better homes a nd g a rdens | august 2013 | bhg.com 47

by andrea cooley and amy panos | photos greg scheidemann | produced and styled by stephen perfetto

We asked a bunch of our favorite design pros to share their secrets for beautiful rooms that don’t break the bank. And boy, did they deliver! Read on for a healthy dose of inspiration, some good advice, and plenty of ideas.

tips+trickstry them at home!

30special feature

budget decorating

don’t you love a bargain?

pro

du

ct

pho

tos:

ma

rty

bald

win

$12.99 eachA hammered gold candle sconce adds variety and shimmer to a wall of frames. IKEA

budget decorating

$34.99If you can sew a straight line, you can turn a table runner into a statement-making pillow. Saffron Marigold

$49 eachLined burlap panels long enough to be hung at the ceiling, for less than $50? Yes, please. Ballard Designs

48 better homes a nd g a rdens | august 2013 | bhg.com

$79.99 A gracious turned-wood base in a now-looking washed wood finish. Plus a shade.Target

under $10 A few yards of grosgrain ribbon instantly upgrades plain panels. M&J Trimming

Would you believe a room this delish doesn’t cost a fortune? Once you lay a foundation of versatile furniture, there are so many affordable ways to add color, texture, and character.

BeFOre

$29.99 eachThe contrast of raw wood and gold leaf gives these crafts store frames a high-end look. Hobby Lobby

$39.99From its shape to its shade, everything about this little lamp says chic. IKEA

1 paint pOwerno fireplace, no built-ins? no problem. let a two-tone paint job create some structure. use a light and dark shade from the same paint chip.

3 mirrOr magicmirrors work wonders in any room. have one cut to fit a tabletop (like our round side table) or an extra-large picture frame (cheaper than buying a big mirror).

4 easy upgradeadding a basket or tray holding a plant and some books gives your same-old ottoman a brand-new look. Stephen Perfetto, BHG style director

2 it’s a keeper spending a little more for a sofa or chair is actually budget-smart if it meets these criteria: a timeless neutral color, clean lines, and the right scale for the room.

50 better homes a nd g a rdens | august 2013 | bhg.com

budget decorating

7 light it upmake your own one-of-a-kind lamps. a simple kit is about $10. almost anything you can drill a hole through can be a lamp base. i’ve used ceramic vases, banister rungs, carved wood, and wire baskets. Summer Baltzer, host of Design on a Dime 8 dOuBle playlook for throw pillows with different designs on the front and back. it’s like getting two for one.

9 curtain call make any room feel breezy and welcoming with floor-length curtains. iKEa has extra-long panels for just $5 a pop. Sherry Petersik, younghouselove.com

10 art adVice look for the potential of secondhand artwork. a fabulous frame can be liberated from the ugly picture it houses, and an ugly frame can be painted. Beth Hunter, homestoriesatoz.com

11 thrOwBackshop thrift stores for throws. you can find hand-knitted or crocheted treasures for pennies! Kirsten Krason, 6thstreet designschool.com

12 shelF help For a custom look and an unexpected jolt of color, spray-paint the undersides of glass shelves a bright hue.

Accessories are hands-down the thriftiest, quickest way to update a room. Try these budget-friendly finishing touches.

5 custOm cushiOn i always say, pillows make the room! buy 1 yard of a great fabric and take it to a dry cleaner who offers alterations. he can sew a simple pillow for you, cheap. Jenny Komenda, littlegreennotebook .blogspot.com

6 Outside in decorating with nature is free and fun. cut an interesting branch from your yard and put it in a vase, or gather stones and display them in a tray. Jenny Johnson, host of New England Dream House

$70 eachMetal shelving units, spray-painted warm gray, turn a blank wall into a focal point. IKEA

Furniture can be had for a bargain if you know what to buy and where to look. Try these tips.

24 clOthes deala remodel might not be in the cards, but an armoire gives you the storage a new closet would and costs a heck of a lot less. Kristan Cunningham, hammerandspear.com

25 mix, dOn’t match break up your bedroom set. bring a bedside table into the living room; use a dresser as a dining room buffet. Shelly Van Rozeboom

22 cOlOr cOurage it’s easier to go bold with color on a piece of furniture than on walls. pick a color you love and paint that dresser. Sarah Saucedo, thriftydecorchick.com

23 gOOd Buysthe best place to look for quality furniture on a budget is consignment or thrift stores. if the bones are good, you can always update with paint or fabric. Melissa Michaels

21 sOFa smartsFor a versatile, upscale-looking, keep-it-forever sofa, go with a tight back and a bench cushion. it always looks neat, even when layered with decorative pillows. Stephen Perfetto

19 card tricki like to frame letterpress cards. Even if $5–$10 seems expensive for a card, it’s still cheap for art. Oma Blaise Ford, BHG executive editor

20 pretty and practical decorate with everyday items. Fill glass jars with colorful grains from the bulk foods aisle. lined up on a shelf, they look like art! Melissa Michaels

Art doesn’t have to cost a lot to be good—it just has to be personal. Here’s how our penny-pinching pros create impact on empty walls.

16 cut and pastecreate collages from old magazines and books. almanacs, encyclopedias, and nature picture books are great sources. Kirsten Grove, simplygrove.com

17 traVel timei love to pick up inexpensive drawings from street artists while i’m on vacation. it’s nice to have artwork that means something to you personally. Melissa Michaels, theinspiredroom.net

18 pin it dOwnhang a large fabric-covered corkboard and pin up family photos, kids’ creations, even favorite jewelry. soon you’ll have a beautiful, meaningful display. Bryn Dunn, brynalexandra.com

13 BeyOnd the Frame cover walls with secondhand mirrors, baskets, large clocks, and other items that add dimension. Beth Hunter

14 memOry lanedisplay mementos like the keys from your first house in a shadow box. it’s amazing how great even ordinary things look behind glass. Sherry Petersik

15 shOpping listnext time you’re at an estate sale, look for multiple vintage photos of summer camps, football teams, or scout troops. they look great grouped on a wall. Frame vintage watercolors or oil paintings. hang an old tapestry or quilt behind the bed or sofa. Shelly Van Rozeboom, vanrozeboom.com

52 better homes a nd g a rdens | august 2013 | bhg.com

budget decorating

under $20These beauties have a DIY secret: They’re just matboard stamped with crafts paint, and the stamps are veggies!

Make your own artworkOur video shows you how to create easy, beautiful art using vegetables, paint, and tissue paper! BHG.com/DIYArt

better homes a nd g a rdens | august 2013 | bhg.com 55

budget decorating

Sources for bargains go beyond flea markets and secondhand shops. Here’s where else to score on decor.

30 early Birdsat tuesday morning stores, you’ll find everything from accessories to designer bedding, cookware, and furniture. sales begin—you guessed it—first thing tuesday mornings, so get there early. Donna Smallin Kuper, unclutter.com n

27 pillOw talkanthropologie, west Elm, and world market are my favorite places to shop for expensive-looking napkins to make into one-of-a-kind pillows. Kirsten Krason

28 market Freshi love shopping at specialty grocery stores like trader Joe’s for pretty food, flowers, and plants to decorate my kitchen. Melissa Michaels

29 creatiVe Outlet shop local outlets for returned merchandise. Just do an internet search for your city and “outlets.” you’ll be amazed what off-the-beaten-path stores offer. we’ve found light fixtures for 50–70 percent off retail. Sherry Petersik

26 deep discOunts hobby lobby has extraordinary end-of-season sales where items are marked down 75–80 percent off the original price. Get the store’s mobile app for even more savings: a 40 percent coupon just about any time you shop. it’s a particularly great resource for picture frames. Stephen Perfetto

$9.99Vivid color and the yummy texture of velvet at a why-not price. World Market

For buying information see page 182.

get our style director’s budget tips in our ipad edition. BHG.com/DigitalExtras

video: secrets from BHG style director Stephen