before and afters

Decorating doesn't have to be expensive.

Sometimes, all you need is a thrift store, paint, and a little ingenuity.

I went to Goodwill and picked up a few inexpensive 

things that I knew I could transform.

First up is this wood shadow box. It was $1.99.

I spray-painted it black and put it on top of the bookshelf

in the guest room/office/craft room.

It was fun filling it with rubber stamps and a couple of little

porcelain birds. I need to find a few more tiny objects to place in

the other small cubbies.

 

The view of the entire bookcase (which I also rearranged and added books to)...

 

I have a fondness for wrought iron pieces. Maybe because my grandpa

was a welder and ornamental iron artist?

This piece was 99 cents.

 

I spray-painted it white and wanted to put it in the corner of the

doorway going into the kitchen, but the walls weren't level and 

Brian wasn't keen on the idea of using 8 screws to hold this piece in place.

I told him, "Don't worry, I'll find a spot for it!"

And, I did.

 

I love wooden candle holders ~ they're so easy to paint.

Another 99 cent item.

Here's the old-fashioned before...

And the light-blue, distressed after.

Ignore the candle that doesn't fit - didn't have anything else at the time.

The two red wooden candlesticks are previous Goodwill finds.

Last up is this wicker mirror that I found for $1.99.

(I didn't get a chance to take a photo before I covered the mirror.)

I spray-painted the wicker white, and am using the piece on top of

a vintage secretary desk (it belonged to my grandma) in my bedroom.

Have you had any luck with thrift shopping for household items

where you live?