Since you’ve already decided to have company for Thanksgiving dinner, and we’ve set you up with some [...]]]> You don’t have to spend a lot of money when decorating for the holidays.  By adding a few special accessories to your public rooms you will transform your “winter is coming blahs” into a warm, welcoming, and festive Thanksgiving!

Since you’ve already decided to have company for Thanksgiving dinner, and we’ve set you up with some easy to make and inexpensive h’or doeurves, let’s pretty up the place and get everyone in the mood.  If you have a lovely dining room tablecloth, use it. Is it too plain?  No problem! Add a simple runner down the center of the table, in your favorite autumn colors.

You don’t need to invest in an expensive centerpiece, flower arrangement, or fancy candleholders. Nope!  Grab the kids, a couple of big bags, and go for a walk in the park, woods…anywhere you can find lots of trees and such. The kids will really enjoy this!

What are you looking for?  Anything that is colorful, interesting, and small enough to use as decorations for your house.  This will include interesting pebbles and rocks,  acorns, leaves, pine cones and branches,  wild grasses, and twigs. Unfortunately, wild flowers don’t hold up well when picked, so if you find some, wait till Thanksgiving Day to pick them.

Now to arrange them. If the kids made anything turkey-ish in school, make it part of your centerpiece!  A bowl of pine cones and acorns (or substitute nuts in the shell…then you have after dinner snacks covered, too) can have a candle set securely in the middle of it.  Scatter the colorful leaves down the center of your table . I personally prefer very low centerpieces…otherwise I am always squirming around trying to make eye contact with my guests.

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to do all that, how about  a bowl of fruit scattered with a few nuts?  Two small bowls on either side of the fruit can hold votive candles with a bit of potpourri . My favorite thing to do is to spend $4.oo for a few stems of button mums or mini carnations, and then pop them off their stems.  I take several small clear glass bowls, fill them halfway with water, put a small floating candle in the two for the table, and surround them with the flowers.  I then put the other bowls, with no candles in them, in each of my bathrooms.  For just a few bucks, you have added a wonderful fresh scent and a touch of fall color!  Instead of the fresh flowers, you can use a couple of spoons of potpourri.  It will float as well, and smell as good…but toss it when you are through with it, as it will get moldy.

A tall vase, or even a bucket, or a basket can hold pine boughts, wild grasses, and twigs.  Set them around your family room for a nice autumn feel and scent.  Pine boughs are also nice to lay along your mantle.  Be careful though…if you use the fireplace they will dry out quickly, so keep them from hanging down, do not place them on the hearth, and discard them when the needles begin to fall.

You will love how easy it will be to convert that look for Christmas once this holiday has passed.  And again I ask you to share any good ideas you might have…especially if they are easy and inexpensive.  The whole object here is to have fun and get in the spirit of things without going broke!

I decided to talk about the ever more popular style of decorating today, shabby chic, because it is so appropriate for the economic times we are dealing with. Without a doubt, this is the most economic form of decorating you can choose, since the main rule is “if it is old, worn, and used, its [...]]]>

I decided to talk about the ever more popular style of decorating today, shabby chic, because it is so appropriate for the economic times we are dealing with. Without a doubt, this is the most economic form of decorating you can choose, since the main rule is “if it is old, worn, and used, its perfect!”

Worn (not torn), faded, vintage upholstery, curtains, tablecloths, bed linens, and rugs are what you are looking for. Wooden furniture should be distressed (like most of us, these days), banged up, with worn corners, or, if painted, should be peeling and chipping.

Don’t get me wrong, here, Folks! I’m not talking about cheap crappy furniture that fell apart. I am referring to high quality pieces, and once beautiful fabrics, picture frames, and chandeliers, that

were lovingly used, and have faded and worn out over time. Cottons and linens should be either white, or pastels that have faded and bleached out over the years.

Painted furniture is also white or pastel, with many layers of paint, worn through in spots to show previous colors. Don’t mistake this style for a rustic look. While rustic may also be shabby, it is usually furniture of a simpler, more primitive design. Shabby chic c

an be very grand, elegant, and even formal. Think of it in the same light as a vintage wine!

Yellowed lace, fabric that is heavily patterned with roses, chenille bedspreads, lots of candles, old photographs and tintypes in filigreed silver frames are what you should be scouting around for. Hand painted (and chipped) ceramic vases filled with ro

ses can sit proudly in every room. Iron beds, candelabras sitting on doilies, rusty outdoor furniture will complete your look.

Don’t overcrowd your rooms with “stuff.” Keep it light and airy, with white or very light walls. Keep your color in your accessories. And don’t be afraid to use slipcovers on pieces that are just a bit too shabby. The resulting look should be comfortable, romantic, and nostalgic.

The best part of all is shopping for your treasures! At a time when budgeting is an absolute necessity, and recycling is urgently needed to save our environment, what could be more fun than hitting the garage sales, flea markets, consignment shops and thrift stores BECAUSE YOU WANT TO?

A word of caution…make sure that what you buy is sturdy, tables and chairs are level, and lamps are properly wired and working. Have fun shopping! Sandi