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?

Yesterday Denise gave us great decorating ideas. Today we read the last of her decorating tips.

3. Experiment with color. In God’s gracious creativity He gave us all a favorite color. Whatever yours is, put something that color in each of the rooms you use the most. Don’t worry if it doesn’t “match” the rooms color scheme (you can choose the most compatible shade of your favorite to make this experiment less frightening). If you like red, add a pillow to a chair or sofa; or paint a picture frame orange for your bedroom or buy a sky blue lampshade. That one thing in the room will catch your eye when you walk in and can actually lift your spirits.

My favorite color is purple (remember the eccentric part) and although I don’t use purple in my family room I do have hanging in a prominent place a painting of a French field of lavender. It’s by a good friend of mine who is an artist in the primitive style. It doesn’t match the room’s colors or even the style of any other thing. But when I see it I can’t help but smile. After all, it is purple, and so very ME.

What is your favorite color and how do you decorate with it?

By Denise Marks

Like lots of women, I really like to feel good about my house. I know its just four walls and the things inside are merely “stuff”, but somehow God seems to have wired us to take a certain pride in this place where our family life revolves and our hospitality is practiced. And we would all like for people to enter our house and be, well, maybe not impressed but at least pleased and definitely not appalled!

One of my favorite things to hear when someone enters my home is that it looks like ME. Now granted, a few of my friends tease me for being eccentric, so that might not sound like a compliment, but to me it is the highest praise. I want my home to reflect the people who live in it. Fortunately, home design trends in recent years favor a look that isn’t perfectly matched and coordinated…good news for those of us who can’t afford to buy the whole furniture showroom. Even if you feel like your style is “neo-clutter” and your home looks too much like you, there are ways to let your personality shine through.

Here are a couple of tips that may get you started.

1. Don’t get too hung-up on your home furnishings’ style. If you have certain items of furniture, or a picture or some other keepsake that you love, by all means use it! Grandmother’s treasured antique table can still look great with a more modern décor. Concentrate more on coordinating fabrics and colors rather than woods or furniture styles. Mix styles a little at a time if the whole concept feels like a leap of faith to you. Go with what you like and remember that only in catalogues does everything in a room match.
2. Decorate a room with the little things that typify you. Frame your kid’s artwork. If you or a family member collects something (even if you don’t want to show the whole collection) put out a couple of things on your coffee table. Do you love books? Stack a few favorites under a lamp or table top picture frame. Don’t over do it with the knick-knacks, but place things around that will pique someone’s curiosity when they walk in or stir a memory for you when you see it.

Tomorrow we’ll read the last of Denise’s decorating tips!