Ah, the modern farmhouse kitchen. We all love it, don’t we? I’m all about problem solving. And sometimes, money in the bank and our budgets can disagree with how we want our kitchen decor to look. I’ve set out to find farmhouse kitchen decor on a shoestring budget.
Decorating is a daunting task. It’s easy to look at all the ideas on Pinterest and save them, and never go back to them. Most of our kitchens don’t look like the ones on HGTV or on Pinterest, and most of us can’t afford to spend thousands on home decor in one room.
Being the thrifty thing that I am, I’ve compiled some ideas for finding budget kitchen decor and some budget friendly items I have in my own kitchen.
Believe it or not, the first place I look for farmhouse style home decor is barn sales and antique markets. There’s a particular place that’s my favorite place to stock up on items each year – Hippie Tom’s Serendipity Farm in Waterford, WI.
You may be thinking “What?! She goes junk picking to decorate her house? She’s lost her mind.” Well maybe I have lost my mind, but not in the arena of decor. If you keep an open mind and think creatively, you’ll see the incredible potential found items have. Plus, you’re doing good for the environment by reusing old items rather than buying new manufactured items. Found items will have more character and will be easier on your pocketbook.
The farmhouse look can be easily accomplished with old items found at a barn sale. Most items you’ll find just need a little repainting, or if they have a pretty smooth blank surface, you can add stencil designs or my favorite reusable transfers.
This design was made using the Farm House transfer:
This one was made using the Farmers Market Transfer:
You can use stencils and transfers on either a piece of barn wood you find at a rummage or a new piece from your local hardware store to make a fun sign for your kitchen. If you don’t want to get all the materials yourself, consider attending a board painting workshop to make a sign for your home.
My favorite paint to use for decorative painting is FolkArt Chalk Paint
Items you should be on the lookout for at barn sales, rummages or antique sales are:
– Crates
– Barn Wood
– Decorative metal brackets
– Tin buckets, watering cans, etc
Keep your eyes peeled for items that can be multifunctional or just are visually interesting. Often, we can take interesting items and display them in a whole new way. Think old hose knobs installed on a piece of barn wood – it turns from something most people would toss on their own into a functional towel hanger.
Photo credit to ivillage.com
Or a neat piece of barn wood with some hooks installed becomes a unique way to hang your spatulas and stirring spoons.
Another way to update your kitchen and make it into the modern farmhouse style is to remove your top cabinetry and use barn wood as shelving where the upper cabinets were. Use the decorative metal brackets you find when going “junking”. Display your favorite decorative items and dishes on these open and accessible shelves.
photo credit So Much Better With Age
Mason Jars can be used to store your flour, sugar, rice or pancake mix. These printable labels add a perfect vintage touch.
I hope these ideas help you see old things with new light… to see the potential in rustic items that can be repurposed and reused. There’s beauty in using found items from the past and decorating with them in a whole new way.
What are some unique ways you have repurposed some items and used them in your home? Share below in the comments!
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