Converting your home to a farmhouse style on a budget can be done! I will show you how easy it is to convert your decor style. Let’s face it unless you have an unlimted budget converting your decor style can be very pricey! I am going to tell you how I am doing this and how you can do this on a limited budget.
Select your Vision for your Farmhouse Style
First of all, decide if your style is that of a minimalist or if you like layering. I find myself between those two styles. I think it is okay to find your own style! But do find your style before you start shopping. Have a style vision with the end look in mind. Do not deviate from your vision. Select your colors, your style and what is going to make you happy.
Years ago before Pinterest, I’m sure some of you are asking “before Pinterest”?? I collected and clipped pictures from magazines of rooms, furniture, lamps, accessories, kitchen, and bathroom looks and I would tape them on a sheet of paper and put them in a notebook, categorizing by rooms. Well, today not so much!! It is not that complicated anymore, you just create a board on Pinterest and pin to it! Once you have selected your design vision stick to it! Do not buy on impulse! If you do not love it then do not buy it!
Saving Money While You Are Spending Money
As we talk about saving money while you shop, I’m sure you are asking how do you save money when you are spending it? You can do this in so many ways. I like shopping at estate sales, flea markets, auctions, thrift shops, Goodwill, discounted wholesale warehouses, yard sales, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls and also another great place is Facebook Market. This is not all-inclusive as you become more knowledgeable you will find other great places to shop.
Another way of saving money is to do it yourself! If you can YouTube you can find how to. I love to take an old piece of furniture and chalk paint it. I have a wonderful DIY chalk paint that you can make and will last for a year. That sounds unbelievable, who has ever bought paint that lasts a year? Have you seen the price of chalk paint lately? Well, I can show you how to make this chalk paint Here.
Tips on Converting your Home to a Farmhouse Style on a Budget.
- An important piece of the equation to converting your home to Farmhouse style on a budget is patience. Let me tell you I am still using the same couch I bought over 15 years ago. Have you heard that styles come back every 10 years or so? Well, that’s what happened! While I couldn’t afford to buy another couch I just made that one work. White was in style 15 years ago then it was not so in style. I held on to it and lo and behold it’s in style again!
- Getting out of your comfort zone and being creative can also save you money. You can always slipcover your old couch. There are so many ways of doing this and we can go into more details in future posts.
- Your local craft stores can be your friend. You can always find craft supplies on sale. I painted a glass lamp to repurpose it in keeping with my farmhouse style by using paints specific to glass from the craft store.
- Craft stores also carry decor and very often on sale.
- Craft stores have coupons that you can download online to get 40% to 50% off on regular priced items.
Retail shopping for your Farmhouse Style
Let’s talk about some of the retail stores that you can frequent often. These are thrift stores, Goodwill, discounted warehouse stores, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshall’s and Facebook Market. Find out from the store manager when these stores restock. Go there on those days and be there when the store opens. Always have a budget in mind. If you have $50 only spend $50. I know this can be difficult for some of us but stay within your budget. If it doesn’t fit your visual style or your budget then don’t buy it.
Tips for Creating Vignettes
Once you have bought a few items you are going to want to start styling your farmhouse. You can do this by creating vignettes.. Vignettes can usually be small and are usually on tables or a flat surface.
- Start out on a small scale, by using tiered trays, flat trays or flat boxes.
- Build your vignette around a lighted area. Often times that is not possible, because some of our homes are not well lit. So improvise!
- Use objects in keeping with your farmhouse decor style.
- Always display objects in odd numbers.
- Vary the height of your objects, use books, pedestals anything to create height.
- Use different textures.
- Try to display the colors of your vignette that correspond to your home colors that you have chosen.
Below is a photo of a simple vignette, using height, different textures, odd number of objects. This photo includes several different types of textures there is wood, metal, and ceramic. This makes the vignette interesting and has appeal.
Have Fun in your Journey of Converting your Home to Farmhouse Style.
Be open-minded, look at something and ask yourself how can I work this into my style? Trust me your DIY skills will improve throughout your journey. You’ will find ways and shortcuts on making things work. Your creativity will flourish and you will soon find out that you have become a full-fledged creative bargain/negotiating shopper.
On Part II
I will talk about auction and estate sales. These can be very similar depending on the type of sale it is, however they can also be very different. There is definitely an art and skill to shopping at estate and auctions sales. You can find some of the most amazing top-quality finds at very little cost. Don’t make newbie mistakes when you shop in these two venues. If you do, you will lose out on the bargain items to those that are more skillful and experienced.
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Tiffany says
Great tips! I am looking forward to Part II on estate sales 🙂
admin says
Tiffany, Thank you! Its up on the Blog now!
Shelly says
I love Little vignettes so much! I have so many little hands ready to ruin them at my house that I will have to save these amazing ideas for later!
admin says
Shelly, I can totally relate.Sometimes we just have to wait for them to grow up.
Misty says
Great ideas! I’m saving this for the future!
admin says
Misty, Thank you, yes these are definitely money saving ideas!
Melissa says
These are great tips! I love all those stores too! Great idea to find out when they restock to get first dibs 🙂
admin says
Melissa, Thank you! Those are tips I learned through time. I always wondered why some people got such great things at these stores.