Frugal Friday: Decorating on the cheap
I hope no one is terribly bored with the topic of decorating, because I still have plenty of things to say and share as I slowly work my way around our home decorating as I go. I decided to plunge in with something really easy - our guest bathroom. It's the first room on your left as you walk in our home and one which already gets lots of traffic. So, I decided to forego the all-white everywhere look and spruce it up with a simple sunflower theme.I've always loved sunflowers (maybe it's because I'm from Kansas?) but thought that unless I had a tiny room to use them in, they'd be overpowering. So, our guest bathroom got tagged with the sunflower theme.
We journeyed to BigLots on Saturday. Boy oh boy! were you all ever right about them having inexpensive stuff. Well, lots of it was. I found it interesting the variance in pricing. Some things were dirt cheap, other things were relatively similar to Wal-mart pricing or even a bit more. Strange.
I picked up these two framed prints (both with sunflowers) for a package deal of $6. Not bad, if I may say. I could probably beat that price at some garage sale somewhere, but it's too cold for garage sales and I can't wait four months to start looking for stuff at garage sales while my extremely blank walls stare at me.
This valance was only $2.50. Nothing fancy, but it's something and it works for now. I doubt I could make something that cheap, besides. I might replace it in a while, but for now, I'm happy with it. The curtain rod was $5. Not as cheap as I'd like, but I plan to stick with it, regardless of whether I change the valance in the future or not.
I got these sunflowers for $0.99 each (50% off) at Hobby Lobby and stuck them in a vase I already had and put them on the sink. They give a little lift and bightness to the room. I had them on the back of the toilet, but that was overpowering or too bright or something, so I moved them to the sink and am happy with the results.I still want to find a few fun sunflowers hand towels and maybe a rug. I'm also considering something small for the back of the toilet. We'll see. Feel free to leave me your suggestions. (Just don't tell me it looks horrible, okay? Even if you think it does. Remember I'm really new to all this decorating stuff - have patience with me!)
For now, at least it's better than white walls and the total cost has been less than $17. I'm shooting to decorate all of the smaller rooms in our home for $25 or less. I figured that was not unreasonable if I'm buying things new and not from garage sales. I'll definitely still keep my eye out at garage sales once they start up in our area, though. And I might poke around at some second-hand shops, too, and see what "treasures" I can dig up. You just never know where you might find the perfect solution to your decorating dilemma!
For those of you who are also working on decorating, don't forget to use what you already have. Start with that before you ever go out shopping. Since we have basically nothing but furniture, I'm starting completely from scratch. Otherwise, you better believe I'd be scrounging around in my attic or basement looking for stuff to use before heading out the door to buy something! (As most of you know, we had no money for decorating at our old place so therefore, we had no decorating besides what we had been given as wedding presents! I didn't mind and was completely content with just the basics, but I admit it is nice to have a small budget for decorating now and it's fun to see how far I can stretch that budget!)
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posted by Crystal Paine at 2:46 PM
24 Comments:
Crystal,
Your bathroom looks lovely. Great job! I really like sunflowers too, they're so bright and cheerful. (o:
Blessings,
~Mrs.B
I love how your bathroom looks! Isn't it fun how just a few touches of color can dress up a basic white space?! You have inspired me to find some ways to decorate in my bathrooms, too . . . they're the plainest rooms in my house so far.
I like the sunflower theme!
I do have a suggestion. I know money is tight, but have you thought about adding more color with some paint? We just finished painting our baby room with paint from Wal-mart that was only about $10 a gallon, so it doesn't have to be horribly expensive.
I wouldn't do all the walls in one color as that might really be too much, but I think one (or a couple)wall in the bathroom painted in a golden yellow or a green (perhaps to match the curtain) would really make your room pop and come alive.
I've been amazed what color has done as my husband and I have slowly painted the rooms in our house. Every wall in the house was a drab almond paste and it was just depressing. Now our living room is taupe and barn red, our bathroom and bedroom each have 2 walls that are a muted sage green and the others are off-white, and the baby room is blue, lime green, and off-white. I've found that using color on my walls really makes the rooms look more decorated and finished even though I, like you, have minimal curtains and decorating "stuff" to hang up.
Hi, Jessica!
I love light paint, too. But since whatever we paint, we have to paint back, and we're not planning to stay here longer than two years, I'm reserving painting only for our living room.
I just don't want to make moving too big of a chore, with two young children underfoot (or maybe more by then!). Maybe I'm just too practical... :(
Once we buy a home, you better believe I'll be doing some painting!
Crystal, keep the decorating posts coming - I love them! And let us know when you find any other sunflower stuff - I'm doing my laundry/mud room in sunflowers and appreciate the inspiration!
Crystal, what method do you use to clean your artificial flowers? I have some artificial plants in baskets on top of my kitchen cabinets, but they just collect so much dust! I like the idea of flowers that I can't kill, but I'm conflicted with my neat freak side also. What do you do?
Laura in KY
If you want to add a little punch of color, the dollar store (at least the ones around us) have had some self-stick sunflower wallies. They come off the wall really easily prior to a move. You've done a great job so far!!
I like the valance; green's such a homey color! Thanks for hosting!
peace of Christ to you,
Jessica
I've really enjoyed your decorating posts, Crystal. You have inspired me to work more on my room with decorating. Maybe I will even get inspired enough to post some pictures. :)
I had a couple small suggestions for the bathroom. Have you considered maybe a fresh smelling candle on the lavatory or back of the toilet? I have seen some sunflower scented candles before and I thought something like that in the bathroom might be especially nice. Susanna likes to light candles all around the house when we have company. Even though I am not a huge candle fan, I do think it makes a room seem more warm and cozy. Of course, maybe with having a two-year-old running around, a candle may not be such a "hot" idea. Just a thought. :)
Also on the sunflower theme: how about some Kansas made products made from sunflower oil or seed? Maybe a fragrant bar of soap or some lotion? I don't know what these would tend to cost. They may be way out of your budget. :)
In your bathroom I like the curtains and vase of sunflowers the most. Very cute and simple to liven up a room. Great ideas you have been sharing.
Have a blessed weekend.
Just an FYI:
I have a very similar blind on my bathroom window and it was about a year before I realized that w/the bright bathroom lighting, you can see the shadow of the person sitting on the toilet from the outside!
I've been enjoying the decorating posts. Especially the pics!
I always appreciate posts about frugal decorating tips. I don't seem to have a natural knack for seeing usefulness in the things I already have, but these types of posts - especially when pictures are included - are helping me to learn. Thank you!
I love Big Lots! You never know what you'll find there!
I did my bathroom in sunflowers..one very quick, very inexpensive idea is to buy 1/4 of a yard of sunflower fabric from Walmart and sew a strip of it onto the bottom of a towel that coordinates with the bathroom...I did a hand towel, regular towel and wash cloth to put across the towel rack. I had just a little left over so I folded down the raw edges and hot glued it to a candle to put into an inexpensive glass dish (Walmart has for under $1.00) on the countertop.
I love decorating with sunflowers...they are so bright and cheery. They really make a nice bathroom!
Your bathroom looks very cheerful, especially with the gloomy , cold, days we have been having. I had an idea for the towels. You could take plain towels that you already have and sew a sunflower ribbon across the edges or take a strip of sunflower material, turn down the edges a quarter of an inch, and sew it along the edges of the towel. Also, you could stencil a boarder of sunflowers along the ceiling or around the middle of the wall. Keep showing pictures...you are giving us ideas! Ruth, PA
I have lurked and read your blog for a few months. I read most of the tips each week and I decided to delurke and post a link. The bathroom looks great btw.
I was out looking at wallpaper borders last night, and saw several with cute sunflower designs. I believe borders can be easily removed and then the glue just washed off the walls, adding wall interest and color without actually having to re-paint before moving!
Crystal,
I love the decorating posts as well! As a homemaker in the making (hopefully not too long from now...!), your blog has been a huge inspiration tome since I found it. I read it every day! :o)
Your bathroom looks wonderful! *applause*
Crystal, it looks great!
I know you approve these, so if it's in appropriate, just don't post it. Will anyone come to my blog and give me advice on my place (just click on my name)? We rent a small apt. with flat white paint. We're here for 2 more years, so something a little nicer, would be nice. Anyone want to help? Money is an issue.
Crystal...I don't ever get tired of decorating posts, and I love it when you post pics!
I just posted some posts (several) of pictures of my house and some of the decorating we've done. I didn't want to link to it as a frugal tips post, because though I do share how we've saved money in our decorating, the posts are more focused on the decorating past than the frugal part:o) Anyway, just thought I'd let you know, since that's what your current interest/theme. Oh...and I posted a picture of some curtains I made from an old bed skirt!
Hi Crystal, I know this is no help to you, but for others who might be going to BigLots in the next week, I posted a tip on how to get a coupon for 20% off your entire purchase there.
I love sunflowers too! That's the theme in our bedroom- I enhanced and enlarged a photo I took of a sunflower field in France to hang over our bed.
Don't forgot the Dollar General stores (if you have them in Kansas). They have inexpensive picture frames and decorative mirrors. So do the Family Dollar stores. And I love collecting beautiful baskets at yard sales (50 cents or less) and filling them with pinecones, leftover silk flowers, fruit, and anything that needs stashed.
Cheap paint buys. The paint stores like Sherwin-Williams has mismatched paint that were mistakes and sell them real cheap. Just ask for mistints. Just keep in mind that they can get the color has close to what you want but not exact.
Hello Crystal, I used to sell Home Interiors and Gifts and I have some suggestions for your bathroom. Your pictures are wonderful and for bigger impact group them together on one wall and at eye level. For a quick and inexpensive lift try a wall border or stenciling at the top of your walls, this will add color and interest.You are doing GREAT!!! gailarae@hotmail.com
Crystal,
I don't know what posters are available at the Christian book stores now, but we found a lovely one with roses on a piano keyboard years ago that was great with our new wallpaper my husband had just hung in our bathroom. Posters are inexpensive and can be changed if damaged. And there would be the added advantage of a scripture or good thought which appears on most posters.
We bought a house five years ago and our kitchen came with a sunflower garden painted on the laundry closet doors--from top to bottom:) The previous occupant was an artist of sorts. So we bought the house that way and I still love those doors. She painted fruits on the panels of the cupboard doors and didn't finish so we will eventually have to do something about that. But I just bought kitchen towels with sunflowers and butterflies at a half price sale at a grocery store. Perhaps you could look in the kitchen towel department of any store that has towels and find inexpensive sunflower handtowels pretty easily. Our comforter has daisies on it so I look for sunflowers and other flowers that are similar to daisies as well.
Our bathroom came with Mardi Gras masks painted on the wall. My attempts to just cover them with white paint until we could get around to really painting the bathroom were futile. I'll probably have to sand them off!! So I'd be cautious about painting anything that could cause trouble at moving time, too.
Our sons wanted red or blue walls in their rooms. Except for those two rooms and the bathrooms all the rest of our house was painted yellow because it is such a happy color--like sunflowers--a "happy" flower.
Perhaps you and Kathryn can plant a few sunflower seeds when the seasons change even if you won't be able to use any paint on the inside.
Love,
LaDonna
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