Thrifty Decor Tips

Sunday, July 12, 2009

I know I've said this a million times but I believe everyone deserves a beautiful home regardless of their financial situation. I know what it's like to not be able to spend money, but that doesn't mean I can't have beautiful surroundings that make me happy and feel like I'm HOME.

THRIFTY TIPS:
  1. You don't have to furnish/decorate an entire room at one time. Add bargains as you find them and let your room evolve.
  2. Shop at thrift stores, flea-tique stores, and estate sales. Always remember that you can transform anything with a little paint....and paint is cheap.
  3. Other great places to find bargains are TJ Maxx/Homegoods/Marshalls, Ebay, and craigslist.
  4. Never pay full price for anything. Use a coupon, shop sales and clearance items.
  5. SHOP THE HOUSE! You'll be surprised at how items you already have can be reused in new ways.
  6. Most importantly, have patience. The bargains are out there, but not necessarily at the exact moment you're looking for them. You'll save boatloads of money by waiting for that deal to come your way...and it will if you're patient.
Want to see these tips in action? Here's the lowdown...the 411...the...um, yellow pages encyclopedia centipedia on my living room....yo (oh yeah, I'm so hip it's ridiculous..ha!).

Sofa: $349 (Ashley Furniture)
Pillows: $8 Handmade with Ralph Lauren fabric bought on Ebay and reused existing inserts
Coffee Table: Hand me down
Plate on Coffee Table: $2.99 TJ Maxx
Candles: $8(?) Garden Ridge
Piano: Family heirloom
Plates Above Piano: Our everyday dishes from Pier One
Lamp: $8 thrift store find
Apothocary Jars: $8.99 and $12.99 TJ Maxx
TOTAL FOR THIS AREA: $398



Bureau: $40 at a flea-tique store (I still get excited when I think about that one)
Lamp: $15 Target (reused old shade)
Large Frame: I'm going to guess $15 (I've had it forever and I simply placed some fabric in it)
Silver Vase: $2.50 on clearance at Hobby Lobby
Books/White Box/Silver Jar: I'm going to say "free" because I've had them forever
Wingback Chair: Hand me down
Slipcover: $38 from QVC
Pillow: $4 Made with Ralph Lauren fabric found on Ebay
Curtains: Purchased 4 linen panels on clearance at Linens and Things for $12 each (pre-closing)
TOTAL FOR THIS AREA?: $162.50

I know this is a weird picture, but I wanted you to see the rug. I'm especially proud of this bargain. I bought it on final clearance at Pottery Barn for $100...it was regularly $400!

Also, included in this photo:
Loveseat: $299
Green pillow: $5 on clearance at Target
Tan pillow: Made with extra curtain panel (included in total above)
TOTAL FOR THIS AREA: $404


Armoire: $200 on craigslist (now I realize I probably could have found a better deal...I'm cheap like that)
Small chair: $19 at flea-tique store (I also think I paid too much for it...you can read about how I added the numbers here)
Framed Art: Frames $10 at Hobby Lobby; Postcards $4.50 from Alicia Bock; Watercolor paper as mat $2.00.
TOTAL FOR THIS AREA: $255.50

Grand Total for the entire living room? $1220

Happy decorating!

40 Suburbanites Said:

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

I love your style. That chest is decorated so beautifully. It looks like something out of a magazine. The room looks like a breath of fresh summer! :-)

Karli @ RockyBella said...

I like your room. I like the armoire! It looks solid and study.

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. said...

I love that bureau! Great room!

{Katie Lane} said...

It's very pretty. You did a great job, love the soft colors :)

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Sigh. Between you and Julia (Hooked on Houses), I'd have a perfect room if y'all would just send me your stuff. ;)

Melissa Stover said...

very nice! i love the bureau!

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

Love your room! The arrangement above the piano is great, and I also love the creamy white painted chest too! :) You got some great deals! Thanks for sharing!!

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

Loverly AnNicole!! I love this room.

Jen said...

I love how you framed the postcards with the matte like that...pretty!

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Ok, so tell me about those wing back slipcovers (sure-fit)? Do you like them? I have some wing backs that could use some new slipcovers.

Great results and bargains you found!

Amber Filkins said...

I love it all, AnNicole! It's all just beautiful. 100% beautiful!

I'm bummed that I can't share about my space. I'm out of town til tomorrow. Maybe then, but I'll be super late, lol.

Love your mantra too. SO true.

Sarah Bradford-Burton said...

Love all your tips, love the white bureau, my fave! You've got a beauty of a room there dear...I'll be checking back!

Hattie said...

What a pretty room! I really love the top of the Bureau, I would never have thought of framing fabric.

Yansy said...

Wow, you are thrifty. Amazing finds, I love how you mix the high and low pieces. The Pottery Barn rug was a steal. Great job.

Nora said...

I am so loving you right now! I had read a few of the price my spaces and was kinda sad that they all had spent so much money. I love that you are thrifty and have managed to put so many great pieces together that work so well. Thanks for sharing!

Kim said...

What a nice room. It looks very comfortable and you have certainly shown that it doesn't take a whole lot to make a beautiful space. Our best steal was a $5000 mattress for $600 at Macy's a few years back. I sleep very well!

Vanessa said...

That's not too much! I was actually surprised when I saw the total. I thought it was going to be a lot more! You got a lot from $!200!! The room looks grea!

Anonymous said...

Love the pillow fabric and the armoire!

Leslie said...

love your room!


Please check out my blog if you have a minute.

We're helping Natalie's Peace of Mind Fund

www.creativecrafting08.blogspot.com

Victoria said...

Your room looks straight out of a magazine so it's wonderful to see how you did it on a budget! It's gorgeous.

Unknown said...

These are great tips - especially the one about patience. Luckily that's something I have in abundance (unlikely money!).
Love your bargains - they make the room look like a million bucks. You are one clever woman!

Funky Junk Interiors said...

I always LOVE looking at how you throw things together. That bureau looks like such a well dressed piece!

Love it all!

Donna

Holly said...

Your room is very pretty! Great job :)

Frugal Jen said...

I love to "shop my house"! I am always moving stuff around. If you lived closer I would be buyting that armoire today!

Scooper said...

I love that bureau!

Tiffany said...

This is a lovely room and you got a STEAL on that rug!

Thanks for sharing!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I love your space! So inviting and well put together! I need to try Craigs List, I see now, for I would love to find an armoire like that. Or the bureau. You've made this room shine!
Brenda

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog said...

Nice! I love the way that you've staged the bureau.

Anonymous said...

i love the decor. thanks for sharing. super happy i stumbled upon your blog today! http://anhesty.blogspot.com

bomobob said...

Great job. All you're missing is a few of my photos:)
Seriously, thrift stores should never be overlooked. Their stock changes almost daily, and the stuff you can stumble over is incredible. People seem to have be trained to have the mindset that they always have to buy a pile of expensive new furniture for every room. It's a shame really, as there is much great quality stuff out there.

Kristi~The Slipcover Girl said...

I want to come over...propmy feet up and have a glass of wine! so comfy!

Leanne said...

Love your room, especially the bureau. What a great find!

Anonymous said...

Has your Ashley sofa held up well? My daughter and her family have just bought a new home and need furniture.
Thanks!
Kathy in Jackson, MS
Please excuse the anonymous, I don't have a blog.

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

Very pretty spaces! I noticed on Karla's blog that you are looking for a nice gray. Have you tried Coventry Gray by Benjamin Moore? We used it in our living areas and we couldn't be happier with it.
~Michelle

Anonymous said...

I love what you've done here! Love your creative ideas, tips, and that you SHARE them for free! (I'm not screaming, I'm just trying to emphasize!)Thank you for givning me hope that beautiful and budget can go together! Yeah!

Anonymous said...

Glad to see the price break down of your lovely living room. Good reminder that we don't have to buy everything at once. A great room can be put together over time.

Gave you an award
http://interiordesignjunkie2.blogspot.com/

Have a great day.

Marie said...

Hello AnNicole - Love, love this room! Everything about it. You've got some great finds and good deals too. I really like the bureau and armoire! So fabulous. The touches of blue with the pillows looks so pretty. Thank you for sharing!

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Keri said...

love your living room! and i love finding good deals & steals. make me giddy! you have given me inspiration to re-decorate my whole house!

Unknown said...

Such a lovely, cozy and stylish room! And at such great prices. I love to be reminded by your advice about patience and shopping the house - both things I need to remember to do more.

Anonymous said...

Hi- Love your room. Was wondering about the wing chair slipcover. That looks like my wing chairs!
Melanie