10 Frugal Decorating Tips

30 years of homemaking has made me passionate about frugality and home decor, I present to you my 10 Frugal Decorating Tips!

As a stay-at-home mother of 6, to say money has been tight over the years would be an understatement.  It would seem that frugality and home decor are not compatible.  Ah, but they are!  You can have a beautiful home for little or no money.  It is because of that fact, that I am so excited to share with you my frugal decorating tips that any homemaker will be able to implement no matter what her situation.

God is the great creator and we as his creation are implanted with his creativity.  We are made in his image.  However, I understand it is harder to pull creativity out of some people than others.  That is why I suggest starting with prayer.  Take a look at your home and your family’s needs and start praying for creative, frugal ways to problem solve and make your house into a home.

So, here we go!

10 Frugal Decorating Tips

 

Be Thankful

No matter what your situation you can always be thankful to God for something.  He is our great Savior and Provider.  Take a look at the home God has provided you with and be thankful that you have a home.   Many, many people are homeless. Let’s start with a grateful heart that has the potential to make any house a home.  A home is made beautiful if our attitudes are one of thankful adoration to an all-sufficient God.

 

 

 

Decide On A Style

You and your husband LOVE and stick with it.   Get on Pinterest and pin rooms that you love.  This won’t cost you a dime and it will help to clarify your style.   You don’t have to just pin rooms, you can pin scenes from nature that inspire you.   Browse home decor blogs.  As you can see from the above pin made by the incredibly talented Yvonne at Stone Gable, my husband, and my home decor style is “Farmhouse” or “European Farmhouse“.

 

Paint  

A can of paint can transform any room,  piece of furniture, or accessory.  I love spray paint and enjoy how easy it is to use. Paint of any kind transforms from old and ugly to new and lovely.  How to get paint cheaply?  Employ these strategies.  Shop sales, pick up paint at a garage and tag sales, shop the curbs on “Toxic Refuse” day in your town, ask friends and family for leftover paint they might have around, and lastly check out the “Oops Paint” at your local paint or hardware store.

 

 

 

Elements Of Nature    

Go on a walk with your family and pick wildflowers and bring them inside to brighten your home, if you live in the city (just ask first).  Grow houseplants and use them for decor( and not clutter).  Ask friends and family to share starts from their house plants.  When you prune bushes and trees in your yard during early Spring and Fall bring a few branches inside the house for a lovely display.   I bring many of my potted plants inside during the winter.  My Geraniums and Hibiscus bloom all winter long!  I also plant herbs to have inside during the colder months or right outside my door in the Summer.  Something about having living things in your home is refreshing not to mention healthy.  Plants purify the air in your home.

 

 

Put Out The Word    

It only takes a few moments to ask friends and family on Facebook if they have an item you need.  Put out the word first and you just may get what you need for Free and help a friend de-clutter in the process.  After that, my next line for acquiring furniture, appliances, or anything for the home is garage sales, craigslist, local online auctions, and thrift stores.    Wait and be patient…and need I say pray for the things you need.  God has this amazing way of supplying all our needs!

 

 

 

Sew

Sewing your curtains, napkins, or slipcovers is not always cheaper but for the most part, it is.   My favorite place for sewing tutorials?  On Sutton Place!  Ann is the best at teaching people how to sew practical projects for the home.  She has detailed instructions and pictures.  On Sutton Place even has “no-sew”  projects!   Don’t just look at her sewing tutorials though,  Ann is an extremely talented decorator from whom I have received much inspiration over the years.

 

The 5 Senses

Sight, Touch, Sound, Smell, and Taste are items we need to think about when creating a home.  Bonus, implementing the following ideas will generally cost you nothing!

Sight, Touch, Sound, Smell, and Taste are items we need to think about when creating a home.  Bonus…implementing the following ideas will generally cost you nothing!

• Sight   Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Make a rule to live with only things that you love.  I use this rule when I am making a purchase too.  If I don’t love it I don’t buy it.
• Touch brings to mind texture.  The texture is an important element in interior design.  Make sure things in your home feel good on the skin.  Are carpets, pillows, and couches soft and comfortable for the members of your family?   If it looks good but doesn’t feel good then what is the use of keeping it?
• Smell   Use candles or homemade potpourri to freshen your home.  Make odor-eating essential oil sprays!  Pick flowers and display fresh bouquets around your home.   Open your windows for 15 minutes a day to let the fresh air inside. I also enjoy diffusing essential oils in my home.  Pleasant smells have the power to change your mood.
• Sound  Play music you love.  I challenge you to ask this question about every song you listen to.  “Is it beautiful”?  If you think it is, then play it in your home.  I will also say that if there is strife and yelling in a home it affects the atmosphere.  If there is ugly behavior in a home then no matter how amazingly decorated your house is, something will always be lacking.  Check out my post on Family Communication.
• Taste   Having healthy and delicious food in your home may not be considered a decorating principle but to me it is.  Baking tasty treats for your family makes them feel loved and the food we eat is a big part of our home life!

 

 

 

Make Your Own Art    

Here is a wonderful tutorial from Miss Mustard Seed for making the farm sign above.   There are so many FREE PRINTABLES available online from talented bloggers that you may not have to purchase another piece of art ever.  Check into the Graphics Fairy for more than 4,000 FREE vintage images!!   Here is a tip for framing your works of art.  I garage sale, thrift, or garbage pick for frames.  Pick out well-made frames with “less than visually stunning” pictures and replace them with your own art.  If the glass is missing, no problem just take it to your local hardware store and have them replace the glass for a few dollars.

 

Clean  

I feel guilty even writing about this one as I can see dust bunnies floating around my living room as I type.  Needless to say, a clean home makes even the oldest furniture look newer.   Clean walls and counters look nicer.  Don’t get obsessive about it but having a clean home is better than a dirty one. Better for your family’s health too.  I also use non-toxic cleaners. 

 

 

 

Organize   

Don’t keep stuff around that you don’t use or worse yet don’t need.  Give it away or have a garage sale.  There are plenty of needy people who would be blessed by your junk.  Giving things away is very freeing.   It makes me feel good to know that I am helping someone else and that is a blessing!

 

 

YOUR TURN…

What are your frugal decorating tips?

 

Blessings,

 

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*These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Pregnant or lactating women and persons with known medical conditions should consult a physician before the use of essential oils.