Tight Budget Redecorating

I thought I'd share with you some of the redecorating I've been doing in my house simply by using what I already had or buying one new decorating item and rearranging things to bring out a whole new look. The rooms in our house are pretty small, so their isn't a lot of wiggle room, but I'm really trying to achieve a bit of a classier look. I wish I would have taken some before and after pictures of this, but I forgot to. So this is the corner of our small master bedroom. I bought this cute hamper (I was using a rubbermaid waste bin), but I didn't have room for it, so I moved the dressers around and came up with this look (these are actually two dressers shoved together and I think it makes it look like one big dresser, which gave me a lot more space. I was also able add my grandmother's painting to the wall on the right and a few of my other grandmother's antique knick knacks. I got that mirror at a yardsale for $5. Love it!Michael's family is very patriotic and has a long history of serving in all the American wars. We decided to put together a military picture grouping for one wall, centered around the shadow box containing Michael's father's casket flag and military medals (Michael's dad served in the Korean War as a Marine and received a Purple Heart for a horrible wound he received in his knee). He died when Michael was 10 years old of cancer. That is his picture on the bottom left. I think he looks a lot like Michael. We also have a picture of Michael's brother, Nathan, who just got back from his 3rd tour in to Iraq. Welcome home, Nathan! Michael's picture is in the middle of the bottom row. I'm super happy with this picture grouping!

This is what I'm really excited to show you all. A friend of mine who is in design school came over and gave me advice on what to do with my mantle. It all started with this adorable carnival glass candy dish that my mom and step-dad gave me for a graduation present. I love the blues in it. I brought in the pottery cups made by a local artist. These were given to us by my friend, Brenda. I had this cool vase that I always use for fresh tulips, but I decided to use it for my mantle. I went to Walmart and got the flowers and twiggery and the pretty stones. I've only done one other fake flower arrangement in my life, but I was pretty happy with the results of this one. The best part is that this arrangement hides the ugly tv cord. Mission accomplished! Someday I'd like to put a mantle clock on here.

One of my hallway picture groupings was making my sister twitch (sorry, Stace!), so my friend helped me come up with this new arrangement which I think looks way better. I love my family pictures and I just can't be without them even if it looks tacky. The picture groupings help a lot, I hope. I don't have a picture, but I also confined most of my swords into one room. So now the dining room is my sword room. Sounds weird, I know, but I think it worked pretty well. Love all my historical swords and can't be without them.

Michael put the last piece of trim up on our pass-through. It sure is nice being able to work in the kitchen and keep an eye on Josiah while he's homeschooling. Can you tell I'm a major multi-tasker? Now I'm ready to paint the rest of the kitchen, bedroom, dining room, living room and Josiah's room. Just waiting on the funds and my husband to recoop from the last project ;)  I'm throwing in a picture of our bed. I achieved this whole look for less than $100, that was including a new bedspread and pillows. Thanks to Ross!  The mirror was my grandma's. It isn't a new arrangement or anything. I did this 4 years ago as a surprise for my hubby when he came home on his 2 week leave from when he was deployed to Iraq. I still love it, but I definitely can't wait repaint the room.

Have and awesome day!

Love,

Jackie