Being a selective, minimal and wise shopper is certainly the trend for all of us who have shifted our spending habits since the downturn in the economy. What was once  a steady income has changed for forty percent of individuals in our country.

Being able to create an environment of relaxation and comfort in our homes has been proven by psychologists as a way to better prepare us for work and stress we may find in our daily lives.

Here are some practical tips that can help lift our spirits with a realistic and efficient budget.

Reduce

Going through housewares, clothing, books, furniture and asking yourself when was the last time I have used, worn or found this item is a question to ask yourself.

If it has been one or more years since you have reached for a piece of clothing, utilized that house ware or needed that piece of furniture, it is time to give it to charity, take it to a consignment shop or trade it with a friend.

Asking a friend to give you a second opinion, who tends to be clutter free, is always a good source of guidance for those of us who want to hang on to belongings for dear life.

Freeing our home of clutter and gaining space helps to encourage productivity and creativity.

Rescue

After you remove unwanted clutter, the next step to consider is ways of bringing in change to invigorate your home by recycling the old and rescuing slightly used items.

Taking a day by yourself, or with a friend, hitting garage sales, thrift stores, consignment shops and other used furnishing sources is a fun and frugal way to begin the process of decorating your home with three principals in mind:

Shift towards simplifying, select new color themes and smart budget shopping.

Refresh

Some basic and inexpensive ways to refresh a room or home environment involves a fresh pop of color on one wall or painting the major living area or bedroom. Adding a different hue to your bed linens or decorative pillows in a new color on a sofa stimulates a sense of renewal.

Creating a center piece from the outside in any room will bring the outside into your home and establish the feeling of Spring.

Painting one piece of furniture or metal lighting in an unusual color will brighten any room. A new set of blinds, curtains or bright colored bed sheets can lift your spirits.

By shifting our thinking towards change, it will free us to create a home that is our own peaceful sanctuary.

Things do not change; We change…Henry David Thoreau

Written by Cherie Watts, Deserving Decor Volunteer

When reducing and donating to a local charity, if you live in Bucks County, PA, please view Deserving Decor’s list of needed donation items by visiting our Donate page.

Ahh Spring!!  Now if someone would remind mother nature to warm up the temperatures just a little bit.  But as the Spring temperatures flip flop, there’s no better time than now to craft a few budget-friendly Spring projects to transform your living areas and bring Spring inside.  You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish!

To get you started, check out the myriad of resources available with internet access, there are numerous crafting blogs, craft sites, and supplier resources are at your fingertips, “let your fingers do the walking!”

Also check your local  craft store clearance sections, flea markets, or thrift shops for cute prints that you can use to craft pillows, placemats, or wall art that will transform your decor.  How about the dollar store for patterned paper?  Even printed wrapping paper or patterned stationary can be made into your “new favorite” budget-friendly wall art!

Look at things that you already have that can be reused in a whole new way.  Free!  Do you have children’s clothing that they’ve outgrown?  You can reuse / repurpose those items into cute craft projects while you preserve the memories of your kids growing years.

Now onto ideas to craft any item into Spring fix-me-ups.  Projects can be sewn by machine if you have access to one, stitched by hand if you know how, or made “no sew” with iron on transfer paper.  Who doesn’t love that?

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/do-it-yourself/accents/easy-applique-pillow/?sssdmh=dm17.517343&esrc=nwdiy040611t&email=1401763160

Budget friendly wall art that looks like a designer original?  You can get it and do it yourself saving hundreds!  Some foam and your favorite scrap booking paper is all you need.

http://www.favecrafts.com/Wall-Decor/Modern-Wall-Art

Or, try your hand at making your own patterned paper to frame and display…here’s how

http://www.preservedgardens.com/projects/marblepaper.htm

Freshing your home for Spring doesn’t have to cost alot of money, just get started and remember Summer’s just around the corner.

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Article by Cheryl Galowitch, Deserving Decor Volunteer