As we gaze and gawk at the Pottery Barn catalogs each season, those first tendencies to compare, complain and covet can get us, can’t they? Well, I may be speaking for myself, but I can’t help mourn the fact that my home will never look like that.

So instead of settling, why not let those pages inspire and pull out all those frugal, creative juices that have been waiting to emerge after a long winter hibernation. With yard sale season nearly warming up,  $1 lamps will be a plenty to a good home. Decorating on a Dime by spray painting those ugly gold ladies will never be easier. The white flower lamp above can easily be created by spray painting the base Heirloom white and then hot gluing white flowers around an old ugly shade.

My daughters’ room cries to be updated, and the first place I am beginning is with their light fixtures. I had a similar chandelier to the Pottery Barn one above waiting patiently in our attic for ten years before I finally donated it to Goodwill. Literally, the month after I did, I wanted to spank myself because spray painting the horrible brass a perfect white, and adding some fun flowers, hanging crystals and gems would be a fantastic alternative to the builder brass fixture in their now.  This yard sale season, searching to “re-buy” my fixture, as well as finding a small crystal chandelier for my laundry room tops the “Things to find”  thrifting list for spring .

One of my best IRL friends, Rebecca, took what she had and went with it when updating her daughter’s room. A hand me down table in a horrible wood color graced her presence and she knew that sporting a pretty purple was just what it needed. Then wanting to match her old lamp, she updated the base with an easy coat of white spray paint and then spent her time getting to know her hot glue gun.

Be prepared for some gluey fingers, but taking any old shade can be transformed with a little effort. Cut your strips of ribbon even, begin at the bottom slowly gluing around the edge and then work your way up the shade. It’s so cute, and what a wonderful love gift to her daughter.


Sweet Jen, From Tatertots and Jello took her shade from Dull to Daring in just thirty minutes. You know that is my kind of project, and why I love paint and fabric so much.
And since most of these projects are for those sweet girlies and ladies in your life, one of my best blogging friends, Kimba, gave us these fantastic DIY burlap covered lampshades in less than an hour. She used them in her master bedroom, but how perfect would they be in a boy’s room? Once we get some side tables for our teen boys’ room, I will definitely be referring to this post.

So, are any creative juices flowing yet? Remember, we make our choices whether its with our family time, finances or even our home decor. Don’t let Pottery Barn get you down, use those pages to ignite and spark something that you haven’t thought of before…that’s my choice.

(Pottery Barn catalog)