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Decorating and Home, Our Home, Tutorials

Thrifting and Upcycling: How to Decorate on a Budget

August 14, 2013

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Having a beautiful home doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank! Today I’m showing a few easy ideas to decorate on a budget with thrifted finds and upcycled decor!
How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

I’ve come a long way with my mini kitchen makeover, and it’s looking fabulous! The large chalkboard I made is the focal point of the room, and the distressed signs I hung over the doorways add the perfect rustic charm. I love the little details that give the space some personality like my mason jar soap dispensers, but my favorite project so far has been my DIY photo clipboards!

All these projects have started to complete my vision of a vintage-inspired kitchen, and I have saved tons of money decorating along the way! I love making my home beautiful, but my wallet (and husband!) doesn’t allow for big splurges on the gorgeous decor I find in magazines. Instead, I find ways to re-create those front page worthy designs on a budget! 
I just finished decorating a small wall in my kitchen, and I thought it would be the perfect example to show you how I keep my decor spending under control… Take a look at my latest project!
How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

I just love it!! This small wall in my kitchen was in need of some decorating, and from the moment we moved into this house I knew what would fit perfectly there… This shelf:

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com
It is a hand-me-down from years and years ago! We’ve used it in the mudroom of our old house, but it has been sitting in a closet (remember my decor hoarding issue?) ever since we got to the new house, and I thought it was time to give it some new life!
I knew a coat of white spray paint was exactly what this shelf needed to fit in with my kitchen decor, but it needed a little bit of repair love first. I had to fill in a slight crack in the shelf with wood filler and figure out what to do about the two missing pegs on the shelf. I could have just filled the holes in with more wood filler, but I found two small wood pegs at Menard’s for pretty cheap, so I added those to the empty spots. My husband laughs at the amount of tools I drag out to complete the smallest of projects, but I did it all by myself, and I’m darn proud of it! (Why use one drill when you can use two?) 

After the repair work was done, I finished the shelf with a few coats of ivory white spray paint and hung it up in my kitchen! An easy makeover complete!
How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com
Even though this project is all about saving not spending, I did make one small purchase awhile back that inspired the look of my whole kitchen… A simple little pot holder from Target. It had previously been hanging on a Command hook on another wall to remind me of my decor inspiration, but it looks MUCH better hanging from my new kitchen shelf! I’d also love to find an apron or some pretty tea towels to hang on the hooks too!

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

Okay, now onto the fun stuff… Shelf styling! The first piece I knew I wanted to include on the shelf was this old box grater I picked up from an antique store. The texture and patina on this grater are just beautiful, and it adds the perfect vintage touch to my kitchen! I stacked some pretty white bowls next to the grater to contrast against the metal. You can NEVER have enough pretty white dishes!

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com
To add a bit of warmth and height to the shelf, I propped up a thrifted cutting board I found at Goodwill for just a few dollars. Every once in awhile I find some gorgeous cutting boards there, so keep your eye out for them! Next to the board I wanted some sort of white vase to set flowers in, but I couldn’t find anything in my decor stash so I went with a mason jar instead. I have plenty of those around here! I’ve seen these gorgeous painted mason jars all around blogland, so I decided to give it a go. I followed this tutorial and ended up with the perfect “old” jar! Seriously, I think I might have to make a hundred more of these babies. Love! I want to find some pretty (but fake) flowers to add to the vase, but for now a handful of silverware looks beautiful. 

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

To add a bit of softness, I set some old linens that belonged to my husband’s grandmother on the shelf under the cutting board. Is there anything prettier than vintage linens?

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com
How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

So there you have it! I added a gorgeous little display to my kitchen using (mostly) thrifted and upcycled decor all for under $10! Take a look around your home and see what pieces you could makeover or re-purpose into something new! And don’t forget to stop by your local thrift stores from time to time… you never know what you’ll find!

How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com
Now every morning, I get to wake up and come downstairs to this view of my kitchen… I’m so in love!! 
How to Decorate on a Budget! Tips and tricks for thrifting your way to a beautiful home! at LoveGrowsWild.com

How do you save money on decorating? Do you shop thrift stores? 
My kitchen makeover is almost complete!
Check out more projects from my kitchen:
DIY Photo Clipboards
DIY Photo Clipboards

Rustic Wood Kitchen Sign
Rustic Wood Kitchen Sign

How to Make a Rustic Industrial Chalkboard
How to Make a Rustic Industrial Chalkboard
DIY Mason Jar Soap Dispenser
DIY Mason Jar Soap Dispensers
How to Create Distressed Signs
How to Create Distressed Signs
Numbered Plate Display
Numbered Plate Display

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P.S. I’m sharing this post at some awesome link parties… Check them out HERE!    

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Decorating Advice and Inspiration Kitchen
by Liz Fourez 
31 Comments

About Liz Fourez

View all posts by Liz Fourez

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Comments

  1. Our Pinteresting Family says: August 15, 2013 at 1:26 am

    Everything looks absolutely stunning! I love reading tips on how to decorate on a budget. Your shelf turned out lovely. 🙂

    Reply
  2. April says: August 15, 2013 at 7:54 pm

    Wow, I love this! Your style is fantastic, I love finding new tips on decor, and yours matches my vague ideas of my someday-house nearly perfectly! Thanks so much for sharing!
    ~April @DimplesandDelights (visiting from StoneGable)

    Reply
  3. Kimberlee says: August 15, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    These are really great ideas! We are always looking for easy cheap ways to change the decor in our apartment! 🙂

    Reply
  4. rony@gutter cover says: August 16, 2013 at 9:29 am

    I loved these shelves and hangers..!! Nice idea to make your house beautiful.

    Reply
  5. Mackenzie says: August 16, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    Cute ideas Liz; I love how great that white paint made your shelf look! It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do!

    Reply
  6. Jocelyn says: August 17, 2013 at 1:54 pm

    Your kitchen is really coming along! It really is amazing what a coat of spray paint and trip around the house makes. Now can you please come over and tell me some quick fixes for my house. Seriously 🙂 Let’s plan a day!!!

    Reply
  7. kristi dominguez says: August 18, 2013 at 4:09 am

    So pretty, Liz!! And from one tool junky to another…I have to ask if that smaller drill pictured is one of those self-correcting drills that doesn’t strip the screw heads? I’ve had my eye on one and am curious how well they perform! 🙂

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: August 20, 2013 at 10:37 am

      Haha I am totally a tool junkie! When I first started doing projects on my own, I was too scared to use my husband big power drill! I found this tiny little guy that looked much less intimidating on sale, so I brought him home and the rest is history! Lol! I’ve graduated onto the big drill for most projects, but it’s nice to have a little on for small projects too!

      Reply
  8. Elizabeth BlueClearSky says: August 19, 2013 at 12:40 am

    Very pretty! I really like the white with your lovely grey walls and the great chalkboard. I try to make our home pretty and comfortable for us the same way, inexpensively, handmade, thrifted or upcycled as often as possible.

    Reply
  9. The Causal Craftlete says: August 19, 2013 at 1:40 am

    Great ideas! I love re purposing things I already have. These kitchen decorations are beautiful! Would love for you to share at the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop going on now!
    http://www.thecasualcraftlete.com/2013/08/18/frugal-crafty-home-blog-hop-36/

    Katie @ The Casual Craftlete

    Reply
  10. Lauren@Self Storage Facility says: August 19, 2013 at 4:19 am

    Beautiful tips for decoration and most interesting thing is that all these are on a limited budget. I am glad to read your post and finding these tips for me. Thanks for making such great post.

    Reply
  11. Jules@Happy House and Home says: August 19, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    Hi there – your self/wall look great! I love it! Amazing what a little spray paint can do. I always hit the thrift stores, and also – scared to admit this – I shop in my basement! LOL! Just yesterday, I walked around looking at all of the old/cast-off junk to see if there was anything that caught my eye! I do this at my parents house too! LOL! Thanks for sharing! Julia

    Reply
  12. Kayla Janachovsky says: August 19, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    Beautiful work! I’d love if you’d link up to The DIY’ers: http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-diyers-and-our-country-weekend.html

    Reply
  13. Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke says: August 20, 2013 at 2:05 am

    I love your shelf styling! It’s amazing what decorating you can do with items you already have on hand!

    Reply
  14. Chels/Catz in the Kitchen says: August 20, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    I am completely loving all your decor! I’ve been looking for a shelf kind of like that at the thrift stores for above our coffee bar in our living room. And if I had the wall space in my kitchen, I would make that chalkboard sign too. So so adorbs!

    Reply
  15. Kristin @ Yellow Bliss Road says: August 22, 2013 at 4:20 pm

    I can’t wait to see your full kitchen reveal. I just want you to come and decorate my whole house!!

    Reply
  16. kelly says: August 22, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    I just absolutely love the simplicity of this décor! It makes me kind of want a white farmhouse kitchen for a second…. It wouldn’t look right in my log style home, though. I still have lots of rustic antiques tucked away. You should come check out my kitchen at my blog, Old Blue Silo! I did a kitchen reveal yesterday and I’m so excited to finally share it with my readers.

    Keep up the great work at decorating with what you have available! I can’t wait to see the whole kitchen all decorated.

    Reply
  17. Linda @ it all started with paint says: August 23, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    It looks so fabulous! And thanks for giving my mason jar painting tutorial a shout out! So greatly appreciated! Oh, and that distressed “good eats” sign is amazing!!!

    🙂 Linda (also of Mason Jar Crafts Love blog)

    Reply
  18. Rita says: August 26, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Your kitchen is lovely! Good thrifting tips! I find the best things at thrift stores.

    Rita
    http://wwwferrytaleshome.blogspot.com

    Reply
  19. Evie tracy says: August 27, 2013 at 11:24 am

    I just came across your post, I love it. Great finds. I’m the same way I love to shop at thrift stores and go to garage/yard sales.Love all your decor.

    Reply
  20. Vivian says: August 30, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Hello there. I am your newest follower through bloglovin’ and GFC. I came across your blog from Home Stories A to Z features. I have to say, you are so talented! I love what you have done. Love it all, great blog! I will be here often 🙂 thanks for all the inspiration!
    http://www.thefamilyfunspot.com

    Reply
  21. Allie Olsen says: September 18, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    Super cute! I love the vintage yet modern look 🙂

    Reply
  22. Dear Emmeline says: September 19, 2013 at 8:22 pm

    so pretty!

    Reply
  23. Pam M. says: October 18, 2013 at 11:26 am

    Hi – would love to know how you made your mini pallet! Can you share directions! Thank you!

    Reply
  24. Scatter29 says: October 4, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    Your decorating tips are awesome. Love to recycle, or re-purpose. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: October 6, 2014 at 5:44 pm

      Thank you so much! It’s always a fun challenge to see what things I can re-purpose!

      Reply
  25. Lauren says: January 9, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    This is such a beautiful kitchen makeover! I have featured it on my site! Check it out here:

    http://www.diylookbook.com/kitchen-remodel/

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: January 12, 2015 at 10:25 pm

      Thank you so much, Lauren!!

      Reply
  26. Melissa Manley says: April 16, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    You have some great ideas here, Liz! I especially like the vintage look you came up with. Really cute! I don’t think a lot of people realize how easy it is to find things for very little money and make them over to look fabulous.

    Melissa, at:
    http://www.thediscountdetectives.com/

    Reply
  27. Mark says: July 25, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    Really beautiful home! I love the grey color paint you used. What color/brand is it?

    Mark

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: July 27, 2015 at 1:58 pm

      Thank you so much, Mark! The gray paint is Woodlawn Colonial Gray by Valspar.

      Reply

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Liz Fourez started Love Grows Wild in 2012 with a passion for interior design and homemaking and a dream to help others create a home they love.  From simple project tutorials, to holiday and entertaining ideas, to her journey renovating a 1940’s farmhouse, Liz demonstrates how to create a beautiful and inviting home with a handmade touch. She turned her signature cozy, neutral style into a best-selling book in 2016 and continues to inspire readers with her captivating photography and easy decorating ideas. Read more about Liz > > > >

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