With a few shelves and plants you can add beauty and elegance to a drab window.

And before I get your hopes up too high, you will also need a window that’s deep enough to work with. You’ll likely be able to find the perfect shelving at your local hardware store. Try Home Depot or Lowes. I would recommend Lowes first. Between the two, Lowes tends to be cheaper and less congested.

Anyway, I was going to consider doing this myself (in my bedroom), but unfortunately my windows are very shallow and it won’t work.

Now for the instructions…

I won’t regurgitate the steps. I’ll just give you the link to where you can get the instructions on how to build a window greenhouse yourself. And if you ever do in fact build one, write me and send pics please and I’ll post them to the site.

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I’m jealous I didn’t come up with this idea! Oh well, I’m humble enough to admit I’m usually one of the last to know. Nonetheless, I’m glad I wasn’t left in the dark forever.

Jessica at How About Orange shares a really clever and amazingly affordable idea. And what is it?

Creating cheap fabric wall art of course!

The great thing about it is, you’re only limited by the type of fabric you find. And since fabric designs are relatively extensive, you’ll be able to make just about any kind of cool wall art out there: modern, abstract, funky… and the list goes on.

And don’t forget the list also extends to sheets, quilts and so forth. As long as you’re able to tack it down, you’ll be able to use those to create dazzling wall art as well.

Also, keep in mind that you can create your own beautiful wall art with fabric paint, a white sheet (at the thrift store) or piece of fabric. Check out this quick post for inspiration. It’s a really cool and cheap way to come up with a customized design. Awesome, eh?

Anyway, I know you’re wondering how it works, so let me give you the quick rundown…

Jessica’s much better at telling you than I am… but it goes a little something like this: grab some fabric from your local craft store, such as Joann. Then get some canvas stretcher bars or strips that you would normally use to stretch canvas.

You can get them at your local art store (i.e. Hobby Lobby, Michaels). Be certain when you grab the canvas strips to choose a size that’s large enough to your liking.

And then once you’ve got all of your supplies, tack it all down with a staple gun and you’ve got a large gorgeous piece of wall art.

I know, I know. I’ve oversimplified the whole process…

So I’m going to suggest you race over to How About Orange and get the real DIY instructions!

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This will likely only work for small sized pictures of 8 × 10 or reverse and 9 × 12 or smaller.

You’ll need a color printer. One that prints moderately decent pictures. A photo printer does wonders, but even a basic printer like an HP printer does exceptionally well in most cases.

It’s your choice concerning whether you’d like to use photo paper or just regular multi-purpose printing paper. I, for one, like basic paper but it really depends on what I go for.

The next step is to hunt for images you can print off. If you want to get an artsy look, the best kind to go for, in my opinion, are artistic images, such as works of art.

• watercolor paintings
• oil paintings
• pastel paintings
• pencil drawings
• colored pencil drawings

…and more!

My preference is watercolor paintings. If I’m going for an artsy look, I don’t really want to go for something that looks too much like a regular photo, so I tend to lean toward watercolor paintings and colored pencil drawings. Things that you can tell someone sketched or painted right off.

Once you’ve decided what you want, you can hunt for images searching through Google Images, Yahoo Images, etc. My favorite place is Google Images.

Isn’t That Like Stealing?

The first thought that might come to mind is, “isn’t this like stealing?”

Well, I’ve always felt that most, if not all, webmasters would watermark the images they didn’t want taken or make them too small to be of much use to anyone. I know this isn’t always the case, but seems to be the case the majority of the time.

And my second thought is that most webmasters aren’t actually trying to combat the personal or private use of images (in which they’d have no idea their images were being printed in the first place) but are actually trying to combat web theft so that other webmasters don’t put their images on their websites and use them as their own.

Maybe I’m wrong? But I’ve always felt that was a fair assessment and have no qualms with printing off a few pictures I like as long as they are strictly used in private.

So, if you feel the same way, then let’s talk about the next steps…

How to Get Cheap Images for Home Use

If you’re after photos that are around 8 × 10 in size, then you’ll want to look for images that are at least 800 × 1000 pixels. For smaller prints, such as 4 × 6, you could look for images that are around 400 × 600 pixels.

But keep in mind, sometimes you can get away with less if the pixel sizes are close to the size you want. You can later enlarge them as long as you aren’t enlarging them by much.

Let’s start a sample search, so you can see what I mean…

Go to Google Images and type in the word watercolor.

Once you’ve done that, a group of images should pop up.

What to Look For…

Below each image title, you’ll see the size of each photo. In this case, you’re looking for a photo that you can print on a 8 × 10 piece of paper. After doing a little searching, let’s say you come across one that’s 866 × 1052 pixels. You’ve decided after observing it, that you like it.

So this is one you want to keep to print off later. To do this… click on the image. Once you’ve done that, you should see a Google Image window pane that pops up. It shows you the page that the image is taken from, but you don’t care about that.

You just want the image.

You’ve got two choices here. You see a link that says, “See full-size image.”

You can either click on that link to check out a larger version of the picture before you save it or you could simply save it right away.

Let’s say you want to check it out first. So, click on the link “See full-size image.” Once you’ve done that, you get a close look at the image. This will give you an idea of whether you still want it or not.

Let’s say you do.

So, to download the image, you would simply right click on your mouse on the image and select “Save Image As…” and voila! you’ve got the image.

Once you’ve gone on several hunts to find the images you want, it’s likely you’ll have to resize the images so they’ll fit the page you want to print them on. You’ll want to open up a program that will allow you to do that.

Most image programs will allow you to do so. For me, I use Adobe PhotoDeluxe or Corel Paint Shop Pro. But here are some free image editors you might want to consider if you’re currently in need of one.

Once you’ve resized them, it’s time to print them off.

Quick Ideas on How to Display Them

To display them, let’s say you don’t feel like just hanging them up as they are but you can’t afford a bunch of picture frames. Well then, it’s no question you should go for something like matboard. It’s cheap and it’s classy. It’s also available at just about any art store. To name one in particular: Hobby Lobby.

Once you’ve gotten the matboard, you can simply hang your pictures on the wall and enjoy the view.

Yet, let’s not also forget many thrift stores, such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill or Volunteers of America have pictures frames for next to nothing. So, if framing your pictures is what you’re after, the thrift store should be one of the first places you check out.

There are plenty of ways to decorate your home with pictures. With small ones, doing a group set usually looks best.

You could create a whole wall full and give it an “art gallery” look and feel or you could create a small group. Say 3-5 images in one group along the wall. You could place them vertical, horizontal… which ever way you want.

You can even decorate your refrigerator with these images or create a collage on a bulletin board–and consider it a wall-mounted photo album.

And let’s not forget, you could also frame some of these photos and place a few around the house on a couple of tables.

The sky’s the limit, but remember…

…these photos should be for home use only. I would not recommend public viewing of these photos in places such as an office where people frequent.

Keep it personal. Then you can be sure you’re not stepping on any “legal” toes. And you can enjoy the beauty each photo possesses in the privacy of your home for as long as you like.

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These tips and tricks will work well for you if you love to get creative and you enjoy the minimalist approach…

You know… the light and airy look and feel.

Also this tiplist is really cool if you want to mix it up a little. And lastly, you’ll love some of the ideas on here if you’re on a budget and you’re looking for a few affordable alternatives.

Okay, first let’s run through the obvious choices. I know, you probably already know all about them but trust me, it’ll serve you well to hear about them again because we’re going to address them again later on in this discussion.

Obvious, But Great Choices…

So, okay if you have a small room and you want to jazz up your window with the obvious choices, then consider using one of the following ideas to decorate the in window in your small room…

Valances and Swags
Valances and swags frame the top and sides of your window. Sometimes valances are also known as toppers or top treatments. To separate the two, generally swags tend to trail down along the sides while valances generally only take care of the top of the window.

When using them, you’ll notice that they keep your window from looking bare and plain while providing it with just enough style and pizzaz to accent a room. You’ll find that many people tend to use these when they just want a light touch and love the idea of going solo and want to forgo using draperies and panels.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to use valances and swags together. Some people find they prefer to use one or the other to decorate the window.

And if you need visual aid and would like to see an example of this, you can check out Tammy’s Romantic Retreat. She used a valance to add a light touch to her window.

Crushed Organza Sheers

Sheers
Sheers are gauzy which means they’ll offer you some privacy but still allow a good portion of light to come through.

They have a romantic look and feel and work great for bedrooms in which you want to add a touch of romance or an airy spring look.

You can simply hang your sheers and let them hang down in front of the window, but sheers can also be draped over the top of the window or tied to the curtain rod to create a border and add a bit more class (see right photo).

Also consider looking for window scarves if you’re interested in decorating the top of the window. Sheers and scarves have been known to bear an uncanny resemblence. Perhaps they are in fact that same, but by some chance they are different, you will likely find yourself interested in them as well.

Cornices
Cornices offer a regal look and feel. With cornices you tend to get hard angles and straight lines. But this is not always the case. Sometimes you’ll find they offer stylish curves as well. But the one thing that won’t be denied is that cornices provide a simple, yet elegant touch.

They can offer you anything from a formal to relaxed style. You can also go solo with cornices, choosing to forgo the use of panels and draperies or you can use them in conjunction with a curtain set if you wish to.

If you’d like to check out a small room that takes advantage of decorating with a cornice, you can take a look at Tara’s Pink-Parisian Styled Bedroom.

Less Obvious, Creative Choices…

When the obvious choices aren’t of interest to you, then you’ll want to concentrate on less obvious ways to add pizzaz to your window. There are several options that come to mind, however that doesn’t meant they’re the only options.

After checking out the tiplist below, you may want to do some brainstorming or simply visit the arts and crafts store and see if anything else comes to mind while you’re at it.

If you’re not up for valances, swags and sheers then perhaps you’ll want to decorate your window with the following…

Window Film
Window film is a cool way to cover your windows, add a decorative touch to your room and create privacy while still letting a little light in. The wonderful thing about window film is that there are so many styles and choices out there, you have limitless designs and decorative patterns to choose from.

It’s also very affordable, typically ranging anywhere from $8-up. And the great thing about it is, you can put it in any room. Bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, dining rooms could all benefit from the beauty of window film.

And not only can you purchase window film. You can also create your own custom-made window film. This could be an even cheaper alternative, depending upon the products you get.

My sister is a prime example of someone who made her own window film. She simply got some craft paper from the arts and craft store. And of course you can do the same. You could design it whatever way you like. Use different color craft paper to create an artsy look, use stencils, create a collage on the craft paper… ultimately you’re only limited by your creative potential.

Custom-Made Window Border
You’ll find this is an ideal solution for you if your window doesn’t have window casing which leaves you with the opportunity to get creative and design your own border. If you’re not familiar with what window casing is… it is simply the wooden frame that you see around a window. To understand exactly what I mean, I’ve taken a picture of my window which doesn’t have window casing.

Two ways you could get creative and decorate the window is with wallpaper borders, paint or silk plants. If you decide to use wallpaper border, you may want to keep in mind that wallpaper border may not be wide enough for your tastes. So if that is the case you could simply get basic wallpaper and cut the wallpaper out to the desired width and length. Doing it this way will also allow you to come up with different shapes and styles.

Secondly, there’s also paint. You could create an effective, yet beautiful window border with paint. This border could even be a mini-mural that you use to set your window off while creating a gorgeous focal point in your room.

Thirdly, don’t forget the arts and crafts stores often have silk plants that can be easily mounted to the wall to decorate the top and/or sides of a window which you could use to create a natural looking border top treatment.

Custom-Made Curtains
Custom-made curtains have been suggested on the site before, but it bears repeating. If you want to design your own curtains ou can go to the fabric store and pick out the fabric that catches your attention and turn them into decorative curtains.

Someone who did this was Denise. She created an attention-getting set of curtains by simply choosing vibrant fabric that catches the eye.

Also keep in mind you can get fabric paint and even add to the design of the curtains… and they will be truly custom-made by you.

And one last really cool idea is using tree branch to compliment your window. Yes, you heard me right. You can use it in combination with making your own curtains and come up with an even more exciting idea. Once you find yourself a branch you decorate it according to your tastes by painting it and adding your own design to it and this will result in a look that will be uniquely yours.

If you like this idea, to get started simply follow this video DIY on how to decorate your window with a tree branch and how to make your own curtains and you’ll have a stylish window in no time…

Mixing It Up a Little…

When you find you like more than one choice, don’t forget that you can mix it up a little. You’ll find that if you think about it, most of the ideas will work with one or two of the other ideas. For example, decorating your window with valances, swags or cornices will also work with using window film.

Creating your own window border will also work with using window film. Sheers can also be combined with cornices, valances or swags.

The goal is just to make sure that combining two ideas together won’t look to outlandish and defeat the purpose of creating that austere look and feel that you’re going for.

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–Deborah

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Sometimes I don’t follow the rules.

Like everyone else I just make them up as I go along.

It’s called personal preference or gut instinct.

Sometimes you just know the ideas you have in mind will be better than following any specific format.

To elaborate, let me tell you a little story about an experience I had at a thrift store…

I stopped by a thrift store recently and found some great items for my walls. I found this print, in particular, that plan to hang up. It has various shades of green in it.

While at the store I had to think for a moment as to whether or not I wanted to get it. I pictured it in my apartment. After a moment I could see that it would fit perfectly in my dining area.

It wasn’t so much that it was the most stunning picture I’d ever seen but what really counted in the end was what I could do with it. It provided the perfect variety of green colors that I had been looking for.

And the price was right. It was only ten bucks.

Truly, I felt it could’ve been a little cheaper (but that’s because I’m a bit too cheap for my own good sometimes), but regardless it was a great deal and I knew that.

It was the type of print that would’ve gone for a lot more anywhere else. So I grabbed it while I could, before someone else beat me to it.

Why To-Die-For Items Aren’t Always the Best Items

Honestly, I’ve found that often the best items for my home aren’t necessarily the to-die-for items that I “must have” or else.

I’ve come to notice, for me at least, that over time those items just tend to loose their luster, so I generally purchase pictures or prints that serve a bigger purpose than that.

Nowadays, I’m likely to choose something that I like over something that I absolutely love.

That often happens simply because those type of items offer the best colors for my home and in the end I’m able to coordinate my apartment a bit better because of the great color arrangement; also, because it helps me save a lot more money in the process.

Of course every now and then I get a bit lucky and get the best of both worlds.

But after some general experience with decorating my home and redecorating it, I’ve begun to understand what works best for me, and how I can turn something that’s a nice look into a great look by combining items that compliment each other.

So color usually takes priority over what’s in a picture. However, I do have to like the picture—at least somewhat.

Having said that, it may be a good idea to elaborate on how I create a color scheme in my rooms using prints and other accents, since I do have a specific way of handling it.

Color Schemes Made Easy…

I create what I like to call a “1-2-3 Color Scheme.” It’s just my quick and easy way of color scheming each room. It like connecting the dots.

Buying an artificial tree…

…and then connecting it to a print that has some green in it that somehow compliments the tree…

…and then connecting it to a water fountain that has a green candles that compliments both the artificial tree and green print.

1. Usually when I want to create a color scheme, the first thing I do is pick a color that I would like to include in my room. In this case it’s green. I find an item that has this color in it. The item usually has at least 90% of this color in it. Once I find the perfect item I then add it to my room and go on another search.
2. The next thing I do is connect the dots. I seek out a second item that has a related (green) color that compliments the color in the first item I chose. The second item usually has around 50%-80% of this color in it. But this usually happens naturally. Generally I find that if I just come across the perfect item, the rest takes care of itself.
3. The third thing I do is connect the dots again. I seek out the last item with a similiar (but different shade) that I need to compliment the other two items in the room. This item tends to have around the same percentage of green in it (50%-80%). I add it to the room, and then voila! My color scheme is complete. This creates a very subtle but charming look.

Keep in mind there are always exceptions, but generally I don’t combine any more than 3 items of the same color in a room. Anything more than 3 items of similar shades is usually overkill.

Choosing The Right Zones to Create the Perfect Balance

• Floor
• Wall
• Ceiling
• Furniture Surfaces, such as tables, beds and sofas

For instance, my green artificial tree is a floor plant, so I didn’t choose another object that sat on the floor to offset my color scheme, but rather something that I could hang on the wall or from the ceiling.

In short, I generally coordinate with zones furthest apart from one another.

High –> Middle –> Low

Ceiling –> Wall or Furniture Surface –> Floor

Although it’s not always bad to hang things in the same zone, zones such as walls and ceilings are very close together which can sometimes create an imbalanced look, depending on what you get and where you put it.

So if that ever turns out that things look wrong, you might want to consider hanging an item a good distance away from the other.

Let’s use a green hanging lamp and wall print as an example…

Say I own these two items but both are in very close zones. I don’t like the looks of them close together. So I hang my picture some distance away from my lamp.

In order to balance out the look, I decide to hang my print on a parallel or perpendicular wall. Preferably perpendicular, so that the colors would be seen within the same frame when someone walked in the room and looked around. That way they would still serve the purpose of complimenting one another.

It would then provide the room with the balance it needed to create a harmonious look and feel. You would still get the look but with less intensity.

But let’s say I wanted to correct this problem using a different decorating tactic. What other type of item would work that would balance out the room?

How about using something like a set of green pillows instead of a print with green colors?

Placing green throw pillows on a bed would be a wonderful way to compliment a hanging lamp. It would result in a choice that was a bit more subtle and one that also provided less “visual clutter.”

And that’s really all there is to it.

It’s the simple way I create a harmonious color scheme using what I enjoy having in my home combined with gut instinct.

I connect the dots by choosing three items with neighboring colors to compliment each other. Consciously, I don’t really bother too much over whether an items has 30 percent, 50 percent or 80 percent of a specific color.

Mostly, everything comes together naturally based on what I like and what I want to include in my home.

That’s it. No fuss. No hassle. No problem.

It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

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It’s one of the best ideas I’ve come across yet.

It goes something like this: buy a simple set of panels, get some fabric paint or fabric markers and go to town. You can visit her brief blog entry on doing this. You can check it out by going here.

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