Inexpensive Staging Soultions....for Budget Staging......Got tips.....let's share!

HI there!  I buy most of my books at the local thrift store-all the hard back books sell for $1 there.  I've gotten the Grisham books, Potter books and many beautiful coffee table books for this price.

Michele ~ First, I noticed a group you posted to, Stagers Open Forum, that I never heard of, so I wanted to check it out, but it says it's no longer an active group.  I'd love if you posted this over in Staging Crafts & Creatives in its place.  Your soap idea is a great, economical way to incorporate decorative soaps into your accessorizing. 

Another good old fashioned stand by for lovely soaps is the dollar stores.

I get patchouli or other scented soaps for $ 1.00 or 2 for $1.

I also get hand milled goats milk soap for a dollar. I buy every bar they get in when I see them.

Another thing there is the plate stands. I put entertaining cook books on them in the kitchen to market the lifestyle aspect of the kitchen or else I use small pieces of artwork that are kitchen related.
They add colour to a kitchen when there is no wall space to speak of to hang artwork. More than once the owner has wanted to buy the artwork.  Another source of revenue and easily replaced.

Michele,

Great soap idea with the scrapbook paper! 

You can also use scrapbook paper in frames to add some interesting and inexpensive pictures.  Of course interesting fabric stapled on stretcher bar has been a good standy when you need splashes of color for artwork.  Another idea is to get canvas and use blue painters tape to create simple designs, then paint over it and peel off to add some simple dramatic artwork that can match your theme or style of decor in a room. 

Love the soap idea! Have you noticed that framed art is so expensive, but photo frames are incredibly cheap? I buy the frames and print pictures off the computer. The frame in this photo was less than $3.00, and I printed a B & W photo from the internet!

Michelle - what a cool idea!  I love it!  Great idea for the guest bathroom too, or even for Christmas gift baskets.  You are too creative...

Hi Michelle!  I just installed some Goodwill books in a model home - I covered them with pages from the Wall Street Journal - neutralized the covers so no one would get caught up reading them!  You could also use color-coordinated wrapping paper.  Julie

Good tips here.  Love the soap idea, DAH...always needing that bar that is different from the one I brought alone to use. 

Thanks for the soap idea.  I love it and never thought of going to Goodwill to buy items.

I'm a clearance shopper at Homegoods, and have purchased beautiful napkins 4 for $3.00 or less.  I stock up on napkins, charger plates everytime I see them on sale, in addition other accessories.

I'm fortunate that there are 3 Homegoods in my vicinity and continue to stop by whenever I have the chance.

Joyce

Aloha Michele,

I love using French milled soap but my budget usually is sacrificed in other areas so I rarely purchase it. No worries now, thanks for the tip.

Peace,

I do that all the time, and get more comments on them.  The furniture looks mysteriously familiar, LOL!

I love the soap idea!  Will be using that one next.  We have used bottled water in kitchen and it comes quite cheap and looks good in rows of 3 or 5.  We have also purchased clear, glass vases at dollar stores, group them in 3's or 5' s and then fill them with things like sand or rocks or coloured water.

I love the soap and your other ideas as well, I'm going to buy some tomorrow! Great ideas in this post from everyone!!

Those soaps look beautiful! Can't wait to put that into practice.