how to choose soothing home decor

How to Choose Soothing Home Decor.

Spending as much time in your home as you probably do, soothing home decor will make it easier for you to unwind and relax. You can use soothing furnishings, like plush furniture and items that imitate nature, to create this effect. You'll also need to select a soothing color scheme by doing things like choosing cool tones for your base color and toning down colors that are too bright. Last but not least, you'll have to account for existing factors in your home, by doing things like integrating your design with its intended function and balancing design choices with lighting.

Method 1 Using Soothing Furnishings.

1. Decorate with plush, inviting furniture. Hard, spartan furniture can look uninviting from the very first glance. Furniture that is elegant, well upholstered, and luxuriously stuffed will make you, your family, and visiting friends want to sit down and relax.

Some examples of plush furniture might include things like comfy upholstered chairs, well-stuffed couches, inviting love seats, fluffy ottomans, and so on.

These kinds of items can sometimes be expensive. If you're not ready to make this purchase, buy soft, cozy throw pillows to add to your furniture.

Many pieces of gently used furniture can be bought at a fraction of the price at secondhand stores, though you might have to patiently search these for these until they come in stock.

2. Use items that imitate nature. As appealing as sleek, futuristic designs can be, natural features encourage happiness, comfort, and well-being. To accomplish this, add some houseplants or a living wall to your home. Some other ideas for adding a natural vibe to your living space include:

Choosing wood-accented furnishings and decorations, especially dark colored wood. This will create a warm feel while adding contrast to the room.

Art from natural scenes can also add to the organic atmosphere of a room. Art can sometimes be pricey; find inexpensive art at secondhand stores and thrift shops.

3. Avoid too many sharp edges. Sharp edges give a clean, geometric, well defined impression to a room. It's only natural for the furniture of your room to have some edges, but too many of these can make a room feel aggressive, in a manner of speaking.

Furniture with flowing lines and rounded edges can really soften the character of a room and make it feel more relaxed.

Some examples of furniture without sharp edges might include rounded edged bookshelves, seating with softened edges (like couches and chairs that don't come to a point at the edges), coffee tables with blunted edges, and so on.

4. Account for lighting. Natural light has a direct positive effect on your mood. Use curtains that decorate your windows without cutting off too much natural light. Add mirrors to a room to encourage the spread of natural light throughout the space.

The "temperature" of lighting refers to its tone. Light that is very white is said to have a "cool" temperature, while light that is somewhat orange is said to be "warm."

Light that is too cool can make a room feel stark or clinical. Use warm temperature lighting to cozy up rooms you are decorating.

5. Install a water feature. Water is associated with a sense of calmness, clarity, and meditation. You can bring these feelings into your home when decorating by adding a water feature, like a small bubbling fountain or a trickling water wall.

If buying a brand new water feature is outside your budget, you might opt for a noisemaker that can make water effects or even a CD with water sounds playing in the background.

Similar to the regular, metrical noises water makes, the sound of ticking can also have a calming effect. If this is true for you, a clock may be a soothing alternative to a water feature.

Method 2 Selecting a Soothing Color Scheme.

1. Utilize cool tones in your color scheme. Cool tones are green, blue, and violet. These colors, and shades of these, generally promote a soothing feeling. By choosing one of these colors for the base of your color scheme, you can replicate this soothing effect. Avoid overusing too many cool tones, otherwise your room may feel cold and lifeless.

Use green as a base if, in addition to a soothing impression, you also want to convey a sense of rejuvenation or growth.

Blue, when used as your base color, will add a light and refreshing feeling, especially lighter shades of blue. Darker shades communicate a calm sense of dignity.

Violet is the warmest of the cool tones, giving it a vital feeling. It also carries the impression of serenity. Avoid overusing violet to prevent its warmth from detracting from its serene aspect.

2. Tone down bright colors according to your taste. Bright colors carry a sense of energy. Using bright colors is a good way to balance cool tones so that the overall effect isn't cold and drab. However, you may need to tone down some bright colors to prevent them from throwing off the balance of your color scheme.

When painting, you can soften colors that are too vibrant by adding a little white to them or dull them with some black. Be sure you only mix together the same kinds of paint. Different brands/types of paint may be impossible to mix due to their ingredients.

For example, you can create a cool, refreshing atmosphere with a base of cyan, dark blue, and black. Accent these with beige and a muted red. The red should give this color scheme an upbeat feel.

3. Accentuate a soft, open feel with pastel colors. Whereas bright colors can be softened with the addition of small amounts of white, adding a substantial amount of white creates a "washed out" effect in a color. This is the basis of pastel colors.

These soft colors create a wide open effect that's useful in smaller spaces. Pastels also impart a comfortable and airy atmosphere.

For example, in a child's play room, you might use a pastel blue as the primary color to give the sense of being under a soft blue sky, and then combine this with pastel green to add a vital feeling to the color scheme.

4. Create depth in your color scheme. Neutral colors, like white, gray, and black work with most other colors, when used as accents, and are great for adding definition to your color scheme. Earth tones, like beige, brown, and shades of umber and ochre are also sometimes considered neutral colors.

Earth tones tend to add sense of warmth to a color scheme. Beyond this, the natural sense evoked by these colors can bring with them a feeling of tranquility.

Method 3 Accounting for Existing Factors.

1. Balance design choices with lighting. Rooms that have good lighting will clearly reveal the colors used in it. For this reason, bright rooms might need to be toned down a little with darker colors. Soft, light colors, however, work better for darker rooms.

The direction the windows in the room face also can have an effect on lighting. For example, if a room only receives evening light, this will generally be deeper in color and have a golden tint. This can give colors a muted tone.

Shadows may be cast by trees or outdoor features into the space you are decorating. Generally, you can expect shadows to have a darkening effect on your color scheme. Use lighter cool tones in this case.

2. Integrate your design with its intended function. Matching your decorating choices to suit the function of a place can make them feel more fitting. For example, even though red isn't traditionally considered soothing, it stimulates appetite, making it an excellent color to add to restaurants, dining rooms, and so on.

Green and shades of this color are great for sitting rooms, family spaces, and even offices.

The natural, soft feeling given from earth tones make these a strong choice for places like bedrooms or rooms without windows.

Dark colors, like blacks, grays, and earth tones can add definition to a room without becoming distracting. These are great colors to use in an office or reading room.

3. Coordinate with the existing features of your home. You'll likely have to plan your interior decorating around some existing features of your home. For example, re-flooring your home might not be an option, so you'll have to make design choices that match well with your current flooring. Other features you may have to integrate with your design include:

Cabinetry, wall color, fixtures (includes outlets, sink fixtures, door knobs, and so on), countertops, sills, and more.

Desember 20, 2019

how to choose soothing home decor

How to Choose Soothing Home Decor.

Spending as much time in your home as you probably do, soothing home decor will make it easier for you to unwind and relax. You can use soothing furnishings, like plush furniture and items that imitate nature, to create this effect. You'll also need to select a soothing color scheme by doing things like choosing cool tones for your base color and toning down colors that are too bright. Last but not least, you'll have to account for existing factors in your home, by doing things like integrating your design with its intended function and balancing design choices with lighting.







Method 1 Using Soothing Furnishings.



Decorate with plush, inviting furniture. Hard, spartan furniture can look uninviting from the very first glance. Furniture that is elegant, well upholstered, and luxuriously stuffed will make you, your family, and visiting friends want to sit down and relax.

Some examples of plush furniture might include things like comfy upholstered chairs, well-stuffed couches, inviting love seats, fluffy ottomans, and so on.

These kinds of items can sometimes be expensive. If you're not ready to make this purchase, buy soft, cozy throw pillows to add to your furniture.

Many pieces of gently used furniture can be bought at a fraction of the price at secondhand stores, though you might have to patiently search these for these until they come in stock.



Use items that imitate nature. As appealing as sleek, futuristic designs can be, natural features encourage happiness, comfort, and well-being. To accomplish this, add some houseplants or a living wall to your home. Some other ideas for adding a natural vibe to your living space include:

Choosing wood-accented furnishings and decorations, especially dark colored wood. This will create a warm feel while adding contrast to the room.

Art from natural scenes can also add to the organic atmosphere of a room. Art can sometimes be pricey; find inexpensive art at secondhand stores and thrift shops.



Avoid too many sharp edges. Sharp edges give a clean, geometric, well defined impression to a room. It's only natural for the furniture of your room to have some edges, but too many of these can make a room feel aggressive, in a manner of speaking.

Furniture with flowing lines and rounded edges can really soften the character of a room and make it feel more relaxed.

Some examples of furniture without sharp edges might include rounded edged bookshelves, seating with softened edges (like couches and chairs that don't come to a point at the edges), coffee tables with blunted edges, and so on.



Account for lighting. Natural light has a direct positive effect on your mood. Use curtains that decorate your windows without cutting off too much natural light. Add mirrors to a room to encourage the spread of natural light throughout the space.

The "temperature" of lighting refers to its tone. Light that is very white is said to have a "cool" temperature, while light that is somewhat orange is said to be "warm."

Light that is too cool can make a room feel stark or clinical. Use warm temperature lighting to cozy up rooms you are decorating.



Install a water feature. Water is associated with a sense of calmness, clarity, and meditation. You can bring these feelings into your home when decorating by adding a water feature, like a small bubbling fountain or a trickling water wall.

If buying a brand new water feature is outside your budget, you might opt for a noisemaker that can make water effects or even a CD with water sounds playing in the background.

Similar to the regular, metrical noises water makes, the sound of ticking can also have a calming effect. If this is true for you, a clock may be a soothing alternative to a water feature.







Method 2 Selecting a Soothing Color Scheme.



Utilize cool tones in your color scheme. Cool tones are green, blue, and violet. These colors, and shades of these, generally promote a soothing feeling. By choosing one of these colors for the base of your color scheme, you can replicate this soothing effect. Avoid overusing too many cool tones, otherwise your room may feel cold and lifeless.

Use green as a base if, in addition to a soothing impression, you also want to convey a sense of rejuvenation or growth.

Blue, when used as your base color, will add a light and refreshing feeling, especially lighter shades of blue. Darker shades communicate a calm sense of dignity.

Violet is the warmest of the cool tones, giving it a vital feeling. It also carries the impression of serenity. Avoid overusing violet to prevent its warmth from detracting from its serene aspect.



Tone down bright colors according to your taste. Bright colors carry a sense of energy. Using bright colors is a good way to balance cool tones so that the overall effect isn't cold and drab. However, you may need to tone down some bright colors to prevent them from throwing off the balance of your color scheme.

When painting, you can soften colors that are too vibrant by adding a little white to them or dull them with some black. Be sure you only mix together the same kinds of paint. Different brands/types of paint may be impossible to mix due to their ingredients.

For example, you can create a cool, refreshing atmosphere with a base of cyan, dark blue, and black. Accent these with beige and a muted red. The red should give this color scheme an upbeat feel.



Accentuate a soft, open feel with pastel colors. Whereas bright colors can be softened with the addition of small amounts of white, adding a substantial amount of white creates a "washed out" effect in a color. This is the basis of pastel colors.

These soft colors create a wide open effect that's useful in smaller spaces. Pastels also impart a comfortable and airy atmosphere.

For example, in a child's play room, you might use a pastel blue as the primary color to give the sense of being under a soft blue sky, and then combine this with pastel green to add a vital feeling to the color scheme.



Create depth in your color scheme. Neutral colors, like white, gray, and black work with most other colors, when used as accents, and are great for adding definition to your color scheme. Earth tones, like beige, brown, and shades of umber and ochre are also sometimes considered neutral colors.

Earth tones tend to add sense of warmth to a color scheme. Beyond this, the natural sense evoked by these colors can bring with them a feeling of tranquility.







Method 3 Accounting for Existing Factors.



Balance design choices with lighting. Rooms that have good lighting will clearly reveal the colors used in it. For this reason, bright rooms might need to be toned down a little with darker colors. Soft, light colors, however, work better for darker rooms.

The direction the windows in the room face also can have an effect on lighting. For example, if a room only receives evening light, this will generally be deeper in color and have a golden tint. This can give colors a muted tone.

Shadows may be cast by trees or outdoor features into the space you are decorating. Generally, you can expect shadows to have a darkening effect on your color scheme. Use lighter cool tones in this case.



Integrate your design with its intended function. Matching your decorating choices to suit the function of a place can make them feel more fitting. For example, even though red isn't traditionally considered soothing, it stimulates appetite, making it an excellent color to add to restaurants, dining rooms, and so on.

Green and shades of this color are great for sitting rooms, family spaces, and even offices.

The natural, soft feeling given from earth tones make these a strong choice for places like bedrooms or rooms without windows.

Dark colors, like blacks, grays, and earth tones can add definition to a room without becoming distracting. These are great colors to use in an office or reading room.



Coordinate with the existing features of your home. You'll likely have to plan your interior decorating around some existing features of your home. For example, re-flooring your home might not be an option, so you'll have to make design choices that match well with your current flooring. Other features you may have to integrate with your design include.

Cabinetry, wall color, fixtures (includes outlets, sink fixtures, door knobs, and so on), countertops, sills, and more.

November 19, 2019

how to add natural elements to your home decor

How to Add Natural Elements to Your Home Decor.

Bringing natural elements into your interior decorating can help create a relaxing atmosphere. You should consider using natural materials such as rock, brick, sea shells, sea salt, water and wood. You may also want to bring plant life into your home to help freshen the air. To improve natural lighting in your home, you should consider opening your windows as well as using natural mood lighting. By using natural materials, plants and light, you can create a fresh and relaxing interior décor.







Method 1 Using Natural Materials.



Decorate with sea shells. Bring home some sea shells from your next beach vacation or purchase them at a home decorating store. You could use sea shells to make a variety of decorations such as a glass jar with sea shells, a picture frame or a candle holder.

Try creating a glass jar with sea shells. Collect some of your favorite shells and arrange them in a glass jar. Place the glass jar on a mantle place or on top of a shelf. They will remind you of the relaxing smells and sounds of your beach vacation.



Buy reclaimed wood chairs and tables. You can find beautiful furniture made from reclaimed wood. Wood previously used in barns, houses or other architecture is used to make chairs and tables. You can find reclaimed wood chairs and tables at design stores, antique shops or online.



Purchase unfinished wood furniture. You could buy unfinished chairs, tables or other wooden furniture and then apply your own finish. You can find unfinished wooden furniture online or at wholesale shops. Apply natural stains such as linseed oil or paint it to match your color scheme.

You can find unfinished wood furniture at online retailers and some hardware stores. Whereas some retailers are focused on more contemporary designs, other retailers sell very traditional designs. You can also piece together the parts you need by going to specialty retailers for table legs or other furniture components, which you would then assemble yourself.



Put driftwood on your coffee table or mantle place. Search for driftwood the next time you are close to a beach or lake. When you find a nice piece of driftwood, you can cut it to size and then place it on your coffee table to remind yourself of the place you visited.

If it is covered in dirt or moss, you may need to clean it.

You could wrap twinkle lights around the branches during the holidays.



Create a rock terrarium. You could find or purchase some stones and place them in a decorative bowl. You can purchase stones from a home living store or a precious stones shop. If you go on vacation to a rocky beach, you could collect your own stones. Arrange your stones in a small bowl and place it on your dining room table.



Consider wood flooring. Wood flooring is a great option for adding natural elements to your home, especially if you are in the process of renovating. Choose from pine, oak or other hardwood flooring options. You could also add section of wood flooring to a small area of your house. Solid hardwood, engineered hardwood and prefinished hardwood are common options.



Expose brick walls in your house. If you have brick walls, consider exposing them so that you get to see the natural décor of brick. Brick is made from clay, mud and water, which is fired at high temperatures. It has a nice texture and can give a room a very natural feel. You could make an accent wall with exposed brick and then paint the other walls in your house.

If you cannot alter the walls in your home, you could make a brick decoration. For instance, you could purchase a few bricks and stack them in front of a wall or use them to make a bookshelf.



Add a water element to your home décor. Install a slate water wall in one of your rooms to add the soothing feel of a waterfall to your home. If a slate water wall sounds too pricey, consider placing a small water fountain on your deck or on your living room table. You can find water fountains in a variety of sizes and shapes.

You can find water fountains at home décor, online retailers and some larger hardware stores.

Indoor water fixtures range from approximately $200 to $2500.

There are many different types of fountains such as tabletop fountains, fountains that sit on the floor and water fixtures that hang on a wall.







Method 2 Bringing Plant Life into Your Home Décor.



Plant an herb garden in your kitchen. An indoor herb garden will bring the smells and tastes of the garden into your kitchen. It also makes cooking a lot easier. Start by finding a sunny window such as a south or southwest facing window. Place your herbs in small pots on the windowsill and remember to put a saucepan underneath to catch drainage. Enjoy sage, rosemary, basil or other herbs in your kitchen.

Avoid north facing windows for indoor kitchen herb gardens. They do not provide enough light.



Add a spider plant to your bedroom. Spider plants look great in a hanging basket by a window. They have pretty green and yellow stems. They are very easy to maintain. They require bright or moderate amounts of sun.

Water occasionally when they are new and then moderately after one year.



Put a succulent in your living room. A succulent will add a nice flourish to your living room. Consider placing a few succulents on your mantle place, living room table or on side tables. You could make a succulent center piece for your living room table. On another table, you could put glass jars with sand and air plants or succulents on top.



Use cacti in your living spaces. You could place a small cactus on your home office table. If you are more ambitious, you could create a small cactus garden with different sized and shaped cacti in your living room. Play around with the shapes and sizes of the cacti. It might be best to place the small cacti in front of the larger cacti, so you get a sense of depth in your cactus garden.



Get weekly flower delivery. You can purchase a weekly flower delivery service so that you can look forward to fresh cut flowers every week. This is a great option if you live in a rental apartment. Talk to your florist about the kinds of flowers you enjoy and ask about the availability of seasonal varieties.







Method 3 Adding Light to Your Home.



Get more light into your home by opening up the windows. Remove old curtains or replace old windows that don’t let enough light into your house or apartment. With new windows and curtains that let more light into your home, you will feel a lot more connected to nature and the outdoors.

Consider purchasing natural linen or cotton curtains.

Consider the style of curtain you would like to purchase such as sill curtains, which go to the windowsill, or apron curtains that go over the windowsill. Floor curtains go all the way to the floor.



Add windows to your home. You may want to add a few windows to your apartment or house. Consider whether there are any parts of the house or apartment that would offer a nice view of the outdoors such as a pond or a forest. Also, consider what size of window would make sense and the price of the renovations.

Consider purchasing wooden, double-hung windows. This type of window will cost you a bit more up front but should save you money in electricity costs in the long run while adding a natural look to home.



Add a salt rock lamp to your bedroom. Himalayan salt rock lamps are great for mood lighting in your bedroom or living room. They have a soft glow and have a range of purported health benefits. Made from natural sea salts, they are a nice way to bring some natural light into your home.



Use a natural candle holder. You can find beeswax candles and Himalayan sea salt candle holders. Place some candles in natural candle holders in your living room or bedroom for natural mood lighting.





Warnings.

If you have pets or small children, you should avoid certain house plants such as philodendron, pothos, arrowhead, lily, peace lily, dieffenbachia, oleander, caladium, mother-in-law’s tongue and ivy.

November 17, 2019

how to decorate your home on a budget

How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget.

If you’re on a budget, it might seem impossible to redecorate your home. After all, home furnishings and decor can be very expensive if you buy everything all at once. Luckily, though, there are plenty of ways to save money as you freshen up your home’s appearance. Try buying items a little at a time, and buy second-hand or find great sales whenever you can. Also, look for creative ways to repurpose items you already have, or even upcycle things you find while you’re shopping!

Method 1 Adding Personality with Small Details.

1. Display your favorite items out in the open. Showing off something you already have is a great way to decorate without spending any money at all. If you have a piece that always makes you smile, like a special heirloom or a painting you love, put it somewhere you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom, kitchen, or living room. As you’re choosing other items for that room, try to think of what will go with the pieces you love the most.

For instance, if you hang up a painting in your living room, look for throw pillows or a rug that have some of the same colors as the painting.

Get rid of items you don’t love and just display the decor that you really like. Your favorite items will become statement pieces, and you’ll appreciate what you do have more.

2. Choose brightly-colored items to draw attention to an area. If there’s a feature in your home that you really like, such as a mantle with interesting molding or a bookshelf where you keep your books, draw attention to it with bright colors. Your eye will automatically be drawn to the brighter shades, making that area really stand out.

For instance, you might put a bright glass vase on a shelf to add a pop of color, or you could hang a colorful painting on the wall above your fireplace to show it off.

Look through the things you already have to find bright colors, or buy accent pieces on sale or at secondhand stores.

3. Arrange items in odd-numbered groups. For some reason, people find odd numbers of items more pleasing to look at than even-numbered groups. As you’re deciding where to place decor around your home, you can elevate the styling by sticking to odd-numbered arrangements.

For instance, you might try stacking 5 books together on a shelf, flanked by 2 heavy bookends, or you could use an odd number of picture frames if you create a gallery wall.

You could also make a tableau out of different objects, such as a vase, a painting leaned against the wall, and a small bowl filled with pretty rocks.

This is a simple trick that you can use to freshen up your decor without buying anything new!

4. Buy sheets and bedding on sale to update your bedroom. Look for seasonal home sales throughout the year, and when you find a good one, buy new sheets, pillowcases, and a comforter for your bedroom. This small change can make your bedroom feel more luxurious and can pull the room together, and if you find a good deal, it doesn’t have to cost very much money.

If you have a sewing machine, you can even make your own sheets!

Just buy throw pillows or a throw blanket in a fun new pattern or color if you can’t afford to buy a whole set of bedding at once.

5. Buy or make new throw pillows for your couch to personalize your living area. Throw pillows make your couch seem more inviting and comfy, and they can also help pull the design of your room together. Choose pillows in a color that’s used somewhere else in the room, or find them in a design that goes with the theme of the room.

For instance, if your room has a nature theme, you might choose pillows with a design featuring leaves, trees, or birds.

You can even recover your old throw pillows to give them a new look. Buying pillow covers is cheaper and can change the look of items simply and inexpensively.

6. Make your own curtains to add a pretty touch to any window. Curtains add a touch of elegance to a room, but buying drapes can be very expensive. If you can’t find a good sale on curtains you love, try making your own. Just sew a pocket into the top of a long strip of fabric, hem the other end, and run a curtain rod through the pocket.

You can also make your own shower curtain to freshen up your bathroom! Just make sure you use a waterproof shower curtain liner so the fabric doesn’t get water-stained.

Shower curtains and sheets can be fashioned into curtains as well. If you find a pattern or color you love, don't hesitate to use these for drapery.

7. Update your cabinet pulls, faucets, and other small hardware. The knobs on your cabinets and drawers, the handles on our sink and bathtub, and the knobs on your appliances can all get grimy and dull over time. Replace them to freshen up the look of your bathroom and kitchen without spending a lot of money.

Tip: If you like the hardware you already have, but it’s seen better days, try giving it a good clean with melamine foam or oxygen bleach.

8. Add a touch of nature with houseplants, flowers, and fruit. Houseplants are calming, beautiful, and good for the environment, making them a perfect addition for indoor decor. However, if you’re afraid you don’t have a green thumb, you can fill a vase or a bowl with fresh flowers or fruit, and change it whenever they start to turn brown.

You can even use artificial plants or flowers, but remember to dust them regularly!

9. Make your own art with inexpensive picture frames. Framed art doesn’t have to be expensive to look amazing. Buy several inexpensive frames that are the same color, shape, or size. Then, frame photos of your loved ones, pressed flowers, old calendar pages, or even pictures you print out from online!

Group several frames together to create your very own gallery wall.

If you have small keepsakes you’d like to display, place them in a shadow box and hang them on your wall.

Method 2 Finding Cheap or Free Items.

1. Rearrange the furniture you already have in your house. The easiest way to refresh your home is to rearrange your furniture and move your decor around. Think about how you’d like your space to look when you’re finished decorating. Then, go from room to room, looking at each piece of furniture or decorative object. Try to imagine how you could re-use each piece, and you might be surprised what you can come up with!

Sometimes just moving a big piece of furniture, like your couch or your bed, can give you a whole new perspective on a room!

With a little imagination, you might find that the nightstand in your spare room would make an awesome TV stand, or an old trunk could become the perfect coffee table!

Try to keep as many of your current possessions as you can. You’ll spend a lot more money redecorating if you try to replace everything at once.

Use things that you wouldn’t normally use for different purposes - like an old trunk as a coffee table or a scarf as a wall hanging.

2. Ask your family and friends if they have furniture or decor they don’t want. Reach out to your network and let them know you’re trying to change things up around your house. Keep in mind, however, that you shouldn’t take anything unless you really like or need it. Otherwise, you’ll just be adding clutter to your home.

If you know anyone who is moving, they might be happy to get rid of some items and you could take them off their hands. Even they aren't perfect, you can paint items or change them up to fit your style.

You can even post on social media asking if anyone has a specific item that you’re looking for.

3. Shop secondhand to find pieces you love at a deep discount. If you’re shopping on a budget, thrift stores, secondhand stores, yard sales, flea markets, and estate sales can be a great way to find items you wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. Sometimes you can even find new or like-new items at a huge discount.

Secondhand shops tend to have a lot of turnover in their inventory, so you may want to visit the same shops a few different times through the redecorating process, especially if you like the kind of items they carry. If you need to, travel to shops in nearby neighborhoods to find a wider selection.

Shopping after the holidays and during the spring is a good idea, because people tend to clean out their homes then.

Don’t be discouraged from buying something that has chipped paint, a dent or is slightly worn - this can all be easily fixed and adds character.

If you notice that an item has been at a certain shop for a while without selling, ask the manager if they’d be willing to sell it to you at a discount. This can be especially helpful if you’re buying large furniture, since the store will sometimes be eager to reclaim their floor space.

Tip: Pay attention to the prices of items, even in a secondhand shop. Some shops, especially those specializing in antiques, can still be quite pricey.

4. Look for sales if you’re buying new items. Don’t feel that everything you buy needs to be secondhand. Many retailers offer big sales throughout the year, especially around holidays. Look in your local newspaper, watch for TV commercials advertising sales, or check the stores’ websites so you’ll know when a sale is coming up.

You can also sign up for emails from some of the stores you like so you can be notified when a sale is coming up. There are even websites that are dedicated to finding deals, and you can sign up for email alerts from them as well.

Check your favorite stores online - there is usually a discount for online shopping and it will save you time as well.

Also, don’t forget to check the clearance section once you’re in the store. Often, shops will put a steep discount on merchandise that’s left over from a seasonal promotion or an older collection. These sales are typically not advertised.

5. Refinish or reupholster furniture to give it a new look. When you’re shopping, especially if you’re looking at secondhand items, pay more attention to the shape of the furniture than the color of it. You can sand away the existing stain on wood furniture and restain it or paint it to give it a whole new look. You can also reupholster fabric-covered furniture, like couches, recliners, and dining chairs!

Sometimes, you can save a lot of money by buying unfinished wood furniture. That means the wood is still in its natural state, and it hasn’t been sealed or stained. Try looking online to find a store near you that specializes in unfinished furniture.

Try changing out the drawer pulls on a dresser to give it a fresh, updated look. Even better, you can buy inexpensive drawer pulls from a home improvement store for just a few dollars!

You can even replace the foam in worn-out cushions to make the piece seem as good as new.

6. Don’t try to redecorate everything at once. If you’re on a budget, it’s not practical to try to buy everything all at the same time. Instead, try to embrace the idea that redecorating your home is a long-term project. Make a little time on the weekends to hunt for a great deal or a unique treasure that you’ll love.

It might help to focus on one room at a time, but don’t let that keep you from buying something for another room if you see a great deal. If you're redecorating your living room first but you see the perfect comforter on clearance, for instance, you might want to buy it if you can.

If shopping isn’t your favorite thing to do, find a friend who’ll be happy to go with you. That will help make the experience more fun for you.

Don’t feel like you have to finish one space at a time. Especially if you're on a budget, it can be hard to wait for the perfect piece to go on sale or to find it second hand. Pick up things when you find a good deal and it will all come together eventually.

Method 3 Making Cheap Updates.

1. Paint the walls with a new coat of paint to freshen up a room. If you own your home or have permission from your landlord, painting is an inexpensive way to brighten everything up and make it look newer. Take everything out of the room that you can and cover the floor with a drop cloth. Then, cover the wall in 1-2 coats of primer, let those dry, and go back over the walls with your chosen paint color.

Light colors will make a room look larger, so avoid very dark colors in a small room.

Cool colors like blue and green are relaxing, so they’re a great choice for bedrooms. Warm colors are very inviting, so they’re great for living areas and kitchens.

You can even get creative by painting one wall a different color or by adding stripes,chevrons, or chalkboard paint to your walls.

If you love the look of wallpaper but don’t have room in your budget, use a stencil to paint a pattern on your walls instead!

If you have dark trim or wooden doors, you can paint those too for a fresh, updated look.

2. Change the light fixtures in a room for a quick upgrade. Dated or ugly light fixtures can bring down the look of a room, even if you don’t consciously pay attention to them. If you can find a good deal on a new light fixture, changing it yourself is usually pretty easy. Just turn off the power to the room at your circuit breaker, remove the old light fixture, and rewire the new one. Take care to match up the negative and positive wires, then attach the new fixture to the ceiling with the provided brackets and screws.

Don’t feel that you necessarily have to buy new light fixtures. Sometimes, all it takes it a good cleaning or a coat of spray paint to bring new life to the light fixtures you already have.

Adding a new shade or cover is inexpensive and can quickly update the look of older fixtures.

If you don’t feel comfortable working with wiring yourself, it might be worth it to save up and have an electrician do the job.

Tip: If you have a lot of lamps, try updating your lamp shades!

3. Cover the back of a bookcase with contact paper to give it a new look. Bookcases provide a lot of practical storage, so even if you’re not in love with yours, it might be best to keep it. Luckily, you can give it new life by covering the back walls with colorful contact paper, wallpaper scraps, or even fabric. This will brighten up the bookcase and will provide a nice contrast to show off whatever you’re displaying on the shelves.

You can also paint your bookcase, if you’d like. Paint it a different color from the walls to make it stand out, or paint it the same color if you want it to look like it’s a part of the wall.

4. Add architectural trim to your walls. Architectural trim, also called molding or decorative trim, can make a room look expensive, but it doesn’t necessarily cost a lot. Try installing it around your ceiling or floors, on your cabinets, or around your windows to create an upscale look on a budget.

You can even find stick-on molding, making this project easy and cheap!

To mimic the look of moldings, add trim 6 inches above your floor trim and paint the gap to match the trim. This will give you the look of architectural trim for less than half of the usual price.

5. Add rugs to bring warmth to a room. Carpeting and rugs create a cozy, warm feeling, but replacing your carpet can be very expensive. Instead, look for sales on area rugs that match your theme or color palette for each room.

If buying a new rug is too expensive, visit a flooring store and ask if they have vinyl remnants. These are pieces of vinyl left over from previous projects that are too small to re-use, but are often large enough to use as an area rug. To personalize the look even more, paint a design on the remnant with acrylic paints and seal with concrete sealer.

6. Hang mirrors to make a room feel larger. Look for large mirrors at secondhand shops and home improvement stores, then install them wherever you need more space. Mirrors help create an optical illusion that a space is larger than it really is, so wall mirrors are a great touch in smaller rooms or narrow hallways. In addition, the mirrors will reflect any light that’s in the room, making it look brighter.

If you like the shape of a mirror but not the frame, try painting it!

If you have an unframed mirror in your bathroom and can’t afford a new one, you can frame your mirror in by attaching moldings around all four sides.

Tips.

Look for DIY design ideas for fun projects to decorate your home that you can do yourself!

Warnings.

Whenever you're painting, priming, or sanding something, make sure the room is well-ventilated, and take regular breaks to get fresh air.

Desember 18, 2019

how to decorate your home on a budget

How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget.

If you’re on a budget, it might seem impossible to redecorate your home. After all, home furnishings and decor can be very expensive if you buy everything all at once. Luckily, though, there are plenty of ways to save money as you freshen up your home’s appearance. Try buying items a little at a time, and buy second-hand or find great sales whenever you can. Also, look for creative ways to repurpose items you already have, or even upcycle things you find while you’re shopping!

Method 1 Adding Personality with Small Details.

1. Display your favorite items out in the open. Showing off something you already have is a great way to decorate without spending any money at all. If you have a piece that always makes you smile, like a special heirloom or a painting you love, put it somewhere you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom, kitchen, or living room. As you’re choosing other items for that room, try to think of what will go with the pieces you love the most.

For instance, if you hang up a painting in your living room, look for throw pillows or a rug that have some of the same colors as the painting.

Get rid of items you don’t love and just display the decor that you really like. Your favorite items will become statement pieces, and you’ll appreciate what you do have more.

2. Choose brightly-colored items to draw attention to an area. If there’s a feature in your home that you really like, such as a mantle with interesting molding or a bookshelf where you keep your books, draw attention to it with bright colors. Your eye will automatically be drawn to the brighter shades, making that area really stand out.

For instance, you might put a bright glass vase on a shelf to add a pop of color, or you could hang a colorful painting on the wall above your fireplace to show it off.

Look through the things you already have to find bright colors, or buy accent pieces on sale or at secondhand stores.

3. Arrange items in odd-numbered groups. For some reason, people find odd numbers of items more pleasing to look at than even-numbered groups. As you’re deciding where to place decor around your home, you can elevate the styling by sticking to odd-numbered arrangements.

For instance, you might try stacking 5 books together on a shelf, flanked by 2 heavy bookends, or you could use an odd number of picture frames if you create a gallery wall.

You could also make a tableau out of different objects, such as a vase, a painting leaned against the wall, and a small bowl filled with pretty rocks.

This is a simple trick that you can use to freshen up your decor without buying anything new!

4. Buy sheets and bedding on sale to update your bedroom. Look for seasonal home sales throughout the year, and when you find a good one, buy new sheets, pillowcases, and a comforter for your bedroom. This small change can make your bedroom feel more luxurious and can pull the room together, and if you find a good deal, it doesn’t have to cost very much money.

If you have a sewing machine, you can even make your own sheets!

Just buy throw pillows or a throw blanket in a fun new pattern or color if you can’t afford to buy a whole set of bedding at once.

5. Buy or make new throw pillows for your couch to personalize your living area. Throw pillows make your couch seem more inviting and comfy, and they can also help pull the design of your room together. Choose pillows in a color that’s used somewhere else in the room, or find them in a design that goes with the theme of the room.

For instance, if your room has a nature theme, you might choose pillows with a design featuring leaves, trees, or birds.

You can even recover your old throw pillows to give them a new look. Buying pillow covers is cheaper and can change the look of items simply and inexpensively.

6. Make your own curtains to add a pretty touch to any window. Curtains add a touch of elegance to a room, but buying drapes can be very expensive. If you can’t find a good sale on curtains you love, try making your own. Just sew a pocket into the top of a long strip of fabric, hem the other end, and run a curtain rod through the pocket.

You can also make your own shower curtain to freshen up your bathroom! Just make sure you use a waterproof shower curtain liner so the fabric doesn’t get water-stained.

Shower curtains and sheets can be fashioned into curtains as well. If you find a pattern or color you love, don't hesitate to use these for drapery.

7. Update your cabinet pulls, faucets, and other small hardware. The knobs on your cabinets and drawers, the handles on our sink and bathtub, and the knobs on your appliances can all get grimy and dull over time. Replace them to freshen up the look of your bathroom and kitchen without spending a lot of money.

Tip: If you like the hardware you already have, but it’s seen better days, try giving it a good clean with melamine foam or oxygen bleach.

8. Add a touch of nature with houseplants, flowers, and fruit. Houseplants are calming, beautiful, and good for the environment, making them a perfect addition for indoor decor. However, if you’re afraid you don’t have a green thumb, you can fill a vase or a bowl with fresh flowers or fruit, and change it whenever they start to turn brown.

You can even use artificial plants or flowers, but remember to dust them regularly!

9. Make your own art with inexpensive picture frames. Framed art doesn’t have to be expensive to look amazing. Buy several inexpensive frames that are the same color, shape, or size. Then, frame photos of your loved ones, pressed flowers, old calendar pages, or even pictures you print out from online!

Group several frames together to create your very own gallery wall.

If you have small keepsakes you’d like to display, place them in a shadow box and hang them on your wall.

Method 2 Finding Cheap or Free Items.

1. Rearrange the furniture you already have in your house. The easiest way to refresh your home is to rearrange your furniture and move your decor around. Think about how you’d like your space to look when you’re finished decorating. Then, go from room to room, looking at each piece of furniture or decorative object. Try to imagine how you could re-use each piece, and you might be surprised what you can come up with!

Sometimes just moving a big piece of furniture, like your couch or your bed, can give you a whole new perspective on a room!

With a little imagination, you might find that the nightstand in your spare room would make an awesome TV stand, or an old trunk could become the perfect coffee table!

Try to keep as many of your current possessions as you can. You’ll spend a lot more money redecorating if you try to replace everything at once.

Use things that you wouldn’t normally use for different purposes - like an old trunk as a coffee table or a scarf as a wall hanging.

2. Ask your family and friends if they have furniture or decor they don’t want. Reach out to your network and let them know you’re trying to change things up around your house. Keep in mind, however, that you shouldn’t take anything unless you really like or need it. Otherwise, you’ll just be adding clutter to your home.

If you know anyone who is moving, they might be happy to get rid of some items and you could take them off their hands. Even they aren't perfect, you can paint items or change them up to fit your style.

You can even post on social media asking if anyone has a specific item that you’re looking for.

3. Shop secondhand to find pieces you love at a deep discount. If you’re shopping on a budget, thrift stores, secondhand stores, yard sales, flea markets, and estate sales can be a great way to find items you wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. Sometimes you can even find new or like-new items at a huge discount.

Secondhand shops tend to have a lot of turnover in their inventory, so you may want to visit the same shops a few different times through the redecorating process, especially if you like the kind of items they carry. If you need to, travel to shops in nearby neighborhoods to find a wider selection.

Shopping after the holidays and during the spring is a good idea, because people tend to clean out their homes then.

Don’t be discouraged from buying something that has chipped paint, a dent or is slightly worn - this can all be easily fixed and adds character.

If you notice that an item has been at a certain shop for a while without selling, ask the manager if they’d be willing to sell it to you at a discount. This can be especially helpful if you’re buying large furniture, since the store will sometimes be eager to reclaim their floor space.

Tip: Pay attention to the prices of items, even in a secondhand shop. Some shops, especially those specializing in antiques, can still be quite pricey.

4. Look for sales if you’re buying new items. Don’t feel that everything you buy needs to be secondhand. Many retailers offer big sales throughout the year, especially around holidays. Look in your local newspaper, watch for TV commercials advertising sales, or check the stores’ websites so you’ll know when a sale is coming up.

You can also sign up for emails from some of the stores you like so you can be notified when a sale is coming up. There are even websites that are dedicated to finding deals, and you can sign up for email alerts from them as well.

Check your favorite stores online - there is usually a discount for online shopping and it will save you time as well.

Also, don’t forget to check the clearance section once you’re in the store. Often, shops will put a steep discount on merchandise that’s left over from a seasonal promotion or an older collection. These sales are typically not advertised.

5. Refinish or reupholster furniture to give it a new look. When you’re shopping, especially if you’re looking at secondhand items, pay more attention to the shape of the furniture than the color of it. You can sand away the existing stain on wood furniture and restain it or paint it to give it a whole new look. You can also reupholster fabric-covered furniture, like couches, recliners, and dining chairs!

Sometimes, you can save a lot of money by buying unfinished wood furniture. That means the wood is still in its natural state, and it hasn’t been sealed or stained. Try looking online to find a store near you that specializes in unfinished furniture.

Try changing out the drawer pulls on a dresser to give it a fresh, updated look. Even better, you can buy inexpensive drawer pulls from a home improvement store for just a few dollars!

You can even replace the foam in worn-out cushions to make the piece seem as good as new.

6. Don’t try to redecorate everything at once. If you’re on a budget, it’s not practical to try to buy everything all at the same time. Instead, try to embrace the idea that redecorating your home is a long-term project. Make a little time on the weekends to hunt for a great deal or a unique treasure that you’ll love.

It might help to focus on one room at a time, but don’t let that keep you from buying something for another room if you see a great deal. If you're redecorating your living room first but you see the perfect comforter on clearance, for instance, you might want to buy it if you can.

If shopping isn’t your favorite thing to do, find a friend who’ll be happy to go with you. That will help make the experience more fun for you.

Don’t feel like you have to finish one space at a time. Especially if you're on a budget, it can be hard to wait for the perfect piece to go on sale or to find it second hand. Pick up things when you find a good deal and it will all come together eventually.

Method 3 Making Cheap Updates.

1. Paint the walls with a new coat of paint to freshen up a room. If you own your home or have permission from your landlord, painting is an inexpensive way to brighten everything up and make it look newer. Take everything out of the room that you can and cover the floor with a drop cloth. Then, cover the wall in 1-2 coats of primer, let those dry, and go back over the walls with your chosen paint color.

Light colors will make a room look larger, so avoid very dark colors in a small room.

Cool colors like blue and green are relaxing, so they’re a great choice for bedrooms. Warm colors are very inviting, so they’re great for living areas and kitchens.

You can even get creative by painting one wall a different color or by adding stripes, chevrons, or chalkboard paint to your walls.

If you love the look of wallpaper but don’t have room in your budget, use a stencil to paint a pattern on your walls instead!

If you have dark trim or wooden doors, you can paint those too for a fresh, updated look.

2. Change the light fixtures in a room for a quick upgrade. Dated or ugly light fixtures can bring down the look of a room, even if you don’t consciously pay attention to them. If you can find a good deal on a new light fixture, changing it yourself is usually pretty easy. Just turn off the power to the room at your circuit breaker, remove the old light fixture, and rewire the new one. Take care to match up the negative and positive wires, then attach the new fixture to the ceiling with the provided brackets and screws.

Don’t feel that you necessarily have to buy new light fixtures. Sometimes, all it takes it a good cleaning or a coat of spray paint to bring new life to the light fixtures you already have.

Adding a new shade or cover is inexpensive and can quickly update the look of older fixtures.

If you don’t feel comfortable working with wiring yourself, it might be worth it to save up and have an electrician do the job.

Tip: If you have a lot of lamps, try updating your lamp shades!

3. Cover the back of a bookcase with contact paper to give it a new look. Bookcases provide a lot of practical storage, so even if you’re not in love with yours, it might be best to keep it. Luckily, you can give it new life by covering the back walls with colorful contact paper, wallpaper scraps, or even fabric. This will brighten up the bookcase and will provide a nice contrast to show off whatever you’re displaying on the shelves.

You can also paint your bookcase, if you’d like. Paint it a different color from the walls to make it stand out, or paint it the same color if you want it to look like it’s a part of the wall.

4. Add architectural trim to your walls. Architectural trim, also called molding or decorative trim, can make a room look expensive, but it doesn’t necessarily cost a lot. Try installing it around your ceiling or floors, on your cabinets, or around your windows to create an upscale look on a budget.

You can even find stick-on molding, making this project easy and cheap!

To mimic the look of moldings, add trim 6 inches above your floor trim and paint the gap to match the trim. This will give you the look of architectural trim for less than half of the usual price.

5. Add rugs to bring warmth to a room. Carpeting and rugs create a cozy, warm feeling, but replacing your carpet can be very expensive. Instead, look for sales on area rugs that match your theme or color palette for each room.

If buying a new rug is too expensive, visit a flooring store and ask if they have vinyl remnants. These are pieces of vinyl left over from previous projects that are too small to re-use, but are often large enough to use as an area rug. To personalize the look even more, paint a design on the remnant with acrylic paints and seal with concrete sealer.

6. Hang mirrors to make a room feel larger. Look for large mirrors at secondhand shops and home improvement stores, then install them wherever you need more space. Mirrors help create an optical illusion that a space is larger than it really is, so wall mirrors are a great touch in smaller rooms or narrow hallways. In addition, the mirrors will reflect any light that’s in the room, making it look brighter.

If you like the shape of a mirror but not the frame, try painting it!

If you have an unframed mirror in your bathroom and can’t afford a new one, you can frame your mirror in by attaching moldings around all four sides.

Question : Can I use a blanket as a rug?
Answer : If it is a tightly woven blanket it might work, but make sure it can be walked on without sliding around a lot. Also make sure it can be cleaned well and won't be torn or unraveled if used as a rug. There are certain bath mats that can be used for house rugs, too. It's great if it can be machine washable.

Tips.

Look for DIY design ideas for fun projects to decorate your home that you can do yourself!

Warnings.

Whenever you're painting, priming, or sanding something, make sure the room is well-ventilated, and take regular breaks to get fresh air.

Januari 21, 2020

how to decorate your home in eclectic style

How to Decorate Your Home in Eclectic Style.

Eclectic interior designs are perfect for anyone who wants to put a fun, creative spin on their home decor. Eclectic means combining different time periods and styles. This results in unique décor, like colonial with a bohemian flare, rural meets modern, or Neo-classic with a trendy urban spin. But it can also be tricky to pull off. While there’s no set rules for eclectic homes, some tips can help turn this mismatched style into a cohesive, unified look.

Method 1 Buying Statement Pieces.

1. Search for one-of-a-kind furniture and knicknacks. Your furniture should help bring your different styles together. Look at different time periods for ideas, like furnishing your living room with a chintz armchair and a mid-century sofa. Hand-made pieces are perfect for eclectic rooms. Go with family hand-me-downs or something you can pick up at a garage sale. This feels creative and personal, which is exactly what eclectic style is about.

2. Make a focal point out of an eye-catching decoration. Maybe it's a painting, chandelier, antique, or special piece of furniture that gets guests talking. Only use one focal point per room. Any more is too confusing and distracting.

A statement piece can also help you to develop an eclectic style for a room. Choose your piece, and then build the rest of the décor around it.

3. Show off your interests and hobbies. Eclectic style is about your personality. If you’re a photographer, make a gallery of black and white photos. Bookworms can fill their rooms with bookshelves, or even use end tables made out of books. Hunters can mount deer heads on the walls. Whatever your hobby, find a way to make it part of your design.

Keep in mind that an eclectic home should look curated and collected. Use pieces that show off your style to achieve this look!

4. Decorate with objects that reflect your history. Your home can tell your story. Decorate with Mexican pottery from your vacation to Oaxaca, Celtic crosses to honor your Irish heritage, and potted cacti from your college years in Arizona. Blend these different parts together. Use family heirlooms like your grandmother’s antique lamp mixed with pop art from your favorite movie.

Even your main style can come from your history, like rustic chic in honor of your grandparents’ farmhouse.

Avoid lots of matching items and brand new pieces. Collect a variety of new, used, and reused pieces over time to make your home look eclectic.

5. Let your style say something about your values and personality. Throw in a splash of bohemian to reflect your free spirited side. If you’re forward-thinking, go with elements of modern style. If you enjoy the simpler side of life, go with a classic, Victorian, or a colonial theme. Your style should be based on who you are, and what you believe in.

Method 2 Unifying Elements.

1. Choose 2 or 3 styles so your design doesn't get too complicated. Eclectic doesn’t mean over the top. It’s easy to get caught up in blending so many styles and objects, but that can turn your home into a messy eyesore. Try sticking to 2 styles (3 max), usually with 1 dominant style and the other complimenting it.

For example, a vintage main style with a hint of rustic charm.

You can create an eclectic style using a minimalist or maximalist approach. Go with the approach that suits you!

2. Pick a single go-to color scheme to unite the room. Eclectic style only works if you connect the mismatched styles. Color schemes can pull a room or house together. Neutral colors are your best bet. Use a neutral like gray with gold or pastel colors to make the room look cohesive.

Don’t use too many different colors, or colors that clash. That's more gaudy than eclectic.

Opt for a single bold color, such as green, to unite the items in your room. Just make sure to be consistent with your color choice.

3. Furnish each room with a variety of textures. Different textures bring out different styles. Try combinations like a shag rug next to a metal coffee table, or a soft, modern sofa beside a hand-carved Victorian writing desk.

Keep a balance of soft and rough textures, with a few objects of each.

Choose art, rugs, and furniture in a variety of different textures to add interest to your space.

4. Chose a color palette, furniture, and decorations that fit the same mood. Think of how you want to feel in each room. You might want one room to unwind, and another to host parties. Keep that in mind when you decorate.

Keeping your furniture in the same general style allows you more freedom to change up your other décor, such as accessories, accent pieces, and art.

If you’re going for something whimsical, fill the room with plants, bright colors, and unique, bold patterns. For something more cerebral, go with bookshelves, vintage furniture, and calming colors.

Method 3 Arranging a Layout.

1. Buy practical furniture that fits your needs. Don’t get so caught up in style that you forget the actual purpose of the room. Remember that you’re living here, so it needs to be functional. A living room should be relaxing, and a breakfast nook should have space to cook. Pick furniture that fits those needs.

For example, get a dining room table that has space enough for your family, not just one that looks stylish.

Comfortable living room furniture is also very important. For example, you might find a really interesting sofa that would look great in your home, but you may regret this purchase if the sofa is not comfortable.

2. Spread out the furniture so the room isn't too crowded. Balance is the key to eclectic rooms. Too much furniture looks cluttered, especially if it’s all bunched together while the other half of the room is empty. Spread out the furniture evenly, so the room looks neat and smooth.

Clutter looks messy, not eclectic, and makes it hard to get around.

3. Remember to leave some empty spaces. You want your interior design to be unique, not overwhelming. Don’t overdo it. Keep it balanced with empty space. Empty space can help put the focus on the decorations that you want to show off. If one wall has a photo gallery, leave another one bare.

Desember 25, 2019

how to fake expensive decor

How to Fake Expensive Decor.

A well-designed room looks expensive even if it isn’t. Before you invest in decorative try to come up with a theme or scheme for the room. Once you have identified what you want your room to look like, search for economical pieces that look classy and expensive. If you’re not having much luck finding pieces in stores, you can make your own. The following steps provide some ideas and advice, get started at step number one below.







Designing a Room that Looks Expensive.



Choose a unifying theme. A well-coordinated room will look expensive even if the elements of the décor are cheap. Choose a theme that will tie together your room. This will help you look for inexpensive pieces while making it seem as though you have paid an interior decorator. Rooms that seem confused, cluttered, and mismatched have the look of cheap rather than luxury even if the pieces are lovely. For example:

A beach-themed room would have pictures of the ocean, shell decorations, and a blue-green palette.

A rustic, woodsy theme would have wood detailing, paintings of landscapes, and an earthy palette.

Industrial themes use repurposed items, steel accents, and sharp edges to give the room a more modern edge. Gray, brick red, and black are popular colors.

Minimalism is a popular and trendy design scheme where you use as few pieces as possible to decorate your room. Simple furniture and white or neutral colors will make the room look as though it could feature in a magazine, likes Home and Garden, but the style is inexpensive to recreate.



Focus on a neutral color palette. Stick with white or light neutral shades, such as brown or gray, for the base color. Your walls and larger furniture pieces should belong to this color scheme. For example, you might have beige walls with white doors and gray furniture. Your feature elements will stand out against neutral colors more, which will make them seem more prominent. Some neutral colors you can mix and match include:

Gray.

Slate Blue.

Taupe.

Soft yellow.

Off-white shades like ivory and cream.

Coffee brown.

Tan.

Beige.



Add accent pieces. Accent pieces are small decorative items that contrast with your neutral color scheme. They are usually either brightly colored or patterned. Accent pieces can be easily and cheaply be replaced if you ever change your style. Make sure all of your accent pieces are the same color for maximum effect. Some items you might consider for accents include:

Vases.

Pillows or cushions.

Blankets or throws.

Picture Frames.

Ottoman.

Tablecloths.

Flowers.

Figurines.

Striped, dotted, or chevron patterned objects.



Choose a focal point. A focal point is a piece of furniture, art, or object that is the primary decoration in the room. Having one grand piece will draw attention to it, making it seem important and pricey. A room in which there is no clear focus tends to feel cheap. [2] Some good focal points for a room include:

A large painting.

A unique table.

Two retro mod chairs.

A wall decal.

Full-length book shelves.

An ornate mirror.



Consider getting rid of dated details. To some, the key to making décor seem expensive is to follow modern trends. To help your room remain stylish and cool, you should reduce the dated elements of its décor. Some common out-of-style elements include:

Vertical window blinds.

Formica tables.

Clear plastic furniture.

Furniture painted to resemble marble or stone.

Broken or damaged items such as torn posters, cracked vases, or splintered wood.

Obviously, antiques can lend an expensive looking touch to any room, especially if it is an family piece you have inherited and haven't had to pay for. As long your antiques are in good condition and tie in with the rest of the room's dėcor, keep them. Don't ditch them just because they are old. It "is" possible to combine modern and antique pieces in a room.



Avoid clutter. Ironically, having less" clutter in a room makes the overall impression that of luxury. You do not want a room that is filled with furniture and decorative items and resembles a second hand shop. Limit how many decorative pieces display. This creates the impression that you spent more on a few, expensive items instead of buying many cheaper items. When placing your decorative items around the room, keep a little bit of space between each item.



Decorative shelves should ideally not be crammed with items. It's tempting to fill that space with stuff. Instead, only fill 1/2 to 3/4 of the space, leaving some empty space.

Keep your surfaces, such as coffee tables, counters, and TV stands mostly clear.

Choose only one or two items to place on these surfaces.

For example, you might keep a lamp on a side table with a single picture frame but nothing else.

If in doubt, remove. Try taking out a piece of furniture. See what happens if the coffee table is simply moved to the another room. Or see what happens if you remove throw pillows/cushions. You may find that less is more.









Finding Cheaper Alternatives.



Visit thrift stores. Thrift stores, charity shops, consignments, estate sales, and antique stores will often have old vintage or antiques items that are much cheaper than new. This is a great way to get inexpensive but quality items, such as wooden tables or embroidered chairs.

Old wooden furniture can always be repainted. If you find a piece that is chipped or faded, you can paint it to match your color palette.

You may find interesting and unusual items in these stores and shops. These will seem expensive because they are unique. For example, you might find a lunchbox from the 60s with old superheroes on it, or you might discover an antique milk pail that you can use for flowers.



Shop online. Websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Gumtree allow people to sell their old furniture and decorative items. Search through these sites to see if you can snag a deal. It may take a little while to find the perfect deal, but you may be able to score a truly expensive piece for very little money.



Search online for less expensive replicas. If there is a more expensive piece that you have your eye on, you might be able to find a cheaper replica online. Search for words that are associated with the original piece.

For example, you might type, “cheap crystal chandelier” to see what pops up.



Print out your own art. If you can’t afford originals of art, you can buy prints from the internet. If the artwork is in the public domain, you can even print out your own copy at a print shop, and frame it yourself. This is a great way to get quality reproductions of famous art pieces in your own home without paying a fortune.

When sending the work to the print shop, make sure you send an HD copy so that you get the best image possible.

You can also tear out images from an old calendar and frame them. This is a great way to reuse an old calendar, and the images are all professional quality.



Repurpose items. You might find interesting pieces that can be used for a different purpose than intended. These pieces can be a focal point for your room if you choose. Transform your old furniture, or keep an eye out for things that can become tables, wall hangings, or accent pieces. You might.

Use an old luggage trunk as a coffee table.

Hang antique dinner plates on the wall.

Drape an old quilt over a chair.

Frame vintage fashion magazines images.

Make shelves out of old wooden planks.

Position a TV on a painted crate.









Making Your Own Décor.



Assemble your own built-in bookcases. Floor-to-ceiling length bookshelves may seem expensive, but you can replicate the effect without purchasing high-end custom furniture. Measure your wall. Instead of building one giant bookcase, purchase four identical smaller bookcases that will fit in that space. Place two side by side for the base, and stack the other two on top. Be sure to bolt all four bookcases to the wall for stability.



Wallpaper the inside of your bookcase. An easy way to add a customized twist to an old bookcase is to wallpaper the back of the shelves. Find a wallpaper that matches your theme or color scheme. Cut the wallpaper to size of the backing of each shelf. Paste it on using wallpaper paste. Let it dry before you put items back on the shelves.

If you are using the bookcase to display decorative objects like vases or figurines, you might want to choose a solid color for the wallpaper, so that more attention is drawn to your collection.

If you are just using the shelves for books, you can choose a bold pattern, such as chevron stripes, polka dots, or a floral design. This will make the shelves an accent piece in their own right.



Paint your own tile backsplash. Small ceramic tiles are great for decorating the backsplash of kitchens or bathrooms, but decorated tiles are expensive. Plain white ceramic tiles, on the other hand, can be cheap. With a little time and effort, you can turn tiles into something stunning and extravagant.

Find a stencil of a design you like, such as a fleur-de-lis or a bird. Press the stencil down on the tile, and paint over the design. Let the tile dry, and you have an easy, beautiful tile. You can then adhere it to the wall using tile mastic.

Good places for painted tile backsplashes include underneath cabinets or above a countertop. Do not paint the tiles on your floor or along your shower or bath. Too much water damage can ruin the paint.



Use fake flowers instead of real. Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they can become costly. Instead, look for convincing fake flowers. Put together your own centerpiece, and arrange them in an inexpensive vase. You have an easy, reusable centerpiece.

Go for flowers that look as close to real as possible. You might even be able to find ones that also feel soft and natural. Your guests probably will not know the difference.

You can swap out flowers for each season and event, reusing the same flowers every year. Friends probably will not notice, but it will make it seem as though you are constantly updating your centerpiece.

Artificial flowers can easily become dusty. If so they do not look luxurious. Also, this can be problematic for allergy sufferers and asthmatics



Fill a vase to make a centerpiece. Vases are easy to find, and they can be relatively inexpensive. To help jazz up an empty vase, you can fill it with some small items. This will add a touch of character to your décor without costing a ton of money. Some things you can fill it with include:

Potpourri.

Shells.

Pieces of coral.

Marbles.

Buttons.

Sticks.

Wine corks.



Repaint frames. Nice picture frames can be expensive, but you can manage a high quality look without paying a lot of money. Find inexpensive picture frames at a dollar store, craft store, or thrift store. Paint the frames with a color or design that pleases you.

Gold and silver paint are easy to find if you want a more distinguished shade.

You can add words as you like such as “Sisters” or “Friends Forever.” This will make it seem personalized.

Painting designs on your frames gives them a unique look. You can paint stripes, dots, or other easy geometric shapes.





Tips.

The most important thing is that the room looks good to you. If you like the way the room looks, you do not have to worry so much if it appears expensive or not.

While you should invest in good furniture pieces, such as sofas and tables, you can go cheap on accessories, like pillows and artwork, without people noticing.

If you are making your own décor, you should choose projects that you know you can complete at your skill level.

Always measure your space before buying new décor or furniture to make sure that it will fit.

Try leaving a little bit of space between furniture and other objects to make the room seem larger than it is.

November 13, 2019

how to redecorate your bedroom cheaply

How to Redecorate Your Bedroom Cheaply.

If you're tired of the way your bedroom looks but you're on a budget, don't worry, there are plenty of things you can do cheaply to improve your decor. Even just organizing and moving stuff around can make a big difference, as can adding color to your walls. You can also update your furniture and other items around your room so they look new or find fun or vintage knickknacks to add whimsy.

Method 1 Organizing and Redesigning.

1. Clean up your room to make it easier to redecorate. If you have clutter everywhere, just putting it away will make a huge difference. Organize what's on top of your nightstand, desk, or other flat surfaces, and find a place for everything on the floor. Put what you can up in drawers to get it out of the way and use organizers to make what's left look neat. Make sure everything has its own designated spot to go, and then take 5 minutes each day to put your things away.

While some items, like jewelry odds and ends, look pretty displayed, others, like charging cords, should be hidden away when not in use.

2. Move your bed to shake up the room. Your bed is typically a big piece in your room, so moving it can make a big impact. If your bed is off to one side, try putting it in the center of the wall, or vice versa. Then, when you add new linens and decorations, it will really stand out and make your room feel cheerful and comfortable.

3. Donate furniture to free up space. If your room is feeling a little cramped, take a hard look at what you have. Decide what you actually need in your room to make it the perfect space and get rid of anything that's just a landing space for clutter.

For example, if you have a chair in the corner that just ends up being a spot where you toss half-worn clothes, it's time to get rid of it!

Similarly, if you don't use your desk much, maybe you should get rid of it and free up space for a comfy reading nook. It's your bedroom, so decide what you want in your mini oasis!

4. Use furniture in unexpected ways. Try your bookcase out as a headboard at the top of your bed, for instance. Make your desk double as a nightstand, and turn your nightstand into a display area for your favorite collectibles. Keep moving things around to figure out the configuration you like best!

Get creative! You don't have to use things for their "intended" function.

5. Rearrange your artwork for a different feel. You don't have to add new artwork to your room to give it a different feel. Simply try new arrangements! For instance, group it all together on wall to make a bold statement. Alternatively, arrange a large piece behind your bed and then use smaller pieces on the opposite wall to balance it out.

Play around and try different things. You never know what will catch your attention.

6. Pick a color theme to create a cohesive look. Limiting the colors you use will help your room feel "decorated," not just thrown together. Opt for just a couple of bright or bold colors, and then you can even out the rest of the room with neutrals.

For instance, try complementary colors, like purple and yellow, red and green, or blue and orange. Alternatively, try analogous colors, colors that are nearby on the color wheel, such as pink, red, and orange, or purple, blue-purple, and blue. Then use grey, tan, white, black, or other neutrals as your background.

You could also just opt for the primary colors, red, blue, and yellow, for a very bright effect.

Method 2 Adding Color to the Walls.

1. Hang up a colorful quilt, sheet, or blanket on 1 wall. Many quilts and sheets have pretty patterns that can make a colorful statement. Try centering one behind your bed to create a focal point for your room, for instance.

You can nail or pin up the fabric if you don't mind putting a few holes in it. You can also safety pin it around a curtain rod, then hang the rod from hooks.

2. Paint a single wall or even a single stripe for a cheap option. If you can't afford much paint, don't worry. Try painting an accent wall, for instance. You can even just paint a large stripe down the wall behind your bed as a focal point. These options don't take much paint, but they can make a big difference to your room.

Make sure to use painter's tape to block off the area you want to paint. That way, you won't go out of the boundaries you set.

Buy paint on sale or that's been mixed wrong if you want to paint the whole room. If the store doesn't mix the color right, it has to do it again. The "mistake" paint is usually then put on discount. You can find a variety of colors, but you have to go with an open mind, as you'll have fewer options. You can also look for paint sales, which often happen around holidays, particularly during the summer.

3. Use stencils or paint a mural. Pick up a set of stencils, and use them to create a design on part of your wall. For instance, you could create a large floral arrangement, a funky collection of animals, or a series of feathers. Sketch the design out in pencil first to be sure you like it! You could also use acrylic paints to draw something fun on one wall or in one corner.

Alternatively, try adding a series of shapes up a wall in 1 or 2 colors, such as hearts or diamonds.

4. Create your own abstract art on foam board. You can pick up poster-sized foam board from the dollar store or another cheap store. Then, create your own art! Add blocks of color across the board at a diagonal, paint stripes, or simply let your imagination guide you! Once you're done, hang it on the wall with double-sided tape or adhesive strips.

Another option is try concentric circles or squares or paint your own sunset.

5. Frame small prints and make a collage on your wall. Prints are usually fairly cheap, so you can get small ones from local artists. Then, purchase cheap frames at a dollar store. Group them together on your wall, and it will work like a much larger piece of art.

Try to put pieces together that have similar themes, moods, or colors.

Another option is frame cheap pieces of scrapbook paper from the craft store. These pages cost less than a dollar and come in all kinds of colors and patterns!

6. Cover all or part of a wall in paper. Buy pretty scrapbook paper or tear up a used book that's seen better days. Then, you can either use double-sided tape or a cornstarch paste to adhere the paper to the wall. You can cover a large area with book pages. Both of these fixes are temporary, so you can take them down and redo them when you want!

Method 3 Making Old Items Look New.

1. Cover your lampshades with new fabric. Choose a thin, light-colored fabric so you still get some light through it. Measure out the fabric and wrap it around the lamp. Use sewing glue to hold it in place, and tuck the edges under to form "seams."

Cut the extra fabric off at the top and bottom and glue it over the edge on the inside.

2. Change up your throw pillows with new fabric. If you have throw pillows on your bed or chair, simply adding new covers can make a huge difference to the way your room looks. Measure the pillow and cut 2 pieces of fabric with an extra 1 inch (2.5 cm) on each side. Turn the fabric inside out and match up the edges. Sew along 3 sides and turn the pillow cover right-side out. Stuff your pillow inside the cover, and then sew a slip stitch along the final edge.

Look for clearance fabric at the craft store. You'll find odds and ends of fabric for less.

You can also use cheap sheets from the thrift store to recover pillows.

To sew a slip stitch, fold the edges of the seam over like the ones on the other sides of the pillow. Tie a knot in your thread and pull your needle through the inside edge of one side of the seam, starting in one corner. Run it through the inside edge on the other side of the seam. Keep going back and forth all along the seam to sew it up, knotting it at the end to hold it in place. Tuck the knot inside the pillow.

3. Get new bedding to transform the look of your bed. Your bed is the center of your room, so when you change it up, you change the whole feel. Try changing out your sheets and comforter/duvet for a whole new look for your room!

Bedding can be reasonable if you shop smartly at big box stores or online. You can even find it at thrift stores, but make sure to wash it in hot water before you use it!

4. Update your furniture with paint or new hardware. When painting, unscrew the handles and take out any drawers. Fill in any holes or scratches with wood putty, and then sand the surface down with 150-grit sandpaper so it accepts paint. Use a paintbrush to apply your new paint; opt for indoor acrylic paint or latex paint. You may need to apply more than one coat for an even finish.

For a smoother surface, apply primer first.

Always work in a ventilated area.

You can even try spray painting your furniture! When spray painting, make sure to hold the can at least 6 inches (15 cm) from the work surface and keep it continually moving to get an even coat.

You can also buy new handles for your dressers and other furniture. The hardware store sells these pretty cheaply, or you can look online.

5. Update old lamps with spray paint. Pick a spray paint that's meant for the material of the lamps, such as one meant for metal if they're brass. Take the lamp apart, and then use the spray paint to add a new color to the lamp! Put the lamp back together when you're done.

This works best for standard table lamps with a lampshade. Make sure to take the lampshade off.

Always spray in a well-ventilated area, holding the spray paint at least 6 inches (15 cm) from the surface. Keep moving the can when spraying to get an even coat. You may need to do multiple coats.

For a smoother finish, try wet sanding the paint with a very fine grit wet sandpaper once the paint is dry.

Method 4 Adding Fun Decor.

1. Pop a new, small rug on the floor to update the look. Whether you have worn-out carpet or hardwood floors, you can make them look new with a rug on top. Rugs can get expensive, so try going to a discount store and opting for a small rug. Even a tiny one can jazz up your floor!

Place it along one side of your bed so it acts as a floor mat or throw it in the center of the room to add pizzazz to a larger area.

2. Put a throw over the end of your bed for a pop of color. Throw blankets are fairly cheap. You can even get small, fleece ones for $5 USD or so in the winter. Pick a color that goes with your theme, and then use the blanket to add some of that color to your space!

If you have yarn around, you could also learn to crochet or knit, and then make yourself a small blanket.

Alternatively, buy a piece of fleece fabric from a craft store. It doesn't unravel at the edges, so if you cut it evenly, you can just fold it to create a splash of color at the foot of your bed.

3. Hit thrift stores and vintage stores for fun knickknacks. You can find fun and funky items to add pops of color to your space. Look for items that fit the theme you're going for, either in color, shape, or style. Also, try re-purposing containers and using them in new and unexpected ways!

For instance, use a vintage teacup to hold your bracelets or find a fun tray to gather all your odds and ends.

If you're going for a cat theme, look for fun knickknacks with cats on them!

Garage and yard sales are also a good source of vintage knickknacks.

4. Ask your relatives if they want to part with any of their decor. Sometimes, people are just getting tired of what they have around the house, and they may be willing to give it to you! Of course, be polite when asking and graciously accept what they give you.

You could put a call out on a social media for any knickknacks people are getting rid of, such as "I'm looking to redecorate my bedroom! Is anyone getting rid of knickknacks or decorations in their household?"

You could also check your attack or storage areas in your home to see if you have anything you can repurpose.

5. Create a shelf or a tray out of a cheap springform pan. You can likely find one of these at the dollar store. Turn it on its side and hang it on the wall. Put something small inside like a succulent for a cute little display!

You can even spray paint it for some more pizzazz or add a small string of battery-powered lights.

You can do something similar with other cheap baking trays. Spray paint a rectangular baking pan to use as a place to gather odds and ends on your dresser, for instance!

6. Put a few small plants in a sunny corner. Live plants really liven up a room, and they're fairly inexpensive. All you need is a container with a drainage hole in it, some soil, and the plant. Try some small succulents, small ferns, or ivy, for instance.

You can use many things as containers, including teacups, mugs, spray painted food cans, or small glass jars. Just be sure to drill some holes in the bottom for drainage.

Another option is to get a pretty vase and add some fake flowers. That way, you don't have to water them!

7. Scatter some cheap lighting around your room. If all you have is a harsh overhead light, add some lamps and wall lighting to make your room feel cozier. Even a cheap string of patio lights strung along the top of your headboard can add a romantic feeling to your room.

Also, try adding some small desk lamps in various places or a cheap kit that you attach to the wall, such as a colorful paper star lantern.

Question : What if my parents allow me to do some parts of this wikiHow project, but I can't buy new furniture?
Answer : You could skip the new furniture, and just rearrange your old furniture to make the room look different, or you could check rummage sales or thrift stores for cheaper items.

Question : What if my parents doesn't allow me to do this wiki project?
Answer : Ask them politely, but if they don't give permission, you can tell them the benefits from it.

Question : What if I like a certain theme (like Tim Burton), but the stores that I go to don't carry anything related to that?
Answer : In many instances, it's a whole lot easier to buy decor and memorabilia online. You can find specialty stores that will definitely carry items related to your chosen theme.

Question : What if the colors don't match my room?
Answer : Then find a unique way to decorate that describes you. Add pictures and trophies if the objects you have right now do not match well, find other things that will.

Question : I only have 15 dollars. How do I create a more grown-up room?
Answer : Try charity/goodwill shops. You might find some quality used items.

Question : I'm trying to have a color palette, but I have lots of books in all different colors on my shelves. What should I do?
Answer : You could organize the books on your shelves based on the colors of the rainbow (ROYGBIV). This color sequences is pleasing to most people and doesn't clash with any single color.

Question : I want to copy a room I found on YouTube, but the stores are really expensive. What can I do?
Answer : Improvise, and be creative. Paint is your cheapest and best decorating tool. Browse flea markets, consignments shops, thrift stores or online virtual yard sale sites for other items. Look for items similar to what you liked from the YouTube video. Overlook the color as you can paint anything.

Question : What if my parents don't allow me to do this?
Answer : See if you can get them to compromise. Come up with some non-permanent ways to change your room, like new light bulbs, putting up posters, moving furniture around, etc.

Question : How can I decorate if I don't have money?
Answer : Go to a thrift or second-hand store such as Goodwill and try and find items you like. You may also find things on wish.com and hollar.com which have great home decor at cheap prices, but you'll need a credit card to shop there.

Question : What can I do if my house is rented?
Answer : Just avoid using things like paint or making any holes in the wall. Other than that, you can still use these steps to decorate your room.



Tips.

If you live with your parents, get their permission before doing anything permanent!

Warnings.

Always paint in a well-ventilated area as the fumes can be harmful! Go outside or in the garage with the door open.

Januari 19, 2020