Decorating Walls Dilemma!

I can't tell you how many friends have said to me, "I don't know what to put on my walls." This is the biggest dilemma in decorating!!! Way bigger than finding furniture! Because so many of us don't know what to put on our walls, we just don't put anything at all! Not good!! Well, hopefully this blog will help some.

First off, I am no expert by any means on decorating! I am just a mom, on a budget (a serious budget), who loves getting creative with used goods. I do remember the days, prior to kids, when I would go to any home decorating store and buy all new things. Well, those days are over. I don't have the time shop, nor the money and god knows it will be broken within 1 day knowing my luck and knowing my children:) So for decorating in my house I have become really creative. I first come up with a plan. You don't want to go aimlessly shopping. You will never find what you want, nor be able to put it all together. Look online at houzz.com or pinterest and pull some pictures of things you like.

 Here are some design ideas for your walls:
- Mirrors- Old, new, put them all together and make a collage of mirrors.
-Empty frames- Love this one because it's so easy and cheap! You can find next to nothing priced frames at yard sales. Give a pop of color with a can of spray paint. Put them all together and you have a decorated wall.
-Fabric- You can find discounted fabric just about anywhere. Glue it onto a piece of wood or glass and throw a frame over it.
-Old Posters- You can find really cool old posters at antique shops or thrift markets. Frame them and hang!
-Stencils- Stencils are great because if you hate it in a year from now, you can just pull it down. The only thing I don't like about them is that they can be pricey. Shop around online and make sure the stencil you pick fits the size of the wall appropriately. You don't want a tiny stencil sitting alone on a huge wall!
-Shelves- Shelves are fun because you put any treasures on them- photos, knick knacks, flowers, etc. Making your own shelf out of reclaimed wood is good on the budget too!
-Vintage Items- shadow boxes, signs, pictures, ladders, clocks, mason jars, reclaimed wood, phones, baskets, crates, etc. Anything old and cool looks amazing on the wall!
-Maps- Maps are fun and interesting. They add color and texture to any space. Find an old map at an antique shop and mount it on or in a frame.
-Plates- Old vintage plates are pretty in a dining room or kitchen. Having them out for everyone to see is much better than keeping them hidden in a buffet.
-Photos of nature or vacations- Print up some cool nature or vacation pictures in black and white and frame them. They will be a huge conversation piece for your guest.
-Monograms- Monograms are easy to make and can add so much color to a colorless room. You can paint, fabric, wallpaper or decoupage monograms. They are inexpensive to buy and easy to add to any photo or frame wall.
-Family Photos- I have tons of walls filled with photos of my kids and extended family. They not only add color on the wall but they make me smile every time I look at them.

Now that you have a plan, start searching for those items. Turn to craigslist, facebook, yard sales, antique stores and thrift stores for your used items. Most of these ideas listed above are inexpensive and easy to do. Don't buy new!! Take your time finding these pieces. Your wall isn't going anywhere;0 Once you have all your items, lay them out on the floor in an area the same size as your wall. This way you can move around pieces easily until you find the right look for everything. Once the items are set in place, take a picture of it!!! This is important! You don't want to forget the look if they somehow get mixed up. Measure out the spacing between each item and start with the middle!!! This way if you are off in your measurements, you can fix it easily.

Below I have posted some cool pictures I found online and some from my own house projects!! Enjoy:)

 Starting here and below are some of my DIY projects. I took some old frames and painted them. Using an old window I covered a piece of wood with burlap and attached it. I hung an old washboard I got for $3 at a yard sale. I made the latter using an old frame. I painted the shadow box I found at a market place. And I hung an old window frame with chicken wire and attached photos of friends on it with clothes line clips.

 Old phone from my late great aunt, shadow box, sign, picture I painted with friends. Anything I can find!

 Maps!

 These maps my husband found at an antique store. I bought these framed corkboards and glued the maps on them! Easy and inexpensive!

My yard sale find!!! Vintage shadow box I got for $8. I white washed it and then when to the antique trove and found some inexpensive goodies to go inside it!!!