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As
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BetterBudgeting.com
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Budget Decorating How To Turn Yard Sale Finds into Home Decorating Masterpieces!
The time of year
is here for yard sales, and there is no better place for budget decorators to
find the best treasures! The trick is in recognizing an item's potential. Here
are some great ideas for turning low cost yard sale finds into great home
decorating accessories for your home! More...
1. Look Little Don’t overlook the impact
little items can make in your décor. Costume jewelry, craft beads, even
hardware wire can be transformed into beautiful details for your home. Use
earrings to pin together guest towels, wrap a chandelier with a crystal
necklace, or use the wire to string on beads and twist around iron staircase
railings. An old 70’s waterbed might not seem like a good find, unless you
just use the headboard, paint it white, and turn it into a cottage style display
case for your china and glassware! Old laminate storage cabinets can be
transformed into a gorgeous armoires by adding some molding, priming with Kilz,
and adding the paint color and technique of your choice! You can find resources for fabric at yard sales in
clothing, sheets, and quilts and blankets. Remember, a stained lace tablecloth
can be cut down to make placemats or runners, and a beautiful ski sweater can be
used to front a throw pillow. That silk dress you pick up for $3 might offer
great fabric for covering storage boxes, photo matting, or edging towels. Used
blankets can be washed and used to line quilts, or cut, rolled up and covered to
make neck roll pillows. Many items at garage sales may be used for different uses than
originally intended, if you just keep your eyes open! You may find a beautiful
serving bowl, but get it for $1 because of it’s chipped edge! No worries, a
gorgeous planter for the front porch! A small bookshelf that isn’t sturdy
enough for books could be painted and placed on the deck or the entry to hold
plants or knick knacks. I even saw one person cut the toe out of an old leather
boot, and use it as a splashguard at the downspout! If an item catches your eye
because of color or interest, try to see how it could be used in a different
way, and buy it for a song! Most of the things you find at yard sales can be upgraded in an afternoon with an interesting paint finish. You can find many instructions on the internet. I really love www.PaintIdeas.com for some great inspiration. There you have it! Put a couple of bucks in your wallet, always remember to offer a lower price than marked, and don’t be afraid to pick up something because you love it, even if you don’t know what to do with it quite yet! (Keep reading my Budget Decorating column, you’ll think of something!) * * * Copyright © 2005 by Kathleen Wilson. All rights reserved. Budget Decorating Article Index Want more money-saving tips? Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly newsletter!
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