Applicant #13: Sarah Novotny

Sarah Novotny is a 25-year-old from Barnhart.

Sarah's video application:

Sarah's current situation:

Hey everyone! My name is Sarah Novotny and I’m a 25 year old graduate of Saint Louis University. I have a Bachelor degree in Communication and a certificate in Creative and Professional Writing. While I was in college, I was the web design consultant for my sorority. Currently, I work a few part time jobs. I work for a small jewelry company in St. Louis as a Marketing and Sales Representative. I get to travel to various art and gifts shows promoting the company and making as many sales as I can. You can also come visit me at the Ferguson Farmer’s Market where we have a booth, it’s so much fun! I also work part time as a server at a local restaurant. I’m a hard-working girl, but I also love to have fun. When I’m not working, you can find me hiking at Mastodon State Park, biking the Grant’s Trail and doing Zumba! I’m also completely obsessed with reading DIY blogs and doing projects around my first place. My other love is watching the St. Louis Cardinals! I have a ton of great ideas that I can’t wait to share with you!

Sarah's blog post:

Decorating Without Busting the Budget

Moving into your first place after leaving mom and dad can be hard. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be intimidating and scary. Nothing is more comforting when coming home from a stressful day at school or work to a place that feels like home. To create that homey feeling, all you need to do is decorate. There’s just one problem, decorating is expensive, really expensive. If you are anything like me, you’re on a budget, and that’s okay. We all are. Furnishing your first place should reflect you, so don’t be afraid to be fearless. Just follow these tips.

• Go thrifting! Stopping in thrift stores or even a yard sale is a great way to score great finds. You can find tons of unique, inexpensive pieces of furniture, picture frames, and home accessories that can be easily transformed into something new to suite your taste. This is the place where you can really use your imagination and think outside of the box. The best part is that these items will only cost dollars instead of hundreds!

• DIY! Sprucing up a table or chair can be as easy as changing the paint color for a whole new look. All you need is a can of your favorite spray paint. Swapping out the fabric on an old chair cushion for something bright and bold will give the most impact. Accessories can also be transformed with a can of spray paint. For not a lot of work, or money, you’ll have some great DIYed home furnishings that will give you a great sense of accomplishment.

• Don’t be too trendy. If you’re investing in a sofa or bedding that will last a lifetime, pick something neutral and classic. It sounds boring, but if it’s trendy now, it may not be so cool a few years down the road, so you’ll want to choose something you know you will love forever. Neutrals are awesome. You can dress them up and dress them down just like a great pair of jeans. Everything “goes” with it. Toss on a few colorful pillows and call it a day.

• Upcycle. Buying new furniture isn’t always realistic, but picking up a new slip cover to give a hand-me-down a new look is doable. They come in lots of different colors and are a great affordable option.

• Create your own art. Paint a collection of mismatched frames one color to create a cohesive look. A large collage is not only beautiful, but budget friendly. You can even fill them with fabric or bold scrapbooking paper that can be found for as cheap as twenty-five cents a sheet. Another great look is to leave them empty.

Soon enough you’ll be the envy of your friends. By following a few of these ideas, achieving a high style design without burning a hole in your wallet and having a few bucks left over is possible.

Talk to you soon.

Sarah