5 Decorating Pieces I Use Year-Round

Living in a small house can only mean one thing; limited storage space, and worse, small storage areas. This simply means I have had to be creative and use the same items over and over again, from one season to the next.  Here is a list of my 5 decorating pieces that are flexible enough to be used year-round for all decorating seasons:  Fall, Christmas, and summertime.

• #1:  Chicken Wire Cloche

I was walking out the door of World Market when this cloche caught my eye.   I thought the price was reasonable so I walked right back in again.  The original finish was the ‘verde gris’  color, which I was not particularly taken with.  So I used a can of Rust-Oleum Metallic spray paint in Antique Brass Metallic and changed the color!

The pictures below show the cloche in both Fall and Christmas decorating. I found that inserting a clear cylinder vase inside the cloche keeps everything nicely contained, and nothing is spilling out!

• #2 Lantern

I came across this lantern at a sidewalk garage sale, not really expecting to find anything, but here it was.

When the owner quoted a price of $5, I was so surprised, I balked and nearly walked away.  But I gave it some thought and then handed over the cash.  Good thing too, because I love this lantern.  The green roof color and the “vanilla” rib color are really perfect for year-round decorating.  I do intend the re-paint and refresh the colors, but the thought of painting those ribs without getting any paint on the glass panels has me very intimidated.  One day though…

• #3  Old window frame

I was always a little skeptical when I heard someone picked up a gorgeous piece of furniture or decoration that was in an alley or put out on a curbside.  But then it happened to me, so now I am a believer!  I was out on my Sunday morning walk when I found this window, fully intact, propped against someone’s garbage cans.  It sat in our backyard for quite a while before I actually attempted to work on it.  Sailor helped me with some of it.  I stripped it and sanded it; he installed the dividers.  Then I painted it, and he spray painted the chicken wire (using Antique Brass Metallic) and affixed it to the window frame.

I have always admired the window frames I have seen on Pinterest and other blogs, so I was absolutely delighted to add this window frame to my collection of ‘favorites’.   I have only used it for Fall and Christmas so far, but I have really enjoyed it!  It goes on top of the mantel (just barely fits), and is the first thing your eye is drawn to in the living room. (Here are a few more examples of decorating with this window frame for Fall, Christmas, and Winter.)

• #4:  Vintage Suitcases

Again, something I have often admired on Pinterest and blogs are vintage suitcases.  It never really occurred to me how or where one would acquire vintage suitcases.  As it turned out, these belonged to the father of my lifelong friend.  I spotted them in the garage of the family home she grew up in.  I very respectfully asked if I could purchase them (they were scheduled to be sold in an upcoming estate sale), and the next thing I knew, I was the proud owner of these beauties.  These suitcases have become permanent fixtures on my hearth.  And as you can see, they are very much a part of all my seasonal decorating.

• #5  Wire and rope basket

We all know the rules of Home Goods; even if you are only mildly interested in something, buy it!  Because if you decide to think about it, and then return the next day for it…. it won’t be there!  So when this basket caught my eye, I obeyed “the Home Goods rule” and took it home.  And ever since, I have used it over and over again!

These are the 5 decorating pieces that I use year-round.  I hope I have given you some ideas to expand the use of some of your decorating pieces so that you can enjoy them year-round.  Unless one has a butler’s pantry, or an entire room available to store unused decorating pieces, it makes sense to re-use your pieces as much as possible!  Keep an eye open for these types of foundation pieces as you shop garage sales and thrift shops.

From our home to yours
Kristine

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Finding Silver Pennies  // Create with Joy-Inspire Me Monday  // Life and Linda Love Your Creativity  // Marilyn’s Treats Over The Moon  //  A Pinch of Joy Busy Monday  //   A Stroll Thru Life  // Follow the Yellow Brick Home All About Home  // Hearth & Soul Happy At Home  //  Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday   // Inspire Me Monday My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia   // Home Stories A-Z Tutorials & Tips  // Blue Sky at Home Tuesday Turn About //  Gingersnap Crafts Wow Me Wednesday   // Of Faeries and Fauna Waste Not Wednesday   //  French Ethereal Share Your Style  // Dabbling & Decorating  Charming Homes & Gardens   //