by BlondieWrites on February 24, 2010
There are a lot of things to think about when there’s a baby on the way. You’ve got to come up with the perfect name for your little bundle of joy. You have to line up childcare when it’s time to go back to work, or make plans to stay home with the baby. There are clothes, diapers and supplies to buy. And there’s a nursery to decorate.
Decorating the nursery is a favorite part of new baby preparations for many parents. Until it’s done, you just don’t feel like you’re ready to welcome your child into the world. So many moms- and dads-to-be go all out, buying expensive designer cribs, bedding and décor. But if you’re on a tight budget, that’s money that could be better spent on more practical things.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t decorate your baby’s room in style, though. It just means you’ll need to go about it a little differently. Here are some tips.
* If there’s a certain motif you want to use in the nursery, create a baby registry and make sure that your shower organizer lets invitees know where you’re registered. That way guests will be likely to purchase the items you’ve selected in that motif. But keep in mind that if you choose a lot of expensive items, you might not get them, because your guests may be on a budget too.
* Don’t get your heart set on doing everything in a certain motif. If you don’t get all of the things you want at your shower, you might have to go with something else. If you get some of the items you wanted, however, perhaps you can buy the rest in a color that co-ordinates with them.
* Make some of the items for the nursery yourself. You could buy some fabric featuring the characters you want to feature in the nursery and make all sorts of things out of it. Curtains and blankets are easy if you have a sewing machine. You could also make decoupage wall hangings by cutting the characters out of the fabric and using Mod Podge to adhere them to a piece of wood, then top with another coat of it. And framed pages from children’s books or calendars also make lovely wall art.
* Visit consignment shops, flea markets and yard sales. You can often find great deals on gently used nursery items at these places.
* Go to outlet stores, or shop from the outlet section of your favorite online baby store. There are spectacular deals on new items to be found here. Some might have minor flaws, but in many cases they’ve simply been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Decorating your nursery on the cheap doesn’t mean it won’t be beautiful. With a little creativity, you can make it look just as wonderful as it would if you had spared no expense. And best of all, you’ll have more money to spend on diapers, formula, and those adorable baby clothes!
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by BlondieWrites on December 2, 2009
There are a lot of things to think about when there’s a baby on the way. You’ve got to come up with the perfect name for your little bundle of joy. You have to line up childcare when it’s time to go back to work, or make plans to stay home with the baby. There are clothes, diapers and supplies to buy. And there’s a nursery to decorate.
Decorating the nursery is a favorite part of new baby preparations for many parents. Until it’s done, you just don’t feel like you’re ready to welcome your child into the world. So many moms- and dads-to-be go all out, buying expensive designer cribs, bedding and décor. But if you’re on a tight budget, that’s money that could be better spent on more practical things.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t decorate your baby’s room in style, though. It just means you’ll need to go about it a little differently.
Here are some frugal tips for decorating your baby nursery:
* If there’s a certain motif you want to use in the nursery, create a baby registry and make sure that your shower organizer lets invitees know where you’re registered. That way guests will be likely to purchase the items you’ve selected in that motif. But keep in mind that if you choose a lot of expensive items, you might not get them, because your guests may be on a budget too.
* Don’t get your heart set on doing everything in a certain motif. If you don’t get all of the things you want at your shower, you might have to go with something else. If you get some of the items you wanted, however, perhaps you can buy the rest in a color that co-ordinates with them.
* Make some of the items for the nursery yourself. You could buy some fabric featuring the characters you want to feature in the nursery and make all sorts of things out of it. Curtains and blankets are easy if you have a sewing machine. You could also make decoupage wall hangings by cutting the characters out of the fabric and using Mod Podge to adhere them to a piece of wood, then top with another coat of it. And framed pages from children’s books or calendars also make lovely wall art.
* Visit consignment shops, flea markets and yard sales. You can often find great deals on gently used nursery items at these places.
* Go to outlet stores, or shop from the outlet section of your favorite online baby store. There are spectacular deals on new items to be found here. Some might have minor flaws, but in many cases they’ve simply been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Decorating your nursery on the cheap doesn’t mean it won’t be beautiful. With a little creativity, you can make it look just as wonderful as it would if you had spared no expense. And best of all, you’ll have more money to spend on diapers, formula, and those adorable baby clothes!
Popularity: 3% [?]
by BlondieWrites on November 28, 2009
Are you planning on decorating your home for Christmas this year? If so, have you completed the first step? When it comes to decorating for Christmas, the first step is getting the decorations. Unfortunately, in today’s world, many families are finding it difficult to afford “extras,” including Christmas decorations. However, there is good news. If you are on a budget, there are still a number of different ways that you can get your home decorated for Christmas. You can do so with low-cost Christmas decorations.
When it comes to low-cost Christmas decorations, it is important to remember that different people associate low-cost with different things. Just because you think a particular Christmas decoration is low-cost doesn’t necessarily mean that someone else will. For some individuals, a low-cost Christmas decoration is an item that only costs one dollar, for others it is five, and for others it can be fifty dollars. That is why it is important, when looking for low-cost Christmas decorations, that you keep this in mind. However, no matter what your view of low-cost is, there are still a number of different ways that you can go about decorating for Christmas.
Perhaps, the easiest way to save money while decorating for Christmas is to not buy any Christmas decorations. If you decorated your home for Christmas last year or in recent years, did you save your old Christmas decorations? If you did save your old Christmas decorations, you may want to think about using them again this year. Although it may be nice to have brand new Christmas decorations, they are not required. Not only can you save money by using your old Christmas decorations, but you might not have to spend any extra money at all!
In addition to using your own used Christmas decorations, you may want to think about using other people’s old Christmas decorations. During the summer and sometimes during the early fall, you may be able find local yard sales. Yard sales are a great place to get used Christmas decorations for an affordable price. If you are unable to find a yard sale, you can also purchase used Christmas decorations online. You can easily find a collection of used and sometimes even deeply discounted new Christmas decorations by doing your shopping on an online auction website.
Although you can save a fairly large amount of money by buying used Christmas decorations, as previously mentioned, there is a good chance that you want new ones. If this is the case, you still have a number of different options. You should check your local dollar stores, discount stores, and even department stores. Many of these stores, around Christmastime, have a large selection of Christmas decorations, at an affordable price. If you are looking to save the most money, it may be a good idea to visit your local dollar stores. Some dollar stores sell really nice Christmas decorations for a dollar and sometimes even less.
It might even be possible for you to make your own Christmas decorations, with items that you already have inside your house. In fact, this is how you can turn your old Christmas decorations into new ones. Simply by altering your existing decorations in one way or another, for instance by adding a bow, you could make your old Christmas decorations like new. You can also take a simple candleholder and turn it into a Christmas candleholder with a little bit of creativity. The same can be said for a number of other items that you likely already have inside your home. This is another way that you could avoid spending any money on Christmas decorations.
As you can easily see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about finding or making your own low-cost Christmas directions. Although you may be worried about the quality of those decorations, you shouldn’t be. Most times, it isn’t necessarily about the Christmas decorations themselves, but they way that they are presented or arranged.
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by BlondieWrites on November 17, 2009
Look in any home and garden publication a month or two before Thanksgiving, and you’ll see all sorts of elaborate table arrangements. Professional decorators go all out to create a veritable masterpiece. And if you check the prices on the items they use, you’ll often find that they spend several hundred (and often several thousand) dollars to get the table to look so nice.
How can the average person compete with that? Usually, we can’t. But we can make our Thanksgiving tables look great without paying an arm and a leg. Inexpensive items from the local discount store and things found in nature can be combined to create an elegant yet inexpensive frugal Thanksgiving table. Here are some pointers.
Linens
Tablecloths and napkins can be prohibitively expensive. But if you’re only using them on special occasions, you can get away with cheaper options. Dollar stores often carry lovely tablecloths at a fraction of the price you would pay at a high-end department store. They might not last as long as more expensive ones, but if cared for properly they will stay in good shape for several years.
You can find inexpensive cloth napkins at some dollar stores as well. Or you could check outlet stores for discontinued or slightly blemished napkins. You can often find deals on tablecloths there, too. If you’re good at sewing, you could even make your own co-ordinating tablecloth and napkins.
Centerpieces
A pretty centerpiece adds a nice touch to any table. For a frugal Thanksgiving, you can make one at very little cost with things found in nature. Mini pumpkins, squash and other fall veggies can be arranged with some nuts to make a yummy centerpiece. If you want, you could find an inexpensive cornucopia at your local craft store and put these items in it.
Fall flowers also make wonderful centerpieces. If you grow your own, simply pick some in various colors and arrange them in a vase. You’ll have a beautiful, fragrant centerpiece at no cost whatsoever.
Of course, there probably won’t be a whole lot of room on the table for a centerpiece by the time you put all of the food on it. If space is a concern, taper candles are a simple yet elegant alternative. You can find candleholders at discount stores at very reasonable prices. You could place some leaves or gourds around them if you want to do something a bit more elaborate without taking up too much room.
A beautiful Thanksgiving table isn’t necessary for enjoying all of that delicious food. But it certainly adds a nice touch to the holiday and lets your guests know that you value their company. With a little imagination, you can decorate the table and still have plenty of money to spend on dinner.
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by BlondieWrites on October 1, 2009
Let’s face it, it can cost an arm and a leg to get a professional interior designer to come to your home and make it look great. When you’re on a budget, you want frugal interior decorating ideas. The following are ideas you can use to change the look of your home and stick to a budget.
Start by deciding which room is most in need of an interior decorating facelift. What things about that room can remain and what would you like to change? Can you keep certain elements or do you want an overall new look?
Next, come up with a budget. Decide how much you can spend and then begin researching to see what you can do yourself and what will require a professional. Two areas you definitely want an expert involved in are plumbing and electricity unless you’re a licensed professional. And once you have your budget squared away, stick to it!
Painting is one way to change the look of a room dramatically without having to get all new furniture and accessories. Don’t be afraid to create a bold, new look by using darker colors. Find a darker shade than the curtains or furniture and create a focal wall. Add a new mirror or wall art to give your room a new look.
Rearrange your current furniture. Pull items from other rooms of the house to be repurposed elsewhere. This is a great way to bring new life to a room without spending any money at all.
Find wallpaper borders to match any style or décor. With a new coat of paint and a new border, you can totally change the look of any room. Bring in a few accessories to complete the room.
Borders can also be used down in the center of the wall to create a chair rail. Paint a darker shade below the border, possibly using glaze and texturing to give the appearance of leather, faux wood, or even marble. Luckily, many of the faux painting techniques can be done as do-it-yourself projects.
If your bathroom is in need of an update, why not refinish your bathtub and sink rather than replacing them? This project may seem difficult, but the fact is anyone who has ever painted with a paint roller can do a bang-up job and make a huge difference in their bathroom. Add new curtains, corresponding towels, and your bathroom will look great without breaking the bank!
Do you have a friend that is gifted with interior decorating? Barter with them by offering to help them in an area where you excel. This could be cooking lessons, babysitting, or whatever you can do that will be comparable in value. Bartering is an age-old way of getting what you want; it can be a win-win proposition for both parties.
Set up a decorating swap meet. Ask friends and family to pull together items they’d like to change and have everyone meet at a central location. Trade those items with one another rather than tossing them or selling them at a yard sale. If the items are still in good shape, this could be a great way to give them new life in a new location.
These ideas aren’t the only ones available, but they can get you started toward creating a new look for your home without breaking your budget. Decide how much you can spend, find frugal ways to make the changes you want, and soon your home will have a new appearance you’ll be proud of.
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by BlondieWrites on September 20, 2009
Halloween parties can be a ton of fun. Unfortunately, they can also be expensive to host. Here are some ideas on how to throw a Halloween party on a budget.
One reason some people choose not to host Halloween parties is because they’re close to Christmas and that holiday generally takes all of their extra money. But there’s no reason why you can’t celebrate both holidays and do so without breaking the bank.
Start out by creating a budget. Think of all the items you’ll need: food, beverages, decorations, and invitations. Decide how much you can afford to spend and then stick to that amount.
Food and Beverages
You can save money on food and beverages if you ask everyone to bring something, similar to having a pot luck dinner. You can also reduce the amount you spend by purchasing as much as you can from dollar or discount stores. Avoid local grocery stores except for items you can’t find cheaper elsewhere.
Schedule your party after dinner. Most people will have already eaten and you can serve snacks rather than a full meal. This alone can save you quite a bit.
Serve non-alcoholic beverages. Again, you can ask your guests to bring a 2-litre drink. If the party is for adults and they’re convinced they can’t have Halloween without alcoholic drinks, ask them to bring their own.
Decorations
If Halloween is on any day except Saturday, you can plan your celebrations for the Saturday following Halloween and still have a great party. By planning the party after the holiday, you can get decorations at the after-Halloween sales.
You can wait until the last minute to get decorations. Halloween items generally go on sale the day of Halloween. Buy items you need at a saving and still have great decorations.
Plan ahead. Buy a plastic container and buy Halloween items after the holiday and save them for the next year. Decoration needs aren’t likely to change from year to year, so you could save a good deal of money and have great decorations.
Find table cloths, plates, napkins, cups, and service wear at a dollar store. If you want to stick with traditional Halloween colors, go for orange and black. They may also have other Halloween decorations you can grab without breaking your budget.
You can also order decorations from an online source like Oriental Trading Company or DollarDays. Auction sites may also have decorations for less than you’d get at local stores.
Invitations
Be sure to send out invitations early if you’re having a party. You can find wonderful clip art online to make your own invitations. Find some orange paper and print the invitations on that. The only cost will be paper, ink for printing, and postage. This is much less than buying pre-made invitations. Three to four weeks before the event is a good time to send invitations. Don’t forget to ask those invited to RSVP.
By following these simple ideas, there’s no reason you have to break the bank if you want to enjoy Halloween. Now that you know how to throw a Halloween party on a budget, it’s time to make plans for your own Monster Mash.
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by BlondieWrites on September 9, 2009
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by BlondieWrites on September 2, 2009
Designing or rearranging your living room or family room may be too difficult a task. You need an artistic and stylish eye to be able to create a good design that not only you, but others, will like because the living room is usually the first area seen as you enter the house.
The money involved in redecorating your living room is also a major factor to consider. Furniture and decor of good quality are not cheap, especially if you are considering hiring an interior designer to do the job for you.
What if you are on a tight budget? How can you have the nice stylish living room or family room that you want?
There are actually several ways this can be done. Make use of the existing furniture and/or fixtures if you are thinking of creating a new design for your existing living room. You may just need to clean them a bit to make them look new before placing them in their new location. Older furniture that you’ve had for quite some time may require repairs to make sure they are still sturdy.
Before you start moving things around, you must visualize how you want your living room to appear. Try browsing through some home improvement magazines for a style that may be attractive to you: you need not have all the decor and furniture seen in the magazine for your room to look nearly the same. Just let your mind work and your creative instincts do the job.
Some old things that you thought you would never use again might just find their perfect place in your “new” living room. Make sure that it does not look cluttered or heavy. Try to make everything as light as possible so that your room appears comfortable and relaxing as well as pleasing to the eyes. By changing the lighting of the room you can create a totally different effect. There are several options for quality lights and lamps that are not terribly expensive available.
If you are designing a living room in your new house from scratch, you may want to do some homework first. Borrow some home improvement or interior design magazines and browse to find decorating ideas that appeal to you. You need not hire an interior designer to do the work for you as it will be an added expense.
You can do the design yourself by just being imaginative and creative; with the help of a guide, it will be a breeze for you to do. Ask for help from a friend you know who is experienced in decorating for advice and/or help.
The first to determine when decorating a living room is how you want the walls to look. Using wallpaper may be stylish but it is costly; and if you think long term, most wallpaper does not last for more than a few years. It can be easily torn or marred especially if there are children or pets in the household around so it might be to your advantage to use paint.
To save money, it is advisable to have similar colors throughout the house, not just in the living room. Besides the money saved, it is pleasing to the eyes to see consistency in color.
Assuming that the lighting and floor finish are already in place, the next thing to consider is the furniture and/or appliances you would be placing in your living room. It is possible that your living room will be your entertainment and family room as well, especially if you do not have a small amount of space in your house.
A nice, soft couch would be nice to have in a living room. If you find the leather couches in home furniture stores too expensive, you can always look for a suitable alternative in smaller shops. Be sure to take advantage of closeout sales and garage sales that you may find in your neighborhood where you may be able to find a real bargain.
You may also want to check out auctions, online or offline, to find great deals on some home decor. There are usually several choices in these auctions - just make sure that you get your money’s worth. As for online auctions, be cautious on items that are priced unrealistically low. Always buy from trusted sellers or those with several positive reviews.
There are many ways you can achieve a good and stylish design for your living room without spending an exorbitant amount of money. Budget should not be a problem in achieving your desired living room style.
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by BlondieWrites on September 2, 2009
Decorating your home doesn’t necessarily mean breaking your budget. However, most of us have no idea of where to start - budget or no budget. We may have a general idea of what we like (or don’t like), but turning those ideas into a reality is not as easy as it seems. With so many styles to choose from, it’s no wonder we have difficulties in getting started.
The best way to start on your decorating project is to decide where you are now (decorating-wise) and what needs that you and your family have that must be incorporated. Are there small children that can be injured if they fall on a table’s sharp corners? Do you have pets that will ruin a white sofa?
Will you be decorating only one room or your entire house? You will need to decide if you want all of the rooms of your home to be decorated in the same style. Once that decision has been made, you can start planning your first room.
The interior design process begins with a plan. Look through design magazines or home design websites for pictures of rooms that catch your eye. What do you like about them? Is there a common theme? This will lead you to your own personal design style. You will probably find that you are especially drawn to certain styles and find some designs that you downright hate!
Think about what activities will be done in the room. Will there be just one activity or more than one? What furnishings will each activity need? For instance, chairs and a table for a sitting area or a desk for an office area.
Decide on your budget. How much can you afford to spend on flooring, paint, furniture and accessories? Spend your money on furnishings that are well-built and will get the hardest usege. Remember that a room doesn’t have to be completed all at once if your budget doesn’t allow it. Some of the best designs develop over time.
When decorating your home, keep in mind that personality is what will keep your rooms alive. Even a sleek, modern style can have personality and doesn’t have to be cold and sterile.
Interior decorating should first incorporate the practicalities such as budget, space planning and special family needs. Then, worry about the ambience and style of your rooms.
Planning your decorating project will help keep it within budget and the final result will be worth the initial effort it took to plan it.
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by BlondieWrites on September 2, 2009
When you say Victorian furniture many people think expensive. But you don’t have to pay a lot of money to get the Victorian style in your home. Her are some helpful tips in achieving your goals on a budget.
Many times in Victorian house they had big windows that are too high for ready-made curtains that you can buy in the store. But to achieve the look you can make the curtain yourself. The first thing is to get cafe clips and a cafe rod. Depending on the look you want just have to buy the material. If you’re going for a romantic look you should use a lace tablecloth. If you want a fresh summer look, start with a sheet. It doesn’t matter what kind of look you’re trying to get, you just have to make sure that the fabric is longer then the height of the window. With the excess fabric you can fold it over double so you can make a top ruffle, and then attach the cafe clips about every six inches. Then the last thing would be to slide the rings over the rod and you’re done! Depending on your taste you can add fringe or tassels.
You can change the look of a table instantly. If you don’t have a round table, you can just get one of those assemble-it-yourself tables. Many discount stores sell them for under $10, so there is no issue of money here. First you should put a simple tablecloth over it. If you would like to get a puffy look you can tuck the ends of the fabric so it kind of balloons on the floor. The second layer would be a smaller lace tablecloth or a square piece of fabric that covers only the top of the table. You can really have a little fun here when picking the colors and patterns.
As for the tops of the table, you can put pictures or paraphernalia. Getting a gold metal picture frame will blend anywhere. If you have a wood frame you can always paint over it to match your décor.
These little tips can help you create a Victorian style on a low budget. So you can create the home of your dreams.
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