10 Favorite Easy and Inexpensive Decor Essentials

Decorating your home should be fun, inexpensive, and a breeze to change for the seasons.  And I think some of the best decorative items are also functional.  Minimalist or not, we all have things we need to store, so why not make that storage attractive as well as accessible?

What I've learned from some expensive past mistakes is to stick with neutral colors and subtle patterns in large home purchases like sofas, rugs, and bedcovers.  But this doesn't mean everything needs to be ivory, beige, or gray!  Navy, chocolate, and earthy olive green also work as neutrals.  With a neutral base you can add colors and patterns you love with less expensive accents.  If your preferences change, you can change a few accent pieces.  That way, you'll always have a room you enjoy without constant shopping or expense.

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10 super-simple home enhancements

1.  Trays and bowls

Gathering a collection of small items on a tray or in a bowl allows them to function as one item, keeping your look simple and cohesive.  You could use a tray on the coffee table for a vase, candle, and remotes, or to create a coffee or tea station on a kitchen counter.  Bowls are great as a catch-all for keys, phones, or mail, or they can hold a collection of holiday baubles or postcards from your travels.

2.  Plants

Studies show that a walk in the woods actually changes the frequency of our brain waves and puts us in a calmer, more meditative state.  Bring that tranquility home by adding at least one plant to every room.  You can stick with easy-care, low-light favorites like pothos, snake plant, or peace lily, or choose something larger like a ficus tree if you have a well-lit corner.  In addition to their beauty and serenity, plants help detoxify indoor air.

If you fear your black thumb will kill any plants you care for, try adding a vase of preserved eucalyptus or lavender instead.  You'll get a beautiful touch of nature plus uplifting scent.

3.  Baskets

Natural fiber baskets look great and add texture and a handcrafted vibe.  They're one of the prettiest ways to stash things – especially those you use often.  A basket or two of toys or games can slide under a coffee table, attractive yet easy to access and put away again.  A basket can make bill-paying or craft supplies portable as well as decorative.  Baskets can hold tea towels and napkins in the kitchen, wash cloths and hand towels in the bathroom.  Pop your plants into baskets to unify mismatched pots (or hide cheap plastic ones).

4.  Knobs and pulls

Adding hardware is an inexpensive way to change or upgrade the look of your cupboards and drawers.  There are so many options – they truly are like "jewelry" that finishes your space.  You'll be surprised how such a tiny change can add glamor, whimsy, vintage charm, or a touch of nature.

5.  Frames

Check thrift stores and vintage shops for nice-looking frames that don't cost much, then get creative with how you use them.  For example, hang a small bouquet of dried flowers on a nail or hook, then surround it with an empty, ornate frame.  You could find a pretty dish towel and frame it for your kitchen wall.  And a beautiful greeting card you want to keep will look good in an easel-backed photo frame.

Have you spent any time looking at scrapbooking paper?  I used to be an avid scrapbooker, and some of those papers are gorgeous.  They are also good candidates for framing, or to use as a mat for a smaller photo or piece of art, and they're easy and cheap to change each season.

Remember that easy-to-install picture ledges can become a focal point with the addition of art, photos, or even children's books, and make an easily designed and rearranged gallery wall.

6.  Toss pillows

Pillows not only give you a chance to experiment with colors and patterns, but they make a couch, chair, or bed customizable.  I have slight scoliosis, so I appreciate a pillow I can position to support my lower back.  Other people have different needs and preferences, and a few toss cushions can accommodate them.  Just be careful not to overdo – it's annoying to have to move six pillows out of the way just so you can sit down.

If you make or purchase zippered pillow covers, you can swap out colors and designs when you feel like a change and store the covers as easily as you store a set of sheets, ready to be used again later.  It also means that most covers are washable, which keeps everything bright and fresh.

7.  Mirrors

Mirrors energize your space, and they don't have to be large or expensive.  I have a pair of 12" mirrors above my kitchen sink since I don't have a window there.  They reflect the light and view from the window at the other end of the room, and make my kitchen feel bigger and brighter.

8.  Candles

To read, write, cook, or craft, you need lamplight.  But candles are unmatched for coziness and romance.  The flicker is soft and relaxing to watch on a quiet, lazy evening (or even a cloudy afternoon).  I realize that children or pets might make real flames impractical, but modern battery-powered candles look beautiful and real.  When in doubt, add a candle!

9.  Books

I love reading.  To me, books are not just shelf-filler.  I'm not a fan of book collections that are only there to create the look of a library.  I want the books I own to be works I have read, cherished, and will someday read again.  I enjoy owning beautiful editions of my favorites, and sometimes a couple of those lovely volumes are the perfect decorative accent on a table or in a tray.  They can be seasonal too:

• The Secret Garden and Edith Holden's beautiful Nature Notes in the spring
• To Kill a Mockingbird and the swashbuckling The Princess Bride in summer
• Sherlock Holmes and Stephen King for a spooky autumn
• ... and of course Tolkien and A Christmas Carol through the winter holidays 😊

10.  Painted furniture

A few pieces of painted furniture can add a punch of color, plus you can use old or bargain pieces because paint covers the flaws.  Paint unifies mismatched wooden chairs around your table, or makes two different side tables work together in your living area or bedroom.  And when you want a change, some primer and a quart of quality semi-gloss will do it.

Finishing touches

These ten items all have a place in my home.  They're the workhorses of decorative accessories!  Using one is great, but combining two or more in one area will help create a space with life, texture, and personality.

If you're struggling to make your space feel complete without adding unnecessary clutter, gather a few of these items.  They'll give you a great start.

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