This Week
Welcome
The phrase “less is more” is one of those key philosophies that we are all ingrained with by our parents, advertisers (only when it suites them of course), self-help gurus, and so on. It is a great rule to live life by, but it is even better when it comes to spending! We all want to live in a home we love, and with some thrifty shopping and unique thinking you can have more for less.
Here are some easy ways to make it happen:
1. Use gifts and mementos to surround your family with original, thoughtful decor.
A framed postcard from a friend visiting Paris, a mini Eiffel Tower from a trip to Las Vegas, and a family photo in a birthday gift frame remind us of memories we cherish and cost only a couple of dollars.
2. Check out the biggest (and cheapest) store around: the great outdoors!
No matter what your style, looking to nature for inspiration will never disappoint. Love rich, deep colors? Frame some golden, red and orange leaves in shadow boxes. Neutral colors are more our pace, and when these logs washed ashore at our cottage last summer we just knew they had to come home! $3 in brackets and wall anchors allowed us to create an original work of art. You can be as elaborate as a filling an entire wall with logs or as simple as a basket full of pinecones or a couple of starfish on a ledge in the bathroom.
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3. Flea Markets. Need I say more?
Interesting people, negotiable low prices, one-of-a-kind items. Some people are intimidated by haggling, but give it a try! This adorable milk glass lamp was one of my first scores, and 6 years later I still look at it as the best $10 I have ever spent.
The one area “less is more” does not hold true for our home is with chippy old paint. It’s not for everyone, but if you are a fan, then flea markets are a must. A lovely old captain’s chair tucked in a corner booth hidden from sight is probably my all-time favorite flea market discovery.
4. Customized Craigslist finds.
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This is finally a trend that is catching on, but you need to look beyond the pictures, seller’s décor and color of the items to see their true potential! If it has great lines and is a great price you can make it work. Re-upholstering may not top your list of talents, but call around and get a few quotes. You may be surprised at how affordable custom upholstery can be. But if the estimates have you feeling a little blue, have a seamstress make a slipcover.
We scored these two blue wingback chairs for $20 and jazzed them up with custom slipcovers ($150 for labor and materials). When you can customize the sky is the limit!
5. Candlelight.
Save on utilities, set a relaxing mood, and fill the house with soothing scents all at the same time. It’s a win-win!
photos by Holly Baker
I love how these tips make your home so personal and unique to the people living there. Plus it gives the house a layered look with the feeling that you gradually acquired things over time, rather than buying an entire “matchy-matchy” set.
As always Holly, I love this post! Beautiful ideas … beautiful home!
I am so in love with these ideas! Flea markets here i come!
We don’t have many flea markets around us, but have found some fun, quirky pieces at local garage sales!
I could not agree with you more on the less is more philosophy and think it should be applied more often. I absolutely adore that $10 milk glass lamp! Wherever did that darling lampshade come from?
Anneliese the shade is actually a fun project I attempted back in college. It may even be one of my first DIY jobs! I just cut wedges of fabric in a complementary color/pattern to the shade, hot glued the top to the inside of the shade, and then the bottom. Tie a little bit of ribbon at the center of each wedge for a little added detail and then glue beaded trim along the bottom.
Really fast and easy and it gives you a whole new shade!
Your projects are always so beautiful. I am totally jealous of your crazy craft skills. I wish I had your eye for decorating.
Such fun advice. I have some “real” art (read $$), but one of my favorite groupings right now is a photo of my daughters cat as a riled up kitten, a post card of a fairy someone sent me for Valentine’s Day and a birthday card my son’s mother in law sent me, each framed in shadow boxes I bought in a big discount store bin for a lot less than $1 each! I think one of the reasons I love it so much is because I’m the only one who knows that the whole deal cost me less than $2!
I love this philosophy, and love to add personal treasures with thrifted finds to make a home that’s big on charm without a huge price tag. Lovely post, and I’ve just found you guys – can’t belive I’ve been missing out for so long! Kerri x
Ever since I first saw a pic of your branches on your wall, I’ve been scouring this town to try and find something similar! I’ll probably have to wait till fall when the crepe myrtles need to be trimmed again! AHH!!
So pretty!
I really like the black & white framed postcard, it’s a very cool looking photo. I was almost disappointed you wouldn’t be able to tell me where I could buy a copy.
And fall leaves are one of my favorite things, I’ve even made some fun things with laminated ones, but I wondered if you had any tips on how to keep their color when framed. Thanks!