By
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Area Rugs
- Baskets
- Collectibles
- Curtain Rods
- Curtains
- Cut Flowers
- Lamps
- Planting Containers
- Throw Pillows
- Crocheted Lace Doilies
- Vintage-style Tablecloths
Step1
Showcase collectibles such as vintage dishes, linens, vases and straw hats. Hang plates and hats on walls and set other dishes and vases on shelves and tabletops. Use linens in layers - such as crocheted doilies over a 1940s tablecloth - to anchor tabletop arrangements.
Step2
Stash dried flowers, office supplies, keys and other clutter in baskets that can be painted or left natural. Put plastic planters in baskets, too, or switch to simple terra-cotta pots.
Step3
Set casually styled pillows (perhaps gingham, calico, floral or vintage quilting or chenille) on seats.
Step4
Slipcover furnishings with quilts, canvas and other homey textiles.
Step5
Use folk art (carved figures of animals or people, whimsical paintings) liberally. Framed advertising art promoting soaps, cosmetics, seeds, cereals, candy, baking ingredients and so forth also works well.
Step6
Arrange flowers casually in clever containers such as collectible drinking glasses, milk pitchers, watering cans and the like.
Step7
Dress windows with vintage-style fabrics (florals, checks, pillow-tick stripes) sewn into simple curtains and hung on simple rods - wooden poles or basic white rods hidden in channels at the tops of curtains. Ruffles are fine for these curtains but swags, tassels and bullion fringe are all too formal.
Step8
Search for area rugs that are casual in tone. Examples include chenille, rag, dhurrie, sisal and hand-hooked styles.
Step9
Seek table lamps that are modest and plain. Fabric shades - possibly checked or floral - work well. Bases may include vintage ceramic, terra-cotta, milk glass or candlestick styles.
