30 Days, 30 Tips to Budget Friendly Home Decor- Day 10

Hello! Long time, no see! I've been on a 4-day holiday from blogging. Sorry about the interruption in the 30 Days, 30 Tips to Budget Friendly Home Decor. Every now and then life gets so hectic that you just can't fit anymore into your day. I was going to post about adding WHIMSY to your home without looking cheesy but I've decided to save that for Friday. Today, I want to share some tips about adding a designer look to your bedroom. These tips can work for any style; classic, contemporary, cottage, or country. I personally lean toward classic decor so the inspiration pictures that I will feature reflect that style. Day 10 - Tip 10:

RESTYLE YOUR BED

The biggest impact you can make in a bedroom is restyling your bedding. You don't have to spend a fortune to get the look of luxury. A few simple tricks can take your bed from blah to beautiful! I personally like to shop dicount retailers for designer or high quality bed linens and mix and match. Very seldom do I buy a full ensemble. If I can find what I want, I have a seamstress sew one up for me. When restyling your bed keep in mind that the bed is usually the focal point of the room. Therefore, think layers, texture, pattern and color. What feel are youi going for? Remember you want to create a bed that calls to you to jump in and relax. Nothing is better than snuggling down in to your comfortable bed at the end of a long day! Here's a few things to keep in mind:

1. Build from the bottom up. That means start with the bedskirt. I know alot of modern decor features no skirts and the comforter or duvet tucked in for a clean, streamlined look but for me I like the look of layered luxury. If your bedskirt contrasts with the flooring, it will frame your bed and allow it to take center stage as your focal point in the room. If your bedskirt blends in with the flooring, you then create a soft cloud of relaxation. I have used box pleat skirts, ruffled skirts and softly gathered skirts that puddle on the floor around the bed. I am currently using a box-pleat version in a gold and pewter jacquard.

2. The next step is to put on the sheets. I have fallen in love with luxury bed sheets of 500 thread count or higher. I find most of these at places like Ross, TJMaxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls. Once you've slept on high thread count sheets nothing else comes close to comfort. I make my bed by tucking the flat sheet all around the edges and folding back the flat sheet. I ofter use contrasting colors or patterns. You don't have to keep everything is sets. Mix and match for interest. Keep your pillowcases matching but change your fitted and flat sheet around to create a custom look.

3. Next, top the bed. I prefer to use a quilt, blanket or matelasse coverlet. To keep the look restful and inviting, I opt for a muted solid. In my master, I am partial to greens, golds, and earthy browns. Fold your flat sheet over the blanket by 10 to 12 inches, then tuck the sides and ends under the mattress.

4. Add a folded duvet or comforter at the foot of the bed. Here's where you can add color and pattern. Since it will be folded, the color and pattern will not overwhelm the restful feel of the room. I like to use a down-filled comforter and change out the duvet cover with the seasons. I look for colors that will mix with my Euro Shams in gold and bedskirt in gold and pewter. These items I use year round but by changing my duvet, I can keep my room in season.

5. Top with pillows. I have a tall headboard to my bed, so I prop two Euro shams against the headboard. You could also do this against the wall. Then I layer two standard shams in front. I like to add contrasting color and pattern with the standard shams.

6. Lastly, I add my accent pillows. Here is the fun part. You can introduce more color, more pattern, more texture in small doses. I recommend two to three accent pillows. Any more than three and your bed will look crowded.

Love this look! This is a guest room featuring two twin beds. The soft color, crisp white sheets and subtle pattern on the headboard creates a look of refined tranquility.

These bedrooms ooze luxury.

Tomorrow I'll talk about improvising when you don't have what you want. Until then,

Live Life Beautifully,

~Alisa

30 Days, 30 Tips to Budget Friendly Home Decor - Day 9

Okay, here's an easy and inexpensive tip for Day 9 - Decorate with Dishes.

They are not used just for eating our meals anymore. Pretty displays can grace your walls with elegance and color. I have used plates in bedrooms, living rooms, powder rooms, and porches - you name it and I've probably put a plate there! Why? Because plates are cheap art. Clearance tables can be a treasure trove of odds and ends and most of the time they are marked down so low that you can buy several to make a pretty display. In fact, today I was in one of my favorite home decor stores and found oodles of plates marked down to $1 each. For $11 I get a gorgeous grouping of color and pattern. Because of their three dimensional quality, plates add texture to your walls, shelves and cabinets. A collection of similar colors or patterns gives you big impact and lots of possibilities. The best part? You can always use them for serving food when you decide to change your wall decor. Here a collection of blue and white dishes repeat the blue color in this yellow breakfast room.
A casual, country family room uses more blue and white plates to play off the blue checked chair.

Lining a plate rack or hutch with a collection of similar colored plates add big drama.

I love the way this French sitting room displays a collection of fruit and floral plates in the bookshelves. Against the red interior of the shelves the plates really pop!

Here's a great idea my Mother often uses - a display shelf and window treatment! No need for a topper or cornice just add panels and let the plate shelf do the rest.

Plates over the mantle add another layer of interest to this grouping.

Don't have a hutch or expensive plate rack? Build your own! A simple rack like this one costs less than $20 to build and the simple, clean lines allow the plates to speak for themselves.

Here is another "Great Wall of China". I love this! Talk about impact and drama!

Repeating the round shape of these pretty plates, a circular grouping carries the design element further.

Notice the trio of white plates hanging between the windows? The tone on tone quality of this display adds elegance to this refined dining room.

A dozen identical plates find a new use as a decorative element against the casing of this window.

Talk about drama! A collage of mix-n-match plates steal the show!

Here, a classic collection of blue and white pottery is traditionally displayed inside a wooden hutch. The dishes add high contrast to the reddish wood tones and red wall paint.

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Framed wall art can be pricey and if you are on a tight budget or just starting out, try your hand at decorating with dishes and pottery. Yard sales, consignment shops, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores offer a variety of inexpensive dishes to choose from. You can also find beautiful patterns at department store closeouts and discount retailers like HomeGoods, Marshalls, TJMaxx and Ross. Kirkland's offers a big variety of themed decorative plates and let's not forget about treasured hand-me-downs from our Grandmother and Mother! Recently when my own mother downsized and moved to NC, I lucked up and was given her entire collection of Ironstone! Yeah me! I just finished displaying it in my dining room. I'll share pictures soon.

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Tomorrow I'll post Tip 10. I believe every home should have a little whimsy so we'll talk about how to pull that off without looking cheesy. Until then,

Live Life Beautifully!

~Alisa

30 Days, 30 Tips to Budget Friendly Home Decor - Day 6

We've made it to day 6 of my 30 day segment. From the comments and e-mails I've received this week, I am happy to hear that these tips are useful. I do appreciate your comments and I am honored that you read and enjoy my posts. Most everybody I know wants their home to be comfortable and stylish. Each person may have a different definition of style but most people know what they like and tend to fill their homes with objects that add to their style. I make decorating my home a process. It evolves over time. I'm always on the lookout for something that I will truly cherish. Over the years I've learned a few tricks that has helped me fill my home with beauty while maintaining a budget. So today I will share these tips. Day 6 - Tip 6:

Timing is Everything

Incredible values can be found at places like TJMaxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby and Steinmart and Kirklands. All of these stores sell a wonderful collections of home furnishings and accessories. I have found gorgeous items at these places for just pennies on the dollar of what you would pay in home decor stores or department stores. Here's some tips to live by:

1. Find out when TJMaxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods recieve new shipments. These stores usually have a rule of thumb to clear their backrooms and stock within 24 hours of a truck. Shop on the days when they stock. Your odds of finding the best selection are in your favor.

2. Always start with the clearance shelves. Why? Because stores like these take new markdows EVERY week. In order to stock new merchandise, they have to clear out older items to make room.

3. Stores like Steinmart and Kirklands have regular inventory turn. Find out when they have seasonal markdowns and shop clearance.

4. Hobby Lobby has regular sales of 50% off! If what you are looking for isn't on sale this week, I bet it will be next week. Yesterday I wanted to purchase some fall ribbon for bows. I am making new wreaths for the doors and wanted some new ribbon. The Autumn ribbon was full price but the Christmas ribbon (yes, they already have out all of their Christmas merchandise) was 1/2 off! I found a copper and brown ribbon that would work perfectly for fall. It was only $4.99 for 30 feet vs. the $10 for 30 feet of Autumn ribbon.

5. Make a friend. At each of the home decor stores where you like to shop, become friendly with one of the sales associates. Let her know what you are looking for or the types of things you like. Give her your phone number and ask her to call you if she sees something you might like go on clearance. This past week I found a beautiful dressing table for my bedroom that was 80% off! I also learned of a 90% off sale at Hobby Lobby on a collection of bronze finials that caught my eye! There's absolutely no need to pay full price for anything. If you plan your space and keep an eye out for bargains, you can have a designer-look and BIG impact for a little money!

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As I mentioned above I've started working on some of my Autumn decor. I am designing a new wreath for my front door and a new centerpiece for the dining room table. Here in Charlotte we have a store called Black Lion. They sell the most beautiful home decor accessories, furniture and florals. They have geared up for fall and I took a few pictures for inspiration. Enjoy!

Tomorrow I will share Tip 7. Be sure to check it out and follow along each day as we post ideas for Budget Friendly Home Decorating! Until then,

Happy Decorating!

~Alisa

TABLESCAPE THURSDAY - True Blue

I have to tell you that this week's table has been fun! The inspiration started when I was at my local grocery store - Harris Teeter - and saw that Le Bleu water was on sale! I just loved the bright, rich blue of the bottles and the scroll-like script used for the brand. After drinking the water I saved three of the bottles planning to use them outside on the deck to hold fresh cut flowers the next time we dined out. The bottles are shatterproof so they make a great alternative to glass vases. After looking through the cabinets for dishes and crystal, I spied the Le Bleu bottles sitting on my counter! BINGO! This week's table would take its queue from the bottles - a classic pairing of yellow, white and blue was the natural thing to do! I set the breakfast room table using a yellow, hem-stitched linen placemat and layered a round, straw placemat in Aegean blue on top. I just love to layer placemats. I didn't use any chargers but laid down my Blue Churchill plates and topped them off with my favorite IVORY salad plates. I sat a small white hobnail vase holding bright yellow daisies in the center of the salad plate for added punch. I only have one of these little vases but would LOVE to have 8 or 10! They are the perfect size for holding individual sized bouquets.
To form the centerpiece I used an oriental wooden tray and filled it with three Le Bleu bottles filled with white hydrangea and three white milk glass vases filled with "sunshine-y" yellow daisies. I filled in around the vases with the infamous birdie salt and pepper shakers and the votive candle holders.
Remember these? I think it's time for Susan to host another "Target Birdies go on holiday!" party. We'll have to let her know!
These fluffy white hydrandeas came from my local market. They were the manager's special this week - only $1.99!

To get a better shot of the Blue Churchill plates, I propped it up on a plateholder. I've had these plates for 20 years or better. I have cups and saucers to match but can not find where I've stored them. I still have boxes of dishes I haven't unpacked from 3 years ago! Yikes!

By now you are well acquainted with my IVORY dishes from Better Homes & Gardens. I use these dishes more than any others. They are so pretty. I love the embossing. They can be dressed up on an elegant, formal table or dressed down with a gingham checked tablecloth on the back deck!

The sparkle of crystal goblets will add panache to any table.

This is the third week I've used the Bamboo flatware. I am finding myself reaching for it over and over. I love the texture it adds to the table.

I found these napkins at HomeGoods a few months ago. I purchased a package of 4 for $2. You can't beat that! I looked for more packages but to no avail. They are hand blocked and painted. I can see myself using these in a new beach table - stay tuned for that! These little white wrought-iron birdie napkin rings are my favorites. I use them on my table almost continuously during the Spring and Summer months.

Yellow, White and Blue - next to Red, White and Blue it's the perfect summer time trio of colors - a true American tradition. I hope you've enjoyed looking around today. For tons more inspiration and FABULOUS tables of all types, sizes and styles, visit Susan at:

Between Naps on the Porch!

Until I see you again,

Happy Decorating!

~Alisa