Shoestring decorating

The fun thing about moving is meeting the challenges of decorating and accessories without breaking the budget. The house I'm moving into has loads of potential and is beautiful inside and out. I don't want to hide the beauty behind too many accessories.

The kitchen, for instance, has an interesting bar with 1" by 1" board shelving below it. I like the open look of that and feel it would be a great place for things like a variety of baskets, interesting platters, and other serving pieces. Not too many, though, because I'd like the shelves to show their open feel.

So, some things I think I can pick up on a shoestring budget are:

• Interesting baskets
• Second-hand lamps
• Thrift shop dresser that can be painted
• Shower curtain and liner from discount store
• Wicker storage cubes

I am a huge believer in things being multi-functional. This means that items that are decorative must also have a real purpose in my home besides being just "another pretty face".