Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Inexpensive Home Decor Ideas

And let’s just say I’m an eternal, unapologetic, and annoyingly chipper optimist. Anyway, we’re back to share the homely group of odd items that we picked up with our $100 shopping budget on our little end-of-winter beach vacay in Rehoboth. Since we were staying at John’s parents’ beach house for free (I have the best inlaws ever), we figured that a hundred dollars to put towards light fixtures and wall decor and other new house items sounded about right to two cheapskates like us who were happy to have saved at least three times that amount by avoiding hotel fees and driving to the beach in the winter instead. Hah. They’re not exactly a group of lookers yet, but we have plans to paint, frame, hang, retrofit, and generally revive a bunch of them. Here’s the spread:

Thrift Numbered Pic

1. You already saw me gleefully clutching our $5 thrift store mirror here. Love it. Plans for that guy involve a major splash of color. Not sure which one, or where he’ll live. Yet…

2 & 3. You also already met our crazy orange horse head book end friends (scored for $2.50 each). I’m thinking of spraying them white or maybe even a bold color like navy or yellow. They might live up on the built ins with the bulk of my other ceramic animal buddies.

4. This light fixture was hanging in an antique shop’s booth all plugged in and glowing. And I was instantly drawn to it like a moth to a flame. It was just $19 and John was outside in the car with the sleeping bean so I was taking a chance by getting it without dragging him and sleeping Clara inside so he could see it for himself. Thankfully he loved it. Of course we’re planning to paint the brass cap and chain. And we’re thinking about hanging it in the little sink alcove in our bedroom. Not sure though.

5. You can read more about the bee significance in our relationship here, but I fell in love with this $5 iron bee hook from the moment I saw it. I have visions of painting it glossy yellow and hanging it in the mudroom/laundry room for Burger’s leash.

6. I’m 99% sure that I’ll paint this $7 wall mountable iron horse white and hang him in our bright blue hall bathroom with a white hand towel in his mouth ring (more deets on that room’s plan here).

7 & 8. These two wood plaques were $3 a pop and John and I both thought they might look good hanging above our bed with our ram friend in the center. Not sure if we’ll paint them or leave ’em au naturale.

9. This tiny (he’s around 5″ wide) wall-mountable gold duck (goose?) was just three bucks. So we both agreed that he had to come home and meet his older brother. Not sure if we’ll hang them together. Probably not. Maybe we’ll hang this little one among all the frames in the hallway.

10. We already shared this $10 green luggage rack for the guest room this morning, and mentioned that we may or may not paint it (but definitely plan to switch out the straps – one is missing anyway). Should be interesting…

11. You’ve also seen this $18 paper lantern this morning, so you know we’re planning to hang it in the playroom with a $5 light kit from Ikea. Love those hearts.

12 (or 12-23 if you count each print as a thing). Perhaps our favorite find, we have plans to disassemble this $20 vintage map calendar and frame and hang them all en masse somewhere. Maybe in the guest room. Maybe in the playroom. Or maybe even in the much-mentioned frame-filled hallway that we’re planning.

Thrift Detail1

Thrift Detail2

So that’s what we got for $98. Thanks to shopping in Delaware (where there’s no sales tax) that was actually the total amount spent. And because I’m a dork, I like to calculate the average cost per item, which comes in right around $8 (when you count the calendar as one thing) and $4.26 (when each print is counted separately). Not bad average prices for things like two light fixtures, a luggage rack, a mirror, two bookends, and 6 pieces of wall decor (or 17 if you count all the vintage maps in the calendar). Woot! More details and pics when we frame/hang/paint/install each thing. But now it’s back to the guest room. There are things to clean and paint swatches to consider…

Psst- We announced this weeks giveaway winners. Click here to see if one of them is you.

Comments

  2. KatyB says

    I am definitely feeling a more “Hollywood Regency” vibe. Are you guys making the big switch. Perhaps it was always your hearts true desire, the white ceramic animals being a dead giveaway.
    I can’t wait to see where you take it!!! Your table reminds me of one I saw featured on HGTV’s “Pure Style”. Only theirs was glass, but it had the same lines. Could this have been he inspiration? I would have passed that table up before I saw that episode, now I am insanely jealous!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, it’s true! I think we’re still a smorgasbord of styles, but we definitely like some bold hollywood regency stuff in there for sure. And as for HGTV’s Pure Style, we haven’t seen it but now I’m dying to DVR it. We’d love to see Stella’s glass twin!

      xo,
      s

  5. Andi says

    The earlier post inspired me so much, I stopped at the Goodwill on the way to my Thursday morning women’s Bible study! I know, I know… anyways, I found fabulous brass bookends. They are kind of a cross between an orb and a shell shape, but looked tattered. Do I just wipe ’em down and spray paint them?? I was thinking of white. I also picked up 2 beautiful milk glass dishes to add to my collection! Thanks YHL for the inspiration (btw, my husband loves my addiction to your blog because I challenge myself to find decor on the cheap!)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      When it comes to spaying brass, since it’s so smooth we’d recommend using a spray primer like Kilz first and then some high quality spray paint like the Rustoleum with the special trigger nozzle. They would look so pretty in a nice crisp white! So glad you had some thrifty fun!

      xo,
      s

  8. Becky says

    Oh you guys, aside from the lovely treasures, the pics of Clara and the both of you are just so precious. And Sherry-the one of you and baby C is just striking. So pretty!
    LOVE antiquing and treasure hunting! C’est Bon!
    xoxo
    Becky :)

    Reply

  9. Caitlin Rodriguez says

    Great finds! I love that horse head holder so much! I need one for my bathroom to hold towels. BTW: Love your blog!

    Reply

  10. Laura says

    I just have to say I love your blog. You three are such a cute family, but not in the way that makes one want to vomit behind their hand. I love coming here to get tips on how to furnish my own little apartment that I share with my husband and dog, plus it just puts me in a good mood!

    Thank you both for being positive, uplifting, and happy people! And thanks for sharing with the rest of us!

    Reply

  11. katy says

    Anthropologie was selling that calendar and I had it in my “cart” for the longest time and then it sold out. Good to see it’s available elsewhere!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I wouldn’t say they’re the norm, but many hotels have them and some people have them in their guest room since it’s sort of a funny little hotel nod. Ours makes us feel swanky. If only we had a guest bed, we’d be all set. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  15. No Coast Design says

    I cannot believe sales like that exist!! Can you please move that North to Minneapolis? Love that footstool and those red horses head bookends… I am feeling inspired to go to the flea market!

    Reply

  16. Melissa says

    That bee hook is so wonderful! Reminds me of my favourite necklace (which is a huge silver bee), mainly because my name means honeybee!

    I really, really wish the UK had such good thrift/charity shops because I can never find anything interesting in ours to transform into something wonderful like you guys. It’s all outdated clothes and books (saying that, my bookshelves hate me because of my 10p book habit).

    Reply

  17. Emily says

    The maps. I’m loving the maps.

    And I love that you break it down to an average price per item, too. When I find some great deals I always say, “That works out to…per item!” Good to know I’m not alone!

    Reply

  18. Susanna says

    Traumatized/jealous of your fab finds, especially the faux bamboo luggage rack. Compared southern California where I am those prices are stunning! That rack and mirror would probably be at least $30 each at the Goodwill Boutique and snatched up by interior designers before the ink dried on the price tags. Well done!

    Reply

  19. Charmaine says

    I love the idea those bookend (or I know I will once they’re a different colour). But I have to ask, when you spray paint something that already has a glossy finish doesn’t the paint chip off? I always thought you had to sand down anything you wanted to paint so that the paint had something to adhere to, or have you found a paint that defies the ‘always sand first’ rule?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’ve found that using a spray primer like Kilz (along with the optional step of roughing things up with sandpaper beforehand) really helps with paint adhesion. Since we won’t be using the bookends as roughly as the top of a table for example (they’ll rest on things instead of having things rest on them) it’s usually a sufficient solution. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  22. courtney says

    you guys are awesome! I LOVE scoring thrift store finds or inexpensive one of a kind peices! Thanks for giving me a blog to get lost in for a few minutes everyday! It’s a little escape from the day as a new mommy ;.) You have also inspired me to start my own blog…. alittleglassbox.com so thanks for that too! keep up the awesome work!

    Reply

  23. Erin says

    Please do not paint the horses heads white. Some things should be left authentic. And besides I think the color would fall in nicely with your napkin scheme.

    Reply

  24. Elizabeth says

    Hi,

    I’ve just found your blog and already I’m in love. I so appreciate the $100 budget for new wall decor.

    Anyway, I must ask, where did you get the yellow/white rug in your living room? LOOOVEE IT.

    Reply

  25. blake says

    this is off-topic, but i’m dying to know what your plans are for flooring in the house. seems like you have a lot of different wood styles as well as some tile going on. do you advocate for similar flooring throughout (like in your old house) or are you OK with mixing it up?
    cheers,
    blake

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We love a seamless look when it comes to floors (it makes the house feel like it flows well and keeps spaces from feeling broken up) so we have plans to refinish all the wood floors (the wide plank ones, parquet ones, and traditional plank ones) in the same dark chocolate finish so they feel a lot more cohesive. Someday…

      xo,
      s

  27. Marae says

    Isn’t spray paint awfully toxic? You seem to be doing or planning a lot of projects involving spray paint and Kilz primer, but I thought you were all low-VOC people? Aren’t these cheap finds just going to off-gas? Are you using low-VOC spray paint for these items and your door handles and lighting fixtures you talk about spray painting?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We are definitely no-VOC peeps! Every room we’ve painted since I got prego was with no-VOC paint and I haven’t used spray paint (or spray primer) since before Clara was conceived (that’s 18+ months ago). But I’m cool with John using spray paint outside and then letting things fully dry out there. When spray paint cures, about 99% of the offgassing is done. And then we leave our spray painted objects in the garage or the sunroom (in “purgatory” – haha) for a while, just to be sure all those nasty fumes are a thing of the past once it’s brought inside. We also paint things that others would spray with no-VOC paint instead (like the sink mirror in our bedroom or Clara’s mirror above her crib) and even though it might take longer and be less durable it’s still a fair trade to us. We’re counting down the seconds until paint stores come out with no-VOC spray paint. Ben Moore can put no-VOC paint in a spray bottle for you, but the base or some additive still seems to have them (at least the last time I checked). Should be any day now…

      xo,
      s

    • Jenn(ifer) @ heim-elich says

      You could always get one of those spray painting machines like this one
      http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-518080-Control-Spray-Sprayer/dp/B003PGQI48/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&qid=1298020308&sr=8-33
      and than you can use any no-VOC paint and spray it…
      I have the German big brother of that machine (same manufacturer, but the simply sell slightly different lines over here), it has different attachements and you can spray wall paint as well as varnish with it. I love it…
      It is bit of an investment up front but you save so much on spray paint (which is always a lot more than that in a can), rollers, brushes and so on…

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s a great idea! Or you can just go rogue and paint it on thinly (with a brush or roller) like we’ve done with a few items (like the two mirrors I mentioned). So far they’re in great shape!

      xo,
      s

  28. Tracey says

    I can’t wait to see what you do with that calendar. I’ve been buying those vintage map calendars for the past several years with the idea of framing them but I haven’t yet. I’m super excited to see how you use them.

    Reply

  29. Livy says

    Loved it all guys!

    Just a tip, in your last sentence you forgot the “re” in “there are things to clean and paint swatches to consider..”

    Reply

  30. Connie says

    Oh me goodness…..Clara’s got teeth! Sorry couldn’t resist saying something about Clara. Great finds! I swear you guys must have a thrifty find radar built inside of ya.

    Reply

  33. Hilary @ My So-Called Home says

    What I love most about all your finds is that you had a specific place in mind to use them. I often fall into the trap of buying things because they’re cheap but not having anywhere to use them! I especially like the horse with the ring and think it’ll look awesome against the (future) blue in your bathroom!

    Reply

  34. Melissa says

    Ahhh, my aunt has so many of those mirrors in her house. I wish she would give them a facelift, though. Along with everything else. I love her, but there are things she needs to update. Her mirrors, her decor, her mullet….

    Reply

  35. [email protected] says

    I don’t know why I’m surprised when I see places I recognize we always vacation in Rehobeth! Bella Luna is one of my favorite stores and I insist on shopping there everytime I go. I’m jealous that I’m missing out on the Valentine’s decor it looks like they have. Now I’m inspired to get the g.p.s. out and find those antique places! Yay! Thanks for the inspiration you guys.

    Reply

  36. Kara says

    Oh! The glass jar! I have a set that looks exactly like that that belonged to my grandparents. They kept candy and such inside, I generally fill mine with dog treats and sewing odds and ends. What great finds.

    Reply

  37. Michelle says

    Couldn’t your wonderful finds count as 24 separate items by including the map on the front? I love old looking maps and I just can’t let one go so I would have to include the cover page, cut down of course.

    Reply

  41. Tina Bland says

    I am crazy about those maps!! Our townhouse is set up kinda strange, we’ve made each room a different city/country in the world (i.e. dining room is NY, family room is London, bedroom is Paris, kitch will be Tuscanny when we get around to it, etc) it makes buying stuff for home so so fun. I am obsessed with maps because of this! I want to hang a set of them in a hallway to “bring the house together” so to speak. I have found a few I love. These that you guys found are so cool. We go to Rehobeth/OC every year (we live in MD) and love all the old antique and tchotke (sp?) stores around there!

    Reply

  42. Jane says

    I feel I need to hire you both as a “personal shopper”. We just bought our first house, which is huge, has lots of empty walls after being here for 3 months. I like all that you buy but I find it hard to find things that I like. I need to learn to have a Sherry & John “eyes”. What is the secret? How do you spot something and know it will go well with everything else? And even better, you find it on our budget!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I wish we had a big secret to share! We just look at things and if we like them and the price is right we jump on them. Well not all of them, just things that we think will “go” with our vision or our color scheme. And generally we try to figure out where we’ll put something before we get it so we’re sure we have a need for it (ex: we saw the heart lantern, talked about hanging it in the playroom, realized it had a lot of the colors we want to bring into our house and specifically the playroom, then agreed to get it). That’s how we avoid ending up with a home full of things we love but nowhere to put them (and absolute chaos because nothing “goes” together). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes! If you read back through the comments, I mentioned that I’d want to rewire those woven lamps, and they seemed a bit complicated thanks to their bases so that’s one of the reasons we passed. I’m definitely too much of a nervous nelly to bring ancient wiring like that into our beloved house!

      xo,
      s

  45. Elizabeth says

    Just wanted to thank you guys for being such a HUGE inspiration! I always pass your website to friends who love to decorate/organize! Love all the beach finds!!

    Reply

  46. susan says

    Instead of playing “Where’s Waldo?” your readers will be playing “Where’s the new stuff?” as we check out your house on a daily basis. susan

    Reply

  48. syreena says

    i love that you do such an awesome job shopping on a budget. i find that the hardest to do and often have a hard time seeing the potential in things. you really make it easier to see things in different ways. you guys are awesome ;)

    Reply

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