| Decorating Ideas—That Make A BIG Impact On A Small Budget |
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Posted: Friday, October 24, 2008 11:48 am
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Are you done with those drabby drapes? Does the trendy color you painted your walls last year now look so “last year”? Your décor leaves you uninspired, yet the current economy makes you hesitant to spend a bundle on a total redesign. The good news is you don’t need the skill—or budget—of a TV decorating diva to give your home a fresh new look. Small, inexpensive changes can make a dramatic difference.
Here are some ideas to transform your room for less:
Shine A Little Light on the Subject
One of the most overlooked, yet one of the most important, decorating details is lighting. The type and placement of lighting can completely alter the look and mood of a room. Rather than stick with “built in” light fixtures that came with the house, consider more attractive and illuminating options.
Overhead lighting—the kind that comes installed in most new homes—can offer great functionality for reading and other tasks, but might not set the mood for more relaxing moments. Strategically positioned lamps around the room will create a cozy, homey feeling. Just adding four $25 lamps purchased at a discount store can make your room feel like a million bucks.
Splash Some Color
Repainting in this season’s hottest colors can give a room a contemporary, trendy look—even if you don’t update any of your furniture. Try an updated look by only painting focal walls with a fun and vibrant shade and painting the others in more subdued hues. Or, opt for more classic colors that will still be in style for years to come. Whatever color you choose, repainting is a powerful way to make a room feel fresh and new. It’s also the perfect opportunity to organize and rearrange the furniture when you’re done painting.
You don’t have to stop with simple painting. Many home improvement stores offer free classes on decorative painting techniques and the use of color. Total cost of doing a decorative sponge effect in your powder room? About $50 for paint and sponges.
Toss It Up
Pillows are a cheap and easy way to give your furniture a fresh look. Try to select a fabrics that will be a nice contrast but compliment your furniture.
There are a lot of different styles, shapes and fabrics available at most retailers or if you’re feeling like you’re up to the challenge of making your own, stop by the fabric store for something truly unique.
Mad About Murals
Wallpapering an entire room is a big commitment, but you’re still not content with just repainting a room. You want something that’s going to make the décor pop—without busting your budget. Wallpaper murals are a great compromise. You can find images to match virtually any décor—from an underwater scene for a kid’s room to the view from the verandah of a Tuscan Villa for your kitchen. Check your local home improvement store for designs and size options.
Roll Out The Carpet
Area rugs can make such a beautiful contribution to any room and they are often the first thing that catches the eye as you walk into the room. Rugs come in almost every size, shape, pattern and color combination imaginable. Sky’s the limit!
Selecting a rug may not be as easy as it seems. There are machine made rugs, hand woven rugs, loose woven rugs, etc. Machine weaved rugs are usually the most inexpensive solution. Before selecting an area rug, first determine where exactly it will go, consider the traffic it will get and try to match the decor of that room as much as possible, then choose the level of quality that will match your budget, and you will be able to make a wise choice.
Accessorize Your Bath
Americans tend to spend their at-home hours in the kitchen. But the next-most-used room is the bath. Bathrooms don’t always get the attention they deserve. Take a look around your lavatory, does it look like it was decorated with yardsale leftovers? Maybe it’s time to spruce up with new and matching accessories and turn your bathroom into a spa.
It’s easy and not costly to replace mismatched accessories such as toothbrush holders, cups and lotion dispensers in the same design. Stores now carry a wide array of patterns to appeal to virtually every taste.
If you’re willing to be a “big spender,” you can also pick up shower curtains, towels, and window treatments to compliment your new all-matching accessories.
Go Green
Nothing says “home” like green plants. You don’t need a green thumb to green up your living space. Opt for low-maintenance live varieties like a philodendron or pothos. Or, if you just can’t keep plants alive, consider artificial. Many modern artificial plants duplicate the look of life so well only the aphids who try to eat them can tell the difference.
Place tall palms next to chairs and windows to bring the outdoors inside. Smaller plants are marvelous accents for tables, shelves and windowsills. And a hanging basket with cascading leaves will add drama to large entryways.
Finally, don’t think you need to replace your furniture to make it work in your new room décor. Sometimes simply moving it around is enough to create a new effect that will please you and work well in your room. |
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