Decorating on a Budget

So, let’s count down –David Letterman style -10 ways to Decorate on a Budget.

#10 Take a Look at your front door!

You know it only takes 3-5 seconds to make a first impression and that not only goes for ourselves, but also for our home. And, what is the first thing guests see…. Your front door.

¨ An easy and inexpensive way to dress up your front door is with one of our fabulous door buckets.

¨ A savvy shopper will tell you that you do best purchasing a neutral color bucket that you can fill with seasonal items throughout out the year.

¨ Our flower market door bucket on pg 35 is a great example.

¨ Inexpensive ways to fill your door bucket is with things from your yard. I use magnolia, fall leaves, purple cane, hydrangeas as well as inexpensive flowers from the grocery store.

¨ You can add a big bow to take up some space and don’t forget that you can mix fresh flowers with permanent for a great look and no one will guess that some flowers are not fresh!

¨ I also want to mention that with our new Berry and Bow bucket, (pg 66) the finial comes off and you could place a ribbon there and use throughout the seasons or if you have our wreath hanger, you can add the fleur de lis finial.

¨ You might want to also think about how your door looks at night, and I would suggest adding a little twinkle at night. I love our Tealight Garden stakes that you see here in the lantana plant that is in my entertaining bucket. Can’t you just see this on your front porch? You can take this same arrangement and used it as a centerpiece for a Garden Party on your back porch.

#9 Update your Bathroom

You know the bathroom is the one room that everyone uses –including your guests.

¨ When updating a bathroom, I would suggest starting with your powder room.

¨ The powder room is one of my favorite rooms to decorate because it is small, and you can unleash your creativity with a big bold color and really have some fun with this room.

¨ But, one thing to remember is that good design is still in the details- often it’s the “little things” that pull a room together.

¨ One of my favorite budget friendly products is our Estate Dispenser on pg 71. Not only is this item budget friendly – it is also eco-friendly. You can re-fill with your own hand soap and not constantly replace with plastic container. Plus – the design is “spot on” with the more updated hardware.

¨ In your guest bath – I would highly recommend our new Morningside Caddy – which comes in our starter kit! When I have overnight guests, I like for them to have everything they need while they are staying in my home- similar to a nice hotel. I fill the caddy with face towels and samples of soap, lotions etc… that I get from hotels that I visit – in fact these come from our recent Atlantis trip this summer. I also use the samples that I receive from Sephora and other department stores and keep those ready for my guests. And, I placed some lavendar in the back – because you can purchase it at anytime and it has such a relaxing smell.


#8 Spruce up your mantle.

¨ In most homes, the mantle is the place where most eyes go… it is the Focal Point.

¨ So, let’s create some mantle magic on a budget.

¨ We recommend that you choose 1-2 of our items that you can change throughout the season.

¨ I want you to think about your mantle- is it in a casual or formal area of your home?

¨ One thing to think about – if you want a more formal mantle- then you may want to go symmetrical. If you want to create a more casual feel – then asymmetrical may work better for you.

¨ No matter which way you go, I think you can never go wrong with 1 or 2 hurricanes on your mantle. And we have several at different price points.

¨ A hurricane is a simple way to reflect Nature’s season on your mantle and bring the outdoors in. One of my very favorite hurricanes is the one that comes in our kit – Galveston Hurricane- can you believe this is the small one?

¨ Just like our front door bucket- I would recommend using things in your yard or things you find outside. I had a designer in Kentucky tell me that he decorates with roadsidia. I asked what that was and he told me anything that he finds on the side of the road! Now, ladies make sure that you are in a public domain and not trespassing if you choose to decorate with roadsidia!

¨ You can also decorate from the grocery store. I used green and gold split peas with a candle to create a simple display. Of course you could use pumpkins and ghords in the fall and cranberries and flowers at Christmas.

¨ Speaking of Christmas- check out the mantle on pg 78 – now that’s the way to Wow them with a simple amaryllis in the large hurricane.

¨ Lastly, if you want 2 hurricanes you might want to take a look at our new Hawthorn Hurricane (pg 59) which is a great value at $39.96- but with our new choose your own special – you can get the 2nd one for less than $20 – now that is decorating on a budget!

#7 Focus on one area of your home for maximum impact

¨ As I mentioned earlier, you are best to focus on one area of your home for maximum impact.

¨ I recently had a realtor tell me that they have found that when someone enters a home – they decide within 15 seconds whether they want to go any further. So- that says to me that you should make sure you wow them in your foyer.

¨ When you consider your budget –especially in a smaller space or defined area- you may be better off purchasing one or 2 “Statement Pieces” vs 5-7 smaller items.

¨ A “statement piece” is usually BIG on color or BIG on design.

¨ I absolutely love our Cover Girl – the Lady Jane Bottle Neck Vase. Besides being a statement piece – I love how it blends with so many designs. It works on the cover with an antique chair and rustic table. And, later you see it in a more contemporary design and it works there as well.

¨ You can make another big statement with our set of Bradford Lattice Lanterns! (pg 6) Our second set of cover girls. These lanterns are big on design – but what I also love is that when you host a Willow House party – you get to choose any one item in the catalog for 70% off and I would use mine for a statement piece or pieces! (notice how there is one price for the pair of lanterns- now that is a great value!)

#6 Rework your shelves

¨ If your books in your study or den look like a public library – you might want to rework your shelves!

¨ When reworking shelves, you want to pay attention to height, color and texture. You need a variety. You don’t want all of your books going horizontal.

¨ A great example of well designed shelves is in our catalog on page 42.

¨ You will notice that “less is more” when it comes to books, and there is a variety of textures and colors to draw in your eye.

¨ One tip for decorating on a budget is to consider purchasing things that come in 3’s. Heritage Hurricane trio- shown here are used as a bookend, filled with a candle and filled with flowers. I love that you can use them throughout your shelves or use them in a tablescape for a special occasion.

¨ One more tip for re-working shelves. Shelves are a great place to display collections. Designers will tell you to showcase your collections in one area or room. Who in here collects – Crosses? Angels?

¨ Consider displaying throughout your shelves – I love our new Caitlin cross and our herald angel on pg 63.

#5 Add Plants or Flowers

¨ Adding fresh plants and flowers brings life and energy to a room.

¨ Look for long lasting plants and flowers

¨ Also – you don’t want to over or under water plants and check your light requirements.

¨ If you are not a green thumb, ask someone who is what some of the easiest plants are to maintain.

¨ Some of my favorite plants – Christmas Cactus and Bromeliads

¨ When it comes to flowers- those cut in your yard are always going to be the most economical. Remember, when you cut them to have a container of water to place them in right away.

¨ Cut your flower stems every day and replace the water to keep them fresh longer.

¨ Inexpensive long lasting flowers that you can purchase from the grocery store include: carnations, alstromeria, mums, and sunflowers just to name a few.

¨ Also – don’t forget you can add fruit with flowers for an extra pop!

¨ When it comes to containers for your plants and flowers- I would try to find something that can serve double duty like the Beaumont Container on pg 44 and 45. You will see that is it food safe and is used to serve wine on page 44 and then it has a boxwood in it on pg 45. I also love the design and neutral color that will go in so many areas of your home.

¨ A simple container that everyone has for flowers is to use glassware. If you are looking for new glassware, you may want to consider our Simone Old Fashions. Couldn’t you see these lining your table at Christmas with cranberries and green mums!

#4 Use trays to decorate flat surfaces or walls.

¨ A flat surface is a boring surface. Whether you are talking about a table or a wall. A flat table often needs a tray to anchor it and a tray hanging on a wall will add so much visual interest.

¨ Covington Accent Tray on pg 11 can work as a charger or you can hang on a wall. You can decorate the tray with ribbon and wrapping paper and then use craft letters to spell your little girl’s name to hang in a nursery.

¨ Covington Serving Tray on pg 7 – I have on my screened in porch with an orchid and our Parisian luminaries. When I have company – I use it to serve drinks or wine and cheese. At convention, we displayed it with rosemary intertwined around the edges.

#3 Add a Mirror

¨ A mirror opens up a room, adds style and reflects light- gives us that added sparkle.

¨ Makes a room fill larger

¨ Our Medallion Mirror on pg 78 is one of our best sellers – the neutral brown color and Moroccan design will blend with many styles.

¨ When purchasing a mirror- consider buying one that is neural in color that will fit into many areas of your home. If you are in the 7+ years in your home – you may want to move your mirror from one room to another and it will feel all new again.

¨ Don’t forget that mirrors are another great anchor for a table or tablescape. I can picture the Medallion Mirror on a round table with our Hawthorn Hurricane in the middle surrounding by tealight candles.

#2 Use Wall Art

We’ve just talked about using trays and mirrors on our walls, but if you are looking for something more eclectic or need to cover a large space – wall art just may be your answer.

¨ Once again, I love wall art that comes in 3’s because you can hang it together or use in separate areas of your home.

¨ The Heritage Wall Art on pg 40 - this wall art is so compatible in many different areas of your home.

¨ Gail Pittman Allegria Tiles on pg 45 – these tiles could cover a large space and when you consider their cost vs art work – it is very affordable.

¨ Lastly, I would encourage you to create your own wall art. A great example of this is on pg 66 in the catalog. Here they have taken our Cordova Sconces (great value) and combined our verde plates and the fabulous new Portico plates. So, see what you have in your cupboards that would make great wall art or add to it with some of our new pieces. Go ahead and unleash your creativity.

#1 Ok –We are down to the number one way to decorate on a budget.

¨ Can anyone guess what that would be?

¨ Yes – you are right – the #1 way to decorate on a budget is to have your own Willow House party!

¨ Not only will you earn free and half price items and our hostesses typically earn between $100-$200 in free and half priced items

¨ In addition, you now get to choose your own Hostess Special at 70% off! Anything in the catalog! So, what statement piece can you not live without?