Thrifty Decor Chick | Thrifty DIY, Decor and Organizing

A HUGE Nine Year Before and After Home Tour!

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:39:57 +0000

Nine year before and after home tour {SO many DIYs!}

It has been NINE years of fun do-it-yourself projects and decor in our home! If you're a long time follower who has seen the transformation of our home, can you believe it's been that long?

It's been a while since I've done an extensive before and after tour, room by room. So today I gathered a ton of pics and I'll share links to many of the projects. If I don't link to something you're interested in, please let me know in the comments.

I've had an absolute blast making this house more of a home. There's still a lot I'd like to accomplish, so throughout this post I'll share what I have planned for the future.

Let's start with our laundry/mud room that I made some updates to earlier this year...

Mud Room and Laundry Combo

By the way, the title for each room will link to ALL of the projects for the spaces. You can easily scroll through the years of projects to find exactly what you're interested in.

I wasn't too sure if we'd like having our laundry in our mud room -- we had that combo years ago in our first home and ended up moving the laundry to the basement.

But because of the size, this set up has been absolutely wonderful. We have plenty of room (and now way more storage) so it stays clutter free.

Here's the folding table area before and after:

And the full view over towards the mud room cubbies after installing a wall of shiplap years ago and then now:

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I took down the shiplap and painted these walls in a nice neutral called Pachyderm a few months ago.

Kitchen

Our kitchen has undergone a TON of DIY projects over the years, most of them smaller touches that add up to a bigger impact.

Here's a side view of our kitchen shortly after moving in:

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Comparing Low to High Cabinetry Options From Big Box Stores

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 01:38:00 +0000

Breaking down the differences between unassembled and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets.

I'm breaking down the differences in quality and pricing among the four types of cabinets available from most big box hardware stores.

I've used three of the four options for my DIY projects over the years and have come up with a favorite!

After much research on what type of cabinet to use for our basement kitchenette project, I decided to go with unassembled kitchen cabinets for the first time ever, and I'm so glad I did! I'll be sharing the benefits of these easy-to-assemble cabinets, also known as RTA (or ready-to-assemble).

Our basement kitchenette was the first time I've started a kitchen space from scratch (see my big DIY kitchen renovation from our old house!), so I did a lot of research before starting.

One thing that shocked me was the price of quality assembled cabinets. It seemed they were increasing in price by the day! 😬 I didn't consider custom cabinets because I can DIY so many of the fancy details myself.

This post has been updated in September, 2026.

I've always used in stock unfinished cabinets for my DIY built ins, partly because I'm usually impatient and want to go get them when I want them, but mostly because the price is fantastic and they can easily be updated a number of ways.

But I wanted a little higher quality for this space, so after looking at options for our new kitchen, I decided on unassembled RTA cabinets:

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We choose the Hampton Bay Avondale shaker cabinets from Home Depot. I found you get a lot of the bells and whistles of higher end cabinets, but they cost way less because you're doing most of the work. :)

I set up my cabinet assembly line on our long dining table in the basement (with a big drop cloth and scrap cardboard from the cabinets on top).

The only hard part of this process was getting them down the stairs. The boxes were HEAVY (these are made with plywood instead of the cheaper furniture board the less expensive versions are made of).

For the larger cabinets, we opened them up and took the parts down in trips.

Once down there though, the process was pleasantly easy and quick. I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't mind furniture assembly, so it was almost fun for me...like a puzzle.

After a couple I had the process down by heart. I was thoroughly impressed with the quality -- the drawers have dovetail joints:

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Our Favorite Solar Outdoor Lighting {Both Fun and Functional!}

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 21:26:58 +0000

My favorite outdoor solar lights for a beautiful (and safe) backyard!

These solar lights work just as well as our wired landscape lighting, and come in some really fun options that add some whimsy to your yard!

I know summer is winding down, but if you're anything like me, fall is your favorite time to enjoy the outdoors. Autumn is the BEST time to enjoy our backyard.

I've always been a fan of landscape lighting, and shared how easy it is to install more permanent, wired lighting in your yard. There's no electrical knowledge necessary, and it really doesn't take long at all to do it yourself.

You will save a TON OF MONEY doing this project yourself, it's such an easy DIY!

Years ago I ran wired lighting around our back patio, but as we've added landscaping since, I've started using more solar light here and there. In my experience, the wired LED options are brighter, but there are some really fun solar alternatives to incorporate as well.

I LOVE the lighting details I've added to our backyard, so I decided to share some of my favorites with you.

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We'll start with the most basic lighting, these accent solar lights. I've placed them along a couple of our tree lines in the backyard:

When I first purchased these years ago, I worried the solar panel would bother me. We don't even notice it during the day though!

I like that these are so easy to adjust -- the head moves around easily to point lower on the ground for pathway lighting, or up along taller trees.

Solar lights like these are great because as your bushes and trees grow, you can easily move them around.

I suggest using a rubber mallet if you have harder clay soil like us in Indiana!

They aren't CRAZY bright, but are more than sufficient for soft accent lighting:

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How to Add Extra DIY Storage to the Ends of a Closet

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:47:00 +0000

Utilizing the dead space at the ends of a closet for TONS of added storage.

This is one of my favorite ways to make a closet even more functional!

I first did this DIY years ago in our guest room closet -- it was a wide closet with sliding doors. We didn't really need it for hanging clothes, so we utilized it for extra bedding and other random stuff.

What we really needed was some shelving, so I decided to take advantage of the ends of the closet and add built in shelves:

These were super simple versions using scrap pieces of wood I had in the garage. These shelves made this closet so much more functional for how we used this closet!

Years ago I did the same DIY, just a little more finished out, in our mud/laundry room closet:

My dream was always to have a big closet in our mud room! When we built our home years ago and I saw how large our laundry/mud combo was going to be, I knew we'd have plenty of room for a cleaning closet.

My favorite part is the OUTLET I had put inside. Game changer.

Initially after moving in, we just chucked things in there as we got settled:

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Pretty! 😁

I knew I could make better use of the space in this closet! That dead space at the ends of closets like this has always bugged me. Unless you are filling it with clothes, it's usually an awkward spot that can be utilized MUCH better.

This DIY process is identical to the DIY floating shelves I've built here and there over the years. Be sure to check that out for a step-by-step tutorial.

Before I started in here I removed the door trim on the inside of the closet so I could bring the front of the shelves right up to the edge:

I kept that piece so I could add it back later.

You'll need to secure your supports (a 1x2 is perfect) into studs or anchors on the back and side walls, then nail or glue a piece of wood onto the top of those supports.

I was going to leave these pretty basic, but then I realized they'd look so much better with some trim on the front. So I added that. I planned to leave them unpainted...but then I realized how good they would look in white.

And this is how a super simple project turns into a multi-day process. 😂

This is how that side looked when I was done:

Look at all that glorious storage space! I love it! By the way, I cut down the door trim (that I had taken down) and put it back up in between each shelf.

Remember how I organized so many garden tools and garage stuff by hanging it all on the wall? I did that here too -- I hung everything I could with these awesome broom Command hooks. They even hold our steam mop!

I recently decided to make this a dedicated cleaning closet with all of our products, rags and cleaning supplies. So I added similar shelves on the other side of the closet as well:

We don't have a closet light in here, so I stuck these awesome motion sensor lights above the doors inside.

I was able to do both new shelves with all scrap wood, so that was awesome!

Not sure why I didn't do this earlier! On this side I only added two shelves because I wanted to be able to store our Shark vacuum underneath for easy charging:

You can see I also cut a hole into the bottom shelf so I could keep our handheld vacuum charger on the shelf as well. I ran the cord from the plug up to the shelf:

I use these sticky card holders to label the bins.

Now all of our cleaning needs are in one spot in the house, it's SO nice and organized. We still keep one litter box for the cats in here, (the rest are in our basement) but I decided to leave that out of the pics. You're welcome. :)

It is SO lovely to have this awesome storage space in our mud room -- I think adding it is one of the best decisions I made in our home.

All of these shelves are about nine inches deep by 24 inches wide. It doesn't sound like a lot, but look how much surface storage they added -- especially for smaller items like these.

If you aren't using the ends of your closets I highly recommend this little project.

See more of our home and shop items in each room here.

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Easy DIY Homemade Jewelry Cleaner Recipe {From the Pantry}

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Best homemade DIY jewelry cleaner recipe.

This helpful homemade jewelry cleaner is super simple and cheap (free if you have the basics on hand). You can get your gemstones looking brand new without any harsh chemicals!

When I take my diamond rings into my jeweler to be cleaned they look at me like I have three heads and ask WHAT IN THE WORLD I have been doing.

I guess the spray paint, saw dust, paint, glue and all the other DIY messes stick around. ;)

This homemade version eats away at all that stuff and makes them absolutely shine. I love this simple jewelry cleaner because I always have what I need readily available in our pantry.

All of the “ingredients” are from the kitchen:

DIY JEWELRY CLEANER RECIPE

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp baking soda

1 tbsp dish detergent

one cup hot water

1 piece of aluminum foil

cereal bowl

Warm the water in the microwave for one to two minutes (I do two to get it nice and hot). I always use near boiling water for this cleaner.

While it’s heating use a piece of foil to line the bottom of a deep bowl:

When the water is ready, pour it in the bowl on top of the foil, then add the tablespoons of baking soda, salt and dish soap.

Stir up the mixture and watch it fizz:

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The Prettiest New Fall Kitchen and Dining Line From BHG!

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:08:59 +0000

The most beautiful early fall kitchen and dining decor from Walmart!

It's been a while since I've browsed around Walmart! I was SO impressed with the fall Better Homes and Gardens line they's started unpacking over the past week or so.

I'm not ready to pull out the fall decor just yet, but this collection was so pretty, I just had to share.

Most of the items that caught my eye were in the serving ware and kitchen items, but they had two aisles of beautiful finds. I'm just sharing a few with you here, including a couple of things I picked up.

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This pretty four leaf tray would be perfect for small snacks or candy on a coffee table:

The little handle in the middle makes it easy to carry around. I would use this all year, but it's especially cute for fall!

Many of the items in this collection are a combination of purple, green and cream colors. So pretty! I LOVED this purple set of dishes:

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Our Bedroom UNmakeover, Makeover. {Removing Wallpaper}

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:54:19 +0000

Removing wallpaper, fixing drywall damage and more main bedroom projects.

For a second, I thought maybe this bedroom project was going to be E.A.S.Y. But I was very wrong...it started with a much hope. 😂

I've tackled a BUNCH of rooms in our house this year, and the one I wanted to address this summer is our bedroom. When we first moved into our home, I was very into a dark gray color called Westchester Gray.

At the time I also installed a peel and stick wallpaper that looked like grasscloth:

I still LOVE the dark gray in our moody basement living area, but over time it felt heavy and drab in our bedroom.

A few years ago I decided to lighten things up by installing vertical tongue and groove planks on the bottom of the walls:

It brightened things up nicely and added some beautiful character as well.

When I worked on that project, I considered taking down the light gray wallpaper, but my experience with removing it in the past wasn't ideal. I figured I'd have to do a lot of drywall repairs, so I left it up and worked around it:

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How to Easily Revive Wilted Hydrangeas {Enjoy Weeks Longer!}

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 01:00:00 +0000

This easy trick will give your wilting hydrangea blooms new life!

I’m back today with a super quick tip that brings a droopy hydrangea back with minimal effort.

If you love hydrangeas as much as I do (and who doesn’t, for real) then you’ll love this tip. This trick works for both cut and store bought hydrangea blooms.

I used to hate when I’d buy flowers (or cut them from the yard) and they’d droop within a day or two.

Did you know that hydrangeas are one of the only flowers to draw in moisture from their blooms? Cool huh?

Hydrangeas take in water from everywhere -- their stems, petals and leaves.

This little hack allows you to keep cut hydrangeas plump and beautiful for a couple weeks or more!

Here’s what I’m talking about -- see the sad bloom on the bottom left?:

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Before learning this trick that wilted flower would have been tossed in the trash. Sometimes it drooped within a day of bringing them home or cutting them.

(See some tips to avoid this from the start later in the post!)

This post was updated in July of 2026.

Why are my hydrangea blooms wilting?

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Budget Friendly Curtains and Drapes That Look Custom

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:37:06 +0000

These affordable, extra long curtain panels look GREAT and are well under $100!

If you've ever shopped for window treatments, you know they can get expensive quick.

I have found that most stores don't carry curtains for taller ceilings, usually only the shortest versions around 84 inches or less are readily available.

I recommend hanging your drapery brackets and rod at least a few inches above the window frame, so if you have eight foot ceilings you'll want at least 95 inch drapes.

If your ceiling height is nine feet tall, drapes at 108 inches are ideal so they will brush the ground.

Ideally, your curtains should "kiss" the floor. If you like a puddled look, you'll want them to be a few inches longer.

But there are so many affordable, quality options nowadays, even in LONG lengths! When we moved into our home nine years ago, there weren't nearly as many lovely choices for such a great price.

I've found a bunch of beautiful drapery options that won't break the bank. I can personally vouch for quite a few, as we have them hanging in our home.

My husband really wanted a bit more privacy for our sliding door in the dining room, and curtains were the best option. I found pretty linen-looking drapes in the perfect neutral fabric for this room:

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Not only do these natural linen curtains have a custom touch with sewn pinch pleats, but they come in a bunch of soft, pretty colors and a TON of customizable widths and lengths.

Plus they come with a blackout liner...perfect for a bedroom!

Pleat hooks come with the panels, so you'll only need to grab some curtain rings for installation. They hang beautifully after a quick steaming:

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Mandy's Cheesy Spinach and Sausage Pasta Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:00:00 +0000

This pasta dish with sausage and spinach is SO easy to make and has tons of flavor!

This one is a crowd pleaser and so easy to throw together!

Have you ever forgotten about a favorite dish and then rediscovered it? Maybe something from your childhood or a recipe that not only tastes good, but brings back good memories?

This absolutely DELICIOUS pasta recipe is one of those for me.

I found some recipes as I was sorting through our paper keepsakes. (See how I purged and organized all of the photos and memories here!)

One of them was a favorite of mine that I had completely forgotten about.

My friend Mandy is such a great cook and has shared some amazing recipes with me over the years. (This yummy strawberry dessert is another one I got from her.)

I remember sitting at her kitchen island on many occasions, eating this spinach sausage pasta and not being able to get enough of it...it's so flavorful and very easy to make!

It always surprised me, because I'm not a fan of spinach...but in this dish it is divine.

Here are the ingredients:

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Your Top Five Decorating Dilemmas SOLVED!

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 01:45:46 +0000

Common design and decor dilemmas and how to fix them!

Over my 18 years of blogging and content creation, I've received so many design dilemma questions from readers. I noticed that many of questions repeat again and again over the years.

I started taking note of the top requests for help, and gathered the top five design and decor dilemmas many of you have asked about!

1. Downplaying an ugly TV

This is a BIG dilemma I hear about often! I don't necessarily mind a television in a space, but I completely understand not wanting it to be the design focus in a room.

I shared a whole post about this topic, with tips on decorating around a TV so it doesn't dominate a space.

You can choose to embrace this electronic black hole by dressing it up a bit with a DIY TV picture frame:

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This DIY works on almost any flat screen TV and I think it really does make a difference -- the little decorative accent makes it feel more cohesive and intentional in a space.

On one of our televisions I had to accommodate for the remote sensor, so keep that in mind.

Of course a "frame" around a TV looks best if there's a pretty picture inside of it. The new Frame TVs are great -- we have one in our family room, and it really is lovely to be able to have artwork on the screen all day:

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Make Store Bought Drapes Look High End With Easy DIY Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Easy tricks to make store bought curtains look more high end.

There are so many great ways to update store bought drapes to make them look a bit more custom! And most of these tips don't involve sewing.

I've sewn my own custom curtains many times over the years, but you can save SO much time (and money) just doing a few DIY hacks to ready made drapes.

1. Adding length to drapes

HomeGoods, TJ Maxx and Amazon are great places to find pretty drapes, but finding them at a longer length of 103-108 inches (for nine foot ceilings) is a little more difficult.

Thankfully there's an easy trick to add a few inches to most store bought drapes! You'll want to make sure the drapes have large hems at the bottom and/or top:

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These drapes were 96 inches long, but had about 4 inch hems at both ends -- perfect! You'll want to inspect your drapes first to make sure they have a large hem like this. Most curtain sets will have at least a two inch hem on both ends.

It's so easy make these longer! Just grab a seam ripper and start tearing out the seams -- this takes some time, so turn on a good movie and just sit mindlessly doing it:

To get the length I wanted I took the top and bottom hems out.

By the way, these drapes were the kind that you put the drapery rod through at the top -- they didn't have any tabs so it was super easy.

To create your new hems with NO sewing, grab my some iron on hemming tape and the ironing board and figured out how far up I wanted to hem them:

I've used this stuff forever -- it's also called fusing web or stitch witchery and you'll just need an iron to use this product. It comes in a variety of "weights" -- if your fabric is thin cotton, the light or regular weight will be sufficient. Heavier fabrics will do better with the super weight option.

If a sewing machine intimidates you, you can even make your own drapes from scratch with this! Just place it on your fabric where you want your hem and then iron (be sure to use your steam setting to make sure it sticks well).

Before I learned how to sew I used this stuff all the time to make drapes -- it holds up for years and years! (You can even wash the items on a delicate cycle.)

I've also used this iron on webbing to add black out lining to inexpensive curtains.

2. Give your curtains a pleated look

Custom drapes made with pleats at the top make them look much more expensive and high end. Instead of doing that, I've done this little hack to give our window treatments the pleated look just by hanging them differently.

You'll need inexpensive drapery/curtain rings with clips for this look. Instead of clipping the fabric from the top, grab the drapes from behind and clip there:

It makes them look like someone sewed them for you. ;) I've done this for as long as I can remember on all of our windows and it always looks good.

The thicker the fabric the better for this trick!:

This is how this little adjustment looks on lightweight curtains:

3. DIY your own pleated drapes

Giving your cheaper curtains a true pleat isn't as difficult as you'd think! If you have the most basic sewing experience, you can do this DIY.

I shared a full tutorial on do-it-yourself pinch pleated drapes here, but this gives you an idea of the pleated look compared to grommets:

I've tweaked those cream and beige plaid drapes many times over the years! Here they are with the pinch pleats added:

Tour my office makeover here!

The hardware used to do this DIY allows you to give your curtains different kinds of pleated looks -- from the simplest to the more elaborate triple pleat:

Keep in mind, if you add pleats to your drapes, you will lose some width. So if you close your curtains, you'll want to double check that they will still cover the windows after pleating the fabric.

Another quick tip: Once you've added your pinch pleats, you can "train" your drapes to keep that look by tying them up for a day or so. They will hold their shape so much better:

4. Hang them high (but not too high)

Many designers recommend going all the way to the ceiling with your curtain rods, but I don't always agree with that design rule.

If you have a TON of space above your windows, I find hanging the rod hang a few feet higher than the windows only accentuates how small a window is.

In this case, I recommend hanging your drapes around six to ten inches above the trim.

If your ceilings are a manageable height, handing your hardware directly on the ceiling may be a good option.

A few years ago I discovered the Vidga curtain rails from IKEA and I LOVE them. I installed ours into the ceiling and it is a much cleaner look:

I do recommend hanging your curtains as wide as you can on a window. To do this, you'll want to hang your drapery rods so that they extend out from the side of the actual window by at least six inches, if not more.

Of course the space doesn't always allow for a super wide install (like in our bedroom, above), but even few inches will allow more natural light into your space!

Have you tried any of these drapery tricks? Here are a few more drapery and window treatment projects I've shared that you might find helpful!...

How to hang bamboo roman shades:

And if your bamboo shades are sagging or falling apart, this trick will save you a ton of money!:

How to make no-sew fabric roman shades (from way back but such a great project!):

Add some color or detail to drapes by adding a leading edge:

I did the same treatment to drapes in our current bedroom as well:

See more of our home and shop items in each room here.

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How to Make Furniture Look More Expensive With Black Paint!

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

How to make furniture look more expensive with a few coats of black paint!

Black is one of my favorite colors to use in a room because it's a classic -- black furniture is a chameleon that works in nearly every space, no matter the wall color. I find black accents to be more neutral because they ground a space and give your eyes a place to rest.

I've transformed many items over the years with a few coats of dark paint, but this recent nightstand project is one of my favorites because it calmed the room so much.

I'll show you more and a quick how-to on how to paint furniture a darker color in a bit, but first -- some of my favorites I've painted black over the years.

The brass hardware on this second hand dresser really popped when I painted it with Graphite by Benjamin Moore:

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Graphite is a very dark gray, almost black color that I used to paint all of our doors in our last house. I love that paint color!

If you want to update the whole look of a piece by adding new knobs, check out this tutorial for filling old hardware holes.

I found this sewing machine cabinet on the side of the road and a few coats of black paint brought in back to life:

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Twelve Easy Fourth of July Craft, Decor and Recipe Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Twelve cute and simple 4th of July crafts, decor and entertaining ideas.

I've gathered a few quick and easy patriotic projects and recipes -- these Fourth of July DIY touches will look great inside and out. Most of these are great projects to work on with the kids as well!

If you're hosting over the July 4th holiday, these projects can be knocked out pretty quick. And the easy food ideas are great for entertaining.

First up, this super easy flag decor I've seen floating around on social media. I have plenty of brass taper candle holders so I knew I wanted to try this out:

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This post has been updated with additional projects in July, 2026.

You'll need a few small flags (I prefer these with the gold finial on top) and either white air dry clay or picture putty. I had the former on hand so used that and stuffed some inside the tapers:

Then just push the flags into the tapers. They stayed put even before it dried, but will dry up and secure the flags even more after a few hours.

I ended up cutting down the wood stick just a bit on all of mine so they weren't crazy tall. The clay should pop right out after the holiday.

These red white and blue dipped pretzels from The 36th Avenue are super festive and I'll be making them for sure:

I've made these at Christmas and they are GOOD.

This year I threw together an easy door display for the summer months:

I had the blue and white baby's breath, but needed a red color. I ended up spray painting some of my existing baby's breath with a rust color I have on hand.

Just a few very light coats was all the faux blooms needed! I shared a bunch of similar hanging baskets for this decor idea here.

You know I love a good printable! This inexpensive watercolor flag printable can be downloaded and printed at home in minutes.

It's is an easy way to add some red white and blue without spending much money:

You seriously can't go wrong with these -- I use the same frames for my seasonal printables around the house and just change them up.

Make your own festive garland with paper and this easy tutorial from Nest of Posies:

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Three Ingredient {SUPER Easy!} Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:57:00 +0000

Making your own strawberry jelly isn't nearly as hard as you'd think!

Yay, it's strawberry season! Years ago a friend shared her strawberry freezer jam recipe with me (and how unbelievably easy it was), and I've been making this every summer since!

This jam takes only three ingredients and about 30 minutes to make. You'll have numerous jars to freeze for later.

When the kids were young, we'd go strawberry picking nearly every year. The berries are at their peak in June here in the Midwest:

Of course this easy recipe doesn't require picking your own...store bought is great! I do recommend buying organic if the budget allows, as pesticides can easily penetrate the thin skin on strawberries.

How to make easy strawberry jam:

Making this jam is SO incredibly easy! There are only three ingredients -- strawberries, sugar and Sure Jell fruit pectin. OK, technically four with water, but it's still not much at all.

You'll want at least a few pounds of clean berries:

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I always soak strawberries with a bit of white vinegar before eating or cooking with them. I promise you won't taste the vinegar -- usually about a quarter of vinegar to water ratio works great.

By the way, if you soak your berries in this mixture (usually five to ten minutes), they will stay fresh in a mason jar for up to two weeks! I use these jars for all berries -- blueberries last FOREVER in these.

After rinsing and cutting off the stems, I used a potato masher to smash up the berries to two cups (smashed):

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My Best of List: Home, DIY and Beauty {Amazon Prime Days!}

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:43:20 +0000

Home, garden, DIY and beauty: My absolute favorites Amazon list.

It's that time again! The annual Amazon Prime Days are here!

Instead of sharing products we don't use, I almost exclusively share only items that we can vouch for and enjoy in our home. I won't recommend it unless it has passed the test for us!

I've gathered some of the BEST home and garden, DIY and even a few beauty items we use all the time. Most of these are Prime Day deals at big discounts, and the others are affordable as is.

Check out last year's favorite household finds under $10 list here!

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Home and Garden

This AeroGarden is especially helpful in the winter, but if you don't have much outdoor space for gardening it would be perfect! You can enjoy fresh home grown herbs and small veggies at home all year long:

AeroGarden indoor gardening

Our Cuisinart air fryer/toaster is the most useful small appliance in our home! It replaces so many appliances -- toaster, air fryer and even a microwave (because of its warming option). We use this nearly every sing day:

Cuisinart air fryer/toaster/oven

I recently shared these awesome outdoor faux flowers and heard from so many of you who have used similar options! You truly cannot tell unless you're right up on them, plus NO green thumb necessary:

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Summer Themed Giveaway! {Home and Self Care Goodies}

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 03:35:28 +0000

A "thank you" summer giveaway! {Fresh, fun home finds and self care items.}

It's time to thank you all again! This time with a summer season themed giveaway, just in time for the summer solstice.

Over the past few weeks, I've been gathering the prettiest home and self care items to give away to two of you! This giveaway is full of completely unnecessary, frivolous fun items that you may not buy for yourself. So I bought them for you. :)

The value of all of these items is more than $100. I'll share the four easy ways to enter at the end of the post.

First, let's take a look at the goodies!

This giveaway is now closed, congrats to winners Carrie and Aubrey!

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Kitchen gadgets

These are SO fun, I love all of the color! In this section I gathered chip clips, (cute!) strawberry shaped popsicle molds, pretty reusable storage baggies, a lemon themed scrubber set and gardenia scented hand soap:

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Classic Decor for a Timeless Nancy Meyers Summer Look

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:01:03 +0000

Summer decor staples to get that relaxed, timeless Nancy Meyers charm.

I'm a sucker for the Nancy Meyers look any day of the year, but especially in the warmer summer months! Her designs are timeless and fresh, and are the epitome of this more relaxed season.

When you really break it down, Meyers' style is based in the classics -- soft color palates, natural textures and vintage accents that when mixed, create her effortless, lived-in look.

Blue is my absolute favorite color for decor or paint in a room, and summertime is the BEST time to incorporate it. Especially in combination with materials like rattan, metal accents and beautiful patterned fabrics.

I've gathered a bunch of Nancy Meyers inspired decor that will work year round, but is especially pretty in the warm summer months! I did my best to find classic pieces that didn't lean too coastal themed.

All of the links to these items (and more) can be found at my idea list!

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YES, You Can Spray Paint That! {But Will It Last?}

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

What can you spray paint? Just about anything!

Yes, you can (almost always) use spray paint on that item you're wondering about.

Tis the season for spray painting -- if you haven't attempted this easy do-it-yourself paint process, this is the perfect time to get outside and give it a try!

Transformations with this paint are great DIY projects for anyone who wants a quick and easy makeover. And the available spray paint color options are endless...so it's not hard to find the perfect tone for your project.

If you're new to these painting projects, be sure to check out my post with tons of spray painting tips.

Bottom line is you'll want to prep your item well (either a good cleaning or a light sanding) and use numerous light coats of paint instead of fewer heavy ones. This will ensure the smoothest finish.

Always use these aerosol paints in a well-ventilated area! Outside is ideal.

I've gathered a long list of the types of items and finishes that can be spray painted, and my review of how each one holds up over time. Let's start with my favorite!

This post has been updated with new content in June 2026.

1. Metal surfaces

I'm talking about this first because I think it's the easiest to paint and holds up incredibly well over time. (Usually.) Also, I rarely use a spray primer on metal surfaces because it's just not needed as much.

Years ago I shared tutorial on how I spray painted our kitchen cabinet hardware and at first we were pleasantly surprised at how well it held up at first:

Unfortunately over time, our most used handles were getting worn and I had to repaint a few a couple of times. I still think this method could work in a powder room or mud room where hardware may not be touched as often.

Spray painting metal light fixtures is one of my favorite ways to update a space! I've sprayed so many fixtures over the years and it's such an easy and quick way to change them up.

Most recently, I gave this recessed light converter in our foyer a quick makeover to brighten it up:

The brass tone is so much prettier than the black original.

This 80's light fixture was a dark, dirty brass and needed an update. I shared how I easily taped of ALL of those lines:

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Before and After: Pretty Updates and Smart Storage in Our Foyer

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:37:44 +0000

Pretty updates and smart storage solutions in our entryway makeover.

Our foyer is the latest room on my "let's add some character and finish up DIY details" journey through our house this year.

Some of the updates in this area took me out of my comfort zone, but I'm so glad I tackled them. Let's take a look at how this room started and then I'll share my latest projects and the after pics.

I've always loved that our entryway is its own dedicated space. It's especially spacious because of the little alcove off of this area with doorways to other rooms in our home.

When we moved in, I copy and pasted the exact decor and furniture we had in our first home:

After a bit, I wanted to add a bit more interest with molding. So I spent $15 on luan and had it cut down to create a pretty accent wall with vertical boards:

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While I was at it, I installed crown molding and thicker trim around the doors and doorways as well. That added trim made this space feel so much more grand.

Before I share the latest pretty updates, I wanted to show you the simple changes I made to our coat closet in this space.

We needed more space for winter boots and bulky shoes, so I repeated an easy DIY that I did in our last house. I screwed scrap wood into the wall on the sides and back, and then placed a long board on top to make a shelf for shoes:

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Five Helpful Garage Storage and Organization Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:49:00 +0000

TONS of useful garage storage ideas and organization tips.

After decluttering, cleaning and organizing our garage, I'm sharing ALL of the garage organization projects and storage solutions that have worked best for our family.

Before this project, our garage was never this organized...not even close. I tackled this space because I was SO tired of stepping over messes or pushing them out of the way while I was in here cutting wood or working on projects. Or not being able to find the tool I needed.

Years ago it hit me that the garage is as much my work space as my office with a desk and computer. I decided then and there to figure out better storage and a set up that functioned better.

I definitely splurged on a few things! But I saved in a lot of other ways too. I'm SO glad that I spent on the items I did -- they were so worth it!

Let's take a tour of some of my favorite organized spots, shall we?

This post was updated in June, 2026.

1. Seasonal decor storage.

I've shared our wood shelves with the organized holiday decor before:

I love having seasonal decor in clear bins so I can see exactly what I'm looking for.

If you're short on garage storage space, going vertical is a great solution!

That post also has tips for light strand storage, as well as my favorite way to store away the Christmas tree!

2. Get the clutter off the garage floor.

This beautiful corner of the garage is one of my favorite parts:

Read all about how I got things off the garage floor and onto the walls here!

This gives us easy access to sports equipment, rakes, shovels and brooms and gets everything off the floor. The melamine shelving is easy to clean and keeps the outdoor toys easily accessible as well.

I also changed out a rolling basketball cart for this skinny basketball holder that takes up WAY less space on the garage wall:

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I'll share additional links to all of the items pictured at the end of this post!

3. DIY scrap wood holder.

Right down from that corner was the mess where I kept my piles of scrap wood:

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My Favorite One-Of-A-Kind Facebook Marketplace Finds!

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:02:07 +0000

With some patience, you can find gorgeous home decor finds for a fraction of the price!

Early last year I wrote about my absolute favorite place to shop. Facebook Marketplace is hands down the best spot to find unique home decor for prices that are hard to beat!

I shared a bunch of FB Marketplace shopping tips in that post, so check that out if you're new to the experience. (I also shared a few of my best finds at that time.)

Since then, I've become a (self-proclaimed) expert at this type of shopping. I've added so many special finds to our home that I absolutely adore. I would take scrolling through the app over a store any day!

My furniture finds have been some of my best, but I think the smaller home decor items are my favorites. I'm always trying to keep our family history, places we love (and have visited) and our hobbies in mind when purchasing on Marketplace.

I want the things in our home to reflect us as a family whenever possible!

I LOVE looking for ceramic pieces on Facebook. This vintage Mexican Tonala teapot is a treasured find:

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My father-in-law was born and raised near Mexico City, so anything that reminds us of my husband's heritage is a great find in my mind. I adore the color and design of this painted teapot.

I loved the bright colors on these curved Turkish bowls and thought they would be perfect for small dips and dishes while entertaining:

Aren't those stunning??

After doing some research, I found that these usually come in a bigger set with a star-shaped bowl that goes in the middle. Now I'm on the lookout for one that matches these!

FYI: I always test any item for lead with these swabs before using it for food or drink.

I have a thing with peacocks...they are the most beautiful animal (other than our pets) that I've ever seen. I am in awe of their beauty! Over past year and a half I've found some pretty peacock finds on Facebook (say that three times fast):

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Adding DIY Painted Doors and Trim to Our Small Entry Alcove

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:40:13 +0000

Pretty design and DIY updates in our small foyer alcove.

One of the things I love about our home the most is that we have a few small hallways and alcoves. In our first home we didn't have one hallway. That didn't occur to me until we moved in here, and I've thoroughly enjoyed treating these spaces like the small rooms that they are.

I recently installed a gorgeous wall mural and painted the ceiling in the main part of our foyer, and wanted to continue the updates into this area right next to it. I particularly love this little alcove off of our entryway:

It has a few doorways -- a taller opening to our basement, and a couple of standard sized doors to our powder room and coat closet.

Years ago I hung a pretty pinstriped wallpaper in this area and still LOVE it. I've wanted to add a bit more drama to this small space, and finally started working on it a couple of weeks ago.

The large mural on the other side of this room has so many beautiful blue tones throughout. Plus we have dark blue wallpaper in the powder room, so it was a given that I wanted to use a blue for the doors. I've gathered a few paint color chips over the past few months and finally decided to go with a lovely color called Smokey Blue.

It was so pretty, but after two coats I knew it wasn't right. When I stepped back, I was transported right back to the late 80's/early 90's -- it was the exact country blue that so many of us had in our homes.

I felt like I should have added a wallpaper boarder around the top with ducks or geese:

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Two Ingredient {Light and Fluffy} Pineapple Angel Food Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Tue, 26 May 2026 15:55:00 +0000

The EASIEST light and fluffy pineapple dessert!

This two ingredient dessert is one of the easiest recipes ever and really delicious! It will satisfy your sweet tooth and only takes a few minutes to whip together.

I don’t have a source for this, (a friend shared it on Facebook) so I don’t even know what to call it. Pineapple angel food cake? Pineangel food cake? Pineapple fluffy goodness?

I'm sure it's one of those simple recipes that our great-grandmothers were making decades ago. It all comes back around. :)

This post has been updated in May, 2026.

I dare say that even if you don't love pineapple, you'll probably like this one. It's light and sweet and easy to dress up with simple additions.

It’s also stupid easy to make. You just take a box of angel food cake and a 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple:

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I’m sure you could use fresh chopped pineapple (definitely keep the juices!) but this is supposed to be easy, remember? ;)

You just dump the pineapple in with the cake mix:

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The “Fifth Wall” in a Room: Making the Most of Your Ceilings

noreply@blogger.com (Thrifty Decor Chick) — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:32:58 +0000

Don't forget your fifth wall! Ceilings are the perfect place for a beautiful hue.

This painting project is one of my FAVORITE design changes to make to a room. OK, the actual painting process is not my favorite (it stinks) but the end result is one I always love.

Interior designers call ceilings "the fifth wall" -- but it's understandable that this part of the room is usually ignored. Of course you can add architecture and interest with wood beams, or even wallpaper (I haven't attempted that just yet!).

But there's a much easier way to add character and depth to a space...with just paint.

Contrary to what you'd think, painting your ceiling doesn't necessarily make it the focal point of the room. In fact, when it's painted the wall color, it can sometimes disappear more than a bright white ceiling. I'll share examples below!

My favorite color for a ceiling is blue -- think of a blue sky and you'll understand my love for it! I'm currently working on our entryway (check out the huge mural project here) and my latest update was painting a deeper tone on the ceiling.

I painted it a very light blue years ago, but with the addition of the watercolor mural, I wanted to go with a darker blue that tied into the shades throughout the art. This paint color called Lakeside was my pick from Sherwin-Williams:

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It's been years since I've painted a ceiling and I'm getting way too old for it. 😂

Always start by cutting in around at the corners first, then paint with a roller. I recommend a thicker nap -- I used a 1/2 inch nap roller for our slightly textured ceiling:

Find our pretty bubble light here!

I painted one good coat cutting in with a brush, and two coats with the roller everywhere else.

An extending painting pole is a must if you're painting a ceiling. Otherwise you'll climb a ladder about 150 times. :) But if you already have a metal pole for an outdoor rake or broom, usually a paint roller handle will screw right on.

The darker hue looks SO great and ties in beautifully with the blues in the mural:

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