Using mirrors to create the feeling of more space is a common trick of interior designing. If you have small rooms in your home, strategically placed mirrors can help. You can use movable mirrors by placing them near windows or furniture. You can also install mirrors inside cabinets or behind counters.
Method 1 Using Movable Mirrors.
1. Place a mirror along the wall in a narrow kitchen. If you have a narrow kitchen, it can easily feel cramped and uncomfortable. A longer mirror strategically placed along one wall can make a small kitchen feel bigger. Place a mirror running horizontally along one wall of your kitchen, keeping it above cabinets and other furniture so it's visible.
You can buy a long mirror at a department store. Hang it alongside one wall in your kitchen. You will be surprised at how much bigger it looks.
A single mirror in the kitchen is usually suitable to make your space look bigger. More than one mirror may overwhelm in the kitchen.
2. Fake a window using a mirror. Windows can often make a small room feel larger. If you have a room with only one window, you can use a mirror to create the illusion of a window in your living space.
Place a mirror directly across from one window in your home.
The mirror will reflect images of outdoors, doubling the natural light in the room. It will also make the window-less wall look less closed off.
3. Add a mirror above your bed. If you have a small bedroom that's bothering you, try hanging a large mirror over your bed. Place a bigger mirror just above your headboard. If you don't have a headboard, you can simply keep the mirror a few feet up from the end of your mattress.
A mirror over your bed creates a sense of depth. This can make a small bedroom feel bigger.
Keep the mirror on the wall of your bedroom and not the ceiling.
4. Use floor length mirrors behind furniture. In a small space, furniture may feel cramped or cluttered. This issue can easily be corrected by placing large mirrors just behind big pieces of furniture.
Choose floor-length mirrors the same width as your furniture. Place the mirrors just behind the furniture so the top sticks out.
5. Place a mirror near or in an art display. Densely packed collections of paintings and objects can look cramped. Try inserting small mirrors in areas where you display artwork.
If you display artwork on a shelf, use one of the drawers in the shelf to display a mirror. You can also place a standing mirror behind a piece of artwork on a mantel.
If you have paintings or other artwork hung up on a wall, hang a mirror next to the paintings as well.
Method 2 Installing Mirrors.
1. Install mirror doors on your closet. A small closet can make you feel claustrophobic. Have mirror doors installed on your closet, as this can create the illusion of extra space.
Closet doors can also create extra room in your home because you do not need to take up space with floor mirrors.
If you don't have the time or money for a full installation, you can purchase a hanging mirror at a department store and hang it over the door.
2. Use a mirror backsplash. A kitchen backsplash can be made into a mirror to make a small kitchen look larger. If you're renovating, consider a reflective back splash to make the most of your space.
In addition to creating the illusion of more space, mirror back splashes are fairly easy to clean.
3. Add mirrors to cabinet drawers. If you have a tiny kitchen or bathroom, have mirrors installed on the doors of cabinets. This can be done by simply gluing mirrored tiles or small mirrors to the front of your cabinets. This will make your kitchen feel slightly more open.
4. Make use of mirrored tiles. Mirror tiles can be purchased at most home improvement stores. You can create a mirror wall in one room by glueing or nailing mirror tiles to the wall. You can also use them in spaces that feel cramped. For example, in a small bathroom try putting up mirrored tiles adjacent to the shower.
Method 3 Maximizing Impact without Overdoing It.
1. Be strategic about where you place mirrors. Do not simply hang up your mirrors everywhere in your home. Always take into account what the mirror is reflecting before hanging it up. You want to use mirrors to maximize light sources and emphasize space.
Mirrors should reflect a light source in order to brighten a room by creating more light. A mirror facing a blank wall will not do much to brighten your space. Instead, place a mirror across from a window or a well-lit area in your home.
You should also avoid placing mirrors in areas where they will reflect things like furniture and clutter. You do not want a mirror to make a room look more cluttered. Instead of having a mirror facing a somewhat messy desk, have it reflect a sleek mantel that only holds a few decorative items.
2. Do not go overboard with mirrors in the kitchen. One strategically placed mirror in the kitchen is enough to make the room more open. Too many mirrors can be overwhelming and even look tacky. Mirrors are not usually necessary in the kitchen, so more than one mirror may look odd to visitors.
For example, if you opt for a horizontal mirror running down one wall, do not put a mirror on the opposite wall. The effect will be overwhelming.
3. Avoid ceiling mirrors. Ceiling mirrors are no longer in fashion. They were popular in the '70's, but many decorators find them tacky. Also, mirrors on the ceiling will not do much to create the illusion of space. Stick to hanging mirrors on the wall.
Mirrors can be great in your bedroom if you want to create more space there, as well as more light. A full-length mirror near your closet can work great if it, say, reflects a window or a lamp.
Question : How can I place a mirror to reflect light from a skylight?
Answer : Place it on the wall the sun hits the most.
Tips.
Use a mirror as a coffee table surface. This will reflect light upwards and will reflect elements of the room towards the eye when looking downwards.
Treehouses are cool little places to hang out. There's no point in having a treehouse with nothing in it, so that you have to sit on the floor. With stuff in the treehouse, everything is possible. Read this wikiHow article to get loads of ideas about decorating your treehouse.It is great!
Steps.
1. Decide how you will decorate the walls. Will you paint them or leave them wooden? Wood gives a real natural feel, while paint will make you feel like you are in an actual house. Different kinds of paint have different feels. Black will feel like this is your little dark hut and bright colors will feel like you are in a house full of sunshine.
2. Choose a type of flooring. Do you want to leave it wooden, or use carpet? Fluffy or flat? Carpet gives the room a cosy feel and a wooden floor is like a little den. Tiles aren't very popular, though. They would be used for a kitchen or a bathroom.
3. Make windows. Windows can be wide, narrow, tall, or short. They can also be square, heart, circle or star shaped. It's your choice. If you want sunlight to shine into your room and make it warm, you have to have windows. Or, if you like, no windows at all. Add curtains, too.
4. Create signs.You can create a wooden sign on the door of your treehouse.It could say, No Girls, No Boys, Keep Out, No Trespassing or anything else. If you want a spiritual feel, add an idol or two, like a fairy or animal. It would also be cool to have a wind chime.
5. Furnish your treehouse. You can use couches, little tables, beanbags, paintings, a computer and a desk, lights, or anything else. You can choose a cosy feel, dark feel, sunny feel, etc. The list goes on.
6. Add some entertainment. This can be a television, Nintendo, radio, or even calculators; anything that you can use to entertain yourself when you are bored. For Nintendo try to use it as a laptop and camera if you have the DSi. You can hook up internet to that, which would allow Youtube in replacement for Radio. Try keeping a bookcase in there to hold everything on.
7. Find a way to keep rain from wetting your tree house. Rain will soak through wood and we don't want it to wet your furniture or electronics! Try to cover it with moss, tree bark, waterproof blankets, or anything else to keep it out!
8. If you have a way to keep the inside from getting wet, see if you can find a way to get power for lamps, chargers, and maybe even a TV if you have an extra!
Question : How much money is it?
Answer : If you would like to spend less money, you can find furniture and decor at thrift and second hand stores, or even garage sales. You can buy all new things if you wish, and maybe even grab more things that will still be able to withstand an outdoor environment, but this will cost more. Set a budget first, and then decide on your options.
Question : Will this work for any tree?
Answer : Make sure you're building a treehouse on a tree with enough support for a platform to start with, and has multiple branches, or enough room to place support beams around the house.
Question : Can I put curtains in my treehouse?
Answer : Yes! It's your treehouse. You can put whatever you want inside.
Question : What can I put in a simple, small treehouse?
Answer : Maybe some pillows or fold out chairs, a portable cooler for drinks, and a small box you can keep games or books in that will also double as a table. Put up posters for decoration.
Question : What if the ceiling is pretty low and it's a small space?
Answer : Keep furniture to a minimum and use pillows for seating. Put up fairy lights to add some sparkle. Make use of vertical space with shelving.
Question : How can I decorate a very small tree house?
Answer : Use shelves for vertical storage, and use small storage ottomans to double as seats and storage units. Try to use nooks and crannies to your advantage.
Question : How can I get electricity into the treehouse?
Answer : The easiest way to do this would be to run an extension cord from your house (exterior if you have an outlet outside) into the treehouse.
Question : Would I be able to make it two floors?
Answer : Yes, you can potentially make it two floors.
Question : What if my tree house does not have a roof and it has cracks in the wall?
Answer : Repair it, then add a roof, and then decorate it.
Question : How can I add floors if there are too many branches?
Answer : Ask an adult to trim some of the branches for you, or choose a different tree for your treehouse.
Tips.
If you are painting or putting down flooring, be creative and make up patterns. For example, if you want your treehouse to seem like a field at night, get some kind of green fluffy carpet, like grass, and paint the walls black, and add glow in the dark stars. Or, get bright! Blue floor blue walls, and paint fluffy white clouds for a real feeling that you are on air. Instead of wooden floor or fluffy carpet, how about a wooden floor with lots of little rugs and cushions?
Put posters and artwork up just make sure they don't get wet!
For the curtains, you can just get old material and make curtains out of them.
Instead of just lights on the ceiling, you could have a punchbag or a disco ball, or get things to hang from your ceiling like little fluffy bats, or fluffy love hearts.
Sometimes, you could cut a window in the door of the treehouse.
You could add glow-in-the-dark stars onto the walls and ceiling.
For walls and flooring, choose colors you like or with colors that match. You could have a blue carpet with green walls, for example, but don't have brown walls with purple floor.
Make it cozy - add blankets and pillows!
If you are sharing a treehouse with your sibling or other person, just make one big treehouse and use curtains instead of doors. This way you can open them up or close them and get some alone time. Just make sure that the curtains will stand the weather.
If you like to create art, buy or find a bin and pile up some art supplies in your treehouse. You can buy paint, carpeting and wall paper to make your house pop out.
Warnings.
Do not leave anything valuable in there when you are not there.
Make sure you are allowed to do this if you are young; ask your parents.
Don't spend too much money; try to make your own decorations.
The bathroom is often one of the most overlooked and neglected rooms when it comes to decorating. Fortunately, there are some quick and easy ways to give your bathroom a fresh look. It can be as simple as change out the towels and adding a plant, to as fancy as adding wallpaper or painting the wall behind a set of shelves.
Method 1 Changing the Patterns and Colors.
1. Choose a theme and color scheme for your bathroom. Most people prefer refreshing themes and colors, such as cool blues, Zen, pale green, or nautical. You can choose something more unique, however, such as vintage, romantic, or ornate.
Pastel colors are great for a vintage look, while deep reds and golds are perfect for an ornate look.
You can also use neutral colors, such as white and black, or white and silver.
Your theme can be specific, such as rustic farmhouse, or general, such as traditional or classic.
2. Repaint your bathroom or bathroom furniture. You can repaint the entire bathroom, or you can paint just 1 wall an accent color. For example, if your bathroom’s walls are all white, consider painting 1 wall a different color, like light blue or pale gray.
Make sure that you use a paint suitable for humid, bathroom environments.
The best paint finish for a bathroom will be satin or semi-gloss.
3. Add some wallpaper as an alternative. You can apply the wallpaper over all of the bathroom’s walls, or you can choose just 1 accent wall. You can also use a narrow strip of wallpaper trim along the top or middle of the wall instead.
Make sure that the wallpaper matches the color and theme of your bathroom.
4. Apply a wall treatment for an upscale design. Great options for your bathroom include tile, faux shiplap, stone, or glass. Although they're a more expensive decorative option, wall treatments last a long time and elevate your design.
Make sure the wall treatment you pick is appropriate for a bathroom, since it will get humid. When in doubt, talk to a product representative.
5. Use wall decals or framed artwork as a temporary option. If you live in a rental unit, you may not be able to repaint the walls or use wall paper. You can still use removable wall decals. You can also hang some framed artwork above the toilet or towel rack instead.
Simple silhouettes work the best when it comes to wall decals. Try scrolls or filigree for a fancy look, or trees and greenery for a serene look.
If your bathroom doesn't have good ventilation, the frames must contain glass.
If you're wanting a temporary upscale look, you can install peel-and-stick tiles behind your sink to create a backsplash. You can find these at home improvement stores or online.
6. Paint the back walls inside open shelving units. If you have shelves in your bathroom, consider painting the walls behind them a different color. This works best on shelves without cabinet doors, but you can do this on cabinets too.
For example, if your bathroom has white walls, paint the walls behind the shelves a light gray for a subtle pop of color.
If you want to add a designer touch to your shelves, you can install wallpaper or contact paper along the back wall instead of paint. As another option, you could apply the contact paper just on the shelves.
Method 2 Adding Textiles and Furniture.
1. Add a small, decorative stand or side table. Choose a small stand or a side table that is 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) across and tuck it into a niche or corner. Not only will this look cute, but it can double-up as extra storage.
For example, you could keep candles or bowls filled with pretty soaps on top of the table.
If your table has shelves, roll up your towels and place them inside the shelves. Not only is this a great decorative touch, it's also practical!
Consider placing a nice tray atop the table for your toiletries or perfumes.
2. Consider an upholstered bench for comfort and luxury. Choose a bench that matches the style and colors of your bathroom, then set it against the wall. If you have a small bathroom but still want a hint of luxury, consider an upholstered stool instead.
Don't be afraid to take a bench apart and re-paint or re-upholster it. If you decide to re-upholster the bench, make sure you choose a water-resistant fabric. This is especially important if you plan to sit on the bench while wet or place wet items on the bench. Otherwise, it may develop mold or mildew.
3. Get a shelving unit if you have space for it. Not only can this add a decorative element to your bathroom, but it will also allow you to store other items, such as towels, toilet paper, and so forth.
Make the shelf more decorative by adding a plant or a vessel filled with pretty soaps or bath bombs.
If you have a small bathroom, consider adding a single, narrow shelf just above the bathroom vanity. Store your perfumes, cosmetics, and toothbrushes on it.
If you have a small bathroom, consider getting a mini metal shelving unit that you can place on your bathroom counter or hang above the toilet.
Another option for shelving is floating shelves, which are great if you don't have the space for a unit. You can hang your floating shelves over your toilet or, if there's no shower, above the bathtub. Use your shelves for extra towels, rolls of toilet paper, personal care items, or decorations.
4. Brighten up a dull bathroom with colorful towels or a bathmat. One of the quickest ways to change the look of your bathroom is by swapping out the towels and bathmat for something new.
Consider the season. Warm colors work well for fall, while cool colors work better for winter. Pastels are great for spring, and bright colors are ideal for summer.
Play around with different shades and layering. For example, try a light green hand towel over a dark green bath towel.
Bathmats don’t always have to be made from towel material. You can get wooden or bamboo ones too!
5. Change out the shower curtain for something more exciting. If you have a plain white or frosted shower curtain, consider switching it out for a different one. Pick out a bright color that matches your towels. If solid colors aren't your thing, try a pattern instead.
If you are going with a pattern, make sure that it matches the other colors in your bathroom.
If you have a window in your bathroom, consider getting some mini curtains or blinds for it. Keep them open so that you have lots of daylight.
If you have any curtains you aren't using, you can hang these over your plastic shower curtain to create a fancy look.
Method 3 Updating Fixtures and Lighting.
1. Take advantage of natural lighting if your bathroom has it. Some bathrooms have windows in them. These are great of bringing in natural daylight and giving your bathroom a fresher look. Clear the area in front of the window, wipe the window clean, and repaint the sill, if needed.
Decorate your window with opened curtains or plants, but keep it minimal so that the light can pass through.
On the other hand, if your bathroom has a grand, luxurious theme, hanging heavy curtains in front of the window may work better.
2. Trade out the light bulbs for something new. If you have lights above your bathroom mirror, consider switching them out for different ones. This can be as simple as changing the old, bright bulbs for frosted ones. It can be as fancy as getting actual lights with fancy covers or fixtures around them.
If your lights have fixtures or covers, make sure that they match the other metallic elements in your bathroom.
If you like to do makeup in your bathroom, choose lights with a bright, white glow. Avoid lights that give you a hazy, golden glow; it’s not good lighting for makeup.
If your bathroom is too dark, high-efficiency LED lights can give your bathroom a bright, white glow.
3. Switch out the towel racks for something new. Make sure that the new towel racks match the other metal fixtures in your bathroom, however. For example, if you have gold faucets, you should get gold towel racks--not silver ones.
Towel racks don’t always have to look like horizontal rods or bars. You can get ones shaped like hooks or loops instead.
If you can't afford to replace your towel racks, you can paint them instead! Simply take them off the wall and bring them outside. Use a metal spray paint to coat them in a new color. You could choose something metallic or mix it up with a fun shade that matches your bathroom, like a blue.
4. Change your mirror, or put a frame around it. If your mirror looks plain, see if you can find a fancier mirror. Oval mirrors or mirrors with beveled edges are a great option. If you can't change your mirror, consider framing it instead. You can use an actual frame, or you can use glass mosaic tiles instead.
If you are framing the mirror, use colors that match the other colors in your bathroom.
5/ Change the fixtures in your bathroom for a more adventurous project. This can be difficult for someone who has not done it before, so if the task is too intimidating for you, hire a handyman. Make sure that the colors go well with the overall theme of your bathroom.
For example, if your bathroom is ornate with lots of burgundy and gold, consider gold fixtures.
If your bathroom has a modern or Zen theme, try matte silver fixtures instead.
Method 4 Adding Accessories and Storage.
1. Bring some character with candles or decorative items. Things like pillar candles, figurines, and vases all make great bathroom accents. Find some items that match the color and theme of your bathroom, then display them in an out-of-the-way area, such as a side table, a shelf, or the corner of the counter.
If you are getting pillar candles, consider getting 3 candles that are the same color, but different heights and thicknesses. This will create some interesting variation.
Make sure that the items you choose can withstand humid conditions.
Avoid using breakable items, such as glass, if you have curious children or pets.
2. Bring in some greenery with a plant or 2. Choose a plant that requires low levels of sunlight. Even if your bathroom has a window in it, it likely won't provide enough sunlight for your plant.
Match the pots to your bathroom's tiles, towels, mat, or shower curtain.
Every so often, move your plant into a bright window for a day or 2 so that it can absorb sunlight.
Air plants are a great option for your bathroom! They'll thrive in the humid bathroom environment and require little care.
Hang some fake, green floral garlands along the ceiling. Ivy is a classic choice, but you can also try ferns or wisteria.
3. Store extra towels and toilet paper in baskets. Instead of keeping towels and toilet paper stacks on a shelf, put them into decorative storage baskets instead. Measure the depth of your shelf or cabinet first, then purchase some square or rectangular baskets that match those dimensions.
You can also use wire or canvas baskets. Container stores, fabric stores, and craft stores generally have a vast selection.
If you have space next to your sink or toilet, you can keep the baskets there as well.
You are not just limited to towels and toilet paper; you can store other items that you want to keep out of sight too, such as hair styling tools.
4. Keep cotton balls, Q-tips, and other toiletries in glass jars or vessels. Instead of leaving these items in the cabinet, transfer them into glass or clear acrylic containers, then keep the containers on your bathroom counter. Use 1 container for each type of item.
For example, keep your cotton balls in a tall jar and your Q-tips in a squat container.
Consider a vase or apothecary-style jar for extra bath bombs, mini lotion bottles, or hand soaps.
Tiered cupcake stands and cake stands make cute displays for perfumes, nail polish, and other cosmetics.
Old Mason jars are a great, low cost option for storing your items! If you don't like the look of them plain, add a ribbon or piece of fabric to make them match your decor. As another option, you could paint the jars, though you wouldn't be able to see into them anymore.
5. Make use of soap dispensers and toothbrush holders. Instead of keeping your liquid hand soap in the plastic bottle it came in, pour it into a glass or ceramic soap dispenser. If you prefer to use solid soap, keep it in a little dish or tray instead.
Keep your toothbrushes in a toothbrush holder. Make sure that it matches your soap dish or soap dispenser.
If you like to use mouthwash, consider pouring it into a glass vessel or bottle instead. Have some paper cups nearby, so that you have something to pour the mouthwash into.
Question : How can I decorate a small bathroom for cheap?
Answer : You can get a new shower curtain, add artwork (original or print free art from online), add a few plants, and your bathroom will look refreshed. Painting can also nicely update it if that is in your budget.
Question : How can I make my bathroom look brighter?
Answer : If you have a window, open the blinds (when it's okay to do so), add brighter LED bulbs to your light fixture, and paint your walls a bright or lighter color that will reflect light.
Question : What pictures should I put in my bathroom?
Answer : You can put up some rules to be followed inside the bathroom, and you can decorate the paper containing the rules.
Tips.
Don't be afraid to change your decorations with the seasons. Warm colors are great for cold weather, while cool colors are better for warm weather.
If you don't know how to do something, or aren't comfortable doing it yourself, consider hiring a professional, such as a painter or plumber.
Find inspiration online if you are stuck. There are lots of websites, such as Pinterest and Polyvore, that allow people to share ideas for projects.
Don't feel like you have to change out everything at once. You can update your style a little at a time.
Things You'll Need : Towels, Bathmat, Shower curtain, Storage baskets, Jars and vases.
Decorating an apartment, especially if it’s your first, can be overwhelming. Following a few simple decorating principles, however, will help you quickly transform an empty space with blank, white walls into a cozy living area that exudes your personality.
Method 1 Upgrading Your Walls.
1. Add pictures and art to your walls to create a homey environment. Select frames that harmonize with the color of your walls and the overall feel you’re trying to create for the room. A customized art piece or family photographs hung in your living room can add a dash of personality to the space.
Look for a frame that matches both the art and other key decorating pieces in the room.
2. Hang a mirror to make your space look larger. If you want to make your room seem larger and make it brighter during the day, position the mirror on the wall opposite to your window. Hang it so that your eyes are at the same height as the mirror’s middle.
Choose a distressed wood frame for your mirror if you’re going for a rustic look in your room.
A simple, black frame, on the other hand, will complement a sleek and modern decorating scheme.
3. Bring color and texture to a room by hanging a tapestry. You can hang a tapestry over the sofa in your living room, above your bed’s headboard, or on any other section of a wall that you think could benefit from a dash of color or the addition different texture. To hang a weaving or vintage fabric, you can use pushpins or small nails or hook-and-loop fasteners. Alternatively, you could stretch it over a frame you’ve hung on your wall.
Self-adhesive hook-and-loop fasteners work especially well on curved walls and have the added benefit of not leaving behind any holes in the wall.
If you want to hang a heavier tapestry, you may want to consider draping it over a rod.
4. Choose curtains that complement your room’s style. Choose curtains that match the color of your sofa and/or walls for a seamless look. Go with solid-colored curtains if you want to enhance the color scheme of your room, or patterned curtains if you want to draw visitors’ eyes toward the room’s window.
You can make your windows seem taller if you install your curtain rods high above the top of the window frame and wider if you extend rod beyond the window’s frame.
If you want to make your ceilings seem higher than they are, go with curtains with vertical stripes.
If you anticipate that you’ll be moving in the near future, don’t spend too much money on your curtains, since they may not fit the windows in your future apartment.
5. Paint your walls to give the room some character. Keeping the walls of your apartment white or beige is fine, but painting them another color can add a dash of personality to the room and complement its overall design scheme. Choose a light color if you want to make a small room feel roomier or a darker color if you want to give the room a more intimate feel.
Before painting the walls of a rental apartment, check with your landlord to make sure that it’s okay to do so.
Method 2 Adding Accessories.
1. Green up your living space with plants. Plants not only make a room seem more inviting and relaxing, but can also freshen the air in your apartment. You can use potted plants as centerpieces on a coffee or dining table, place a small tree in the corner of a room, or mount a hanging plant on a wall.
If you don’t want the hassle of watering indoor plants, artificial plants are a great alternative.
If a lack of floor space is an issue, you can place smaller plants on tables and other surfaces or use hanging plants.
2. Enhance your room’s décor with toss pillows. Adding throw pillows to a couch, chair, or love seat is a simple way to enhance or even alter the entire look of a room. When looking for throw pillows, find colors, textures, patterns, and sizes that either harmonize well with the room’s aesthetic or strike an intriguing contrast.
If the walls and furniture in a room are white or a light beige, brightly-colored throw pillows with bold patterns can add a burst of energy.
Selecting throw pillows of the same color but with different textures or patterns is another way to liven up a space.
3. Cover bland and ugly floors with rugs. A large sisal or jute rug can add color and texture to your apartment’s living room. You can also use small rugs to add color and texture to hallways and other small areas that many apartment decorators overlook.
You can find rugs of a variety of sizes, patterns, textures, and colors at furniture stores.
To find cheaper rugs, check out a local thrift store.
4. Choose table and floor lamps to brighten a room’s aesthetic. Lamps are an important part of any room’s décor. The light they provide can draw the eye to certain design elements, while lampshades, lamp bases, and sconces can serve as attractive decorative accents.
Lamp bases that are metallic, or are made of another reflective material, can make your room brighter by reflecting light.
Method 3 Choosing Furniture.
1. Buy furniture pieces that come with added storage. If space in your apartment is limited, you may find it difficult to find places to store all the stuff you own. Buying pieces of furniture with storage spaces can help keep your living space from becoming cluttered, which will help maintain the original look of your decorated room.
A coffee table with shelves underneath can provide you with a convenient place to keep books, magazines, and other odds and ends.
If you need a place to store extra blankets and throw pillows, consider getting an ottoman with a hollow inside and detachable top.
A bed with drawers below the mattress can be a great space-saving alternative to a bulky dresser.
2. Select scaled-down furniture that will fit in smaller spaces. If you’re looking to buy furniture for your apartment, scaled-down furniture will help make your living space seem larger than it is. Select couches and chairs with narrower widths, and light and airy tables and coffee tables, instead of heavy and bulky ones.
A see-through acrylic coffee table can serve the same function as a solid-wood one, while appearing to take up less room.
If you’re decorating a small space, floating shelves are a great, functional alternative to bulkier pieces of furniture, such as chests and bookcases.
3. Find multi-functional pieces of furniture. If your apartment is small, multi-functional pieces are a terrific option. If you buy a small bench, for example, you can use it as a seat when you have guests over, or a small table where you can stack books.
Getting a sofa that folds into a futon will give your guests a place to sleep when they visit.
Furniture with wheels will give you the freedom to easily rearrange your décor for different occasions.
4. Arrange furniture to create distinct living spaces. If your apartment is relatively small in area, you can position your sofa or book cases so that they act as dividers. This technique is especially helpful when decorating a studio apartment or an apartment with a wide-open floor plan.
By placing a sofa in the middle of a studio apartment, for example, you can create a distinct living room and a bedroom.
Minimalism is one of the crowning architectural achievements of the 20th century. Spare and streamlined while still being inviting, minimalism is charming in almost any space. With less clutter to wade through and mentally process, the innate beauty of each piece of furniture or art in the home really starts to stand out.
Steps.
1. Change one room at a time. Unless you’re just moving into a place, it’s hard to simplify an entire house at once. Focus on one room, and let that be your center of calm. Use it to inspire you to simplify the next room, and the next. Then do the same outside!
2. Start with furniture. The biggest things in any room are the furniture, so it is always best to begin simplifying a room by looking at the furniture. The fewer pieces of furniture, the better (within reason, of course). Think of which furniture can be eliminated without sacrificing comfort and livability. Go for a few pieces of plain, simple furniture (here, an example of a minimalist coffee table) with solid, subdued colors.
3. Keep only the essentials. Whether looking at your furniture or anything else in the room, ask yourself if the item is truly essential. If you can live without it, get it out. Try to strip the room down to its essentials — you can always add a few choice items beyond the essentials later. Keep the whole design (house) on paper as simple as you can initially, with required components, and then slowly add décor as desired.
4. Clear floors. Except for the furniture, your floors should be completely clear. Nothing should clutter the floor, nothing should be stacked, nothing should be stored on the floor. Once you've gotten your furniture down to the bare essentials, clear everything else on the floor — either donate it, trash it, or find a place for it out of sight.
5. Clear surfaces. Same thing with all flat surfaces. Don’t have anything on them, except one or two simple decorations. Donate, trash or find an out-of-sight storage spot for everything else. It will make everything much more minimal-looking.
6. Clear walls. Some people hang all kinds of stuff on their walls. No-can-do in a minimalist home. Clear your walls except for one or two simple pieces of nice artwork.
7. Store stuff out of sight. This has been mentioned in the above tips, but you should store everything you need out of sight, in drawers and cabinets. Bookshelves can be used to store books or DVDs or CDs, but shouldn't have much else except a few simple decorations (not whole collections of things).
8. De-clutter. If you are clearing flat surfaces and the floor, and storing stuff in cabinets and drawers, you’ll probably want to de-clutter your storage areas too. You can do this in a later stage if you want.
9. Use simple artwork. To keep a room from being boring, you can put a simple painting, drawing or photo, framed with a subdued, solid color, on each wall if you want. Leave some walls bare if possible.
10. Use simple decorations. As mentioned in the above tips, one or two simple decorations can serve as accents for a minimalist room. A vase of flowers or a small potted plant are two classic examples. If the rest of your room has subdued colors, your accents could use a bright color (such as red or yellow) to draw the eye and give a plain room a splash of energy.
11. Prefer plain window treatments. Bare windows, or simple, solid colored curtains, or simple, wooden blinds are good. Too much ornate stuff around the windows is clutter.
12. Adopt plain patterns. Solid colors are best for floor coverings (if you have any), furniture, etc. Complex patterns, such as flowers or checkers, are visual clutter.
13. Make the most of subdued colors. You can have a splash of bright color in the room, but most of the room should be more subtle colors - white is classic minimalist, but really any solid colors that don’t stress the eyes are good (earth colors come to mind, such as blues, browns, tans, or greens).
14. Edit and eliminate. When you've simplified a room, you can probably do more. Give it a couple of days, then look at everything with a fresh eye. What can be eliminated? Stored out of sight? What’s not essential? You can come back to each room every few months, and sometimes you’ll discover things you can simplify even more.
15. Have a place for everything. In a minimalist house, it’s important that you find a place for everything. Where does your blender go? Aim for logical spots that are close to where the thing is used, to make things more efficient, but the key is to designate a spot and stick with it.
16. Sit back, relax, and enjoy. Once you've simplified a room, take a moment to look around and enjoy it. It’s so peaceful and satisfying. This is the reward for your hard work.
Question : I'm an 11-year-old girl and I'm trying to go minimalist, but my family are hoarders. What should I do?
Answer : You could just stick to maintaining a minimalist bedroom, but you might also try talking it over with your family. Maybe you could convince them to get rid of some stuff they don't need anymore, or at least put some things away in an attic, basement, or storage unit.
Question : What is the best color to paint a room that gets sun in the afternoon, to create a minimalist look?
Answer : A nice teal does wonders. It will brighten your room even when there's no sunlight.
Question : My room is bright teal. Should I paint it white?
Answer : That's up to you! If teal is getting old, then you can paint it white, but adding wall art and posters are also great ways to keep a room fun or just change things up. I suggest mandalas, because they are colorful and trendy!
Tips.
Accent decorations. A home completely clear of things could sometimes be a bit boring, actually. So instead of having a coffee table completely free of any objects, you could have a simple vase with a few flowers, for example. Or a clear desk might just have a family photo. An otherwise empty wall might have a tasteful piece of art. Modern minimalist home décor is not plain and empty, but rather is an attempt by the owner to produce home beauty with simpler or less ornamentation.
Clear surfaces. In a minimalist home, flat surfaces are clear, except for one or two decorations. There is not a mindless array of knick-knacks, and there are definitely no stacks of books, papers or other items.
Quality over quantity. Instead of having a lot of stuff in your home, you as a minimalist (or minimalist in training) would choose just a few really good things you love and use often. A really nice table, for example, is better than 5 pieces of press-board furniture.
A minimalist home is less stressful. Clutter is a form of visual distraction, and everything in our vision pulls at our attention at least a little. The less clutter, the less visual stress we have. A minimalist home is not only more calming, but also more appealing. Think about photos of homes that are cluttered (for example the A&E series Hoarders), and photos of minimalist homes. The ones with almost nothing in them except some beautiful furniture, some nice artwork, and a very few pretty decorations, are the ones that most appeal to us, even if only subconsciously.
A minimalist home is easier to clean. It's hard to clean a whole bunch of objects, or to sweep or vacuum around a bunch of furniture. The more stuff you have, the more you have to keep clean, and the more complicated it is to clean around the stuff. Think about how easy it is to clean an empty room compared to one with 50 objects in it. That's an extreme example, of course, as this article doesn't recommend you have an empty room, but it's just to illustrate the difference. Minimalist architecture uses the idea that less is more; ornamentation must be quality rather than quantity. The building (house) is stripped to the bare minimum leaving only necessary walls, simple large windows and a flat roof. This can produce the "great room" — the combining of the living room, kitchen and dining room that looks spacious. The style can use natural colours that can easily be seen in nature and the beauty of natural materials for finishes like real stone tiles, real metal and smooth wood panelling, etc. Such a style uses modern building materials and modern manufacturing processes, and not surprisingly, modernists may like the look and feel of such a home style.
Examples. The photo at the top of this article is a nice example of a minimalist home. Traditional-style Japanese homes (think wabi sabi for example) are another great example of minimalism.
Minimal furniture. A minimalist room would only contain a few essential pieces of furniture. A living room, for example, might only have a couch, another chair or love seat, a coffee table, a minimalist entertainment stand (not a huge one with a bunch of shelves), a television, and a couple of lamps. It could even contain less (couch, chairs, and coffee table, for example). A bedroom might have a simple bed (or even just a mattress), a dresser, and perhaps a night stand or bookshelf.
If it is difficult to start the process of clearing out clutter, try finding out what you use organically. For example, clothes - each time you wear something, turn the coat hanger around and after a certain time, you can see exactly what you don't wear. This will make it easier to clear once you see which clothes you don't need.
Birthday banners are a great addition to any party, but store bought banners can feel impersonal, especially if you wish to add the person's name. Fortunately, it is very easy to make a birthday banner. This article will show you lots of ways to make such a banner.
Steps Getting Started.
1. Come up with a message. Your message can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Here are some ideas to get you started.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB, HAPPY 30th BOB (the "th" will be on one sheet), HAPPY SWEET 16, HAPPY 16th BITHDAY JANE (the "th" will be on one sheet), HAPPY SWEET 16 JANE.
2. Come up with a layout. Most banners will have the entire message on the same line, but you don't have to do this. You can make your banner look more interesting by giving it a different layout. Here are some ideas to get you started:
All the words can be on the same line.
Each word can be on a different line.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY can be on one line, and the person's name can be one a different line.
3. Decide on a theme. This can make choosing your colors, patterns, and fonts a lot easier. You can match the theme to the party, the person's interests, or come up with your own theme. Here are some ideas to get you started:
If you want to use a train theme, consider making a pennant banner with square pennants. Each pennant will make a train cart. Make a train engine shape to use at the front of your banner.
For an under water theme, use lots of blues and greens. Use some fish and bubble stickers around the letters.
For a princess theme, consider what sort of princess this is. Typical princess colors are pink and silver, but if your princess is from a specific movie, you might want to use the colors from her dress instead.
Consider what the person likes. Does he or she have a favorite food, animal, color, book, or movie? Choose one of those, and design your banner around that.
4. Play with font. You can use a standard block letter font, or a fancy italic or cursive font. Larger, thicker fonts might be more appealing to children. If your banner has a party or theme, consider matching the font to that. For example, if you are doing a princess themed banner, consider using a cursive or italic font.
5. Choose a color scheme. This will help your banner look more unified and interesting. Choosing random colors might result in something that looks less than appealing. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Use three different colors, such as red, yellow, and blue.
Use different shades of the same color. For example: light blue, medium blue, and dark blue.
Use all cool colors, such as green, blue, and purple. You can also use all warm colors, such as red/pink, orange, and yellow.
Use metallic colors, such as gold or silver.
Alternate contrasting colors, such as white and black.
6. Don't be afraid to use prints and patterns. You can make your banner look really interesting and unique with some patterned scrapbooking paper. Here are some things to consider:
Combine solid colors and patterns. For example: solid blue and white with blue dots.
Combine patterns, such as vertical strips, horizontal strips, and dots.
Try to use similar colors in your patterns. This will tie the design together and prevent the patterns and colors from clashing.
7. Use blank spaces to add designs. When creating a banner, you will likely end up with some blank spaces between and around the words. You can leave them blank, or you can fill them in with images that matches the theme. Here are some ideas to get you started:
If you are making a pennant banner for a snow themed party, and you have blank pennants between the words, consider gluing a snowflake onto the blank pennant.
If you are painting a banner for a super hero themed party, consider adding a border using comic book strips. You can also buy comic book themed scrapbooking paper instead if you don't want to sacrifice any old comic books.
If you are making a banner for someone who likes the ocean, consider filling in any blank spaces with images of fish, shells, and sea bubbles.
Method 1 Using Letter Shapes.
1. Choose your paper. The best paper to use for this is cardstock. You can find it in the scrapbook section of an arts and crafts store. It comes in many different colors. You can also use construction paper, but it will not be as bright and it will not be as durable.
2. Trace your letter shapes onto the paper. Find some large stencils, and use them to trace the letters onto your paper. You should be able to fit several letters onto one page. Make sure that the letters are several inches high; you want to be able to read the banner easily from across the room.
Try to use a pencil while tracing so that you can erase the lines later.
You can also print the letter outlines out onto the paper. If you are using cardstock, feed one sheet at a time through your printer.
3. Cut the letters out. You can use scissors or a sharp craft knife. Be sure to cut just inside the lines you made when tracing the letter. If you see any pencil marks, be sure to erase them.
4. Measure and cut your string. The string needs to be long enough to fit all of the letters, plus an additional 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) at each end. This will allow you to hang the banner.
5. Arrange your letters. They can be as close together or as far apart as you like. They will hang better, however, if you include some space between each letter.
6. Glue the letters to the banner. Flip the letters over. Draw a thin line of glue along the top edge of each letter. Press the string down into the glue.
You can also use clear tape to stick the string to the back of the letters if you are short on time.
7. Let the glue dry before hanging the banner. Depending on the type of glue you used, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a whole day.
Method 2 Making a Pennant Banner.
1. Choose your paper. You can use any type of paper you want to make your pennants. The best paper to use is scrapbooking paper, because it is very colorful. Cardstock is also a good option, because it is sturdy. The paper can be all one color, or multiple colors.
2. Make sure you have enough paper to spell out your message. You will need one sheet of paper for each letter in your message. You will also need an extra sheet for the spaces between each word.
3. Create a template for the pennants using thick cardstock paper. You can use almost any shape you want, but the most popular shapes are circles, triangles, and rectangles. Make the template a few inches larger than the letters you are planning on using. It needs to be large enough so that you can easily read it across the room.
If you are using a rectangle, consider cutting a ^ shape into the bottom.
4. Trace the template onto the back of each paper and cut the shapes out. Use a pencil if you can. Once you have cut the shapes out, erase any pencil marks that are still visible. These will be your pennants. You will be sticking the letters onto these.
If you could not find a pencil, cut the shapes out just inside the lines you have made.
5. Consider cutting a smaller version of the pennant shape, and gluing it down onto the pennant first. Use a contrasting color. This will create a sort of frame around the letter. To do this, take your template and cut it smaller all around by ½ to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 centimeters). Trace the template onto contrasting sheets of paper, cut the shapes out, and attach them to the center of each pennant. You can use glue or clear, double-sided tape.
6. Create your letters and stick them down onto the pennants. The letters need to be several inches high, but smaller than the pennants. You will need one letter for pennant. Consider using a contrasting color to make them more visible. Here are some ideas on what you can use for the letters:
Use some large, letter stickers.
Paint the letters on using stencils and acrylic paint.
Cut the letters out of paper and glue them on. You can even use glitter scrapbooking paper for some extra sparkle.
7. Choose and cut your string. Choose a thin string, such as baker's twine, yarn, or balloon ribbon. Plan on leaving about 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) of string at the front and end of your banner so that you can hang it.
8. Consider weaving some string through the pennants. This method will work best on triangle and square-shaped pennants. Use a hole punch to poke a hole in each top corner. Then, weave the ribbon through the holes like so:
Push the string down through the left hole.
Bring the string across the back of the pennant.
Pull the string up through the right hole.
Push the string down through the left hole of next pennant.
Bring it across the back of the pennant, and pull it back up through the right hole.
Keep doing this until you have no more pennants.
9. Consider taping the string to the back of your banner. Flip the shape over, and lay the string across the back. Position it about ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) below the top edge. Secure it in place with a long piece of clear tape. The tape should go from one side of the shape to the other.
If you are using a rectangle shape, tape the string 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) down from the top edge. Fold the top edge back by 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) on top of the string. Secure it with glue or clear, double-sided tape.
10. Wait for any glue and paint to dry before hanging the banner. Depending on what you used, this can take anywhere between a few hours to a whole day.
Method 3 Painting a Banner.
1. Buy enough butcher paper to fit your message. You can find colorful butcher paper online, in teacher supply stores, and in certain university/college art stores. Regular arts and crafts stores may not sell butcher paper.
You can also use fabric instead, but you may want to hem the edges so that they do not fray.
White butcher paper may seem plain, but it will give you a nice canvas to work on.
2. Draw some guidelines on the paper using a pencil and ruler. Draw lightly with the pencil so that you can erase the marks easier later on. This will help ensure that your words are straight and not crooked.
3. Lightly sketch out your message using a pencil. You don't have to get the font right at this point—just try to get the rough shape and size. This will help you position the stencils later on. Again, remember to draw lightly so that the pencil does not show through the paint.
4. Place your stencil where you want it. Some stencils will have a sticky back and will stay put while you paint. If your stencil moves around too much, tape the edges down using painter's tape.
5. Paint over the stencil using acrylic paint. You can use a foam brush or a stencil brush to apply the paint. Apply the paint using a light, tapping motion. Try not to apply too much paint at once; you can always apply another coat or two. If you apply too much paint at once, the paint may leak under the stencil and create puddles.
If you are painting on fabric, use fabric paint instead.
6. Move the stencil over to the next letter. You may want to start out by painting every other letter first, then going back and painting the missing letters. This will give the paint time to dry, and you won't have to worry about accidentally touching and smearing wet paint.
7. Let the paint dry before you hang the banner. Depending on what type of paint you used, this can take anywhere between 20 minutes to 2 hours. Hang your banner up by either taping or tacking it to the wall.
Method 4 Using Photoshop
1. Open a new file in Photoshop and set the dimensions for your banner. Don't worry about making your banner super large. You can always make it bigger later. Your local print shop should also be able to print the banner larger.
Consider staring out with a 500 by 200 pixel banner.
2. Use the fill tool to set a background color, if desired. You can find the fill tool on the side menu. It looks like a paint bucket. You can leave the background white, or your can make it a different color. You can also choose to add a gradient.
To create a gradient: right-click on the paint bucket, and select the gradient option. Choose the two colors you want; they are located at the bottom of the side menu. Click on your banner, drag down a little, and let go.
3. Select the type tool. You can find it on the side menu. It usually looks like a letter T. Click on it, and then click on your background where you want the text to be.
4. Choose the font, color, and size of your text. You can find these options along the top of the screen. For the color, consider choosing something that contrasts with the background.
5. Type out your birthday message. If the text is not to your liking, highlight it, and change it by choosing the font options located along the top of the screen.
6. Save your file onto your computer and a USB flash drive. You will want to save it as a Photoshop document first. This will keep the layers intact, so that you can return to them and change them, if necessary. You will also want to save a printable version of your file. This will usually be a JPEG or PDF file. Check with your local print shop to see what sorts of files they can print.
7. Take the USB flash drive with your to your local print shop to print it. From there, you will be able to choose the paper you want it printed on. You will also be able to choose the size as well.
Method 5 Using Other Materials.
1. Use colorful paper bags. Get enough colorful paper bags to spell out your message. Make sure that all of the bags are the same size. Stick one letter to the front of each bag. You can use letter stickers, or cut your own letters out of colorful paper and glue them on.[6]
2. Use paper cups. Get enough colored paper cups to spell out your message. Stick one letter onto the front of each up. Use clothespins to secure the cups to a lone piece of ribbon.[7]
You can cut your own letters out of colorful paper and stick them onto the cups using glue.
You can also use large letter stickers
3. Use balloons. Get enough clear, latex balloons to spell out your message. Fill each balloon with a handful of colorful, paper confetti. Blow the balloons up and tie the ends into knots. Stick one letter onto each balloon. Tie the balloons onto a long piece of string to create a birthday banner garland.[8]
The balloons must be clear, or the confetti won't show.
Rub the balloons across some carpet or your hair. This will create static and make the confetti spread out.
You can use giant letter stickers, poster letters, or vinyl letter stickers.
4. Use paper doilies to make the pennants. When making a pennant banner, consider using paper doilies. You can fold them in half over the string and glue them in place, or your can tape them. You can also secure the doilies to the string using clothespins. Use delicate, cursive or italic letter stickers in a contrasting color to form your message.
5. Use colorful clothespins to attach pennants to string. Instead of using tape or glue, try pinning the pennants to the string instead. This will give you a more rustic look, which can work well with country, burlap, and shabby-chic themes.
Tips.
Consider matching the theme of your banner to the theme of the party.
Keep the person's likes and dislikes in mind. You would not want to make a banner using colors that the person hates.
Use things that the person likes as inspiration. If the person really likes the color blue and cats, consider making a blue banner with lots of kitty cats on it.
Warnings : Banners made out of paper are fragile. Do not hang them outside if it will rain. Also, be careful not to tear them.
Things You'll Need.
Using Letter Shapes : Scrapbook paper or cardstock, Stencils, Pencil, Scissors or craft knife, String, Glue or clear tape.
Making a Pennant Banner : Scrapbook paper or cardstock, Pencil, Scissors, String, Glue, hole punch, or tape.
Painting a Banner : Butcher paper, Pencil, Ruler, Stencils, Acrylic paint, Foam brush or stencil brush, Painter's tape (optional).
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.
Your 5 year-old wants a life-size portrait of The Wiggles on her bedroom wall, or maybe your 11 year-old has decided she wants to live in an all-black room with silver glitter plastered across the ceiling. How can you avoid such disasters and still indulge your child's thirst for self-expression? Here are some creative (yet temporary) decoration ideas that you and your child can use to personalize his or her space.
Steps.
1. For young children, use crepe paper on a roll (available at teacher's supply or craft shops) for finger, sponge, or other tactile painting. You can lay the paper flat, let your child paint to her/his heart's content, and then hang the finished painting from your child's wall. Another method is to hang blank sheets from ceiling to floor like wallpaper and let your child 'body paint' right onto the wall. This can be messy and have unpredictable results, though.
2. Pre-teens will enjoy the time-honored tradition of the magazine collage. Use a removable, non-damaging adhesive (such as Sticky Tack) to arrange clipped pictures of movie stars, favorite musicians, and coveted shoes all over the walls. The best part of fun activity for the whole family, as long as you don't mind getting a little messy yourself. Make hand prints, footprints, and splatters. It's like coloring the walls, but without the parental wrath and permanent damage.
3. Older children may already have a collection of artwork from school art classes. Turn your child's room into a mini-museum by framing your child's drawings and paintings with paper, pegboard, or wooden frames, and hanging them throughout the room. this decorating technique is that your child can add to it every day.
4. If your child's heart is set on changing the color of the walls entirely, try using wallpaper - without actually pasting it up. Take a trip to the home goods store and pick out paper samples or remnants. Don't worry if the remnants aren't large enough to cover the whole wall - creating a collage of different patterns and colors is part of the fun.
5. To add texture, choose some fabric remnants from a crafts store to hang as tapestries. If your child sleeps in a bunk bed, fabrics can be hung from the sideboards to create a "tent". This can make the room feel bigger, and creates a great place for pretend!
6. Hanging mobiles aren't just for babies. Fill some space in the room by fashioning a "chandelier" out of old toys, stuffed animals, or any lightweight objects. Older children might enjoy making mobiles that reflect their hobbies. Baseball cards, old ballet slippers, and sports ribbons are all good materials.
7. Hanging fabric from the walls - attached only at the top with some neat finishing nails - adds a splash of color to a room, and you can always take it down. Also try hanging picture frames (with nails through the fabric) on top of the fabric sheet to have a nice picture collage.
8. Add decorative knobs to the furniture. Thousands are available now, you'll find one that will relate to something important in your child's life - their favorite sport, an animal they love... You can even get them really involved by letting them paint their own knobs!
9. Self-stick, removable, wallpaper borders, murals, and designs. They do not damage the walls, yet add a lot of color and character. Has your son out-grown ABC's and cartoon cars? Peel them off, wash the walls, stick on the Batman borders and stickers. They are available at many places that sell wallpaper as well as on-line. They will last for a year at least. Actually, these self-stick borders are nice for adding an easy splash of color to any room. Some of these products are 'cheap-looking' (like shelf paper), but many are indistinguishable from quality wallpaper.
10. Remember to hang art and other decorations low enough for the child to appreciate... and yes, touch. Too many nicely-decorated children's rooms have the pictures, shelves, etc. all at adult height. Who cares if it looks like it came out of a magazine? Whose room is it anyway? Put that ABC poster down at toddler level so she can appreciate it.
Tips.
Keep an eye out for favorite characters - magazines, shoe boxes, clothing tags, toothpaste boxes, whatever. Images cut from a shoebox, a favorite shopping bag etc. can be taped to the wall, for example, a Spiderman who is 'swinging' from a 'web' made out of a piece of yarn.
Make a day out of decorating. Invite your child's friends over to sponge-paint the papered walls. This will make the process more exciting and let your child know that creativity is important and fun.
Don't spend a lot of money on decorations. Remember, creativity is the goal here. Your child will be more proud of a room full of her own artwork and ingenuity than she will of expensive store-bought decorations. Besides, you know that children change their tastes quickly, and may want to replace a decoration almost as soon as they put it up.
Make it really fun and not boring.
Fill balloons up with paint and throw them at your wall to make an epic pattern if you like to have a bit of fun.
Warnings.
When hanging mobiles, be sure they are out of reach of young children who might try to hang on them or pull them down. Also make sure there are no sharp edges or heavy pieces that might cause harm if the mobile falls. Tapestries should also be hung securely, especially if they are attached to a bunk bed or used to make a tent. Be sure children are old enough to understand that the fabric is not meant to hang or play on.
Keep hangings away from lights and ceiling fans. This includes papers above desk lamps - you never know when tape will lose its stickiness and let a poster sag down onto a light bulb. (Been there, seen that, lost a favorite poster - but fortunately not my house).
If they insist on heavy things, nail them securely, otherwise, they may fall upon the child and cause serious injury.
Make sure that any paint you use is a non-toxic formula. Most paints designed for children's use will have this designation on the packaging.
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.
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.
