By Cassandra Sturos
Photo by Cassandra Sturos
Like most women, I love to shop, but I don’t have a problem when it comes to shoes, dresses, not even jewelry; where my troubles come into play, is home décor. I love buying pieces here and there to make my home feel cozy and look inviting. I get no small thrill when a new guest enters my house and starts oohing and ahhing over what I’ve created.
The thing is, I refuse to spend a fortune. The thrill of the deal is just as rewarding as the thrill of putting up a new piece. Pictured is my bedroom. Here are some tips on how to create this look with items you may already have or will be so much fun shopping for.
Books as Décor:
I collect books all the time, from thrift shops to yard sales I pick them up as I can never have too many. Books are not dust collectors. For those of us who don’t have wall-to-wall bookshelves, here are some ways you can put those stacks of beautiful books to good use:
- Line them up on a window sill
- Stack in tall rows along a wall with candle holders (or another piece of décor) on top. Don’t light the candles while atop the books though.
Accent pieces:
Photo by Cassandra Sturos
Vintage glass bottles look great as pieces of décor, especially when paired next to a different size or colored bottle. Put them on a dresser or bookshelf. 
Photo by Cassandra Sturos
Vintage suitcases make a unique decoration piece and are perfect for storage. Instead of putting a bench at the end of your bed, try stacked suitcases. The suitcases pictured were purchased at The Cottage in Leesburg.
Lighting:
I found the chandelier that hangs above the bed at a local thrift shop for $10. It was originally a brassy gold and I bought some turquoise paint (the kind that includes primer and is good for multi-surface) from Home Depot. After covering the sockets, I painted, got bulbs and hung the chandelier.
Wall of Art:
Photo by Cassandra Sturos
This is truly not hard to pull off, so don’t be intimidated. I chose a sea theme for my bedroom because I adore the sea and happened to have years of collecting photos that depict anything from lighthouses to waves under my belt. You do not and I reiterate, do not need to have a theme. The great thing about covering a wall in pictures and paintings is that you can do it in the most hodge-podge way with many elements, and it will still look fantastic. Vary the sizes of pieces you hang up, any size will do from very small to very large. I started with the largest painting in the middle and then moved out and hung smaller pieces from there. Don’t be afraid to hang a few funky items in the mix such as metal stars or antlers as that will create a unique, eye-catching look as well.
Check out these shops for amazing unique and vintage finds at affordable prices:
The Cottage in Leesburg: www.cottageatleesburg.com/
Twigs in Purcellville: www.twigsva.com
The White Elephant in Warrenton: www.whitelephant.com/