Dress a Table for Less

When you have guests for dinner, it’s always nice to make a good impression. One important aspect to entertaining is dressing a table. Unfortunately, sometimes we feel like the only way to make a table look classy and appealing is to spend a lot of money. Really, this is not necessary. Here are some tips to getting tablecloths, dinnerware, and table decorations that look great but don’t cost much. Dishes It can seem difficult to get a nice set of dishes for a good price. The trick is really the same as it may be for saving money on a … Continue reading →

Add Elegance with Amateur Art

There are few things that add more elegance to a room’s decor than original art. Unfortunately, many of us cannot afford to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for professional artwork. The solution then is to collect sophisticated art from amateur artists to spruce up your walls. Where to Look You can find amateur art in a variety of places: antique stores, pawn shops, flea markets, thrift shops, yard sales or your grandparents’ attic. Of course certain places (such as antique stores) will charge more than others. For the best deals keep your eye out for art pieces that you … Continue reading →

Low Cost Decor: Using what You Have

Here’s another way to recycle things you already have. Instead of making clothes into other items of clothing like discussed previously, you can also make certain pieces into home decor elements. One of the easiest ways to do so is by making pillows from unused clothes. Pants are probably the simplest item to make into pillows. The best pants are dressy slacks or pajama pants that you no longer wear. You can make small accent pillows or cute bolster pillows from the leg sections. All you have to do is cut off the straightest area of the leg section, stuff … Continue reading →

Redesigning Cheaper than a TV Pro: Tip #2

Here’s the second tip in making over a room on a super-strict budget…. Tip #2: Use cheap wall hangings. There are a number of ways that you can decorate your walls without spending very much at all. Everyone’s tastes are different. These are for you to come up with project ideas on your own that are more catered to what you are looking for in your room. 1. Know what you want. One way to start is by finding pictures in magazines or on the Internet of things that you like. Let the pictures inspire you to create something similar … Continue reading →

Redesigning Cheaper than a TV Pro: Tip #1

Is anyone as into those television design shows as much as I am? I love watching designers transform a place in a day or two. And who doesn’t love to imagine along with the participants what interesting things could be done in their own home? The one problem is, well, unlike Trading Spaces, I personally don’t have $1,000 to spend redecorating my living room. And, maybe some of you are more adept at carpentry than I am, but I can’t exactly cut my own wood at home. So, what to do if you want to get the looks they have … Continue reading →

Grouping Pictures

One of the easiest ways to make a wall look classier is to simply put pictures you already have into a grouping. Groupings are an attractive way to hang pictures, and they can very quickly enhance the look of your walls without spending a dime. There are a few different methods for grouping pictures. When I have done groupings, I just lay down my pictures on a table or the floor until I get the pictures how I want them. Then I eyeball it on the wall and use a level to make sure the pictures are straight. This works … Continue reading →

Frugal and Versatile Window Treatments

Here is a question I received from a reader: “Windows are a big deal for us military families. We’re always moving and no house has the same-sized windows, so we’re constantly dishing out hard earned money for nice window dressings or making due with shabby stuff that just doesn’t fit. Give me some ideas on how I can dress up shabby on a thrift store budget?” I have included some ideas for dressing up windows that would work great for anyone. There are many things you can do in order to save less money on nice window dressings. You will … Continue reading →

Simple-Chic Kid’s Rooms: Inexpensive craft ideas for kids’ bedrooms–or any room in the house

Here are a couple of simple tips to add cute decorative touches to a child’s bedroom. Really, these ideas can be adapted for any room in the house. When decorating a bedroom on a budget, here are two things to keep in mind: 1. Think big. Small accents are cute, but larger objects or designs can do a lot more for the overall look of the room. It costs more to fill a room with a lot of small items rather than a few large ones. Try to think of some larger-scale projects that will easily catch the eye. For … Continue reading →

Decorating a Nursery on a Budget: Ideas for nurseries, children’s rooms

This email is an answer to a question from “Shoshanna,” posted in families.com forums. She says: “I’d like to know how to decorate a nursery on a budget and still make it really cute!” I have a one-year-old boy myself, so I undertook the task of decorating a nursery on a budget fairly recently. To answer her question and give you all some tips as well, here are my ideas for spending less while still making a cute, welcoming place for your little one: 1. Since furniture will be the most expensive part of the new nursery, try to think … Continue reading →

Tips for Cheap and Easy Centerpieces:Use items you already own to decorate your table

One of my favorite centerpieces is to use a large hurricane or clear glass bowl. Set a wide candle inside and fill the bowl partially with whatever you’d like. For Christmas-time, fill the bowl or hurricane with small glass balls, pinecones, fake snow, etc. For a Mexican fiesta-themed party or meal, use Serrano peppers or grape tomatoes. You get the idea. I got this idea from my mother-in-law who during the fall used hurricanes with orange candles surrounded by filbert nuts. Before you go out and buy anything, take an observant walk through every inch of your home. See if … Continue reading →