How to Turn
Yard Sale Finds Into Home Decorating Masterpieces
by Kathleen Wilson
The time of
year is here for yard sales, and there is no
better place for budget decorators to find the best
treasures! The trick is in recognizing an items potential.
Here are some great ideas for turning low cost yard sale
finds into great home decorating accessories for your home!
1.Look little. Don’t overlook the impact little items can
make in your décor. Costume jewelry, craft beads, even
hardware wire can be transformed into beautiful details for
your home. Use earrings to pin together guest towels, wrap a
chandelier with a crystal necklace, or use the wire to
string on beads and twist around iron staircase railings.
2.Look big. An old 70’s waterbed might not seem like a good
find, unless you just use the headboard, paint it white, and
turn it into a cottage style display case for your china and
glassware! Old laminate storage cabinets can be transformed
into a gorgeous armoires by adding some molding, priming
with Kilz, and adding the paint color and technique of your
choice!
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3.Look for raw materials. You can find resources for fabric
at yard sales in clothing, sheets, and quilts and blankets.
Remember, a stained lace tablecloth can be cut down to make
placemats or runners, and a beautiful ski sweater can be
used to front a throw pillow. That silk dress you pick up
for $3 might offer great fabric for covering storage boxes,
photo matting, or edging towels. Used blankets can be washed
and used to line quilts, or cut, rolled up and covered to
make neck roll pillows.
4.Look beyond. Many items at garage sales may be used for
different uses than originally intended, if you just keep
your eyes open! You may find a beautiful serving bowl, but
get it for $1 because of it’s chipped edge! No worries, a
gorgeous planter for the front porch! A small bookshelf that
isn’t sturdy enough for books could be painted and placed on
the deck or the entry to hold plants or knick knacks. I even
saw one person cut the toe out of an old leather boot, and
use it as a splashguard at the downspout! If an item catches
your eye because of color or interest, try to see how it
could be used in a different way, and buy it for a song!
5.Learn some creative paint finishes. Most of the things you
find at yard sales can be upgraded in an afternoon with an
interesting paint finish. You can find many instructions on
the internet. I really love
www.PaintIdeas.com for some
great inspiration.
There you have it! Put a couple of bucks in your wallet,
always remember to offer a lower price than marked, and
don’t be afraid to pick up something because you love it,
even if you don’t know what to do with it quite yet! (Keep
reading The Budget Decorator, you’ll think of something!)
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