Quick Fixes: 5 Under $5

Whenever I consider any updates to our home my mind often wanders to "How can I do this in the most affordable way possible?" and most often there IS a cheaper alternative. Whether it be buying a piece of furniture from Craigslist, asking friends or family members if they have any items they aren't really using anymore, or DIYing your very own thing, designing on a dime can be very do-able.

Here I'm gonna show you five quick fixes that are either decor-related or just plain practical to our everyday lives.

1. Spray Paint. Like they say, "Diamonds Spray paint is a girl's best friend." Spray paint is one of the most affordable options out there to dramatically change the look of something for very little money, often under $5 unless you're springing for the fancy stuff. (Oh and I was just kidding about that before...diamonds are still a girl's best friend, Dan)

Spray painted lamps and "ceramic" bottles

Spray painted kitchen shelf

(PS: I recently updated our kitchen photos on the Tour page)

2. Dishwasher Magnet. This is something I just happen to come across at Bed Bath & Beyond one day (for about $2) and I knew it was perfect for solving our dishwashing issue. See sometimes people would like to help out and empty the dishwasher but wouldn't know whether they were clean or dirty. There were quite a few instances of re-washing going on because dirty dishes were being put away without being cleaned. Enter this little do-hickey which has really helped, as long as we remember to switch it at the right times.

3. Votives. These two votive holders from Target ($4.99 ea) were perfect for injecting a little blue into our living room to help pull out the blue in my matador painting and add another level of color to the room. Plus they smell delicious which is always a bonus. Even when we're done with them and the candle burns out completely, the holders can be refilled with individual votives.

4. Tank Bin. This was a no-brainer that took me much longer than needed to take care. You can sort-of see in this picture from when I lined our dresser drawers that my tank tops were previously being housed in a shoe box with the lid ripped off. Klassy.

Enter a $1 bin from Five Below and you have much cuter storage going on:

5. Faux Flowers. I know the use of faux can become a heated debate across the blogosphere, but for me sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The parsons desk on our landing usually sports a pretty bunch of flowers but the real-deal only lasts so long. So one day at Michael's I sprung for a $2.50 stem of orchids to pretty-up my entry table for much longer than a week. And if I do say so myself, they are deceptively life-like.

So do any of you use these quick fixes in your homes? Have any other cheap-o fixes to share that work for you?