Frugal decorating encompasses more than just searching out the best deals and lowest prices.

A fundamental principal is understanding where to spend and where to save – so that you get the most bang for your buck.

I used this frugal decorating principal when planning the widow-coverings for my kitchen. As you leave the foyer, the first room you walk in to is the kitchen, with an alcove of windows as the focal point.

These windows are visible from five different rooms in the house, so I did not mind going with a more expensive fabric and spending the money to have the valences custom made.
What did not makes sense, however, was spending nearly $800 per panel to have the same silk curtains made for the sliding door. Why?

1. That is a main entrance/exit for the kids (and their friends) all summer long, which = grubby hands.
2. The panels are close to the table, which again means grubby kid hands.
3. The harsh afternoon sun = a lot of potential fading.
4. The idea of spending $800 per panel in itself is utterly ridiculous and does not fit in with a frugal decorating pledge!

My solution? I found ready-made curtains in a coordinating color on clearance at Crate & Barrel for $35 a piece. I had the seamstress add the grommets, and run the valence fabric up the sides so that the treatments appear to be custom-made.

Remember…frugal decorating does not mean “cheap”. It means smart.

Here are some additional examples of ways to be frugal with your interior design choices.