Shoestring Decorating – Part 1
Posted by wondermoms on January 31, 2010 · Leave a Comment
It’s February and we’re all still recovering from the holidays…especially our wallets! But unfortunately, our homes don’t understand that. So if your home, whether it’s the living room or family room is looking a little bare, dull and or just plain blah, don’t despair!!! There are some things you can do to decorate on a shoestring budget that will give your room some needed oomph and get you ready for the upcoming spring season!
Paint Your World!
Paint is the cheapest and fastest way to dramatically change the look of a room in your house. Get away from boring beige and don’t be afraid to try new dramatic colours. Go to your local paint store and pick out samples of 3 colours you love or better yet, buy a couple of paint samplers and try in it your room before you commit. If painting all 4 walls in a new dramatic colour scares you, then paint one feature wall first – just make sure it’s the wall you want your guests to focus on!
Use What You Have
The latest craze in home decorating is recycling or “up-cycling” what you already have. Take a look around your house and see what items can be repurposed or updated to reflect today’s home fashion look. Sometimes it’s as easy as changing the knobs on an antique dresser – or better yet, painting it in a glossy black sheen, adding some hardware with bling and voila! you have a gorgeous and an ‘oh so glam’ dresser to display in your hallway that would probably set you back over $700.00 at a high-end furniture store.
Step away from the wall!
The belief that having furniture up against the wall makes a room look more spacious is incorrect. When you pull furniture away from the walls your eyes rest easier. This look creates an inviting atmosphere that encourages conversation, cozyness and creativity. So move things around — your furniture, your bookshelves, everything! — until you find a pleasing arrangement that works for you and your family. And this one will cost you zero dollars!
The Art of Disguise
Another cheap way to decorate is to buy slipcovers for your furniture. For a couple of $100 you can add a couple slipcovers and cover that old couch/armchair and give your room a totally new look. Add an accent colour through cushions and a throw and you’ve got a simple pulled together look without having to spend a lot of money. Quick rule of thumb for décor accents: Use a colour accent at least 3 times in a room or it will look like an accident versus an accent!
I hope these tips inspire you to unleash the interior decorator that I know resides in all of you!!
Christine Da Costa, Decor by Christine Interior Decorating & Design
Christine Da Costa
Decor by Christine Interior Decorating & Design
“Where Style Meets Home”
(416) 859-5082
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Member of The Society of Decorating Professionals
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Filed under Decor by Christine · Tagged with colours, decor, decorate on a shoesrtring budget, decorating, home fashion, paint, recycling
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