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The secret of shabby chic décor is that it isn’t really a style at all. It basically consists of recycling old furniture, fabrics, and rugs that are worn, and even faded…but not frayed or torn. If you have been hit by this nasty economy, and are living with hand-me-down furniture and linens, you’ve got it made!  And if you haven’t been quite that lucky, never fear.  Garage sales, thrift shops, and flea markets will have everything you need, at a price you can afford!

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One of the nicest things about country cottage décor is the use of slipcovers. You don’t have to refinish, reupholster, or replace that sofa, easy chair, or ottoman.  You simply buy or make slipcovers…using a sturdy, washable fabric. Recover a few of your decorative throw pillows, and the whole room looks brand new.

You don’t have to buy new material, either.  Remnants, age-worn drapery fabrics, tablecloths, and even bed linens can be used to make your slipcovers. A piece from an old lace tablecloth or curtains can go right over your old pillows to give them a vintage look.

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Just about everyone, in all walks of life is having to contend with the weak economy, cost of living, and fear of job loss.  The way to survive this kind of uncertainty is simple. Keep living, but do it in an economical, money saving, and environment saving way. You will learn that you can still spruce up your home and not break the bank.  Over the next few weeks I will show you several design schemes on a budget.

Rustic décor is the topic for today.  If you live in a suburb, in the country, or in a rural community, rustic décor would be perfect for you. It is casual and comfortable, while still being chic and trendy. Best of all, it is quite affordable!

If you have invested in a summer home, there are several different cottage styles you might choose to decorate with. If you are on a body of water, Beach Cottage style would be appropriate. If the house is located in the country, you might try Country Cottage, Rustic Cottage, English Cottage, Garden Cottage, or French Country. If it is in a mountain setting, or a colder climate, Swedish Cottage would be perfect.

Perhaps you are going to live in your cottage all year round. You can still use any of the above themes, though you would probably spend a bit more and pay better attention to the fine details if this is going to be your permanent home. So now let’s consider the differences between these styles.

Beach cottage décor can mean different things, depending on which coast you live on. On the Atlantic side, you will find a more traditional look, with more rustic looking wood furniture. The wood can be left natural, or painted in the natural beach colors of blue, green, and sand. Wicker and bamboo, with highly colored and comfortable cushions would be appropriate. Nautical themes would include, navy, white, and seascape accessories.

On the Pacific side, you will find a much more casual and outdoors look. Dark wood and glass top tables, nothing formal, and chairs and sofas will be overstuffed and comfy in pale pastels or white. Modern accessories, outdoor dining, large patios, and huge windows are what you’ll need.

Country cottage begs for worn, recycled, and overstuffed furnishings. Colors can be anything you’d find in nature, with the addition of those soft, dusty blues. Fabrics are casual…plaids, stripes and checks. Vintage area rugs on hardwood floors, window shades and lacey curtains for the windows, and lots of snuggly throws will work here. Complete this homey picture with whimsical and sentimental memorabilia, dried flower arrangements and family photos.

Rustic cottage floors will be of stone or wood and covered with handcrafted rugs for color. Your color scheme should reflect the natural greens, browns and grays of the forest, with accents of gold, orange, and autumn reds. Concentrate those accents on fabrics and accessories. Pine furniture with rough finishes and cushions covered with country scenery will be comfortable and simple. A kitchen table with bench seating, rockers, and ladderback chairs are appropriate. Accessorize with pine cones, acorns, and dried flowers in big baskets. Don’t forget some needlework and a hurricane lamp or two.

The English country cottage look will stick with a fall color scheme. Greens, browns, rusts, yellows and oranges, a large fireplace, and a few antiques will add that cozy old-fashioned look. You want lots of baskets, dried flowers, wall shelves covered with knick knacks, and short café curtains on your windows.

French country cottage uses red, blue, green and yellow, with black accents. The walls should be finished in a rough stucco. Furniture can be natural dark wood or painted in a light color, often with hand painted details. Fabrics can be of chintz, toile, or a nice calico, with overall patterns. Mix them with some stripes or checks. Roosters are a popular accessory, as well as formal flower arrangements.

Swedish Cottage is wonderful for that cabin in a cold climate. Think light and airy in all you do here. The idea is to brighten up those dark, long, Scandinavian winters, so your colors will be whites and pale blues, with pastel accents in greens, yellows, and lavenders. Fabrics will be tiny prints on natural fabrics with white backgrounds. Floors can be whitewashed, pickled or stenciled, and adorned with loosely woven floral or striped throw rugs. Furniture is painted white or off white and made from white pine, birch or alder. This will be the least cluttered of the cottage looks.

Hopefully, this will help you decide which cottage look is best suited to your home, your needs and your tastes. Happy decorating!

 Wallpaper should be grasscloth or a vinyl texture, murals would depict outdoor scenes of beaches, palm trees, tropical plants and animals, or rainforest. Furniture of rattan, wicker, bamboo, or driftwood, with large animal prints, or island scenes for upholstery.  Fabrics should be loose textured…burlap or chenille are good examples. Hardwood or bamboo floors are the best, but simple, neutral ceramic tile works, too.

 Colors will range from the lightest of beige to the darkest browns, including pale yellow and mellow golds.  Any blue or green found in nature can be used, but limit your reds to a muted color or the bluish fushias of tropical flowers.

 Lighting can be driftwood lamps, tiki torches, or swag fixtures made up of colored balls.  An indoor fountain can be nestled into a grouping of silk palms and banana plants.  Monkeys and exotic birds can be perched on curtain rods or plants. A tall elephant with raised trunk can be a floor lamp or a coat tree.

 Windows can be anything from plantation shutters to lightweight sheers to simple bamboo shades with draped mosquito netting.  Accessorize with wicker or iron trunks, for end tables, coffee table or storage. Lightweight screens can be used to divide rooms, provide window cover, or just for show. Vases of colorful exotic flowers should be everywhere.  Tropical fish would be a plus.

 Don’t limit this look to your public rooms.  Follow through to the master bedroom, by hanging mosquito netting from your bed. Make the master bath feel tropical and luxurious with white painted wicker, lots of plants, and colorful, flowery towels and throw rugs. A wicker trunk next to the tub can store convenience items or be used as a table top or seating.  The same holds true if you place one or two at the foot of the bed.

 Some bamboo or jute rugs and mats, and a few ceiling fans of natural wood or rattan will complete your picture. Don’t overdo it, and avoid lots of small knicknacks.  Hang a few animal prints on the walls, put on the island music, light a few candles, and enjoy!

Western design should not be confused with Southwestern design or native American design, which we will cover at another time. Rather, you should be picturing the old cowboy westerns, complete with spurs, spats, boots, and stetsons.

Western is less casual than the other two designs. Furniture is heavy, overstuffed and well made, using leathers and polished woods. While walls, floors, and windows will be somewhat drab in color, going from light tans to dark rich browns, you will see splashes of bold and vibrant color, in the area rugs, throw rugs, casual throws, decorative pillows and wall hangings.

You might find a lamp, either table or floor type, with a base made from a rifle, a pistol, a bronze or wooden carved horse, or a pair of antlers. Silver spurs might hang from a peg on the wall. Family portraits painted in oils might be hung over the large fireplace. Animal skims might be used as rugs or wall hangings.

It is a very eclectic look at times, so don’t be surprised if there is a crystal chandelier found hanging over a large polished plank table. Anything from velvet to lace and silk may be found hanging form windows or in doorways. Some wrought iron might be visible, and there will certainly be some silver…maybe even a silver tea service sitting on a rough hewn credenza!

A silver studded leather footstool, a collection of cowboy hats well placed on a wall, a pair of saloon doors either separating two rooms or simply mounted on the wall with a cut sign painted on the wall above, old signs for the home remedies of the 1800s will all add to the feel of the old west.

The best part of all this is that all of it can be found quite easily at yard sales, garage sales, and flea markets, for moderate sums and a bit of perseverance. Shopping for, and finding your treasures will be as rewarding as filling your house with them!