Frugal Family: Decorating on the Frugal

Giving a room a makeover doesn’t have to mean all new furniture. Just painting the molding, putting molding up or painting one wall a completely different color as an ‘accent wall’ can make a nice change to a room for very little money. Those containers of paint they sell as testers may be just enough to paint a little here and there.

Curtains can change a room and don’t have to be expensive either. You can even make your own even. Head to the local Salvation Army and if you find a cute table cloth you can sew that into a cute and inexpensive new kitchen curtains. Children’s flat sheets are a fast and easy way to personalize their window space with their favorite characters for less. You just need to hem the bottom of the sheet and do the same to the top so that the curtain can hang on the rod.

You’ll be amazed at what you can find at thrift shops that can be used in whole new ways. The clearance aisles at ,  and K-Mart always have knick knacks waiting to be found and repurposed.  has sales frequently and a table of discounted fabrics in the back. Be creative and you can make a set of sheers for your living room for less than $10.

Do you have a pair of curtains in your bathroom or dining room just asking for an update? Simple lace or sheer fabric can be dyed. You may want to practice this one to make sure you get the exact color you want if you’ve never dyed anything before, but I had a set of curtains that went from white to green to mauve in our last house.

Are your walls just asking for change? In my home they are covered with pretty much everything. It started with three photos, then five and now we’re up to over 20 photos of family, friends and artwork. Don’t limit hangings to the usual photo – frame your child’s latest artwork for a conversation piece. What about a card from your significant other that means a lot to you or a page from the calendar from a special date? I made the bouquet for my wedding and have that hanging on our wall. Make your living space yours, because those personal touches make the difference between a house and a home.

If you’re looking for something to change your kitchen up here’s an idea – wall paper your refrigerator! If you have a newer one this may not be an option, but if yours has seen better days and keeps the food cold, this could be an option. If not, get some chalkboard paint and have some fun. Rather than hanging notes on the fridge – write them on it.

Spray paint is a great idea for sprucing things up too. Everything from furniture to lamps can be painted to give a room a bit of ‘pop’. You may not need to sand the surface but you do need to make sure it’s clean and that you go lightly with the paint. Let the paint dry between coats and for a few dollars you can have a new set of lamps.

Remember that trip to the thrift shop I suggested? If you find a cute blanket or even a table cloth, you can easily make pillow covers to give yours a cheap and easy makeover. Even if you’re not a sewing expert you need only to be able to sew a few straight lines.

Be creative, crafty and in the end your home will not only have a new look but it will also be more 'you'.