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Frugal Home Decorating

Everyone loves to make their home a special and memorable place. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford all of the nuances that style magazines say one should have. Learn how you can do frugal home decorating to your satisfaction while keeping to a budget.

Make a list of the items that you would like to have for the decorating project. If you know what you want it will be easier to find it. Now the fun begins.

Visit your local Goodwill and thrift stores. People give away items that still have the price tags attached. Expensive pieces can be purchased for next to nothing here.

Shop at Home! Take a second look at the things you have stored away. Those curtains that you no longer want might make excellent coverings for throw pillows. That vest could make a really cool lampshade. Use your imagination.

Yard sales are another treasure trove of decorating finds. Visit community yard sales in the more affluent areas for greater variety. Because the prices are reasonable, if something catches your eye that is not on your list, you can purchase it anyway.

Dollar stores have come a long way since their inception. They sell crystal vases, plate racks, paints and brushes, and other decorative items for a fraction of their cost. Instead of live plants, invest in artificial flowers to liven up a room.

Paint is cheap. To make a huge impact with little money, simply paint your room. If you stick with the same color palette as your existing furniture, you can give your room a face-lift for cheap.

Don’t love your sofa? Slipcover it. Seriously, any piece of furniture can get a whole new look affordably (and you can hide stains) with a slipcover.

An alternative to interior painting is wall decorating. Add a shelf or two to the corners in the room and display framed family photos or votive candles. Instead of purchasing a coat tree, add shiny hooks to the entryway wall.

Baskets are a great decorating tool. They are relatively inexpensive and come in many shapes and sizes. Instead of a fancy newspaper rack, choose a colorful basket. Is space a premium in your bathroom? Roll bath towels tightly and stand them up in a round basket. Plain baskets can be painted to match the theme of any room in the house, and they can be lined with fabric for a classic, trendy, or even funky look.

Sprucing up your home doesn’t have to break the bank. A few helpful frugal home decorating ideas can fuel the imagination and have you looking at everything around you for its decorative potential.