Although I don’t boast a perfectly decorated house, I love design. These days, though, the decorating budget is at an all-time low. The hubby gets nervous if I so much as flick through the IKEA catalogue and Elte is strictly off-limits.
But as I prepared for the arrival of number two, I got the itch. Not nesting, per se – I’ve never been consumed by the desire to clean or fold baby clothes, but I did feel there was a very real possibility I would suffocate in country pine.
So I came up with a bargain basement way to make my home, not designer perfect, but a place I felt comfortable. Here are my tips:
Paint it White
My solution to the abundance of hand-me-down pine furniture was to politely ask the hubby to paint it all white. It took him a day and the results were nothing short of amazing. Some hardware upgrades courtesy of Lee Valley and these slightly beat-up dressers, bed frames and side tables were transformed.
Look for accents
With a fresh white palette, I was able to get a bit inventive with my accents without it looking too much like Aunt Lottie’s crazy parlour. I have a strong pillow fetish, and IKEA, Marimekko, and BEMZ have very affordable alternatives with a modern vibe.
Vintage Accessories
I never thought I liked vintage, always proclaiming myself a modern gal when it came to decor (and most other things). But I realized what I truly love is a modern base with the ability to sprinkle in vintage accessories. Score double points if there is family history attached.
In my son’s bedroom, the bunk beds proudly sport twin-sized quilts made by my great-grandmother - a riotous patchwork of green and orange. The nursery features a print which used to hang in the bedroom shared by me and my two sisters. The IKEA armchair is draped with a baby blanket from the hubble’s childhood – vintage chic.
Our bedroom features wood shelves in contrast to the dark grey walls. I know, I know - after I went on a crusade to eradicate pine. But my shelves are raw, unfinished, bleached wood, the type I imagine in a cool loft in Stockholm. And they’re made from spruce planks from Home Depot – we got 5 shelves for about $20. Cheap.
On those shelves are treasures I’ve pilfered from our cottages – mostly tea cups in zany china patterns and a Jadeite mug. Whenever I see them I think about the generations of our family enjoying tea time.
Our bed is covered with a Nana-knit afghan in vibrant colours that work perfectly against a plain white mattelasse spread, courtesy of Mr. Sung and Zellers – another bargain at $30.
It may never be featured in a design magazine, but my decor offers the perfect backdrop to my life.
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