Here are two apple crates that we’re using as bookcases.  My hubby and I found these in a yard sale many years ago as we were traveling up the mountain to Virginia.  I think we paid $10 for both of them.  We have been using these for about six years and have really enjoyed them.

If you have any old dresser drawers, you could use them as potting boxes.  I saw this recently at a pumpkin patch and thought it was so cute.  If you use these on a railing (as shown here), don’t forget to attach them so that they don’t fall.

This old chair is a favorite in our home.  My husband found it a few years ago at a yard sale for about $5.  He cleaned it up and now Emma sits proudly on it in our dining room.  We really like the rustic look of the chair. 

These are a few ideas of how you can take some old junk and make it into a special treasure.  What ways have you repurposed your old things?

images (c) Karen Weideman

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Directions:

• Unwrap your peppermint lifesavers and set aside.
• Precut your ribbon and set aside. (You can use your craft store coupons to save money on ribbon.)  The ribbon should be about four inches long. 
• Melt the chocolate.  Put a little dab of melted chocolate in the center of some of the peppermints.  You should do this on the back side of the peppermint so that the words Life Savers does not show up on top of the pacifier. 
• Place a mini jelly bean on top of melted chocolate in center.  Set down on flat service to dry and harden. 
• While the pacifier tops are drying, attach the ribbon to the other peppermints (pacifier handles).
• Using melted chocolate, attach pacifier bottoms to pacifier tops.  Let them dry/harden.

These can be arranged on a table as a decoration, set out as refreshments, or placed into favor boxes for your guests.

image (c) Karen Weideman

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7)  Grow your own.  It’s a little late in the year for this option, but next year you might want to consider planting some things that you could use for decorating.  Perhaps you could have a garden with pumpkins and gourds.

8)  Take something you have and give it a new purpose.  That plain glass bowl you have would look great if it were filled with water and had autumn colored floating candles inside.  Or fill it will bright red cranberries, water, and floating candles.  Think outside the box and use what you have.

9)  Shop thrift stores, antique malls, consignment stores, and flea markets.  Someone else’s junk is always someone else’s treasure . . . and it’s cheaper too!

10)  Keep it simple.  Rather than decorating the whole room for fall, try a few simple things.  A table centerpiece, wreath, or colored napkins can really liven up a room.  Also, when purchasing items try to buy things that you can use during the whole season.  For instance, it would be better to buy decorations with pumpkins rather than some with jack-o-lanterns and ghosts.  Try accenting with fall colors and other items that can be used throughout the entire season.

What tips do you have for saving money on fall decorating?

You might also want to read Decorating on the Cheap, Part 1 and Part 2.

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4)  Look for sales.  A few years ago, I needed to plan an inexpensive fall craft for our women’s church group.  I found that some craft stores have their fall flowers and accessories 50% off at the start of the season.  I bought bunches of fall flowers and we made fall wreaths.

5)  Check Craigslist or Freecycle. People are constantly getting rid of things and you never know what kind of good deals or free stuff you can find.

6)  Look to nature.  Look around for twigs and beautiful leaves. Purchase some apples.  Check with a local farmer and see if you can cut down some of their corn stalks. 

What ways do you save money on your fall decorating?

You might also want to check out Fall Decorating on the Cheap, Part 1.  Stay tuned this week for part 3 of this series.

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1)  Do it yourself. I’m certainly not the most crafty or creative person, but many times if I can see an idea I can copy it or make it my own.  There’s no need in paying $50-60 for a fall wreath when you can make your own for $15.  Look online for do-it-yourself fall decorating ideas.

2)  Check your closets.  Perhaps those bright yellow sheets or tablecloth can be used for something.  You could make pillows or a tablerunner with your old sheets.

3)  Use the weekly craft store coupon.  Check your local newspaper for craft store coupons. These are usually in the Sunday paper.  You can also sign up online for their newsletter.  Most craft stores will send coupons and sale information via email.

Stay tuned for more inexpensive fall decorating tips.  What ways do you save money on your fall decorating?

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4.  Repurpose what you have.  Paint that old lamp or picture frame. Change your night stand into a bookshelf.  Recover your old pillows with fabric. Use a sheet for window treatments. 

5.  Get an outside opinion.  It helps to ask someone else’s opinion for ways to help your decorating space.  Many times others will see things you didn’t see and have ideas you had never thought about.  They may suggest moving a piece of furniture or changing a wall hanging.  Those small inexpensive tips can make a big impact.

6.  Borrow furniture.  When I first got married, I didn’t have any living room furniture.  I ended up borrowing some things from my parent’s house.  All you have to do is get the word out to friends and family that you need some items for your home.  Some people have things in their basement that are just sitting around collecting dust.  Some will let you borrow things and others will just let you have the stuff. 

7.  Be patient.  You can’t expect your home to look perfect right away.  It takes moving things around, searching for deals, and tweaking things a bit.  It will all come together eventually.

What tips do you have for decorating on the cheap?

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1.  Shop yard sales and thrift stores.  I’ve been doing this for years.  Just a few months ago I was at a yard sale and found a really nice living room couch and oversized chair.  The person I bought it from had only used it for a year.  She paid $1200 for it and I got it for only $120.  Sometimes you can find some really unique items by shopping this way.

2.  Check Craigslist.  You just never know what you’ll find on Craiglist.  We’re getting ready to move into our house and the home inspector found some issues with the bathtub.  My husband found a brand new tub with jets on Craiglist for 1/5 the price.  It was one a contractor didn’t use.

3.  Think paint.  Paint is one of the least expensive ways to add warmth and color to your home.  It really is amazing how $30 in paint can transform a room.  I am not very fond of white walls and in our last house, all the walls were white.  Once we painted the living room a taupe color, the whole look of the room changed and I could hardly wait to paint the rest of the house. 

Stay tuned for more ideas and tips on inexpensive decorating.  In the meantime, we’d love to hear the ways that you save.

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Paint – SO EASY and can make a huge difference. Choose a low or zero VOC paint because if you’re repainting, why not paint clean? Choose bright colors for a smaller kitchen or even go two toned – i.e paint the ceiling one color and the walls another or choose some nice trim colors as accents (say around windows and doors).

Hardware – clean your cupboards and drawers and polish them with a nice wood oil, then switch out the hardware. New shiny hardware makes a BIG impact for very little money.

Change the lights – new lighting can be inexpensive if you shop around but can make a nice difference. You can even install a dimmer fairly easily and have less glare in your kitchen.

Bring in some green – plants can really make a kitchen look nice. If you have room above your cupboards that’s a good place for plants that don’t need full sun. If you have a sunny window place a window box of pretty herbs or flowers.

Update your backsplash – putting in new tile is easy once you get the hang of it and you can be really creative with colors and designs. If tile feels like too much work, try some wall paper or decals on the backsplash.

Clear out the curtains – curtains and blinds are ok, but you’d be surprised at how nice a kitchen looks with a clear open window and nothing to block it.You can even decorate the window sill as an update with fresh flowers, pretty vases, or other cool objects.

What easy and inexpensive kitchen updates do you suggest?

[image via stock.xchng]

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50 Things You Can Make Yourself

Thrifty Gift Canister

Hot Chocolate Mix

How to Make Soap

Muffins in a Jar

Zucchini Bread

Is there something that you’re making this year to give away?  Tell us about it.

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A few years we went to my brother’s house for Thanksgiving and I remember my sister-in-law had the prettiest cranberry decorations.  She took a clear glass bowl, filled it partially with water, and had cranberries and floating candles in the bowl.  It was pretty, colorful, and simple.  Check out these other decorating ideas from Better Homes & Gardens.

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