Being short on cash doesn't mean you have to be short on style. This means that you can add a few sparks to liven up a stale or tired decor in your home using a little imagination; cleaning and rearranging what you have goes a long way too. Small changes can make a big difference.
Paint probably is the easiest way to freshen a room. Faux and crackle paint finishes are great ways to add an elegant look to your walls and even furniture. Painting the lower three feet of a wall in a darker color and the top half in a softer shade of the same color is a great way to add interest; add a wallpaper border or a molding piece between the colors is the final touch. Changing your walls' color from white to a warm pastel or a rich, vibrant color can make an enormous difference in a room's ambiance.
We all have an assortment of furniture that we've collected over the years; you know what I mean - Grandma's dresser, Mom's desk, Dad's favorite chair, the first piece of good furniture we bought after college. After awhile this hodge-podge of "stuff", well, just looks dowdy. Some of us have over loaded bookcases (I'm looking at one in my office as I write this!), furniture jammed against the walls, pictures hung haphazardly around the room all needing some attention. Adding a custom made slip cover to Dad's favorite chair, a couple of containers to clean and rearrange Mom's desk and a bouquet of flowers and some appropriate accessories to the top of Grandma's dresser can work wonders.
New draperies, or even moving existing draperies from one room to another, can give your rooms a new look. Adding trim to existing draperies is a good way to give them a punch that they don't have now. Greenery adds a breath of fresh air and color to any room. Invest in one large tree, real or silk, as a focal point in the room. Fresh orchids are available everywhere. I have one in my living room that has been blooming non-stop for several weeks. When it is finished I will add it to my growing collection of orchids that are surprisingly easy to grow.
Decorative pillows and throws can add texture, updated colors, bring in a new pattern and immediately jazz up a sofa or a chair. If you are handy with the sewing machine you can buy fabric remnants at reduced cost and sew pillows yourself. Add some beads or fringe to the pillow and - zap - you have changed the look of your room to a more sophisticated style.
Area rugs offer a huge variety of pattern and color. Adding a 4' X 6' size rug in front of your sofa makes an immediate improvement. Arrange your chairs around the sides and add a coffee table; you have created a warm, inviting conversation area that welcomes you and your guests to sit and enjoy each others company. Even if you have wall-to-wall carpet adding an area rug is an easy way to mark off an area in any room.
Cleaning or replacing dusty lampshades, adding new energy saving light bulbs and making sure that there is enough light fixtures in the room to give the room a triangle of light will make your rooms more comfortable. I am always amazed how many homes I go into that do not have the proper lighting; one lamp in a room just isn't enough light as it creates one bright spot and the rest of the room is gloomy and dark making the room uncomfortable.
You get the picture - it doesn't take much to change your home's environment for the better! A little elbow grease and some imagination will work wonders to add flair to your home without spending a lot of money.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
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