$50 Mantle Makeover

I keep getting lots of requests to come to peoples homes and decorate for them. This week, I decided to bombard my sweet and amazing friend/neighbor Tori’s house. Ready or Not…here I come! Tori has an amazing house with so much potential and like most stories I hear she doesn’t have the time or vision to start the decorating process. Decorating the whole house is very overwhelming. I totally get that!

Lets start small…mantles and fireplaces are a great place to start decorating in a home. Normally, they are a great focal point in a high traffic room. Aka, great spot for everyone to notice. Once you have your fireplace and mantle decorated, I believe it’s easier to continue the flow of the rest of the room or even house.
Tori and I decided on a $50 budget for a few new things for our Mantle Makeover. I wanted a small budget, to show that you don’t always need a ton of money to improve the look or update an area in your house. Also, to show that I am totally a Miracle Worker! 😉
$50 bucks for a whole new look…lets get started! To make this really work I needed to be scrappy with that $50 dollars. Let’s be serious, no one will ever tell you I’m known for my bargaining skills.

I wanted something large in the middle of the mantle, the main focal point of the whole fireplace. I had an amazing idea for a framed Shiplap piece. It just so happens I did a big post on how to do your own Shiplap and kept thinking of all my wonderful Army friends who are living in homes that are temporary, which I have done more times then anyone would ever want to imagine. So many of them wanted to do the Shiplap walls, but couldn’t. I felt like a large Shiplap Wall piece would be the best of both worlds. Problem solved…Shiplap for ALL! This piece cost me a little over half of my budget and that’s even with me making the whole thing. It turned out so great though…I think I might need to make another one for my own house. Tutorial to come of Framed Shiplap Decor.

If you read my Tips for Staging Post, you know I always add something Green and that I love to place things in 3’s. I had greenery left over from my Wreath that I made for my main focal point. I also, purchased 6 mini white pumpkins, these are one of my favorite Go-To fall decor items. My other purchases included a clearance Lantern, that was in pieces so I just put back together. I also, found a large Letter Y in the clearance section of Hobby Lobby. Winning!!! There it is…..my $50; wood, frame, greenery, wreath supplies, pumpkins, lantern and decorative letter.

After, I got all my supplies I was ready to start decorating. I always clear my space and start with a blank canvas. Next, I looked all around Tori’s house for additional pieces I might want to use. I started with my Focal Point (Shiplap Wreath) and worked my way outward. When I was all done, I still felt like something was missing so outside I went and started cutting down branches for more greenery. I think that is the only upside to living in the woods, lots of greenery to chose from. So, heres our finished product…Remember, small small budget. You don’t always need a ton of money to spruce things up. Move things around, have an outsiders perspective, add seasonal decor, get creative and make something one of a kind! 😉

Ready to see the Magic?

Finished room- I moved the furniture around a little too! 😉 If we had a bigger budget, next thing to add would be more pillows and throws.

Thanks Tori & Fam for letting me take over!!

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