The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Fab Rugs Under $100


Stylish rugs for the budget decorista

In this weekly column, I'm sharing home decor tips and tricks for the budget decorista. This week we're chatting rugs. Visit my blog A Vintage Splendor for more style inspiration.

Not only does a rug help define a room in your house, it helps bring warmth into the space which is nice during the holiday season. If you have a small space, a rug can help serve as the statement piece of the room as well as a transitional piece between different aesthetics (modern and rustic or traditional and glam). In a large room, the placement of the rug will create and define multiple spaces while bringing unity to the overall space. This is a great solution for large rooms that can be divided into living and dining spaces. When it comes to buying and decorating with a rug, I follow three simple rules:

Decorate by Number: A Berry Ivory Living Room


Living room look for less

Ever wish your home could look like the pretty pictures you see in magazines (or on Pinterest)? In this weekly column, I'm sharing budget-friendly ideas to help you recreate luxe looking spaces for less. Visit my blog A Vintage Splendor for more inspiration.

My design or décor aesthetic is definitely mid-century modern meets vintage clutter, but I’m always drawn to traditional homes that are simply glamorous: modest use of color and statement pieces. What initially drew me to this space is the non-traditional shape of the sofa. I promise that I scoured the web for a good 2 hours to try and find something similar, but this beauty seems to be one-of-a-kind.

The Look for Less: Colonial Mills Braided Baskets

If you're looking for a stylish storage solution, then you'll love Colonial Mills baskets. These durable braided storage bins are made in the USA and the company is based in Rhode Island. They're not cheap but I think you definitely get what you pay for in this case - I requested one for my birthday and I'm obsessed (if one can be obsessed with a storage basket?!) I now have two bins by this brand to store my tots toys and they're functional and not an eye sore in my living room (which doubles as the playroom in our small home).

Colonial Mills baskets come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Here's one in gray that's 24 by 14-inch at AMAZON.COM for $87:


Colonial Mills storage basket


Threshold's decorative rope basket is a good look for less, but note that it's significantly smaller. This one is $19.99 at TARGET.COM:



Here's how it looks in real life:


Threshold  bin


I've also spotted Colonial Mills baskets at HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and GILT.COM (just search for "Colonial Mills" - I see 86 products come up!) I think this timeless style can work with a variety of decors, from classic to contemporary, in any area of your home!

Halloween Décor That Won’t Bore!


Stylish Halloween decorating ideas

In this weekly column, I'm sharing budget-friendly decor ideas that just look expensive! This week we're getting ready to have a chic Halloween. Visit my blog A Vintage Splendor for more ideas.

Halloween is probably my second favorite holiday – right after Thanksgiving – and I never skimp on the decorations. Regretfully, the only scary thing about most Halloween decor you find in stores is how cheesy it looks! I’m here to tell you that there is hope and share some great décor items that will let you celebrate the spookiest holiday in style – and on a budget.