Let me say this is my favorite reason to decorate! Here you will find the reason this issue is so special, great ideas for the holidays, all of them easy on the pocketbook, and some of them are free! Have a wonderful holiday, and remember to stop every day to “smell the roses”!

For a beautiful outdoor wreath(or indoor) without spending a fortune on craft supplies, try to remember you need not cover the wreath with decoration to make it special. Try just a few craft store “picks” in one corner, with a big bow. Or get some wire star garland (.69 cents at my store)and just wrap it loosely around the wreath. Hot glue some found pinecones to a corner, or try some old wooden ornaments. You also don’t necessarily need to buy an expensive evergreen wreath to decorate, and inexpensive grapevine or straw wreath can be dressed up as well. Spray paint clay pots and saucers a metallic gold for sparkling coasters and utensil or candle holders for the season.

If you have extra lights after stringing the tree, wind some through your potted plants for a special way to bring the sparkle throughout the room.

For a simple but beautiful centerpiece, set three or five candles of different heights in the middle of the table on a tray, then surround the bases of the candles with seasonal items. Low cost ideas? Cuttings from your Christmas tree, or from evergreen trimmings in your yard are a great first layer. Then how about shiny apples, glass ornaments turned hanger side down, found pinecones, nuts, wire star garland, leftover ribbon… By the way, the same idea can be used for Thanksgiving, just substitute fall leaves, squashes, mini pumpkins, etc…

Buy those bags of cranberries when they go on sale for $1, and fill bowls that hold pillar candles, or fill a simple glass of water with them to just a few inches below the top, and put a floating candle in. Nuts can work the same way, but they tend to be more expensive. However, is you have a nut tree in your yard…

Hollow out the center of an apple as a candleholder, and tuck a few tiny greens in between the candle and the apple. Just be sure the flame never comes near the twigs. A little lemon juice sprinkled on the cut part of the apple will help keep it from browning as much.

Have a lot of scrap Christmas fabric from years past? Use it to make a simple square patchwork quilt as a throw for the couch, and add a lot of holiday spirit to the room! (Hint: use old blankets as batting- if you don’t have any, check your thrift stores. Just be sure to wash in hot water, and dry at least 20 minutes in your dryer. White flat twin sheets on sale make great backing fabric.)
Cut two of a simple holiday shape from felt, then sew or fuse them together, decorate with permanent markers or fabric paint (if you wish), and hang all over the house! Some very simple shapes could include stars, packages(glue or paint on some ribbon), mittens, snowmen, boots, Christmas trees, stockings, candy canes, gingerbread men (trace them from your cookie cutters) and the list goes on! If you have a rustic theme this year, it’s not necessary to embellish them at all!

Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. If you don’t have an extra bowl (it is the holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and glue.

Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don’t have to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry, or maybe the dining room?

Place votive or pillar candles on a small mirror used as a tray. Tie sprigs of greens or cinnamon sticks on the candles with ribbon or raffia. Be sure the flame is far enough away from the embellishments!

Make paper trees out of a square of pretty paper, preferably use a paper that is a little stiff. Simply roll the paper into a cone, and glue the edge with a hot glue gun. Perhaps some gold glitter or squiggles of paint to dress them up, and they will be beautiful on your mantel or as a centerpiece with greens. Try experimenting with different colors and textures…this would be a great place to use leftover cardstock or handmade paper! You could also do this with a piece of stiffened fabric.

Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas ribbon, just make sure they don’t hang low enough for any candles on the table to catch them on fire.

Above all, be creative, and have a wonderful holiday with those you care about!

Kathleen Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator and other popular websites. For hundreds of free budget decorating ideas, visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com, http://www.DecoratingYourSmallSpace.com or for work at home info, at http://www.Women-on-the-Net.com

Share This

A simple decision at face value- choose a paint color or color scheme for your home - can turn even the strongest amongst us into quivering wimps. The fear of picking the wrong color has many homeowners paralyzed and unable to make a decision. You can always hire a decorator or Color Design Expert to help you solve your color selection problem. However, if your would rather do it own your own you can use a simple technique that I recommend to my clients and decorating workshop students.

1. Make a trip to your local home improvement center and head straight for the paint department. Pick whatever color you take a fancy to. Don’t worry about where you will be using the color for now. Just have fun with your choices this will help you reduce the intimidation of choosing a color. This is the first step in overcoming your fear.

2. Grab you favorite fashion magazines and cut out images with colors you find attractive. After all if you are attracted to a color in make-up or fashion, odds are you will like that color in your home.

3. Find an inspiration piece in your home that you absolutely love. Use the colors from that piece to guide you in you color choices.

4. Buy pint or smaller sizes of paint colors you have decided on and apply them to a small section of wall or posterboard (tape it to the wall). Watch how the color changes through out the day as it responds to daylight and artificial light. IF you definately love the color -then get the color and start painting. If not just repeat this exercise.

Keep in mind that choosing a paint color or color scheme for your home is not a life or death choice. Approach the decision with a sense of humor and adventure knowing that no matter if you choose right or wrong at least you made a decision. If you chose the color you love Congratulations. If you chose a color you decided you didn’t like Congratulations too! You are just one step closer to finding the color that defines your personality and one step further away from your fear of color.

Carmen Natschke is an award winning designer and co-founder of roominakit.com an online home decor shop and decorating resource. Carmen is passionate about decorating and has shared that passion with hundreds of women through her Decorating Divas workshops and seminars. She is currently working on her book “Decorate Like A Pro” which is based on the innovative approach to decorating taught in her
workshops and seminars. Read other decorating articles by Carmen or visit her decorating blog for daily decorating advice and articles.

Share This

Part of the charm in cottage decorating is hand-me-down furniture, antique mismatched china, and vintage fabrics and linens, all of which can be found at garage and yard sales. This is the perfect time of the year to get out there and find all those treasures that you didn’t know you couldn’t live without!!

In years past, I would just get in the car on a Saturday morning and start cruising. Today, with gas charges soaring, it’s probably a little smarter to plan your day. Some of the best sales are the neighborhood or “association” garage sales. It’s easy on your gas because there are many sales in a small area. Map out your route ahead of time to save on gas and time.

There are many strategies that have come from hard core garage sale shoppers. Usually held on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday, many will tell you to shop on the weekdays to avoid crowds. Some say to be there when they open to get the best selection, but frankly the best deals usually come on the last day of the sale within a couple of hours of closing. Sellers not wanting to box things up again, lower their prices. No matter what your strategy, be prepared to spend some time looking for just the right pieces.

“Think outside the box” when searching for decorating pieces and look beyond its intended use. Don’t overlook a table full of vintage jewelry because you are not interested in jewelry, but think about the other possibilities. A crystal necklace or pendant can easily transform a chandelier or lamp, vintage pins can accent a favorite purse or tote, an old quilt or bedspread may have some worn areas, but maybe some of it can be salvaged to use for a pillow. I know a very creative woman who transforms vintage needlepoint into gorgeous one-of-a-kind pillows. I have used vintage tablecloths in the construction of both pillows and totes. If you like to paint, transforming furniture is a lot of fun and in the end, you have a totally unique piece. I have an affinity for old sewing chests. Even if you are not a seamstress, there are tons of other uses for these unique pieces. Just make sure that they are in sturdy condition, paint them the color of your choice and add some pretty cottage roses. If you don’t have that artistic touch, a wonderful variety of stencils can be found at all craft stores and they are a great alternative. Purchase an old footstool and recover it with an old quilt or fabric from old draperies. Paint an old bar stool and use it as a plant stand or even a bedside stand.

Vintage china is another great choice. In my mother’s day, it was a status symbol if all of your dinnerware matched! Today, some of the most gorgeous table settings are made up entirely of mismatched china. A common theme and color is all you need, plus a little imagination. If you find china that you like, but it is chipped, consider using it as part of a mosaic. Put a little votive candle in a teacup and you have a wonderful candleholder.

If you are looking for upholstered pieces, such as chairs and sofas, consider spending less on a garage sale find, as long as it is in clean and sturdy condition..then sew up some pretty slipcovers and change your d

Share This