A DECORATING SECRET
Early in my married life I discovered that money didn't grow on trees. I was shocked and discouraged. There was always something around our house that I wanted to change but was unable to fix due to the cost. So, out of desperation for a beautiful home, I came up with a method that helped me get around some of the issues without a lot of money. I named my method "Creative Concealment." It actually became more fun than having money for the perfect solution. I had to develop my creativity and ability to think outside the box. Money can fix almost anything around the house, but creativity can distract and cost a whole lot less! And creativity can make ugly things beautiful.
At first I used my method to fix little things like our condo's white Formica counter tops. When we had a burn mark or stain on them, I would use "White Out" to cover the burn! Perfect? No! But did the counters look better? Absolutely.
When my husband I bought our "fixer upper" a few years ago, we had to utilize these creative skills in a major way. This house was passed up by every other buyer out there because it had a few large unsightly problems. Yet, the rest of house was amazing. People just couldn't figure out what to do with the problems, outside of spending a fortune.
CREATIVE CONCEALMENT to the rescue again!
Here is an example of one of the things we did:
BEFORE
UNSIGHTLY WINDOW TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE
Problem:
We needed to cover this window for sun protection and privacy and just because it was ugly.
Solution:
Creative Concealment using old shutters to make the window look better from both the inside and the outside and curtains to soften the edges. A small garden fence covers both unsightly construction and old curtain brackets that were too difficult to move. Putting furniture in front of it helped distract even more.
AFTER
So, while it is unlikely to grace the cover of Architectural Digest, it works for me. To fix this window the "right way" would've cost anywhere from $15,000 to $45,000. But with a few random things I had around the house I solved this problem for next to nothing!
Need more ideas? I've invited readers to share their creative concealments here. You'll find lots of ideas for creatively hiding and improving all sorts of things around the house! Feel free to add your ideas!
Happy Decorating!
Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room spends a lot of time concealing uglies at her home in Portland, Oregon.
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Isn't it amazing what you can do with creative concealment. My in-laws are currently builing a guest house on their propert and we have been scrouning up doors from their current house to use in their post & beam guest house. Shutters are now closet doors and an old door has been converted into a pocket door for a bathroom. Not to mention a pieces part long table has been added all together to make a great farm style table. I have made curtains using my old vintage tableclothes and some of my old bedspreads have been converted into pillows. Your window job looks super good!
This is a great idea! Decorating cheap is a lot of fun.
I wanted you to know that I found your blog by attempting to find a cute cash envelope wallet to go with my new Dave Ramsey lifestyle, and wonderfully your blog pulled up. I thought it was a great idea for the wallet by the way! I was very impressed.
Now if I could only learn to sew.
Thank you "happy at home"! That guest house sounds amazing…what fun!
Happy day!
Melissa
I LUV your ideas on Creative Concealment! I just can't "see possibilities", as you can. So I love it, even more, that you can and that you share.
Miss Mari-Nanci
http://smilnsigh.blogspot.com/