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Several years ago I attended the Haven Conference (so inspiring!) and started following a few amazing home bloggers on Instagram. See how I fluffed up our home a few years ago (and some lessons I've kept with me over the years).
And over the last few weeks as I've watched them add some incredible pictures of their homes all fluffed up for fall, I've felt more than a twinge of jealousy because I just didn't think I could do what they're doing. Especially on a penny pinched budget.
But in all honesty, spending a bundle to fluff up my home (which is really only seen by my little family!) for just a month or two always seems a little silly to me ~ no matter how much I love beautiful spaces. I know that in a heartbeat I could easily shell out $100 (or more!) to make my home look oh-so-perfect, but I just can't justify the expense all that often on something that feels oh-so-frivolous.
So I decided instead to get a little creative.
I picked up a pumpkin at Walmart for $2.58, then took a walk through our backyard.
I noticed this.
And these.
And hunted down an old bowl and mason jar I already at home.
I gathered up a bunch of stems and made this . . .
And this.
Not too shabby, right? 😉
Folks, I know good and well no designer or decorator is ever going to rant and rave about the gorgeousness of my little penny pinched project.
And there's probably some floral design rule that says you shouldn't use hydrangeas and pumpkins all in one bunch.
Or maybe that pulling grasses indoors are a no-no.
And there are a ga-jillion-million-amazing-oh-my-gracious-you've-got-to-see-them-pinterested homes that mine won't measure up against.
But.
This little bunch of hydrangeas mixed with a pumpkin and some weird funky grass are just perfect for me.
I spent a whopping $3.
It fits my budget, it fits my home, and it makes me happy. 🙂
So often we (ahem ~ I!!!) see things on Pinterest or Instagram or wherever, and think our homes (or cars, or clothes, or whatever?) need to look just like that too. But we're all in different places financially, and what we choose to value today may not be what someone else values too.
If you don't have extra moo-lah to spend on a bunch of fluffing this fall, take a walk through your garden to see what you can come up with for free. (You may be inspired by what you see there!)
You may just be surprised with what you find ~ and if you don't have a yard to walk through, see if you can find a friend who'll let you steal a few clippings from theirs. So much fun to create a penny pinched home ~ especially when fluffing for free!
I'd love for you to join me over on Pinterest (I love that place!) If you have a blog and have done a little fluffing in your home, I’d love to see it, so leave your link in the comments section. Also, if there’s a craft you’ve seen on a website that you’re hoping to make, feel free to share that link as well (I’m always looking for new ideas!)
See previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!
This post has truly inspired me. It’s funny how sometimes just a $3 pumpkin and some yard clippings can be what really inspires us. It’s beautiful and simple and a true reminder that inspiration does not have to always be costly and extravagant. Thank you!
I’m so glad Sandi – it really is the tiniest things that make us happy, thank you so much for taking the time to comment! 🙂
Yes! I agree! I can’t tell you how many wonderful memories I have from family “walks” or “hikes” that sometimes were just in our neighborhood or in our own yard. Or sometimes, it was a Sunday afternoon drive up to a mountain during the fall change of leaves. The kids were happy because they got to run free and play, Dad was happy with his finds and chances to educate the kids during his infamous “historical hike lectures.” Ie. “Son, ya know what hunters used to do with these rocks before they had guns and fancy weapons? Or…as he proudly bent down to pick up His found treasure and with little boy excitement, would say “Kids, finding one of these(as he holds up an old arrowhead) is a really special thing and makes ya think about all the hard work the Indians and hunters had to do for their clothing and food and all the things we tend to take for granted.) And me.!Momma was thrilled to be able to make memories with the family while simultaneously photographing beautiful waterfalls and fall foliage for some new framed fall art, or pine cones for the new fall dining table centerpiece, or acorns to fill around a candle in a mason jar, or sweet gum “sticky balls” that fall from the trees. They happen to turn out BEAUTIFULLY when spraypainted metallic gold or silver and added into that fall centerpiece. That’s a LOT of FREE stuff that can make a BEAUTIFUL impression. Well, now I’m all in the mood for our annual hike. Let’s do it! Thanks for the kickstart, Laurie!
What sweet memories Kristin ~ thanks so much for sharing! And I love those tips! 🙂 Enjoy your annual hike!
If you buy a pumpkin you can cook later you are even more frugal. 🙂
You’re right Sandy! 🙂
Laurie, Dried hydrangeas should take paint so if you wanted to make them look more like fall, you could mist them with spray paint. (ivory, glitter, orange/rust) and they would take on a different hue
Thanks for sharing Mandy – grEAT IDEA!
I reuse the same things every year, just change up how I display them. This year I added a rectangular painted basket I found on a thrifting trip with my daughter and used a pretty scarf as a runner on the table by my front door. Makes me happy to look at it.
Laurie, Have you ever tried your hydrangeas. I have a friend who has some dried hydrangeas in a jar and they are beautiful.Someone who has some in their garden gifted them to her. Maybe you could show us how to dry them for one of your videos
I think your ideas are great. I decorated this year for $0 because I reused decorations from past years and just freshened them up. As with you, no-one sees the decorations but my family so I don’t need to be House Beautiful. What a great feeling!
Beautiful and while I live in the dessert I can easily use silk hydrangeas. On a side note I LOVE your night stands! May I ask where you got yours?
Home Goods Betsy – I love it too! 🙂
Wow! I love what you did! I know I have hydrangeas! I’m right there with you on not wanting to spend a fortune on decorations when there are so many projects to be done that would be useful year round!
I recently made pumpkins out of a 4X4! It was fun and I already had most of the supplies on hand! My teenagers thought I was crazy until they saw the end result!
I love that Jayleen – thank you so much for sharing! So fun to use what we have on hand (and then we skip the clutter too.) Love it!
I love it! Living in Colorado, I always have an abundance of rocks, of course, blue spruce (which I love,) and cat tails…oh and pine cones. You’ve got me thinking along those lines…
you are hilarious! I love it!
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing these great ideas!!
Thank you so much Jana – you’re so sweet! 🙂
Beautiful! I’ve been searching for a few new home decor blogs. Would you mind sharing the names of a few you’ve found?
Mmmm. I don’t think this will work for be as I currently only have rocks in my backyard. 😉 Your home looks lovely though!
I understand that Kristie – maybe a friend has some greenery you can snag! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing (so pleased with it!)
Love the decorating ideas, Laurie! Thanks so much for this post. I’m not working right now and so when I look at Pinterest, I feel completely deflated because there is no way I can afford many of the decorating projects yet I still want a nice looking home. But for $3, I can totally use your inspiration and do something similar. 🙂
So glad Suzanne – that means so much to me! I love Pinterest so much, but it so often makes me want more, so this was a great way to add a pretty space to our home on a penny pinched budget. I know you’ll created a beautiful space in your home too!