Designing and appointing the interior of your home can be a daunting prospect. The time and effort required is a major constraint, as is knowing how to coordinate pieces of furniture and décor to achieve a personal, cohesive look. Furthermore, hiring an interior designer can be inaccessibly expensive. To overcome this hurdle, you may want to learn how to be your own home decorator. Decorating your own home involves drawing inspiration from available resources and buying pieces that reflect your own personal style.
Steps.
Browse design blogs and magazines for inspiration. Fortunately, interior design inspiration is abundant. Pick up a few interior decorating magazines at the store and browse through some design blogs online. Bookmark, dog-ear, and save photos that appeal to you, whether they depict entire rooms or simply a single furnishing or piece of artwork.
Another source of inspiration is TV programming that focuses on interior design. The only drawback to this type of inspiration is that you cannot easily save photos drawn from it for later use.
Create a notebook to store your inspiration ideas. A great way to begin bridging the daunting gap between finding inspiring photos online and decorating your own home is by creating an inspiration notebook. Print appealing photos from design blogs and clip pictures out of magazines. Use paperclips or paste to secure these pictures into a notebook.
Work your new design ideas around your existing décor. Redecorating your home entirely from scratch is not generally feasible. The first important step when accommodating your existing décor is deciding which pieces to keep. Keeping large, basic pieces like sofas and tables will save you money, and their appearance can be changed dramatically through the use of accessories like throw pillows.
Furniture and décor in neutral colors can be accommodated in nearly any design scheme. Even a drab beige sofa can be livened up with brightly colored pillows. When a major piece like a sofa is brightly colored itself, this tends to constrain your design possibilities more.
Use your redecorating ambitions as an excuse to discard or give away any décor that you are tired of or don't like. Keeping too many of your old furnishings will hamper your ability to create a new space anyway.
Introduce new pieces into your space gradually. Avoid buying whole rooms full of décor at once; if you decide you don't like it, you'll have a tedious returns process on your hands. Rather, look to your inspiration notebook for some of your favorite pieces or motifs. Search for similar pieces online or at home décor stores, and begin introducing them into your room. As you work, decide what does and doesn't suit your taste, and which pieces work with your existing elements.
During this process of introducing new décor, you'll need to decide on a clear direction in which to take your style. Is it traditional or modern, subdued or lively, matching or eclectic, casual or formal, sparse or cluttered? When purchasing new pieces, ask yourself not only if you like them by themselves, but also if they'll fit well into your design scheme.
Work one room at a time. Note that each room of your home does not have to follow the same exact template; some rooms can be more formal than others or more sparsely decorated. However, you do want to consider some overarching theme that makes your entire home cohesive.
Tips.
If you are working with a limited budget, consider shopping for large, basic pieces at low prices and limiting your expensive splurges to small accent items.
Don't be afraid to shop at thrift, antique, and consignment stores for design inspiration. Mixing new and vintage pieces is an effective way to give your home a lived-in charm no matter what your overall style is.
Decorating on a budget is a creative exercise that can be rewarding and fun. Spend a little money to change the basics in your home or office, such as your curtains, cushions, lights, and accessories. Where possible, do as much DIY work as you can to save money. Quality furniture makes a room feel homely and classy, so keep an eye out for sales and bargains or consider refurbishing your existing furniture. Add colour and personality to your walls with home-made art, feature walls, and personal photographs. Enjoy the decorating journey!
Method 1 Changing the Basics.
1. Replace the curtains and lampshades if they look tired. These items are generally inexpensive, but can make a big difference to the way that a room feels. Consider purchasing matching curtains and lampshades to give the room a sense of cohesiveness. Purchase the items new or look in second-hand shops for a bargain.
If you’re a confident sewer, consider making your own curtains to save money.
This is a great way to quickly freshen up an office, lounge, or bedroom.
Paint or cover up your lampshades for a new look for less money.
2. Remove clutter from surfaces to make the space look fresh. Minimalism is a classy and popular look that is easy to achieve. Re-home as many items as you can from all your surfaces, such as desks, countertops, tables, and shelves. Leave only a few of your favourite items on each surface. Decluttering is a great way to bring more attention to the items that you love.
For example, remove everything from your office desk except for your pen jar, a photo-frame, and a vase of flowers to create a clean and fresh look.
Try taking items off of your coffee table and only include items that look nice or that are functional.
3. Add beautiful pillows or throws to bring colour to the room. This is an inexpensive and effective way to brighten up almost any space. Choose pillows or throws that match your colour-scheme and are made from fabric that you love. Place these items on your bed, lounge-suite, office chair, or ottoman. If you are decorating your entire home, consider purchasing matching pillows for both your lounge and your bedroom.
Purchase pillows or throws from a homeware store or make your own.
Buy pillow covers or fabric to cover existing pillows for a fraction of the cost of new ones.
4. Purchase new accessories to cheaply modernise the space. Household and office accessories tend to be inexpensive and can quickly change the look of your space. Consider adding new accessories, such as placemats, door handles, light-fittings, tapware, tablecloths, vases, and coasters.
If your budget is particularly limited, simply decorate one room at a time. This will give you a sense of completion as you finish each room.
Get a few houseplants to improve the quality of the air in your home and add fresh looking décor touches.
5. Add extra lamps or lights to give the room a fresh atmosphere. Lights are a wonderful way to change the way the room looks and feels. Bring a new standing lamp into the room, add a hanging light, pick a new desk lamp, or simply replace a bulb with a high-wattage option to brighten the space.
Avoid tampering with electrical wires in your home or office, as this can lead to electrocution. If you want to install new lights into your wall, hire an electrician to do the job safely.
String lights are also a nice way to add mood lighting to an area.
6. Use DIY skills where possible to refurbish cheaply. Hiring trades-people is often one of the biggest expenses when re-decorating. If you have a few decorating skills and the necessary tools, try completing the tasks yourself. Consider building your own deck, laying wallpaper, installing vinyl or hardwood flooring, or painting the exterior of your home.
This can often save you 100’s if not 1000’s of dollars.
Search online for DIY tutorials for almost any type of project. Ask professionals at a hardware store for tips as well.
Method 2 Finding Bargain Furniture.
1. Search second-hand stores and auctions for a bargain. Nice furniture helps to set the tone for the entire room, so it is worth searching for great items. This is an easy way to find quality pieces of furniture at a good price. Make sure to hunt around for furniture that is made from quality materials, as it pointless buying items that will quickly wear out or break. Opt for solid wood instead of laminate coatings and real leather instead of leather look-alikes.
Keep an eye out in your local paper for garage sales.
Search online for auction sites, such as Craigslist, eBay, and Gumtree. These sites often have furniture for sale.
Check to see if people in your area are selling items. If they are, you may be able to negotiate a great price on something that you can pick up right in your neighborhood.
2. Refurbish your existing furniture to cheaply upgrade its look. This is a great option if you are looking to spend very little and have some DIY skills. Sand the varnish off your wooden furniture and re-stain it or paint it. If the furniture has fabric, reupholster it or purchase new cushions. This will help to give it a fresh new look.
Sanding wooden tables and desks and painting them white is a popular decorating trend.
Search online for DIY tutorials to help you complete your refurbishments.
3. Buy unvarnished furniture and then stain it yourself to save money. Many furniture warehouses and stores will sell furniture that doesn’t have a top coat of stain or varnish on for a cheaper price than what you would pay on the store floor. Ask the manufacturer what kind of stain or varnish they recommend to use on the furniture. Apply the stain with even brush strokes and apply at least 2 coats.
This furniture is often higher quality than display models, as scratches can’t be hidden by varnish.
Desks and tables are easy items to stain yourself.
The display piece in furniture stores is often an unfinished piece that you can buy for less.
4. Keep an eye out for bargains to get quality items at a good price. Head to the stores during the big annual sales, such as Easter, Boxing Day, New Years, and Black Friday. Large furniture stores will often slash their prices by up to 75% during these sales. Also, keep an eye out for closing down and birthday sales for extra deals throughout the year. If you are willing to be patient, this is a great way to find furniture that you love that is within your budget.
Search online for sales in your area to quickly check the local deals.
Method 3 Decorating the Walls.
1. Decorate the walls with your own photographs to add personality. This is a great way to personalise your home and add colour to your walls at a very low cost. Frame your photos or print them onto a canvas. This can generally be done for less than $50. Search online for a photo printing service or contact your local printing shop.
For a modern and fun look, use sticky-tak to stick polaroids or small photographs onto your walls. Assemble them in a square, rectangle, or heart shape.
If you have a large wall, consider placing a few photos next to each other to make the wall look less bare.
Try printing stock photos from websites and framing them for an inexpensive way to add pictures and art to your home.
2. Upcycle old items into wall hangings to give a vintage look. This is a great way to reduce your waste and also create beautiful decorations. Try turning old planks of wood into floating wall shelves. Alternatively, make origami creations out of an old piece of paper and hang them on the wall. Another option is to use chipped plates to make a piece of mosaic artwork.
Be creative and express your own personal style!
3. Paint 1 wall an accent colour to change the atmosphere of the room. Painting is an incredibly inexpensive way to quickly and dramatically change the look of any room. Choose a colour that complements the existing wall colour and looks nice with your furniture.
White walls and a deep-blue feature wall are a beautiful combination. Light-grey walls and a pale-pink feature wall is another calming and pretty combination.
Hold different coloured paint cards up to your existing walls to help determine which colours will look good together.
Stencil 1 wall or cover 1 wall in wallpaper to create an accent wall.
4. Display your own art to showcase your unique style. Art makes your home feel extra homely and makes the space feel more interesting. Consider painting a picture, framing a completed puzzle, doing some embroidery, or simply hanging a piece of fabric that you love.
If you don’t feel confident making your own art, consider asking a friend or family member to design you a piece.
Hang your art on the walls or lean it on a desk or mantelpiece.
5. Purchase cheap artwork from thrift stores. This is a wonderful way to add artwork to your walls without breaking the bank. Keep an eye out at different thrift stores for art that you like. If you spot a piece that you like that has a bad frame, consider re-framing it, as this much cheaper than buying new art.
If there are no thrift stores in your area, search for online thrift stores.
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.
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.
How to Decorate a Teen Girl's Bedroom on a Budget.
Decorating a teen girl's bedroom doesn't have to mean spending a ton of money on new furniture and accessories. All you need to do is choose a theme and colors, buy or modify furniture, rearrange a bit, and tidy up. Be creative, and a great room can be yours (or your daughter's) with a modest budget.
Part 1 Planning Your Design.
1. Choose a theme. The theme of your room can be just about anything, from a fairy princess theme to an underwater theme. If you don't want to go too crazy with a theme, just pick a color theme consisting of two or three complementary colors.
If you need some help choosing colors that go well together, you can try consulting a color wheel. Depending on how much contrast you want, you can choose colors that are near each other or across from each other on the color wheel.
You can also choose a colorful piece of fabric or art to inspire your color choices for the rest of the room.
Keep your theme in mind when purchasing and repurposing items for the room. Everything doesn't have to match perfectly, but it should all coordinate.
2. Keep function in mind. Before you overhaul the room, take a minute to think about what is and what is not working for you. For example, if you have no place to study in your room, you may want to consider adding a desk. If the room feels claustrophobic, you may want to remove some furniture.
Measure the room so you will know exactly how much space you have for new pieces before you buy them. You should make sure you have enough room to comfortably walk around each piece and open all doors and drawers.
It's a good idea to keep these measurements written down somewhere or stored in your phone so you can consult them if you find a piece of furniture you like.
3. Declutter and assess your storage needs. Clutter can keep your room from looking the way you want it to, so find a way to minimize it.
Donate clothes and other items you no longer use to a local thrift shop. You can also try selling some things online or at a consignment store if you want some extra money to spend on your room.
Once you've gotten rid of everything you don't need, determine if you still have clutter, and if so, how to deal with it. You may need to add things like shelves, hooks, a dresser, or a storage ottoman to your room, depending on the kinds of items you need to store. Baskets and canvas bins are also great for making clutter disappear!
You can also rearrange furniture, or clean out the room and store some unwanted items in the attic or basement. This will make it somewhat easier to see what the shape and size the room is.
Part 2 Decorating Walls.
1. Paint your room. Painting is one of the most affordable ways to instantly change the look of your space. Choose a color that goes well with your theme, and make sure it's something that you think you will like for a long time.
Make sure to measure your room and check how many square feet the paint you are buying will cover. You will almost definitely need two coats of paint, no matter what kind you buy.
If you are painting over a dark color, you may need to prime the walls before you paint.
If you are using more than one gallon of paint, it's a good idea to mix them together in a large bucket just in case they end up being slightly different.
Don't forget to give the ceiling and trim a fresh coat of paint if they are looking dingy.
2. Create patterns. Painting your walls a solid color can look great, but if you want something a little more unique, there are lots of ways to add some more interest to your walls.
Paint three walls a neutral color and one wall a very vibrant color for an exciting accent wall.
Use wallpaper for an added punch. Temporary wallpaper is also available if you don't want to have to worry about removing it later. If you can't afford to do your whole room, add wallpaper in strategic locations, like behind your bed or under a chair rail.
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to wallpaper, try painting on a design. You can use painter's tape to create simple designs like stripes, or use a stencil for a more elaborate design.
Faux painting with a sponge or rag is also an option if you want to give your walls some texture.
You can also use painter's tape to create abstract patterns or geometric designs on your walls. Don't be afraid to be creative!
3. Decorate with photos. Photos of your friends, your pets, or your favorite places can make great additions to your decor. Be creative and use your photos to express yourself.
Frame several photos and hang them to create a gallery wall.
Hang photos from a piece of string or fishing line with clothespins.
Have your photos printed on canvas, glass, or fabric.
Arrange your photos on a poster board for a unique collage.
In lieu of frames, mount photos to colorful pieces of paper and stick them to your walls with double-sided tape.
4. Put up posters or wall stickers. Putting up posters of your favorite band or actor can be a great way to express your interests. Better yet, wall stickers are meant for walls and won't rip paint.
Just don't over-crowd the walls, because then the room will look messy.
5. Make your own art. You can hang just about anything on your walls, so use your imagination and create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece!
If you have a collection of any kind, whether it's guitars or baseball caps, try displaying them all on one wall together.
Try your hand at painting a canvas. You can paint a realistic portrait or an abstract design, depending on your skills and preferences.
You can create colorful wall hangings by wrapping fabric tightly around a canvas or square piece of wood and stapling it in the back. You can add a frame to make your fabric art more dramatic.
Purchase wood pieces in various shapes, like circles, letters, or stars. Then paint them to go with your theme and hang them in groupings around your room.
Part 3 Creating New Items from Old Items.
1. Recognize good quality furniture. Just because a piece of furniture looks ugly, doesn't mean it has to go! With a little work, you can give most pieces an amazing makeover, especially if they're solid wood or metal.
Solid wood is better quality than particle board or MDF.
Check to make sure all pieces are secure and do not wobble. If you find something that is broken, look to see if it could be repaired.
Drawers and doors should open and close nicely.
Look for joints that are tight and secured with dowels or dovetails. Be wary of joints that are only nailed or glued together.
Metal pieces should be held together by neat, consistent welds that are free from cracks.
2. Paint your items. Painting is a relatively quick and easy way to completely change the look of your furniture and accessories.
If you want a glossy finish, consider using spray paint. Make sure you choose a paint that is appropriate for the material you are painting, and always use spray paint an area that is thoroughly protected and ventilated, preferably outside.
If you want a more antiqued or distressed look, try using chalk paint.
You can also find specialty paints that have metallic or glittery finishes. Look around at your local home improvement store for inspiration.
Remember that in addition to furniture, you can paint things like picture frames, lamps, mirrors, and trash cans. The possibilities are endless!
Fabric can be painted too! If you have some boring white curtains or pillow cases, you can use a stencil to paint on a fun and colorful design. Be sure to use paint that is appropriate for fabric.
You can turn almost anything, from a piece of furniture to a wall, into a chalkboard with some simple and inexpensive chalkboard paint. Be creative and make a custom message board for your room.
3. Embellish your items. If your piece of furniture doesn't need an entire coat of paint, you can make some small changes that will have a big impact.
Try stenciling a design on the fronts of your dresser drawers or decoupaging them with colorful fabric. You can also use temporary wallpaper if you don't want to make a big commitment.
Change out the knobs on your dresser and nightstand for an instant makeover with almost no work.
Use Mod Podge and your favorite fabric or patterned paper to give flat surfaces, like tabletops, a completely unique look.
4. Create a headboard. If your bed doesn't have a headboard, consider making one yourself to make your bed the focal point of your room.
Hang a tapestry or another large item above your bed to mimic the look of a headboard.
Make your own upholstered headboard by wrapping a wood pattern in batting and fabric, stapling it in the back.
Hang an old door horizontally on the wall above your bed. You can paint it any color you like.
5. Make curtains, duvet covers, and pillows. These are easy projects, and you can even make them with fabric you already have, like a sheet.
These projects require a few simple, straight stitches. If you really hate sewing, you can even use iron-on tape for your seams and hems.
You can create a new cover to put over an old pillow, or, if you don't have an old pillow, simply fill the new pillow with polyester fluff from your local fabric store.
Sewing in a zipper is the hardest part of making a pillow, but this is only necessary if you need to be able to wash the cover. To keep duvet covers closed, you can use buttons, snaps, or even ribbons.
If you don't like the fabric on a chair or sofa, you might want to invest in a slipcover, which is still much less expensive than buying a new piece of furniture. You can also make one yourself, but you will need to have some sewing skills.
6. Jazz up your lighting. If you have lamps and ceiling fixtures that are a little too boring, there are lots of ways to make them more interesting. Depending on the materials, you could paint the base or the shade, embellish the shade with garland or beads, or even create a new shade with fabric.
You can also add creative lighting to your room with strings of holiday lights.
Part 4 Buying New Items.
1. Buy wisely. There's nothing wrong with buying a few new pieces to decorate your room, but try to spend your money wisely.
If you buy new furniture, make sure the quality is good enough that it will last you for a long time. You don't want to have to replace it in a few years.
Don't spend a lot of money on pieces that are extremely trendy or that you may grow out of. Instead, try to make sure your core pieces are versatile so you can still use them even if your style changes. Less expensive accessories, like pillow cases and curtains, can be as trendy as you want.
2. Keep your lifestyle in mind. When buying furniture, it is important to think about how you plan on using the room. If you have a lot of friends over, for example, make sure you have enough seating. If you have a ton of clothes and not enough closet space, make sure to look for pieces that can store your extra items.
If you're short on space, consider looking for pieces of furniture that serve multiple purposes. For example, a few cube ottomans can provide seating and storage. If you would love a couch in your room but don't have room for a both a couch and a bed, consider purchasing a daybed, which looks more like a seating area.
3. Arrange your furniture properly. There's no absolute rule for how to arrange your furniture, but there are a few helpful guidelines.
Try not to place all of your furniture against a wall. If you have a seating area, have the seats facing each other.
You should also think about colors when you're arranging your furniture and accessories. Try to scatter your accent colors around the room instead of having all of your colorful items on one wall.
Create a focal point. For bedrooms, this is usually the bed, so anchor it with a headboard, a large piece of art, or a colorful accent wall.
Try to have a designated area for each activity you plan on doing in your room, like studying, for example. This will help keep you more organized and help you make better decisions when buying furniture.
4. Think about proportion. Make sure you know how big your room is and how big a piece of furniture is before you buy it. Your furniture needs to be appropriately sized in order for it to feel cozy, yet comfortable. You also need plenty of space to walk around!
If you're buying a rug. Make sure it is large enough to extend beyond the bed on both sides.
5. Check the house first. Before you buy anything new, check to see if there are any pieces of furniture in other parts of the house that could be used in your room.
You can also try asking around to see if any friends or family members have furniture that they're looking to get rid of.
6. Buy used. Now that you know how to make over nearly any piece of furniture with paint, you can start shopping for affordable used pieces that you can customize to your own liking. Try shopping at antique stores, garage sales, thrift shops, and flea markets.
There might even be a few pieces of furniture in the attic or basement that you aren't using. Repurpose those if possible!
7. Search for deals. If you plan on buying new items, always look for deals. Comparison shop if you find an item you like, and never purchase anything online without first searching for a coupon code.
Tips
Be creative and resourceful when looking for accessories and you'll save a lot of money.
It is a good idea to have a dirty laundry hamper and trash can in your room. Try putting them beside your desk.
It's best to have three colors in a room theme. Two main colors, and splashes from a third. For example, a room can be mainly black & white, but have splashes of purple.
Keep the walls and furniture of your room pretty neutral, and then add decals and a bedspread in a bright color of your choice. You can swap those out when you don't love them anymore and it will change your whole room.
Add some accent pillows on your bed to make it more of a focal point. They should be the same color as your bedspread or match something in your room in a way. Matching the bedspread is better. The bedspread should match the accent wall. If not, the accent pillows should match the accent wall.
When choosing a theme, choose one that's close to your heart. Then the room will be your favorite place to be.
Warnings
If you are painting inside, open a window for better ventilation.
If you need to use a power tool for any projects, make sure you use the appropriate safety equipment. If you are a minor, ask your parent for help.
Painting can be very messy, so do it outside or make sure your floors and any other surfaces that you don't want paint on are completely covered.
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.
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.
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.
Mid-century modern style is a popular look that is both minimalistic and fun. The style is known for its retro furniture, romantic color schemes, and straight lines. You can take different approaches to styling your mid-century modern room depending on your personal style. Start by decluttering your house and maximising the natural light. Choose furniture and accessories that enhance the mid-century look, and keep an eye out in thrift stores and garage sales to find unique items at bargain prices.
Method 1 Changing the Basics.
1. Declutter your area. Whether you are decorating a bedroom, lounge, or a whole house, the area will look more mid-century modern if it is free from clutter. Remove any unnecessary items from surfaces, such as desks, benches, or tables. File any loose pieces of paper, throw out any rubbish, and keep books and magazines in one place. Place small objects, such as art supplies, stationery, or cleaning products, into boxes or cupboards.
Consider giving away any objects that don’t fit with the mid-century modern theme, such as any neon or sparkly items. Keep items like sturdy wooden frames and hardcover books. Just prepare to use them strategically.
Place a few candles on a dresser rather than a myriad of ornaments.
2. Paint the walls white and add a feature wall if you want a dash of colour. The majority of mid-century modern homes have white walls as this allows the statement pieces of furniture to stand out. Paint the interior walls white and if you want to brighten up a room, paint one wall a different colour.
For example, paint 3 walls in the dining room white and paint 1 wall pale pink. If you don’t like white, consider other neutral tones, such as light cream or grey.
The exception to this is areas where you have wooden wall panels, brick walls, or large feature windows. These were often centerpieces in mid-century homes and should be displayed and enhanced, not covered up.
Consider using wallpaper for your feature wall if you want it to have texture or pattern.
3. Open the curtains to maximize the natural light. Most houses get at least some light during the day. Make the most of the light to help create a mid-century modern feel. During the day, open all of the curtains in the house.
If you want some privacy during the day, consider purchasing sheer curtains. These give a light and breezy feel to the house whilst still giving privacy.
If there are any tall trees or hedges that are blocking the light shining through the windows, trim them back.
4. Incorporate wooden features into your home. A key focus of mid-century modern design is including wood into the home. Consider adding wooden flooring, a wooden bench top, or wooden doors to your house. Oak, walnut, and teak are popular types of wood used in mid-century modern design.
Use wooden laminate instead of wood to achieve a similar look at a cheaper price.
Wooden decor pieces such as wooden balls, wooden furniture legs and backs, and wood doors were all prevalent in mid-century homes.
Method 2 Choosing Furniture.
1. Choose a couch with straight lines and a bold colour. Couches and armchairs are big focal points in mid-century modern design. Pick a couch that has relatively straight arms and tall tapered legs instead of a couch with ornate rounded edges. Choose a bold colour to help the couch stand out.
A sea-blue couch paired with mustard cushions would be a great colour choice.
If a new couch doesn’t fit in your budget, consider adding a colourful throw to your current couch.
You can replace your couch's current legs with the quintessentially mid-century tapered wooden legs. These are available affordably from most home improvement stores, as well as online.
2. Add a mid-century style mirror as a statement piece. A mirror has the power to make a room look bigger and lighter. Place a large, round mirror opposite a door or window so that it can reflect the natural light around the room.
Consider choosing a sunburst mirror. These are an iconic accessory of the mid-century era. Find replicas online to save money, or search in thrift stores.
Alternatively, look for a mirror with a minimalist aesthetic. A large, circular mirror with a thin gold frame would also be great for a mid-century home.
Upcycle any mirrors you already have. If you have a mirror with a frame, repaint the frame to match the feature wall or lounge suite colours.
3. Add lamps, pendants, and soft lighting. Lighting is a key feature of the mid-century style. Choose lamps with thin stems to incorporate the clean and minimal lines of mid-century design. Pick pendants that attract focus and have sculptural elements. Look for floor lamps that arch over furniture. Choose bulbs that have more yellow tones rather than blue tones as this will create a softer look.
Consider using multiple lamps per room to create different pockets of light. Limit pendants to one per room as they are a dominant feature.
Look for pendants and lamps at garage sales to find unique designs at a bargain price.
4. Choose wooden furniture to give a natural look to the space. Choose shades of wood that mirror the colours of wood found in nature. Natural pines and medium-browns work well. Consider adding a wooden coffee table, wooden chairs, or wooden shelves. If you want more minimal amounts of wood, choose a couch with wooden legs.
If you have wooden furniture that has been painted, consider sanding off the paint to expose the natural wood.
Don’t be afraid to use laminate. This can create a wooden look at a lower price.
Look out for wooden furniture in thrift shops. This is a great way to get quality furniture at a lower price.
Method 3 Adding Accessories.
1. Place a few pieces of bold art on the walls. The mid-century modern style is fairly minimalistic. Avoid placing too much art on the walls and cluttering the space. It is best to pick a few favourite pieces for the walls in each room.
Large graphics painted with oil on canvas are a great mid-century option. Metal wall plaques fit with the theme.
Abstract metal and stone sculptures are also good artistic accessories for this style.
2. Choose indoor plants to bring a feeling of life to your space. A key theme of mid-century modern style is the blending of the indoors and outdoors. An easy way to achieve this look is by adding indoor plants to your rooms. Consider adding plants at different levels to bring a natural look. For example, place one plant in a hanging basket and another on a coffee table.
Peace lilies are a timeless looking plant that improve air quality. Cacti are another timeless option.
Plants with hanging vines or droopy leaves work best in hanging baskets.
Plants are integral to the mid-century look. If you can't keep real plants in your home, invest in some fake plants to get the look.
3. Choose bedding and pillows with bold patterns. Repeating patterns and geometric shapes are an iconic part of the mid-century decorating style. An affordable way to introduce these to your house is through accessories. Add patterned cushions to your bed or couch to bring detail and color to the rooms. Alternatively, pick a patterned bedspread that makes the bed the focal point of the room.
Avoid having patterns on both the bedspread and decorative pillows. Similarly, avoid pairing a patterned couch with patterned cushions. Patterns look best when paired with plain items.
Consider buying fabric and then the sewing cushion covers or bedspread yourself. This is a great way to find the pattern you want and save money. If you can’t sew, ask a friend or family member that has good sewing skills to help you.
4. Pick a neutral-coloured rug that has an interesting texture. Mixing different textures in your home is a great way to enhance the mid-century style. Look for a rug that has a different texture to the carpet and couches. Try to get a neutral-colored rug so that you don’t draw away from the furniture in the room.
A shaggy rug would work well in a space with a velvet couch. Sisal and jute rugs also compliment this style and are very durable.
Purchase a rug from a home department store or keep an eye out at garage sales.
Tips.
If you working with a low budget, keep an eye out for big sales throughout the year.
Search thrift shops to find authentic retro items.
The mid-century look is very popular, so you can find a lot of modern items made to fit the aesthetic. Take a look at your local discount home goods and furniture stores for inspiration.
