You asked for it, and here it is – A list of practical decorating ideas that you can do yourself for under $100. So without further ado, here goes:

1. Ceiling Medallions As Wall Art

You’re familiar with those plaster or plastic ceiling medallions used for hanging light fixtures…right? Bet you won’t look at them quite the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They can be painted into whatever color your heart desires and can easily be hung with a picture hanging kit from Home Depot or Lowes. Hanging them in groupings have a much bigger visual impact. Take a look

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Fabric Covered Boxes

If you have fabric remnants left over from another DIY or sewing project, you can use them to cover wooden boxes. You can find these at your local craft store like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. Your local fabric and craft store may also have fabric remnants for very little cost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabric covered boxes make a great decorative element when styling bookshelves or they work great for storage in other parts of your home. Here’s a quick how-to instructions on creating your own fabric covered boxes from Centsational Girl Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Children’s Artwork As Framed Originals

I have touched on this one before in a previous blog post “It’s The Little Things”. Kids create such wonderful and colorful art, that always have a fun or cute story behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All you need for this project is artwork, matte boards and frames, which are available at Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby. Hanging them salon style or in a neat grid on one big wall has such a major impact, not just on your decor, but on your child’s self confidence and creativity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Decorating With Burlap

It’s no surprise that these days burlap has become widely popular and in demand for home decor. You can now find burlap on fine upholstery, pillows, drapery and home accessories. But did you know that burlap was used for packaging coffee and sugar? The rustic, textural character of burlap is what makes it so desirable. It lends itself to a homey, cozy feeling, which is always welcoming in home decor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is now available in colors other than the traditional beige/brown color. In fact we have custom burlap drapery panels available on our online store starting at just $269 per pair! But if you have basic sewing skills, you can make your own for under $100.00. Or maybe a pillow, tableskirt or even a wreath is more within your comfort zone? Here are some inspiration photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Wallpapering The Back Of A Bookcase

Built-in bookcases are a great architectural feature in a room. Why not dress them up with remnant wallpaper that you can find at your local wallpaper supplier quite inexpensively. Peel and stick wallpapers are widely available online in wonderful colors and patterns. Roommates Wall Decals is a great place to start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing to consider when picking a wallpaper for this application, is to look for bold or geometric patterns or a pattern that will not get lost behind the decorative accessories that will be placed on the shelves. keep accessories to a minimum, as the wallpaper is the big feature and you want to avoid a cluttered, over decorated look

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Painting An Accent Wall….. Or Four, With Large Horizontal Stripes

Painting an accent wall a darker or bolder color is a great way to add a focal point to a room that lacks any architectural interest. Instead of stopping at just a solid coat of paint, why not do a horizontal stripe detail?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depending on the mood you want to create in the room, you can go with 2 colors with a high contrast for a bold look, or two colors that are close in value for a more monochromatic or tone-on-tone look. Metallic paints work great for this application as well, but keep in mind that metallic paints will cost a bit more. The stripes should be at least 8″ thick for a more updated look. Here are instructions for creating horizontal stripes in a room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Electrical Wire Spool As A Table, Stool Or Ottoman

This one is my personal favorite! Who knew that such beautiful pieces could be made from those not so attractive, industrial spools. Electrical wire spools can be found at electrical supply stores or do a google search and you will find many resources for where you can purchase them very inexpensively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The structure of the spools themselves don’t require alot of rework. A can of paint is enough to transform them into something special. But if you want to take it a few steps further….check these out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there you have it – A list of seven fun DIY decorating projects for under $100. Now it’s time to go forth and decorate!

Please don’t forget to comment and share if you found these tips useful. You can also check out my monthly newsletter “Pocket Decorator” for more fun design tips, ideas and inspiration. Click here to subscribe. I promise I won’t flood your inbox with emails.

 

Be Inspired!