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

Today's budget friendly tip is for all of us FABRIC lovers! I absolutely adore textiles! From rugs to upholstery to custom drapes and bedding, I just can't get enough. Located in Gastonia, NC is a little shop called MaryJo's. Talk about a fabric lover's dream! You could spend hours looking through breathtaking patterns, colors and designs. The problem with textiles is that some of them can be really pricey. Why is it that the fabrics I always fall in love with are at the top end of the scale? When I was a kid Mama used to say I had champagne taste and a Kool-aid pocketbook. Well years of experience has taught me some tricks to get the look I want without breaking the bank. Have you ever fallen for a pricey fabric? Well in case you have and walked away because of sticker shock here's a few ideas to help you out next time. 1. Buy only a yard of your "to die for fabric" and use it on pillows. To stretch your yardage, find a lower priced coordinating fabric for the back and finish off your pillow will pretty trims.

2. Make a table runner or napkins. It's amazing what punch you can get from a designer fabric displayed front and center on your dining room table.

3. Make a throw. Buy some inexpensive lining and sew the fabrics together and finish with tassels or cording. Drape your new custom throw over the back of your sofa, chair or headboard.

4. Cover plain white drum lamp shades. Use spray adhesive to attach the fabric. To finish the look tie a tassel around the top finial of the lamp and allow it to drape over the front of the shade.

5. Another quick and easy way to display designer fabric is by creating cornices. These can be made out of lightweight plywood. Spray adhesive does that trick for attaching the fabric to the wood. Finish off by adding decorative molding. Use inexpensive window panels or sheers below the cornice to finish the treatment.

Beautiful fabrics really personalize your home. Being clever and using pricey fabrics sparingly allows you to acheive big designer impact for little $$$$.
These inspiration pictures are from Calico Corners. One of my favorite home decor stores.

If you are a professional designer you can sign up for designer discounts and receive special-to the-trade offers on closeouts and sales.

With fabric the possibilities are ENDLESS! Stop by for tomorrow's tip - Decorating with Dishes!

Until I see you again,

Keep on Decorating!

Live Life Beautifully,

~Alisa

30 Days, 30 Tips to Budget Friendly Home Decor - Day 7

Okay, we've made it to Day 7 - a full week of budget friendly ideas to help us create a great space that looks like we hired a designer. The best part is that a lot of these tips didn't cost us a dime and the ones that did were budget friendly. Now, stay with me on this one because some folks might think I'm a little crazy. Today's tip can add color, pattern and big drama to any room even if used sparingly.

Day 7- Tip 7:

Wallpaper has made a comeback!

Yes, that's right wallpaper is hot, hot, hot and we are seeing beautiful and modern papers pop up in designer showhomes everywhere. Recently I toured some model homes in my area. Wallpaper was used is lots of rooms as accents or as decorative elements to add color and pattern. Try wallpaper:

1. As an accent wall behind your bed

2. Create a focal wall in a room void of architectural details

3. Add picture frame molding to your walls in the dining room and paper inside the frame for instant pattern and color

4. Paper above the mantel or try is on the ceiling

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Today's designers are using wallpaper in small doses instead of papering a whole room. This is a great alternative and makes easy work of stripping the paper when you decide to redecorate. I love to use papers with a subtle pattern and tone-on-tone variations. I recently purchased 1 double roll of a nature-inspired design in soft muted shades of yellow, cream, gold and tan. The colors are closely related and from a distance the paper looks like a solid color. I will use this paper inside picture frame molding in a Master Bedroom. I plan to hang art inside the molding and the wallpaper will create a pretty background for my art. I'm posting some pictures from my Idea File. I love the picture above of the patchwork wall. The color and the punch of pattern makes a bold statement in an otherwise understated room. Notice how the rest of the furnishings are solid. The picture below demonstrates how you can coordinate patches of different papers to create this custom look.

Here is a clever idea - use pretty wallpaper to cover a room screen. This is an oversized damask in lime and white. The paper is a perfect match to the green wall color and adds just the right amount of pattern to keep things interesting.
If you must paper an entire room, make it your bathroom or powder room. Here this coral paper with the oversized fruit and floral pattern doesn't overwhelm because it is toned down with the white tile, tub and surround.
If papering the walls isn't for you, try your hand at a little custom headboard. This pretty paper becomes the focal point of the room and pops against a solid wall.
Another fun idea is to seek and find old dressers and chests at Goodwill or your local Salvation Army store. Paint their frames a solid color and cover the drawers in a coordinating wall paper. Finish it off with some artsy little drawer pulls and you have a one-of-a-kind treasure.
You would be amazed at what one double roll of paper can do to brighten your home. Depending on the wallpaper you choose, prices can be upwards to $75 per double roll or more for designer papers. However, if you google wallpaper outlets you can find a plethora of options to fit your budget. I paid a whopping $15 for my nature-inspired double-roll I mentioned earlier. Shop around and be creative. A little goes a long way.

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Tomorrow I'll talk about repurposing common household items. Another great idea for adding big impact for little $$$$$. Until then,

Happy Decorating!

~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