Quick and Easy Home Décor Tips on a Budget
Q: Whether you’re hosting family for a Sunday barbecue or getting friends together for a light holiday gathering, you need to make your house look its best. Here are a couple of ways you can make your entertaining space look and feel new without breaking the bank!
Calendar art: Late in the year, current calendars are cheap in bookstores. They feature gorgeous images. Just cut, frame, hang and enjoy!
Cut-out wall decor: Grab a National Geographic or a Travel magazine and display the beautiful landscapes on your wall, fridge or bulletin board.
Custom matting: Heavy, single color paper is a cheap and easy way to add a personal touch to any picture.
Used frames: Lots of second-hand shops and yard sales sell pictures for cheap. Pick them up, trash the picture, repaint the frame!
Shuffle up and decorate: Moving pieces from your bedroom to your living room can feel like getting new decorations without the cost.
Glass mannequin: Use vases, wine bottles, and old jars to display costume jewelry. It gives your flat surfaces a fun, funky look.
Color-code: Organize your bookshelves by color to create an accent wall without the trouble of painting.
Fabric-ate it: Get fabric remnants from craft stores and frame them. Leave them as-is or use them for sophisticated matting.
Pin your passion: Make a cool pinboard out of fabric scraps and corkboard, then cover it with photos, postcards and other keepsakes.
Put out the fine china: Use bowls, plates and serving trays to add color to your walls and surfaces.
Paint it white: Mismatched containers can look like a set with a quick coat of white paint. Display them together to complete the illusion.
Refit your furniture: Trim an unwieldy table down to size by cutting off the sides. A quick sanding and painting will have it looking sleek, modern and efficient.
Reduce and restore: Surplus building materials can be refitted to form neat wall decorations. Check your local second-hand building store.
White-out: A whiteboard poster can be hung on any wall and be a great space to let your creativity shine. Blackboard paint or butcher paper can also work. Get your guests involved!
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