Patricia asked me to write about decorating, and I was so surprised because I don’t consider myself very good at it. You see, I am sort of an amateur because my mom never really got into that sort of thing growing up. We moved too stinkin much to really decorate. Most of the time, our walls were completely white and pictures were hung just to be up, not really in any decorative fashion.
So, when Jason and I first bought this house, it was a huge step for me to even paint the walls. I remember crying one time when we painted our dining room yellow. It turned out way to neon looking, and Jason told me that I just needed to get used to it. (I think he was trying to get out of painting it again) 
But that evening, I couldn’t go to sleep because I just kept thinking about how much I hated it. I ended up telling him the next morning, and we did repaint it. Thank goodness!
But almost 8 years later, I can finally say that I know what I like and enjoy making my home an expression of us. And because we are on a budget, I thought I would share with you a few ideas for how to decorate when you aren’t loaded.
For one, I have made all of our window treatments. And let me tell you, I am NOT a seamstress. But curtains I can do because it is basically just straight lines. I don’t even use a pattern (I mean who can read those things any way). I love making my own curtains because you have so many more options of fabric choices than the ones you buy at the store.
Second, I have been known to paint picture frames. Let’s say you have some ugly, out of style, and doesn’t really go with anything else frame. You don’t want to go out and spend another $20 bucks on a frame. Buy a little thing of paint from the craft store and paint it. I have done black on two large frames for my wall. And then recently, I did two small frames for a shelf in the appley green color I am in love with these days.
Third, would be making other stuff yourself. Again…I am not a big craft person. But I did make an art display board for my kids’ art projects. I used foam board from Joann’s, used spray adhesive to cover it with the fabric I liked, and hung it up. I love making stuff on my own, too because I am not limited by the size or colors of things in the store.
And lastly, shop at places like Old Time Pottery, Ross, TJ Maxx, etc.
So, there are my tips. Do you have any ideas for decorating on a budget? Favorite stores? Things you have made yourself?
May 1st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Jill, I also paint frames alot. We have been in our house here in Deerwood for 21 years and I have found that moving pictures from room to room can really change your look.
I also like to use neutrals for furniture and quilts on my beds. You can change the look easily by changing decorative pillows. And the pillows don’t even have to be new, they can be moved from another room.
A few houseplants will add a warm touch to your house. I love fresh flowers, but you can buy a houseplant for under 10 bucks that could last a long time.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Steal ideas and think outside the box! Those are my two suggestions. If you see something in a store that you like, try to re-create it yourself. I have come pretty close on some art that I painted myself with masking tape and paint around my house. The colors perfectly go with what you are trying to accomplish and it is way cheaper.
I had a huge blank wall that I wanted to put all different sizes of picture frames on to display family pictures but frames would have cost a fortune so… I got 3 tall pieces of canvas (which I bought with coupons) and painted those. I attached pictures and now I have a great focal piece on the wall displaying my photos and spent under $25 for the whole project….thinking outside the box.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Get ideas from magazines - I modified an idea I found in Pottery Barn (hanging pictures from string with clothes pins) for my kitchen. I hung a piece of white string from 2 nails, and used clothes pins to clipped pictures (5×7s and 8×12s) to it. It’s super easy to change out the pictures, as cheap as you can get, and doesn’t look as overwhelming as 8 framed family pictures on one small wall.