Get a new look without spending anything by using ordinary items you already have to decorate.

1. 8 Simple Ways to Decorate
With What You Have
Eugene Chrinian

2. Redecorating your home doesn’t always mean pulling out your wallet or heading to the
store. Here are eight easy decorating ideas that need nothing more than everyday
objects and supplies you likely already have around your home. Not only will you save
money, you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that previously un- or under-used
objects are now getting a new life.

3. Books
We all know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the
truth is that those covers are what make books such inspired and
versatile decorating items. Using books to decorate can be as
simple as arranging the books on your bookshelf to maximum
effect—whether that’s grouping together books of similar sizes or
with the same colored spines, alternating different books for a
random visual effect, or turning books with particularly attractive
covers outwards. There are also more creative ways you can put
books to work in your home. Empty, non-working fireplaces, for
example, look great when filled up with stacks of colorful books.

4. Dishes
Why get rid of that serving platter you never use, or that set of
mismatched plates, when you can use them for decorating?
You can use all kinds of dishes in all kinds of ways to add a
touch of whimsy to any room. Mount the serving platter behind
your couch like you would a mirror, or create a “feature wall”
by hanging different sizes and colors of plates in a collage-like
arrangement. Use bowls or teacups as handy pots for small
indoor plants; teacups are also great in the bathroom as
holders for soaps, cotton balls, or other small items. And
stringing up unused cutlery with some fishing line makes a
great, quirky set of wind chimes for your porch or balcony.

5. Bottles and Jars
Rather than sending them straight to the
recycling bin, save any bottles or jars that
have interesting shapes or colors. You can
use them individually, as vases for fresh
flowers, holders for candles, or as
attractive storage vessels for practical
items like pens and pencils in an office or
wooden spoons in the kitchen. You can
also group them together in a collection on
your mantelpiece or as a table centerpiece.

6. Backyard Greenery
If you’re lucky enough to be a gifted gardener,
you’ll always have access to a good source of
fresh flowers for your home. But you don’t have
to have a green thumb or a dozen different
kinds of rosebushes to bring a bit of greenery
into your home. Chances are your backyard has
at least one or two plants or trees that you can
clip a few slips of to put in a vase: new twigs
with young leaves on them look beautiful in the
early spring, and evergreen boughs add rich
color and a lovely scent, especially during the
winter months.

7. Family Photos
Rather than hiding your family photos away in albums,
put them where they belong: on display! Photos bring
a wonderful, personal feel to a room that even the best
artwork can’t always match. It’s easy to create a
unique and compelling photo wall by choosing two or
three different styles of inexpensive photo frames,
mounting your photos in them, and arranging them in
an asymmetrical combination on an empty wall. If you
prefer a more ordered look, try a multi-photo frame
with neat sections of different sizes for each photo.
You can also create a striking effect by mounting black
and white photos against a colored wall.

8. Jewelry
You use jewelry to decorate yourself, so why not use it
to decorate your bedroom? Earring trees—small metal
or wire frames with hooks for individual pairs of
earrings—are not only a practical organization tool,
they also make a great decorative piece for the top of a
night table or dresser. Or go for a different look by
pinning earrings, bracelets, and other small jewelry
pieces to a fabric-covered, framed cork board, which
you can then hang on your bedroom wall or in your
bathroom.

9. Paper and Fabric Squares
Using leftover textile and decorative
paper scraps as lining is an easy way to
bring a new look to the backs of
bookcases or cabinets. You can also
jazz up basic storage staples that are
out in the open, like cardboard boxes
or file folder cases, by covering them
with leftover wallpaper.

10. Outdoor Finishings
If your living room, kitchen, or dining room is in
need of a change of furniture, try checking your
garage or patio. Though they may have been
created for outdoor use, wicker, wrought iron,
and decorative aluminum garden or patio
furniture can freshen up an indoor room by
adding a lovely beach, cottage, or garden
feeling. Plus, this way you can enjoy these
pieces all year round, instead of just the few
months when it’s warm enough to sit outdoors.