WITH Jamaica OBSERVER CELEBRATES FASHION’S NIGHT OUT (FNO) a week away, shoppers islandwide will be heading out to get their “fashion fix”. Good news for our retailers of home furnishings and accessories, who have all kinds of exciting deals in store for us to help make our homes fashionable reflections of us.

In attempting to decorate my home and trying to find affordable ways to do it, I have been trying to adorn my walls with some kind of artwork. This can be quite expensive, so I have found innovative ways to do this by using things I already have, or interesting things that cost very little. My artwork ranges from a series of inexpensive postcards to decorative cardstock paper.

What makes these pieces special is the way they are framed. If the artwork costs nothing, then you can afford to splurge a bit on the frames. But with places like Island Art and Framing going all out for FNO and slashing prices up to 40 per cent, then framing may not be such a splurge.

There are countless items you can use to decorate your walls: medals and ribbons, memorabilia or special keepsakes can be mounted in shadow boxes and shared with everyone. They also — a result of being so beautifully framed, coupled with their unique stories — become great conversation pieces.

Don’t miss your opportunity to dress up your home next Thursday as Jamaica OBSERVER CELEBRATES FASHION’S NIGHT OUT on September 8, 2011. Remember, be creative.