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Budget Decorating With Old Cameras And Other Antiques

Updated on November 19, 2013
Antique cameras make great display pieces.
Antique cameras make great display pieces.
Antique frame with new print
Antique frame with new print
Old books
Old books
stack old books
stack old books
Grouping of saws
Grouping of saws
set of antique tools
set of antique tools

Shabby Chic Décor

Shabby Chic decorating has become very popular and appealing because of it's tasteful blending of the old with the new.  You don't always need to spend money on home décor. Sometimes what you need is simply in a box in the attic. We have been the lucky recipients of many antiques. Unfortunately, for years they stayed hidden in boxes. Every now and then we would open a box (usually by accident) and exclaim "oh aren't those neat" and then carefully wrap them back up and there they would set for another couple of years. Finally, I decided we could not continue storing things if we weren't going to use them. That's when I put my thinking cap on.

One particular box was filled with old cameras. Obviously they couldn't be used anymore but they were so cool looking. I had to find a place for them. All of them were black with a touch of silver. Wa la - they could be grouped together. I already had some black and white pictures hanging above the fireplace in my husband's study. I decided to expand upon that color theme. If you have a large grouping of objects, it's nice to keep the color theme simple so that it doesn't become too confusing and cluttered. Now the cameras had a home, the mantel wasn't bare and we had a conversation piece (or pieces) in our study.

Garage Walls

I did something similar in our garage. We had boxes upon boxes of old tools and farm implements. Again, they were useless but neat looking. Whatever were we going to do with them? These definitely wouldn't work inside the house. The next obvious place was the garage. So, we hung them on the wall. Again, I kept the groupings similar and simple. My husband is happy too since the items have sentimental value - better to enjoy them than keep them hidden away!

Old Books

Books can add a lot of warmth to a room - especially old books. Old books add a special warmth to shabby chic or country style decorating.  Stack a few on their sides and place in strategic spots around the house. You will be surprised at how comfortable and cozy it makes a room feel. If the books have jackets on them, try taking them off and see how you like the look of the book that way. Usually you will have a black or brown book that will go with any décor.

Old Picture Frames

Maybe you have been handed down some old wall art. You hate the prints, but you like the frame. Simply take out the old print and substitute with something new. I had an old odd size picture that was in a great frame. I bought a poster print larger than the frame and cut it down to fit. Obviously, you need to find a print that will look fine cropped down. I also had to retouch the frame a little bit with some stain and paint. I used both to get the right aged effect but still camoflauge some large chips.

Vintage Décor - Where To Find

Obviously not everyone has been given boxes of antiques. When you see how nicely they can be displayed, you may want to get some for yourself. Decorating with antiques is still possible. Antique shops, of course, are loaded with all kinds of nice items. My husband and I love to shop at antique stores, even though we would get moans from our children when we would stop on vacations!

You can also find some great deals at flea markets and estate sales. Both are fun to go to and browse. I find it to be like a treasure hunt. Once I was looking for particular items for my kitchen. Searching, searching for that old coffee grinder...ah..it's so satisfying to finally find the coveted item.

If you would rather just stay at home and search, then the obvious choice is Ebay. People are always selling antiques.

**For more decorating ideas check out my blog at Rustic Crafts & Chic Décor.

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