In part one of this series on unique decorating ideas, we discussed artistic furniture, alternatives to painting, Escher-inspired flooring and walls, unique and a unique bathtub. In this next part, we will continue the series by focusing on out-of-the-box decorating tips for those with a limited budget.

Public Domain Art

​Instead of forking over a ton of cash for expensive art, a more frugal alternative is to print and frame public domain images from library sites and Wikimedia Commons. These sites offer a wide variety of images that are typically used for articles, advertisements, etc. However, they are also perfect for framing and placing around the house. You can find all kinds of images of varying qualities and mediums.

Public Domain Art Wall; Credit: Emily A. Clark

Get Creative

​Create your own custom art and décor. If you are artistic, then you can display your original works around the house. If you are not quite that artistic but still love to make things with your hands, then you can have fun creating crafts and making your own, unique décor. Cardstock is great for this. You can cut out various shapes and designs to add a nice, personal touch to your home.

Modern Wall Art; Credit: The Happy Homebodies

Decorating with Bottles

​Bottles can make great alternatives to traditional vases, and it is a great way to recycle them rather than throwing them out. You can use almost any kind of bottle… wine, beer, soda, medicine, etc. Once the bottle is empty, use fingernail polish to help remove the labels, clean the bottle, and sanitize it. Then you can paint, stain, or otherwise decorate these bottles to create one-of-a-kind vases for your flower arrangements.

Recycled Bottle Vases; Credit: Recycled Things

Travel Wall

​If you do a lot of traveling, then consider creating a wall or mural to highlight this. Frame maps from places you have visited and hang them up. Alternately, you could paint (or attach) a large map on your wall. Then hang photographs and souvenirs from those locations. This can be a fun, yet inexpensive way to display your memories and travels. It also makes for an excellent conversation starter.

Travel Map Collage; Credit: Dreamstime

 

T-Shirt Collage

​If you have old shirts from concerts, favorite bands, sports teams, or any other shirt with sentimental value, then consider displaying them. Fold them onto canvas or cardboard and mount them on the wall.

T-Shirt Display; Credit: The Not So Blank Canvas

Stencils and Paint

​Instead of buying large photos or decals to display on your wall, use stencils and paint to put your favorite quotes on the wall. Get creative and add some artistic flair to it. You can also use stencils and paint to add all types of art and designs, silhouettes, etc. on the walls around your condo.

Wall art and quotes; Credit: Rose Lawn Lutheran