you already have that will work with that and what you need. I keep lists of what items were looking for for various rooms were trying to decorate or remodel. Then when I stumble across a really good sale I can refer back to my list of things I need to make sure it fits into a specific use. We have gotten some great deals by looking at thrift stores, antique stores, freecycle, habitat restore and clearance sections at Lowes and Home Depot. Our bedroom is almost done and most of the items were from freecycle or a thrift store. Except the paint we bought on sale at Lowes. DIYnet, HGTV and google are your friend. Lots of tips and instructions on how to do things.

01-26-2008, 01:57 PM	#4
leslieinbham Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (11)	All good ideas and good places to explore. I would add Curbly as a resource as well. As far as decorating, Man, I have twigs hanging on my wall--that's budgety! And I like them. Anyway, I would say that paint is a good investment--if the paint looks good then you won't be so driven to buy stuff to cover it up. I used and used and used my architectural stencils with regular paint and it turned out well. Also helps to learn how to sew enough (or use fusable (sp?) webbing) to make simple curtains, roman shades, etc. I'm a lousy sewer (person who sews??) and I've been able to do both. Finally, the huge cloth dropcloth is your friend. Good neutral fabric, strong, cheap...slipcovers, curtains, floorclothes, room dividers, covers for piles of stuff you don't want dropper-byers to see...and you can just wash it and wash it. Can you tell I have many small children? Oh, and check w/parents and grandparents and such. I'm well beyond the age at which one might do this, but they have attics and basements like shopping malls sometimes. Good luck. leslie

01-27-2008, 11:02 AM	#7
Miss Rosie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 101 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (27)	Work with what you have. I'm a long-time apartment dweller, which means I'm stuck with the carpet and paint whether I like it or not. Thankfully, it's usually neutral, but it has taught me to that I don't have to customize absolutely everything in order to be happy with my surroundings. Usually one or two really attractive things can overwhelm boring closet doorknobs or beige carpeting, and really attractive things can be had pretty cheaply if one is patient. Which brings me to point #2: be patient. One thing that makes interior decor expensive is being in a rush to get it all right all at once.

01-27-2008, 11:15 AM	#9
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 670 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	Depending on where you live the used hotel furniture outlets can be a huge bargain. Some of the ones in bigger cities have furniture from five star hotels for really cheap.