One man's junk is another man's treasure.

If you're not a big online shopper and you can't get a feel for things off the pages of magazines,  I have 2 words for you...  yard sales!!!!   Yard sales or flea markets are some of the best places to pick up odds and ends.  Lots of people have things in their home that can be core pieces in country decorating.  You could find a weathered picnic basket (which I have found), an old wooden piece, something wrought iron or tin.  I can look around my home and remember several purchase I've made at yard sales-  that great weathered picnic basket, an old lantern, a big wooden bowl that now holds some candles and potpourri.   My sister in law even found old barn doors at a yard sale and ended up making the most beautiful entry way into her home with them.  Never underestimate where you can find some real treasures.

Isn't it all red, white & blue?

The answer to that question is... only if you want it to be. I chose to do my spare bedroom in an Americana theme. But there is much more to country decorating than just Americana decorating. Country decorating can tie in a myriad of colors. My house is a sea of dark green, navy blue, maroon, mustard yellow, dark red and brown. I chose a darker shade of beige for my walls to let the country accents stand out more. There are so many kinds of patterns available now that you should never feel pinned down to a single color or style. Part of what I enjoy about country decorating is finding what might be deemed as mismatched pieces, and making them work together.

For instance, my "spool table" is spools that I've collected over the years. The table is all spools, candles & decorations of all different shapes, sizes and colors.  The randomness of it is what makes it different... special...  mine.    Here is a picture of my table to show you what I'm talking about.