Sunday, March 22, 2009

Stretching Those Decorating Dollars


I shop at a lot of places for home decor items, I'm sure you do too! Some of my favorite discount stores besides Target are Big Lots and Dollar Tree. I was in Big Lots Saturday (looking for some canned peaches - can you believe a can of fruit used to be under a $1 and now it's $1.45 to $1.89!)


Anyway, they were all sold out of the Dole peaches but they did have some home decor items. If you want to start or add to your mercury glass collection, check out Big Lots. They have a few faux mercury glass candle sticks and a votive in their new home collection. I don't have one to show you since I didn't buy one (I have more than enough already).


I did find some cute springing tablecloths for $3.50. This cute striped apple green one I have on my table, a yellow polka dot and green and white flowery one.



I know some people turn their noses up at vinyl tablecloths but I happen to like them since they're so easy to wipe clean (great if you have kids) and come in so many lovely patterns these days.



I brought out some of my milk glass bud vases from the thrift store to stretch my grocery store bouquet of flowers (which were originally clearance anyway). You always have a few flowers that seem to last longer in a bouquet than others so bud vases come in handy for them!




I also found these cute storage jars for $4! I thought they'd be perfecting for storing craft supplies like bits of ribbon or used in the kitchen/pantry.




My other favorite decorating resource is my local wallpaper shop. I got these four rolls of toile wallpaper for $12 + tax!



They're a small wallpaper shop and they have a back room where they have all their discontinued papers and rolls that were open for samples. The two larger rolls were $5 each and the smaller ones were a $1! That's better than buying scrapbook paper and it's not patterns that everyone else already has! So don't be afraid to check out stores you wouldn't normally think could have any good deals. They may surprise you! Even my local florist had spectacular deals on Christmas mercury glass and other things in January!



P.S. : One of those wallpapers is going to go on the back of my bookcases this week - out with the stripes and in with some toile!

37 comments:

juls4real said...

What a great post. Like the idea of checking out a wallpaper shop. Love your tablecloths, too.

Unknown said...

Oh, I just love that wallpaper! And bud vases, too. Have a great day!

Sheryl

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great finds! I like the way you shop.
Glenda

jen said...

What a great deal on the wall paper!!

Jen

Marilyn in NM said...

I'm all for bargains! The little glass jars are awesome, wish I could find something like that here. I will have to check out the wallpaper store in town. They're very small so I never thought about a "bargain" room or bin. Hmmmm.

Great ideas, thanks once again.
Marilyn in NM

Vee said...

Help! I just clicked on the "link within" widget and couldn't get back. Honestly, I haven't figured out if I like those things or not and I have one, too. LOL!

I was just thinking about you and your bookcase back this morning and here you are ready to do something different again. The reason is because I backed just one shelf with some scrapbook paper and thought how expensive it would be if I did all of them. Now I see that I only need to visit the wallpaper store. So I'll be watching to see how the toile works out. I really liked those stripes.

Anonymous said...

I love the bud vase arrangement. I don't buy flowers often, but once in a while when I do I like to spread the flower love around my home by separating the bouquet.

This week I bought a bunch of 10 daffodils for $2.50. They opened up in a day and sure are cheerful to view on my dining room table.

I'm not a table cloth snob either. If something is pretty, it's pretty no matter what it's made of.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I love that wall paper of course! I would have never thought to go to a local wallpaper store to find discounts. Great idea Manuela!
Hugs,
Penny

Unknown said...

Great wallpaper. unfortunatley here in my town they closed up all the wallpaper stores. The only place you can get some is Lowes or Home Depot. And they rarely discount. Love Big Lots too. mishelle

Susie Homemaker said...

Hi Manuela...I saw those candlesticks at Big Lots too!! I couldn't justify the price even though they were down to 50% off now...I will keep watching them, if they come down more they might have to come home with me!

Love your TOILE!!! Can't wait to see the back of your shelves~

Blessings,
Susie

Laura said...

I just discovered your blog (I am new to all of this), and I feel like I have found a friend.

I have an entire box of the white milk glass vases you have pictured on your post, and I have used them many times at spring /summer parties- or just for my pleasure.

Come see me at www.whitespraypaint.blogspot.com.

Laura

Heather Anne said...

Ooooh! Great ideas! I really like the glass storage jars! If I only got out and about more to search out these kinds of bargains! Lately I just have to 'shop the house' and get creative because going out takes too much energy, but maybe when the summer months come we'll all be feeling better and able to get out and search for deals! It's more than 1/2 the fun to be sure!

Kelly B said...

I had never thought of the wallpaper stores, so thank you!! I would love to find some toile. I also haunt Big Lots and most of the thrift stores know me by name. :) I loved your finds and am glad to find someone else who appreciates the value of vinyl tablecloths!! :)

Heather said...

i too love vinyl tablecloths! so much easier to clean when you have kids and/or a husband, lol!

GlorV1 said...

I like vinyl tablecloths. I always buy them at dollar store or wherever I see them and if I like the pattern. Thx for sharing Manuela. Your posts are always exciting. Take care and have a great week.

Betty said...

OH my goodness Manuela! I've been reading through your latest posts. You have so many good ideas. I love your spring decorations and that picture makeover below has me wanting to take down a painting over the bed. I've wanted a different color mat for it for years!

Bonita said...

I love the fresh, happy look of your table.

Those jars are really neat and the toile paper is so pretty.

Thanks for the reminder to shop stores you wouldn't normally think of.

Jenni said...

Hi Manuela~
I think the tablecloths are darling! And the glass jars are a great idea for storing craft things! I am working on a little craft area right now, and this is just what I need to store ribbon and buttons...thanks for such a great idea! Did you find these at Big Lots? If so, I will have to make a trip that way! :) This was such a great post! :) I hope your weekend was wonderful!

Lorna ~ Lace and Ivy Cottage said...

I love the green and the black combination - so fresh! It just shouts spring!

Lorna

momof3girls said...

you are so great and real! please keep inspiring us!

Anonymous said...

You did a really great shopping! And I like the vinyl too, it saved my kitchen table so many times when my daughter was in one of her creative moments......

Lady Katherine said...

I love the vases, and thats funny! For me, when I had a florist, I got so tired of them! Now I love some back. lol I love vinyl table cloths! I have always used one on the breakfast tabe. Now with Grandchildren they are back, I thinking of making a skirt for the sink out of one. Go to Doc tomorrow, so I get to go shop while in city. Your cloth does not even look vinyl. Pass me the wallpaper, just one roll. I having a tea party for my Birthday, I wish you would join in. I think, I am going to but my blue toile in the dining room, as I bought it for that room, when the sofa was going in that room. Hubby has to fix the sheet rock now, for I have guest coming here for my Birthday Tea Party. Was to be a few, its grown to over 20. Everyone is telling everyone, and when you live in a small community, everyone knows. So they are asking to come. lol I can't seat that many! May set up tea theme tables! Wish me luck and if you can, join me I would be so happy. You can set out a couple cups and plates. I love to have some of your bread! I got to start doing more, things I love. Oh, I got tulips just a blooming! My roses too.

Anonymous said...

Great finds Manuela!

I have a couple of vinyl tablecloths, here at the lake. They are great! I need to find a couple of round ones. I have oblong for our folding table, for when the babies are here, but none for the round table.

I published my 300th post, yesterday. I'd love for you to come by and sign up for the give away.

Anonymous said...

Manuela,

I love the idea of using toile wallpaper to cover books. Again you've inspired me to start another project.

Hugs,
Gretchen
birdnestcottage.typepad.com

Anonymous said...

Oh my, great thrifty and CUTE finds! I haven't been to the Dollar Tree in a while. Need to get out there and see what they have. I need to get some organizing baskets and such.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I love the three vases with flowers. So simple, yet so pretty. laurie

Barb said...

Manuela, what great ideas! You already have me looking for thrift stores...ha.

Somehow, I have overlooked these fabulous stores all these years.

Barb

Anonymous said...

Wow I just love those black ornate chairs - any chance of doing a blog entry on those?

CJ'SMOMMY*KIMBERLY said...

Love the wall paper.I wish I could find some like that.I would go crazy doing altered projects.
I would take some of the red and do a big letter "H" for our last name.LOL I am having fun with your wall paper in my mind.
Also those jars,were they from Big Lots? If so I HAVE got to go get some for my scrapbok room.
I loved this post.Thanks for sharing with us.

Susan @ The Good Life! said...

I always love a good bargain and I too love vinyl tablecloths (3 kids)!

Rosemary said...

Love all of your great stuff. I think Target is so fun!!!
The wallpaper is great!
Happy Spring,
Rosemary

Faye said...

WOW,WHAT A GREAT POST.THANKS FOR SHARING.LOVE IT ALL!HAVE A BLESSED EVENING!

Anonymous said...

I do love Big Lotts...... and we do have one in the next town..... love the wall paper .... girl after my own heart... never enough toile...
HUgs
Linda

Cecelia---Sis---Mom said...

Great ideas!! I love my Big Lots, Dollar Trees and we have an Ollie's Discount Store now. I also like to slip into the Family Dollar and Dollar General to peruse their isles. I have gotten some great deals at all of these places.

I like to craft on the vinyl tablecloths and when my boys were smaller I would put them on the floor for their playdough or painting projects.

Cece

Joyce said...

Since I now have two little grands and my kitchen table is glass I use a vinyl tablecloth. So much easier to clean up after the little grads eat their ice cream cones. I can wipe it so quickly and once a week I toss it into the wash on knit delicate and hang out to dry. They have such an assortment of them these days and your new ones are so colorful. Thanks for sharing the wallpaper store idea.

dixymiss said...

Oooh, thanX for the tips. I haven't been to Big Lots in ages. I think a visit is in order! ;-)

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Hi Manuela! What wonderful finds! I love that polka dot tablecloth! And I can't wait to see your bookshelves with the toile wallpaper. It will be so cute!

XOXO
Jen