Friday, April 24, 2009

Decorating on the Cheap

Attic Gal Rachelle says:

Hello all!  Welcome to the Attic.  The Shabby Nest is having a Frugal Friday linking party for frugal decorating ideas.  I just love a party, so I decided to link up.  Head over to Shabby Nest if you want to join in the frugal fun.

Being a garage sale fanatic my entire house is decorated on the cheap, but here are a few especially easy and fun ideas for frugal decorating.  Enjoy!



In the kitchen I was at a loss as to what to do with the soffits above the cabinets.  I had a lot of them.



I found an old book of botanical prints at a church rummage sale for only $8,  picked out my favorite fruity prints and threw them into $3 frames fro Wal-Mart, mats included!

A pretty great look, 11 framed prints for a total of $41.  Of course you could do floral or fern botanicals, or prints of birds, etc., and you might even be able to find them on line for free.
 Of course the print plates in a book are just so nice and crisp.


 In the dining room I have simply hung milk glass plates with openwork edges from ribbon on the walls for a clean look.  Milk glass can be easily collected at tag sales for about a quarter to a few bucks a piece.

Remember my bulletin board from my toile post?  It was just a huge old frame I got cheap at a garage sale and painted black.  Then I got a piece of plywood to fit in it, covered it with batting, toile fabric, criss-crossed some ribbon and tacked into into place with upholstery tacks.  Then just tuck in old photos, baby booties, gloves, and anything else that inspires you.


In my bedroom I have a collection of oval florals that I have all picked up for a few bucks each, or less at garage sales over the years.  Some are hand painted, some are prints, some decoupages, and even one is needlepoint.  They all work together because they are all oval, floral, and have age.  Pick something you like and just look and see how many you can collect for cheap.  Every time I find another one, I just slap it on the wall.  I love this romantic wall!

In the guest bath I simply framed some old embroidered "His" and "Hers" hand towels that I found at a garage sale.  I found the interesting old frames at a g.s. too, and quickly painted them white.  Super cheap chic!

In the same bathroom I have a collection of fun frames that I have also collected for cheap at garage sales.  Most of the frames weren't white when I picked them up, but spray paint works wonders.  

Decorating on the cheap is easy, you just have to keep your eye out for what will work for you.

Thanks for stopping by the Attic, and if you like what you see, then dig around up here some more.

14 comments:

  1. Oh my! I sooooo love those mirrors! I mean seriously. I need to find a spare wall to do this with. Thanks for all of your great ideas!!!

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  2. Wow! You have omen great ideas!! Thanks for sharing them.

    Blessings,
    Barbara Jean

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  3. WOW!!! I am in love with the mirrors and frames! BEAUTIFUL!!!

    xoxoxoxo

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  4. The mirror grouping is my favorite.
    Thanks for sharing
    Have a great day!
    Darlene

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  5. Holy cow chicky,...when do I get to take a tour of your house? It looks like serious eye candy!! What fantastic ideas too!

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  6. The mirrors are my fav. A older family friend has a bathroom decorated in hand mirrors and I loved the look for her........but the white of yours totally ties it together and I love it!

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  7. ohhh; I love all the different mirrors and frames in the bathroom! Super cute idea!

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  8. wow! love the mirrors and milk glass plates!!!

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  9. Beautiful! Those plates are absolutely beautiful. A wonderful find.

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  10. Wow, you are full of great ideas! I love the mirrors and the fruit prints on the soffit are sheer genius!

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  11. I love all of your ideas! Such a bargain too! All women can have pretty rooms...there is no excuse for ugly,plain rooms. Even if you don't have much money...it can be done! I just posted about my bedroom re-do today and I did it on the cheap and it turned out pretty. The most expensive part was my comforter set and I got it 75% off. Come by and see.

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie at A Southern Rose

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  12. Hi Rachelle,

    Thanks for remembering the little plate that I won from you. Where do I go do leave my address? Also thanks for the sweet comments about my bedroom. Now I have to finish my living room and den. I love to decorate and re do rooms. Its just that I work full time and I have to do it in little 'spurts'.

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie

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  13. All darling ideas! I am soooooooo going to put pictures up on my blank soffet. For years I had it filled up with clutter, I love the clean look of the frames & pictures...hmmm now I'm needing some botanicals!
    ~Cheryl

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