Do you have an area of your home that has been decorated exactly the same for the last couple of years? Are you ready to shake things up? Is money tight? Have I got an idea for you! Make sure you click on the pictures to enlarge them to see the WHOLE mantel!
Shop from home. That’s right, shake things up a little bit. I’m here to show you how. My fireplace mantel has been decorated the EXACT same way since we moved into our home almost 4 years ago (with the exception of Christmas). The second pictures is how it looked. Nice enough. A great oil painting of the mountains here in North Carolina painted by a local artist. A couple of ceramic pitchers and vases. The colors are the color I decorate with. Nothing really wrong with it. But, after living with it so long, I quit really seeing it.
So, I went shopping. In my own home for FREE!! I switched out the painting for one I had in my dining room, that we bought on a trip to Italy last year. I collect vintage bird cages, so I gathered a couple from different rooms of the house. I also have started a collection of vintage garden books, so I added those too. The birdhouse used to reside on my back porch. Nothing is new on the mantel makeover.
I bet you could do the same thing. It doesn’t have to be for a fireplace mantel either. It could be your coffee table, and end table, the top of a book case. It’s time to shake up your home a little without spending a cent! I would love to hear your decorating ideas that cost zero dollars!
1. I think that make over is so springy and fresh! The best part is its free! Thanks for the wonderful idea!~Tam
by Tam — 2/21/09 at 12:19 am #
2. What a great idea,, keep them coming.
Best to you,
Dee
by Dee — 2/21/09 at 12:23 am #
3. I think this is a great blog you have going here Penny. Very nicely done. Have a great weekend.
by gloria — 2/21/09 at 12:33 am #
4. What fun! A new look from things you already love
by Valerie M — 2/21/09 at 1:26 am #
5. Such a great idea! And so practical! Thanks for sharing!
by Karla @ Ramblin’ Roads — 2/21/09 at 1:41 am #
6. Hi Penny - I always love to read your posts. It’s so special to visit one of my friends here! ~Adrienne~
by Adrienne — 2/21/09 at 3:20 am #
7. French country for me. Patty
by Patty — 2/21/09 at 3:57 am #
8. Oops! Love the way you move your stuff around. I do good to get it done once. Patty
by Patty — 2/21/09 at 4:00 am #
9. Great idea. and i love the more color popping picture you shopped for alot. Lol. I do the same thing around my house too. Sometimes i forget what i have so it is kinda fun to look .. mishelle
by mishelle — 2/21/09 at 4:53 am #
10. Everything looks wonderful! I love it all, and I especially love that black vintage bird cage. It all looks lovely! I’m doing some makeovers & rearranging right now, and I’ve posted some of it on my blog, but there’s more to come. With some things that I bought at HomeGoods today!
Amber
by Amber — 2/21/09 at 4:55 am #
11. Wonderful redo. Sometimes it just requires a new way of looking at the things you already own.
by Penny — 2/21/09 at 6:50 am #
12. It is fun to shop from home and amazing how different rooms look when you move your things around
Alison
by Alison — 2/21/09 at 7:07 am #
13. That mantel now has a wonderful Spring feel, what a difference just a few pieces can make. Those birdcages are absolutly stunning.
by Tam — 2/21/09 at 8:18 am #
14. I love quick fixes! You have spurred me to change at least one little area today ….. even if it is just exchanging pieces from 2 different shelves. I feel like a “small” change might just do me good
by Rosie — 2/21/09 at 8:19 am #
15. I love the idea of shopping in your own home. I do that all the time. I admit that sometimes one room looks awesome and another one, well, not quite as great.
I have saved a lot of stuff and keep it in my garage now so I always have some extra items to use in my decorating. Keep up the great ideas… sometimes I miss or forget the most obvious!! 
by Kelly — 2/21/09 at 9:01 am #
16. I love all versions! The after is lovely! I also like the “aqua” colored pottery. Wonderful! Thanks for the tip!
Vanessa
by Vanessa — 2/21/09 at 9:27 am #
17. Penny, So much fun! I love rearranging my mantle too!
Diane
by Diane — 2/21/09 at 9:50 am #
18. Hi Penny!
This is a fabulous makeover! I love to shop in my house to find new looks. If you have a mantel it’s a great focal point to change frequently to freshen things up. If no mantel a shelf can work the same way. Many things that I have purchased have been from the Home Goods store, it’s one of my favorite affordable places to shop!!
Thanks for the great ideas!! Love your site!
Sherry
by Sherry — 2/21/09 at 10:25 am #
19. Amazing!
by Hope — 2/21/09 at 10:34 am #
20. I love your mantel rearrangement….spring calls for the NATURAL look too and I’m more than ready for spring! PAM
by Pam — 2/21/09 at 10:39 am #
21. I need to do this. I have a habit of leaving things the same for way too long.
Hugs,
Cathie
by Catherine — 2/21/09 at 10:41 am #
22. As always such a great idea. I like change but don’t always want to buy more stuff. Mimi
by mimi — 2/21/09 at 10:54 am #
23. Oh, I love that idea, shop from home. I dream of being so organized that I can have shelves in the basement with my nicnacks all arranged. Your word picture gave me inspiration.
Karen
by karen — 2/21/09 at 11:27 am #
24. I love the new look and you are right about sometimes it just means moving things around a bit…
Thanks for the reminder..
Brenda
by Brenda — 2/21/09 at 11:32 am #
25. I love shopping Home Goods, but I also love shopping our home. Always fun to use things in a new application!
Wonderful post!
Pat
by Pat — 2/21/09 at 11:34 am #
26. I think that it looks very nice like this. It is a good idea with the economy like it is to ’shop’ in our own homes. Moving things around makes them look all new again.
by Lee — 2/21/09 at 11:41 am #
27. Penny, your new mantel display is so colorful and exciting - I love the vintage books and birdhouse.
I change mine around often and have in fact just done it over for the Spring season - nothing new, just moving things around from other parts of the house. I like to mix vintage, paint chipped wood turnings (yes, even part of an old table leg!), a large chipped piece of ceiling tin, and this time my painted iron tall candlesticks with crystal drop prisms. Of course in the center is always DH’s clock - can’t lose that as he was presented with it for long time service with his company! Later we also got a grandfather clock for more years - that’s another story!
Love what you always show here - and the great decorating tips.
by Mary — 2/21/09 at 12:10 pm #
28. I shop at home all the time
I love to move things around….I am forever tweaking this area in the kitchen !!!
Kathy
by Kathy :) — 2/21/09 at 12:13 pm #
29. I LOVE the full mantel photo! And ’shopping the house’ is one of my favorite things to do. Moving items from one place to another really does change the ‘look’ of rooms too! Love the birdcages!!!
by Sherri S — 2/21/09 at 12:29 pm #
30. “Shop at Home First” is going to be my new mantra!
by Peggy — 2/21/09 at 12:48 pm #
31. Penny,
I totally get your idea, shake it up a bit! And you are right~there are a multitude of items right in your own home. I noticed the little bird on your stack of books on the mantle and I have something very similar on my mine right now so maybe we think alike.
Well I am going to go shopping~in my jammies nonetheless!!
Thank you for your sweet advice!
xoxo
Janie
by Jane — 2/21/09 at 1:16 pm #
32. I change my mantel a lot but there are other areas I never touch! I need to mix things up!
by Lavender Dreamer — 2/21/09 at 1:39 pm #
33. Just stopping by to check out your mantal. I really enjoy your style of decorating.
by Martha — 2/21/09 at 1:49 pm #
34. Bravo!! Beautiful mantle. My hubby would also applaud you for begging me NOT to go spending money!!
Stephanie
by Stephanie — 2/21/09 at 3:22 pm #
35. It looks beautiful. I find myself switching things around quite often. I tire of vignettes very quickly and especially with the change of seasons, I need a change too!
by Kathy — 2/21/09 at 4:44 pm #
36. Great shake up, Penny. Your mantel looks wonderful. I love the vintage birdhouses. I’ve been looking for a large one to go on our front porch.
by Beverly — 2/21/09 at 5:03 pm #
37. I enjoy reading about your decorating ideas. My mantel is empty right now just waiting for inspiration. (It’s been empty since Christmas!)
by Laurie — 2/21/09 at 5:34 pm #
38. Hi Penny! I love the way you did your mantel…And I love your yellow check curtains too! The beautiful picture adds a lot to the scene. The colors you have chosen are very pretty together. One day, I think I will add a lot more red to my living room! Very pretty!
xxxooo
Marilyn
by Marilyn — 2/21/09 at 5:38 pm #
39. That looks really great! Love the birdhouses!
Manuela
by The Pleasures of Homemaking — 2/21/09 at 5:59 pm #
40. I love to shop the house! I’m such a huge fan of your birdhouses & birdcages! I drool everytime I see one! ♥ Diane
by Diane (Four Paws & Co) — 2/21/09 at 6:12 pm #
41. Penny - it all looks lovely!!!
by Shelley — 2/21/09 at 6:32 pm #
42. The mantel looks great, Penny…I clicked to see the whole picture and love the entire display. The bird cages anchoring one end, and echoing the birdie theme of the pretty bird house on the other end makes a nice complement, and the gorgeous oil painting sets everything off beautifully.
by Belinda — 2/21/09 at 7:04 pm #
43. Penny:
I love checking out this blog as you always have great ideas! Love the painting from Italy and the birdcages on your mantle. You have a great eye for detail.
Debbie V.
by Debbie V. — 2/21/09 at 7:24 pm #
44. Oh Penny…I love the old birdcages….but ofcourse my favorite are those yellow check drapes…and what great advise to just shop in your own home from what you already have…..
by Sue from Atlanta — 2/21/09 at 7:37 pm #
45. The mantel looks terrific!
by Rosanne — 2/21/09 at 8:18 pm #
46. Wonderful results from your “shopping” at home! I love to do the same thing - have to change the arrangements and vignettes in my home to keep from being bored - whether it is with the seasons or just to create a new look. Thanks for the ideas here. Blessings, Sharon
by Sharon — 2/21/09 at 8:40 pm #
47. I love the newly decorated mantle.
by Susan — 2/21/09 at 8:50 pm #
48. Penny….Such great ideas!!! I love all your mantels….but the birdhouse is my fav!!
Hugs..
Deb:)
by DEBBIE — 2/21/09 at 8:50 pm #
49. Yes, I have an area that has remained virtually the same…the top of the piano. I don’t know. Maybe I can do something a little different. ;>
by Vee — 2/21/09 at 8:58 pm #
50. Penny, love your idea here about shopping in your own home. It’s a great money-saving tactic as well adn who knows how different things could look by changing it up every now and then!
by Michelle — 2/21/09 at 9:21 pm #
51. Oh Penny, you are so right. Sometimes we live with something so long that we no longer *see* it or even remember what it looks like even though we pass it numerous times a day. I have done some rearranging in my living room this winter and painted the ugly brick fireplace and I am really quite happy with the look. I tried to post the picture, but apparently it is too big.
by janet — 2/21/09 at 10:29 pm #
52. We did just this recently. We used some artwork we already had to to change our living room and mantle. It really does make a difference and the best part, it’s free!
by Shirley — 2/21/09 at 10:49 pm #
53. That is a great idea. I have a few areas that could use some “freshening up”. Thanks for the inspiration!
by Jacquelynne — 2/21/09 at 10:58 pm #
54. Hello,
My name is Heather and I’m a customer of Home Goods as well as a worker, and really love to buy the products that I see delivered to this company. It has plenty of items for you to decorate your entire home with. Also, such a good selection you will not need to go anywhere else to shop for your needs make your home feel like HOME.
by Heather — 2/22/09 at 1:36 am #
55. What a nice mantel. I love the birdcages! What fun colors!
by tattingchic — 2/22/09 at 2:12 am #
56. I adore the mantel redo! It looks more cheerful now. I’m in the process of moving into my new space. I will remember to change things up now and again by shopping within my own home after I’ve been settled for a while. Thanks for the tip Penny! ♥
by Betty Jo — 2/22/09 at 7:39 am #
57. What a transformation! And you’re right, nothing wrong with the first one but the second one has more life, i think. Thanks for the brilliant idea, Penny…love those zero cost!
by Nance — 2/22/09 at 9:21 am #
58. Great job with the make over!
by Jen r — 2/22/09 at 10:21 am #
59. What a pretty look!
Louise
by Louise — 2/22/09 at 10:26 am #
60. I am always moving things from one room to another. A fun and inexpensive way to redecorate!!
Thanks for sharing;
~Becca~
by Becca — 2/22/09 at 1:17 pm #
61. Looks great! I love the birdcages! I’m always moving things around, it really does make it feel like you have something new in your home!
by cindy~My Romantic Home — 2/22/09 at 3:30 pm #
62. Hello…Great site! Very imformative!!!
I’ll be back to view when I have a bit more time. lol
Take Care,
Debby
by Debby — 2/22/09 at 3:48 pm #
63. You have some great ideas shaking thing up a bit to add some color and variety to our homes.
by Kelly — 2/22/09 at 4:55 pm #
64. Love the mantle redo. In this economy it’s great being able to shop in our own homes to revamp a dull area. The books on the mantle fit perfectly with the theme.
Kris
by Kris — 2/22/09 at 5:25 pm #
65. Hi Penny!
It’s me again, I just adore all your Mantels, and you are so right, shopping at home is the best way to shop, it’s always amazing how many things you can find hidden away. Or even when things are moved from different rooms, they take on such a new fresh look in a new spot! You are such an Inspiration to so many! Thanks so much for sharing your talents!!
by Cynthia’s Cottage — 2/22/09 at 7:46 pm #
66. I love the pop of color with the red in the picture…Penny that is one of the hardest things for me..to change something….Just this last year have I gotten brave enough to do things….I have always loved changing furniture around and rearranging some things but there would be certain arrangements that I just kept the same for years…it’s like I just couldn’t touch them lol I love shopping in the house or in the shed…what gets to me the most is I have different styles I like and it just drives me crazy!!! I think there is too much inspiration out there! lol Have a great weekend my friend!
by Picket — 2/22/09 at 9:15 pm #
67. Hi Penny, I love the mantle re-do! I am a big fan of using what I already have also! Love the bird cages..I just started collecting them last Summer and I hope to find more this year at yard sales! Blessings, Nancy~ Southern Lady
by nancy — 2/22/09 at 9:41 pm #
68. Hi Penny!
THis is such a great idea and so important right now in this economic time. I have actually been rearranging my home also and using what I have (even spray painting items) that were sitting useless in the garage.
I love your new mantel decor~freshening up the home is so fun for Spring but also adds a positive spin on life. And getting in the habit of saving money and using what we already have …well is just plain smart!
Thanks Penny!
by tina — 2/23/09 at 1:34 am #
69. What a great and practical idea while we are all watching our budgets. Rearranging and creating a vingette does help to liven up a dull corner. I’ve recently taken to “shopping in my closet” looking at things thru a new lense and with different combinations. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the results. It will work in our home too. Thanks for the idea! Teah
by Teah B. — 2/23/09 at 4:00 am #
70. I really love that bird house, I have a couple of my own that DH made and I painted, something like this would be such a cute addition. Now I am off to explore somemore.
by Gail — 2/23/09 at 4:43 am #
71. What a great idea. This is what i usually do to when i redecorate, but i tend to not like my stuff after a while, then it just stays in the same place it was in when I started. Your mantel looks really nice with the bird cages on it. very clever.
by Carey — 2/23/09 at 9:27 am #
72. I like what you did with the mantle, Penny. I usually end up keeping mine pretty much the same except around the holidays.
Donna
by Donna — 2/23/09 at 11:51 am #
73. It looks just fabulous….Great job!
by bj — 2/23/09 at 11:35 pm #
74. I love this! I think right now it’s important to use what you have. I also think I need to buy some birdcages LOL
rue
by rue — 2/24/09 at 12:37 am #
75. What a great idea to just shop your own house! When things are tight that’s a great plan.
Penny, I’m going to be trying that this week.
Gretchen
by Gretchen — 2/24/09 at 8:16 am #
76. Your mantle looks great, Penny! When I can’t shop at home I shop at Mom’s … actually her stuff is better!
by Lynda — 2/24/09 at 4:47 pm #
77. What a grand idea!! I’m definitely trying it.
by Judy — 2/25/09 at 4:33 pm #
78. The brighter picture on you mantle is just the lift needed for not quite spring I think.
Darla
by Darla — 2/25/09 at 7:29 pm #
79. Yes, I arrange and change, only because my eye needs it.
My Mother was constantly arranging and moving. Is there a name for this disease? I wonder what she might have done had the opportunity to shop on line been available back in the day!
by pve design — 2/26/09 at 6:03 am #
80. Decorating my mantel is one of my favorite things to do. I love bringing in the outdoor elements to add to whatever is already there. Joanne
by Joanne — 2/26/09 at 7:18 pm #
81. Now that’s what’s up ! I love the way you stacked the books .I am gonna try that I have few of my favorite authors books and the covers are colorful some shiney and some flat . They are not thick so I think this will look hot !! Thats for the tips ,you rock !!
by laurie — 3/5/09 at 10:10 am #