How To Find Dirt Cheap Farmhouse Decor (That Still Looks Fabulous!)
Can cheap farmhouse decor still look fabulous? I think so! Over the years I have learned the art of decorating on a dime and I’m here to share with you my best tips.
We moved into a 1920’s farmhouse last year… and immediately had a baby. 9 months later I’m finally starting to decorate! Join me as I decorate my home with fabulous frugal finds, and share my best thrifting tips.
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Dirt Cheap Farmhouse Decor: Where To Find It
Dirt cheap farmhouse decorations… I love the sound of that! To find dirt cheap decor that still looks good, you’ll have to hone your eye, always be on the lookout, and be willing to use some elbow grease when needed.
The Best Places To Find Farmhouse Decorations For Cheap or Free:
- People give away pieces of furniture for free that you can easily refurbish (check facebook and watch sidewalks!
- Check Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other thrift shops for artwork, baskets, and old books.
- Garage sales are great places to shop because people want rid of stuff! If the price is too high, try negotiating politely. If they say no, just smile and leave it! Treasures abound. 😉
- Go to estate sales on the last day– they will be trying to get rid of stuff at this point and it will be dirt cheap!
- Use dried flowers, reclaimed wood, beautiful stones and other natural elements that are free treasures of the earth. (Obviously don’t steal them from other people’s property, haha).
- Look for very slightly damaged decor. I have found amazing brand new pieces that were just slightly scratched or minimally used by keeping an eye out in the discount areas. Always ask for an additional discount.
In the above image, I found this armoire on the sidewalk for free! It was sturdy and clean. I took it home and gave it a good wash down, then painted it a lovely muted green. I then added some old glass cabinet knobs that my parents saved from my childhood farmhouse.
We hide our tv in it, and board games in the bottom drawer. It’s a treasure to me because I found and refurbished it!
The images on the right are beautiful vintage paintings of Mount Vernon that I found at Salvation Army for $1 each! The neutral tones in them are perfect for my style.
Keep your eyes peeled for cheap or free farmhouse style decor that you can easily modify in your space!
Use Vintage Books For Cheap Farmhouse Decor
One easy way to add a touch of inexpensive farmhouse flair is to use vintage books. Instead of having the spines face you, flip them around so that the faded tans show.
And if you like color, add clusters of antique books on shelves, nightstands and tables.
A good price for vintage books should be .99 cents to a few dollars. If a book is rare or signed, or a limited edition vintage, they may be very expensive, probably not for normal decorating (unless you’re a collector!).
At estate and garage sales, you may be able to score an entire box of books for a few dollars. Remember, people are trying to get rid of things at these events.
When at antique stores, you can always attempt to negotiate lower prices. Antique stores are often made up of booths, owned by an individual.
You can make an offer to the individual of each booth through the store clerk. The worse that can happen is they’ll say no, but I’ve gotten a “yes!” many times.
Almost 9 years ago when I got married, we had little to no money to designate to decorating. This is very common! Slowly I learned to find my style and pull it together inexpensively.
Baskets and Containers For Farmhouse Flair
Wicker baskets, pinstripe designed containers, and galvanized metal buckets make great, inexpensive accents in your farmhouse decor. As a mom of 4, I have baskets for everything (just ask my husband!).
I love using wicker baskets for laundry, storage, and books. I found these adorable dark wicker baskets with lining and bows at Ross. Galvanized containers add a rustic flair, you can add beauty in with faux flowers (read on for affordable, realistic faux flower tips).
A few lovely farmhouse style wicker baskets from Amazon that are not expensive and have good reviews:
Use wicker baskets for storing toys, books, and clothes, as trash bins, filled with beautiful flowers, and more! Just ask my husband, haha!
Cheap and Inexpensive Farmhouse Rugs
Nothing says farmhouse quite like the right rug. Or even two rugs, layered!
I found this Persian style rug at Salvation Army a few years ago for only $10. When we moved into the farmhouse I knew I needed something bigger. I settled on this beautiful, neutral inexpensive rug from Amazon. Layered rugs have a cozy, welcoming feel.
I never invest a lot of money on rugs right now because I have 4 little kids and a dog… and a chicken coop and mud. 😉 To me, an expensive rug is not worth fretting over at this time in my life.
Here are a few affordable neutral farmhouse rugs. Layer them with something more colorful if you like!
Inexpensive Faux Flowers and Wreaths
You can really add a lot of beauty inexpensively to your home decor by adding in faux wreaths and flowers. I am a huge fan of using real flowers when you can get them, but faux flowers can be absolutely lovely too.
Look for the most realistic looking faux flowers and greenery you can afford, and watch for discounts!
Watch for sales, use coupons and check clearance at places like Michaels, Fred Meyer, Hobby Lobby and Ross. You can also find some beauties on Amazon. I love the olive tree and plan to get it soon!
You can also watch for discounts on individual stems and make your own beautiful wreaths. This is a great way to add color into a neutral home.
A Few Farmhouse Flowers You Can Find On Amazon:
Pull Together Your Cheap Farmhouse Decor By Using Old and New
In order to add balance to all your thrifted and found treasures, find some affordable farmhouse decor that is brand new. Many stores have jumped on the farmhouse bandwagon and you can sort through to find your favorites to add as accents to your home.
I love using these simple $10 baskets from Walmart to hide the kid’s toys. Antique maps are a very inexpensive way to add lovely, cheap farmhouse decor in.
Inexpensive Farmhouse Bench From Amazon
I bought the brand new bench above cheaply on Amazon and painted it light grey. Here is a similar farmhouse bench with excellent reviews and at a great price!
Farmhouse Pillows
I am currently updating most of my throw pillows. (Let’s face it… they actually get thrown a lot around here!). One way to save money on the seasons is to buy inserts and swap out the pillow case covers.
I am torn between going neutral like I usually do or adding some pops of color.
Here are a few farmhouse pillow covers I have my eye on:
Cute farmhouse throw pillows can often be found unused or gently used at thrift shops as well.
Why We Really Decorate Our Homes
I have loved sharing with you these thoughts on decorating on a dime. Over the years I’ve realized that decorating is really a key part of homemaking. It is a skill we can develop to make our families feel cozy, safe and loved.
I have the sweetest memories of the small touches my mom made to our own farmhouse growing up. She was a masterful, yet unpretentious decorator and I hope that my home even a tiny bit as welcoming as she made our family feel.
Don’t worry about having the perfect home or an expansive budget. Be inspired to find, make and seek out affordable home decor that speaks to you. Let it be an art that speaks love to your family.
More homemaking tips here:
Qualities In A Good Wife: What I’ve Learned Through Marriage
How To Get An Organized Home: 12 Easy Tips from A Stay At Home Mom
