Now that I am a grown-up (kind of…), I still love all the perks of city life. But, I also see the drawbacks now too: higher home prices. In most areas, the closer you get to downtown, the higher cost per square foot. This translates to learning how to make the most of every square inch as well as bringing a little slice of nature into the concrete jungle.

Whether you live in the city or the country, here are some great ideas for living in cramped quarters.

Light gives the illusion of large spaces. This room has a lot of furniture in it, but you really aren’t overwhelmed by it because it is not blocking the natural light. Lucite pieces have seen a huge resurgence recently and popping up in big box stores (or online like at overstock.com) at reasonable prices. Lucite pieces are also wonderful if you have a lot of architectural detail because they don’t compete with the house.

My favorite way to do that is to spend an afternoon just outside the city, hunting down cottage treasures!

Just heading out of town by a half hour or more could save you big bucks! Flea markets, antique sales and barn sales in the country are often filled with treasures us city dwellers see in town, but at a fraction of the price!

These are just a few of the things I regularly spot while treasure hunting in the country:

Vintage marquee letters

Skeleton keys

Galvanized metal buckets and crates

Mismatched antique flatware

Salvaged windows and doors

Old grain and flour sacks

photos countryliving.com, ohdeedoh.com, houseandgarden.com, apartmenttherapy.com, ashleyannphotography.com, washingtonspaces.com

Depending on what shade you prefer, from butter to lemon, and how much you want to use in your home, you might have to try a few approaches. You can go all out and paint all the walls!

Or you could add a little interest by trying out wallpaper on one wall or featuring it in a molding frame. This is a fun way to use different shades of yellow in the same space.

Want to add a just little ray of sun? Try painting an old dresser or adding a few cheerful touches with accessories and fabric.

Don’t you already feel a little happier?

photos robertpassal.com, apartmenttherapy.com, portdhiver.com, housetohome.co.uk, designgalleria.net, simonontheside.blogspot.com, skonahem.com, housetohome.co.uk, apartmenttherapy.com, decorpad.com, housetohome.co.uk, decorpad.com, marthastewart.com, sarahrichardsondesign.com, marthastewart.com, melissagarcia.net,  countryliving.com, recovergirl.wordpress.com, ikea.com, sarahrichardsondesign.com

Of course, depending on your style and what you collect, there are many ways to integrate your collection into your home. Just remember: key is to make a statement and really enjoy all of your hard work!

The kid in all of us can appreciate the sweetness of this display. As they say, there is strength in numbers, and small item collections like this can make a huge statement when well organized on the wall.

It is always fun to see a large cluster of items in various sizes, like these globes. Old and new alike, this collection doesn’t feel stuffy or serious.

Hanging these dust swatters in such a hodge-podge fashion from floor to ceiling makes a high impact statement!

Some of the most common items to collect are teacups, many of which are stored in china cabinets. But for those of us who use our teacups regularly, a hanging rack feels much more accessible.

If you collect more expensive items, like vintage cameras, then your collection is most likely comprised of only a few hard-earned gems. To create a big statement and achieve symmetry, make each piece a work of art by hanging an empty frame around the item.

Sometimes our collections are of inanimate objects that have no purpose. Often the items are of little value, so finding unique ways to display them can include re-purposing them.

This vintage trim looks much more interesting on iron dowels of varying heights.

Antique yardsticks make for a unique tabletop display. This idea could easily be translated to dozens of other collections!

One of my weaknesses and most beloved thing to collect is driftwood. I think I will try to make a driftwood heart this summer, or perhaps gluing driftwood to a mirror frame for a rustic touch to our powder room!

photos apartmenttherapy.com, countryliving.com, theenglishmuse.blogspot.com, boxbrownietrading.co.uk

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.

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. 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 Holly Baker

Editor’s Note: Join us this month as we take a look back at some of our top posts from the past! 

1. Hot water tanks blanket.
We just got ourselves one of these guys and have nothing but rave reviews! If you have a newer hot water tank (5 years or younger) you probably won’t benefit as much since the new models have better insulation, not to mention being much more efficient. But for those of us riding our old ones out until they die (ours is admittedly 20 years old and will be on it’s way out in the next few years) this can save you as much as 25% on heating your tank. It keeps hot water hot longer without having to continually keep heating the water. And while it runs $50-$70, it will easily pay for itself in only a few months!

2. Furnace Filters.
Everyone knows that regularly replacing your furnace filters increase efficiency… but that doesn’t mean we remember to do it! Most modern thermostats have a replacement notice every 90-120 days so be sure to check your manual and learn how to set the reminder! It also helps to have a few extra filters on hand so you don’t always have to run out to grab them when their due.

3. Weather Stripping.
After about 5 years of both hot and cold extreme temperatures most weather stripping is not nearly as efficient as it once was, or could be in comparison to today’s high tech foam designs. Don’t just stop with the door either! Using foam weather stripping around opening windows also blocks potential drafts.

4. Ventilation.
If your home isn’t all that new, you may want to consider updating your dryer’s exhaust on the exterior of your home. Older models such as these:

Can let cold air into your dryer, hence into the house. However, new models like these will close off when air isn’t blowing out preventing draughts. The best part? They often run $3 or less!

5. Window Insulation.
Another tried and true penny saver is insulating your windows with shrink wrap. You can purchase the kits at any home improvement store for a few dollars and will not only feel an immediate improvement in a draughty room, but will see the savings pile up on your heating bills!

One of the easiest ways to show you how much of your hard earned money is literally blowing away is to take a candle, light it, then carry it around windows and doors. If the flame flickers you probably have some unwanted air coming in.

So think green and save this Winter! It may not be as fun as decorating, but your bank account will thank you.

Here are some of our favorite round-the-house items that can make a big statement.

1. Bottles, jars and cans (oh my!). Save those empty baby food bottles and pasta jars for flowers or organizing your craft supplies.

Hey, with a little paint, even a dish detergent bottle can be chic!

2. Dinner plates. Why save your fine china for only one or two events a year? Enjoy it year round with a wall display. Don’t have a set of nice china? Stop by your local flea market and stock up on mismatched plates for just a couple bucks.

3. Plants. It’s the time of year when we have to bring many of our outdoor greenery before frost sets in, so consider placing them together or near each other for added impact.

And if you are a bit more adventurous, did you know that you can grow succulents vertically? A grouping of various breeds makes for some very interesting art!

photos ruffledblog.com, chiccoles.com, vinta9e.blogspot.com, mydreamwedding.ca, citified.blospot.com, designsprout.com, squaredawayhome.blogspot.com, blog.craftazine.com, bellemaison23.com, kohlercreated.com, ninavintage.wordpress.com, veranda.com, besthomenews.com, greensomethings.typepad.com, roomenvy.wordpress.com, whiteelephant.wordpress.com, realsimple.com, floragrubb.com, dcdesigncoop.com, marligrace.blogspot.com

A cleaning routine might not keep your home spotless every day of the week, but it makes tackling the never ending list of chores a feasible task. Each family has different schedules and needs, but it is easy to tailor a routine to your specifications. Some families prefer to have a different chore each day, maybe Wednesday is bathroom day, Saturday is laundry. Others might find only one or two days dedicated to cleaning is more feasible, like setting aside Saturday mornings for a full family scrub down! 

One of the most important components of establishing a cleaning routine is to make sure that it is discussed with the whole family and set out in writing for everyone to see. The fridge or a family bulletin board are good examples of places to remind everyone. And of course, include the kids! Learning to manage household responsibilities are lifelong lessons that are best taught early. Choosing one or two age appropriate jobs gets them involved and can make your day a little more fun. 

Thinking of setting up a family message center to stay organized? Here are some great ideas to get your started! 

photos casasugar.com, creativeorganizing.typepad.com, womansday.com, workitmom.com, hgtv.com, marthastewart.com, roomremixblog.blogspot.com

Love to exercise your green thumb? A potting counter, shed or shelf would be a wonderful addition!

If the kitchen is where your heart is, invest in a few personal details whether they are high quality utensils or decorative items. You don’t have to spend a fortune, even if it isn’t your dream kitchen, to make your time there a little more enjoyable.

Some of us find release in expressing ourselves with writing or surfing the web. Even though wi-fi and laptops make it possible to sit back in bed while browsing, it is nice to know that there is a little corner dedicated to keeping printed documents, bills and perhaps written diaries organized.

So many of us really find our creative side to be a HUGE stress release. While most of us don’t have the luxury of a whole room dedicated to scrapbooking or sewing, we can dream; and if you happen to be one of those lucky ducks, please share so we can drool over yours!

For most of us, a good book is the easiest, fastest (and probably cheapest!) way to go a mini-vacation. A cup of tea and a cushy chair complete the equation for a perfect Sunday afternoon.

But the kid in all of us still dream of a little hideaway where we can completely shut ourselves off from the world.

Make a layout plan for furniture placement before the move. There is no point in moving furniture more than once just to see how much you possibly can fit. If you have a plan going into the transition, it will feel much smoother. Plus, a little extra cash from the items you don’t take will always look good in your pocket!

Non-essential items (aka, notebooks from college courses 10 years ago you haven’t looked at in years) go in the recycle or are donated to charity. This one is a bit of a no-brainer, but we always seem to justify holding on to this stuff, right? Let it go and never look back!

Home is where the heart is! Just remember that home is where you make it and not the square footage of your house. Whether you are working with 800 square feet or 3,000, the only thing that matters is that you are surrounded by people and things you love. And great design is not determined by square feet.

If letting go of everything you have ever physically owned just isn’t an option ask around! Perhaps a friend has a basement that isn’t in use and would be happy to let you stash some stuff (TIP: always offer to pay rent, no matter how small the amount just so that it never becomes an issue or sore spot). Another option is the storage facilities that drop off a crate/pod at your doorstep. They typically charge a fraction of the rent of typical storage units since you don’t have around-the-clock access to the items once they have been taken to the facility.

If you had to downsize, what would be one piece of furniture that would definitely be included in your move?

photos gentlegiant.ca, ihanna.nu, katiedaisy.com

This week, we’re giving away 10 vintage National Geographic maps to help kick-start your Mod Podge project!  Check out details on Kristin’s map dresser project (Domestic Tip #1). Simply leave a comment on any post from Sunday, September 19th through midnight CST Friday, September 24th.  Winner will be announced on Saturday’s Top Twelve post.