Decorate With Intention: Great Vision, Small Budget
Can you just picture how you want your home to look but feel stymied by lack of funds? These suggestions can help
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
One of the questions I get asked most often is how to decorate a home you love on a tight budget. After all, it's one thing to create a vision for your home and quite another to bring that vision to life without going over your budget.
Join us this week as we explore ways to work within your budget, from creating a plan to vintage-hunting tips and the best pieces to save money. We have a lot to cover, so grab yourself a cup of something yummy and let's get started!
Join us this week as we explore ways to work within your budget, from creating a plan to vintage-hunting tips and the best pieces to save money. We have a lot to cover, so grab yourself a cup of something yummy and let's get started!
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Pick your approach. There are three basic ways to approach decorating on a budget:
1. Splurge on one piece at a time. Even if if means living with a sparsely furnished pad for some time, you can feel good that you love everything in your home.
2. Get it all done at once using affordable basics and DIY projects. This is a good option for those starting from scratch.
3. Mix it up. If this is your approach, you will likely want to splurge on one or two special pieces and fill in the gaps with less expensive new and vintage finds.
1. Splurge on one piece at a time. Even if if means living with a sparsely furnished pad for some time, you can feel good that you love everything in your home.
2. Get it all done at once using affordable basics and DIY projects. This is a good option for those starting from scratch.
3. Mix it up. If this is your approach, you will likely want to splurge on one or two special pieces and fill in the gaps with less expensive new and vintage finds.
by SFGIRLBYBAY
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"Filler" pieces can still be chic. Even fancy decorators these days often throw in a few budget pieces from Ikea or West Elm. The key is to look for classic designs with clean lines. Parsons-style tables, bookcases and modern chairs in white can fit into any scheme and look pricier than they really are.
by Restyled Home
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The PS Maskros pendant light is a great example of a wallet-friendly find that exudes style. I've seen this hanging in interior design studios and chic boutiques, and featured in posh magazine spreads, yet it comes from Ikea and costs less than $100.
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by SFGIRLBYBAY
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| Learn how to find vintage treasures. Victoria of sfgirlbybay has mastered the art of thrift, and I think we could all pick up a tip or two from her. Her San Francisco flat is filled with an inspiring mix of flea market finds, iconic modern pieces and affordable basics. Educate yourself about the styles you love and you will be able to home in on what you want much more quickly. Make a list of keywords describing what you are looking for (for instance, midcentury, Danish, teak) and use this to search sites such as Craigslist, eBay and Etsy. |
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by Jonnie Andersen
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| Vintage hunting in person can be a satisfying pastime, and you never know what treasures you will come home with. If you decide to take a day trip to explore a flea market or antiques fair, it pays to be prepared. Here are a few things you might want to bring along:
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by Vintage Renewal
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| When shopping for vintage furniture, pay more attention to a great shape than condition of upholstery. Having an armchair or sofa reupholstered is pricey but can still be less than buying new. Plus, you can pick any fabric you like. If reupholstering is not in the budget, you can simply layer textiles over worn areas for a quick update. |
by French Larkspur
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Keep an open mind. Sometimes the most eye-catching décor comes from using an everyday object in a new way. Major retailers now offer apothecary-style cabinets and "aged" wood furniture at a steep markup from the original vintage versions. Why not be ahead of the curve and make your own style statement with a vintage find?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
• Use a collection of vintage doorknobs or drawer pulls as coat hooks.
• Lean an old wooden ladder against the wall to hold tea towels in the kitchen.
• A vintage garden gate can become a one-of-a-kind headboard.
• Pile twinkle lights into an antique birdcage and suspend from the ceiling for a quirky light fixture.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
• Use a collection of vintage doorknobs or drawer pulls as coat hooks.
• Lean an old wooden ladder against the wall to hold tea towels in the kitchen.
• A vintage garden gate can become a one-of-a-kind headboard.
• Pile twinkle lights into an antique birdcage and suspend from the ceiling for a quirky light fixture.
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| Know when to splurge and when to save. There are some basics that look good at any price point, so there is no reason to spend more. Save your pennies and scoop up these basics from mass retailers:
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Use paint to create a rich look for less. There is a reason so many magazine articles and books mention paint as an inexpensive way to change the look of a room. It works! Warm gray is an easy choice because it goes with almost as many things as white but looks so much more sophisticated and "finished."
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Don't overlook the possibility of repainting furniture as well. Even if you've never tackled a DIY project before, it's totally doable to paint a small dresser or a set of dining chairs in a single weekend. Want even less of a time commitment? Just paint the interior of a bookcase, the trim on a cabinet or the legs of a chair.
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Cultivate a feeling of abundance. Shift your thinking: Instead of focusing on what you can't have, move your attention to what you appreciate about your home and the life you lead in it.
Zero in on activities that make you feel cozy and happy at home, whether it's reading in your favorite chair or having friends over for an impromptu dinner, and aim to do these things more often. It may take time to create a space that matches your vision, but you can start enjoying your home today.
Tell us: What are your favorite tricks for decorating on a shoestring budget?
More:
Vintage Modern: What Does It Mean?
11 Inventive Headboards
Instant Fix: Refresh Your Furniture With Some Punchy Paint
Zero in on activities that make you feel cozy and happy at home, whether it's reading in your favorite chair or having friends over for an impromptu dinner, and aim to do these things more often. It may take time to create a space that matches your vision, but you can start enjoying your home today.
Tell us: What are your favorite tricks for decorating on a shoestring budget?
More:
Vintage Modern: What Does It Mean?
11 Inventive Headboards
Instant Fix: Refresh Your Furniture With Some Punchy Paint
Ideabook published on March 22, 2012.
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I constantly monitor Craigslist and eBay for things I want or need - Flash-Sales are also great resources for some items, as long as you know the TRUE retail value of the item (It's not always what they say it is - I always refer back to the manufacturer/originating retailer's website to verify if I'm getting a deal) I also have no issue with showroom samples, manufacturer overstocks and seconds, and off-cuts/bolt-ends of fabric which I can have made into draperies, pillows, seat cushions, etc...
...and if I have decided on a retail item - I know that it WILL go on markdown eventually - So I sign up for that retailer's e-mails and "Like" them on Facebook so I can be notified of special deals: Only when that happens is when I make my purchase.
I also avoid getting myself fixed on specific high-end pieces. There's always something else out there that's comparable, whether from another manufacturer, or vintage (which are often better made than new)
...but I never purchase cheap imported pieces or knockoffs - I'd rather do without than have my home filled Big-Box junk and future-landfill from China.
I keep a small piece of paper in my wallet with key dimensions of my apartment, such as window widths and heights, wall dimensions, that way I can buy something when I see it and save myself a trip back to a store. Also, make sure the furniture you are buying fits into your elevator or doorway or you could be stuck with an expensive bargain. I was a project manager for a furniture dealer for years and I don't know a single PM who hasn't made that costly mistake at least once (guilty :( ).
Shop Home Goods-this store is the best for discounted decorative pieces.
Shopping thrift shops and flea markets were a passion of mine but I wouldn't go near any of that stuff now that we are living in a world with bed bugs. One man's trash can become your nightmare! Beware!