I was sitting here with my laptop, working on the last 7 of 15 Ways to Decorate Your House for Free. Then, I looked around and realize that right now, simply getting my house clean would make it feel like I redecorated! Some days are just like that, at least for me. Ok, some weeks are like that!
Though the broom is shouting my name, I still have 7 ideas to share. If you missed the first 8 ideas, you can find them here.
9. Pine cones
I know these are typically associated with Christmas and winter decor, but I like to use them year around. It’s an excellent, free way to add some natural elements to your decor as well as some texture.
I put them in bowls, baskets and metal containers. Small pinecones work great in vases. My daughter, Abigail has put them in a tall, clear vase along with battery operated fairy lights. They can be made into wreaths, painted for any season and made to look like roses or zinnias.
Pinecone Zinnias, from A Fanciful Twist
Pinecone flower from The Better Nester
10. Paint
Paint can be used to up-cycle furniture, remake an old light fixture or transform a room. A front door, freshly painted in a bold, vibrant color completely alters your exterior and creates curb appeal. You probably have paint left over from other projects, but if you don’t, most cities now have a Habitat for Humanity Resale store. They always have partial cans of paint for pennies on the dollar and you’re contributing to a good cause in the process.
Home Depot usually has a section with discounted paint as well. Paint colors that don’t come out quite the way the customer wanted them end up in this area. I recently bought an assortment of their little 8 oz sample sized jars in fun spring colors for $.50 a jar. I didn’t really have a plan for the paint, but for the price, I figured someone in my house would want it for a project sooner or later.
11. Branch tea light candleholders
When my son got married two and a half years ago, we made all of the centerpieces out of large branches from my property. Equipped with the branches, a saw and a 1.75” forstner drill bit, my dad created dozens of candle holders.
These are rustic, beautiful and free. And, because they work in any season, they are so versatile!
12. Old picture frames
Old picture frames can be purchased for next to nothing at garage sales. For a unified look, paint them all one color. For an eclectic look, just mix and match. They can be layered, empty, on a mantel. Several of them can be grouped on a wall to create a statement. Use them empty, or frame photos, quotes or bits of lace.
Gallery wall, Bless’er House
From Anderson and Grant
13. Quilts and throws
Quilts and throws are, of course, practical. They cover our beds and keep us cozy while we watch our favorite shows on tv. They can also take up a lot of room. I don’t think I’ve ever met a single person who said they had more closet space than they knew what do with.
So rather than try to carve out a piece of that precious real estate, just put them on display. Drape them over a sofa, hang several from a old ladder in the corner of a room or stack them on the bottom shelf of a sofa table.
From Pinterest
Photo from Ana White
14. Baskets
If you have baskets taking up space in a closet, why not pull them out and put them to use. If you don’t, second-hand and thrift stores always have them in abundance. I put them on top of armoires, hang them on walls, and keep my eggs and my bread in them. Tired and dated baskets can be given a clean, fresh look with a little spray paint. Stencil a number, design or initials on your baskets.
This shallow basket hangs on the wall of my dining room, but it’s not just decorative. It regularly gets pulled into use, usually when I’m entertaining. It makes an awesome vegetable basket!
When hosting large parties, this basket gets lined with a flour sack towel and is used to hold bread or rolls. Rather than find a place to store it when I’m not using it, I let it contribute to my decor.
15. Display your hobbies
If you’re a quilter, put your fabric stash on a bookcase or in a cabinet with glass or wire doors. A wooden box can hold paints and be put on display. If you don’t have a wooden box, an old drawer works great. Readers can display books.
We have horses, and though some might think it’s strange, we have halters hanging in the mudroom. If we need to catch a horse, they are quickly and easily assessible and they are a tangible reflection of our lifestyle.
Your decor doesn’t have to be perfect. It needs to represent you, who you are and what you love.
This cabinet could just as easily hold a quilter’s fabric stash. From Creative Cain Cabin
The key to free or nearly free decorating, really, is to shop your own house before heading to the store. What do you have that can be relocated, re-imagined, re-used? Don’t forget to shop your yard. Branches, leaves, flowers can all be used to help create a beautiful decor. Be bold. Be creative. And most of all, have fun!
I’m off to see if I can silence the pesky broom.