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By Kathleen Wilson
 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 items
potential. Here are some
great ideas for turning low
cost yard sale finds into
great home decorating
accessories for your home!
1.Look little. Don't
overlook the impact little
items can make in your dacor.
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.
2.Look big. 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!
3.Look for raw materials.
You can find resources for
fabric yard sales in
clothing, sheets, and quilts
and blankets. Remember, a
stained lace tablecloth can
be cut down to make or
runners, and a beautiful ski
sweater can be used to front
a throw pillow. That silk
dress you pick up $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.
4.Look beyond. 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!
5.Learn some creative paint
finishes. 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
The Budget Decorator, you'll
think of something!)
Kathy Wilson is an author,
national columnist, and
editor of The Budget
Decorator. For hundreds of
free decorating ideas and to
sign up for her free
newsletter and ebook, visit
her at
http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com
Kathleen Wilson
Home Decorating Columnist
Author, "Quick Decorating
Ideas Under $20"
Editor, The Budget Decorator
www.TheBudgetDecorator.com
Copyright 2003-2005 K.
Wilson -
www.thebudgetdecorator.com
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The Secrets to Decorating
Your Home with Creativity,
Not Cash!
Stop Dreaming, and Start
Decorating!
"How
to Decorate Like a Pro for
Pennies" is an
ecourse designed for real
people with real budgets. I
will teach you to create a
warm home filled with love
for your family, and spend
little money while doing it.
If you don't know where to
start, start here! You
will...
-
Find your own creativity,
despite your budget! It
can be done, and by you!
-
How to become a decorator
for your home, even if you
can't match an outfit!
-
How to quickly and easily
create unique accessories
for your home adding
warmth and personality.
-
Furnish your home for a
fraction of what it cost
your neighbors.
-
Decorate for the Holidays
on a shoestring!
-
Learn to dress your
windows, floors, and walls
with creativity, not cash.
-
Find out how to declutter
and organize for maximum
enjoyment of your
decorating!
-
Finally give your kid's
that fantasy dream room
they deserve, without
teaching them materialism!
-
How To decorate your
outdoor rooms, on the
cheap!
-
Bring out your own
creativity( yes, really!)
and teach yourself to look
at decorating in a new
way, to take you beyond
the ebook!
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