Decorate Your Home Using Things You Already Have

The easiest and least expensive way to jazz up the décor in your home is to use things you already have hidden in the depths of your house. Some of these items might need a little updating, and others will simply need to be cleaned up and properly displayed. Instead of spending money on something new, search through your closets and drawers to find items that can be recycled into beautiful works of art. Decorating this way doesn't just save money. It also saves the environment by keeping your rediscovered treasures out of a landfill. It's fun to turn things you don't like into treasures that you love.

Display Your Favorite Things

Do you have pretty dishes you love that just sit in the cabinet waiting for special occasions to be used? Instead of hiding these pieces, display them in your home. Hang plates on the wall using a plate hanger. Plate hangers mount on the back of the plate and are barely visible when the plate is on the wall. Group two or more plates together for a finished look or group them with other items in a collage. Plate hangers and stands usually cost $2-$5 and can be found at most craft stores.

Bowls are better displayed on a flat surface using a stand. Small bowls can be easily displayed on shelves, while large serving bowls and platters look great atop kitchen cabinets. If you'd like to display a bowl on a table top, fill it with fruit or flowers. These can be fresh or artificial.

If you have a dining room table that isn't used regularly, decorate it by setting the table with your favorite dishes and leaving them out all the time. Along with the dishes, include placemats, cloth napkins, and a nice centerpiece. Flower arrangements look beautiful in the center of a table. By displaying your favorite dishes, you'll be able to enjoy them everyday.

When I was pregnant with my son, I decorated his room in a cowboy theme. I needed some cool cowboy stuff to hang on the walls. When I was young, I had a brown cowgirl hat and brown cowgirl boots. My mom saved them, and she gave them to me when I was designing my son's bedroom. They were the perfect touch. In addition to the sentimental items, I used an old shelf from my college apartment and painted it red. The broken in boots are displayed on the shelf next to Woody the cowboy and his horse, Bullseye. The cowboy hat hangs opposite of the shelf. Some friends of mine at work gave me a bunch of old horse shoes. My father-in-law cleaned them all up and spray painted them black. They're displayed along the top of each wall with some rope and red bandanas. My son's room renovation cost next to nothing by putting old things to new use.

Use Paint in Unexpected Ways

Transform something old and dreary into something stunning and new with a fresh coat of paint. Paint is typically used to give a face lift to lackluster walls. Painting walls undoubtedly makes a bold statement and can add style to any room. Painting one wall or a whole room takes less than a day. Recruit help, and it will go even faster. One person can do the rolling, and the other can trim with the paint brush. You'll need a can of paint, a roller handle, roller sponges, a paint pan, a paint brush, painter's tape, a ladder, rags for cleaning up drips, and drop cloths. All of these supplies can be purchased at any home improvement store.

Don't feel like you have to paint all the walls in a room the same color. Just painting one wall adds a nice accent to a room, and it makes the project even easier. You can always come back and paint the other walls later if you feel like one wall isn't enough. If you want to do something bold, try painting wide stripes, or paint just the top or bottom half of the walls. A chair rail can be installed parallel to the ground to separate two colors on a wall. Faux finishes are also a fun way to add style and color. For more information about decorative painting techniques for your walls, check out The Transformational Power of Paint.

While using paint on walls is an easy way to make a decorative change, I challenge you to think beyond the walls and use paint on other unexpected objects. Be creative and take a chance. After all, the item you're revamping was just yanked out from under a pile of rubble in the corner of the garage. What do you have to lose? Picture frames, shelves, or mirrors are good starter projects. Try a small project first before you decide to repaint your entire dining room set (trust me...I just refinished and reupholstered eight dining room chairs, and it was a very long project). A fellow Hubber even told me she spray painted her laptop! The possibilities are endless.

Try spray painting the hardware in your home. Convert your shiny brass door knobs and hinges to brushed nickel for a modernized look. Cabinet hardware, light fixtures, and fans can be remodeled as well with paint. Remove the hardware from the cabinets, and disassemble the light fixtures and fans before painting to make it an easy project. When the parts are dry, reassemble. What an easy way to change the look of your home. For more tips on how to use spray paint in your home, click here.

Create Photo Collages

If you're like me, you have lots of family photos hidden in the closet that have never been framed. Pull them out, select five or six, and plan a photo collage for the wall. If your photos are all digital, order a few enlargements of some of your favorites. Sepia and black and white are stylish right now. Buy some inexpensive frames, or reuse frames you already have. Arrange the framed pictures on the wall in groups. Use mats that match your home décor to bring in some color. This is an easy project that can be done in less than a day if you already have the pictures. You will enjoy seeing photos of your friends and family displayed on your walls.

If you don't have any photographs to display, use pictures from a calendar or a photography book. Find some prints that coordinate with your home's color scheme, and frame them.

There are many ways you can change the look of your home without spending loads of money. Search through your old stuff to find things you can revamp. Decorate your home using things you already have.  Pick out some of your favorite things that are sitting in closets unused and use them! Each personal touch you add to your home's décor will make you feel happy. Have fun creating a unique look for your home that expresses your personal style.