how to redecorate your bedroom cheaply

How to Redecorate Your Bedroom Cheaply.

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

Method 1 Organizing and Redesigning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Method 2 Adding Color to the Walls.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Method 3 Making Old Items Look New.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For a smoother surface, apply primer first.

Always work in a ventilated area.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Method 4 Adding Fun Decor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Tips.

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

Warnings.

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

Januari 19, 2020

how to decorate guest towels

How to Decorate Guest Towels.

If you have house-guests, you want to welcome them by making your home as lovely as possible. This usually involves cleaning, meal-planning, and decorating the guest room. Add a little something extra to your guest bathroom by acquiring good towels and decorating them to match your style. With these directions, you will learn how to fold towels attractively, and add additional decorations or imagery, to make them complement the welcoming air of your home.

Method 1 Folding Towels Decoratively.

1. Start with high-quality towels. The best towels are 100% cotton and feel heavy when you pick them up. If it’s important to you, pick out towels that echo colors in your bathroom, or add a pleasing pop of color. For instance, if the bathroom has black and white tiling, a leaf-green towel would stand out in a pretty way.

2. Launder the towels before use. For all these projects, you want your towels to be as clean and stable as possible. Wash the towels to see if any fading or shrinkage occurs. Use warm water and mild detergent, and avoid fabric softener or dryer sheets.

3. Make a towel fan. If you’re just getting started with decorative folding, a hand towel fan on top of a plain bath towel is easy and pretty. To start, fold the bath towel in half lengthwise, then fold it into thirds in the opposite direction. It should make a plump square shape. Next, take the hand towel and fold it lengthwise into one-inch accordion pleats. Crease the pleated towel in half so it makes a v-shape, lay it on top of the bath towel, and tease the ends apart to it to create a fan shape.

4. Try a towel pocket. If you have a towel rack in the bathroom, you can level up. Combine a bath, hand, and face towel into one attractive package by folding the hand towel into a pocket shape and placing the washcloth inside it.

Start by folding a bath towel into thirds lengthwise.

Place it on the rack with the rod in the middle, so both sides hang down equally.

Lay a hand towel on the floor with the right side up and tag side down.

Fold the bottom up so it reaches halfway up the towel, then fold the bottom edge down again so it’s level with the first fold. This makes a kind of “shelf” shape.

Flip the hand towel over, so the shelf faces down.

Fold the hand towel into folds vertically. It should be in more of a sausage-shape now, with a pocket running along the bottom edge.

Lay the hand towel over the bath towel so the pocket hangs down in front.

Fold a face towel into a mini-fan, then tuck it into the pocket.

5. Make a swan. Are you feeling fancy? Use origami techniques to fold a big bath towel into a swan. This is especially nice if you have two guests in the same room, as you can set the swans on the bed so that they are looking at each other.

Lay a towel so the long side is horizontal.

Take the top two corners, and fold them towards each other. Now the towel will be in a pentagon shape, with a point at the top. The short sides should lay against each other.

Roll each of the top diagonal edges towards one another. This should turn the towel into a rolled arrow shape.

Take the head of the arrow and bend it back towards the tails of the arrow. Then bend the tip of it down. In profile, this will look like a Z-shape.

(Opt.) Fold a washcloth into a fan and put it between the “wings” for a tail.

Method 2 Adding Appliques and Accents.

1. Sew on decorative hems. If you have towels with plain indented borders (sometimes called a dobby weave), then you can stitch on a thin line of contrasting fabric. This makes a subtle and pretty decoration, uses up fabric scraps, and is easy to do.

Prewash the towels and the fabric you’re using. Otherwise, when you wash them, they might pucker strangely.

Cut two one-inch strips of fabric the width of a towel, adding an extra inch in length for seam allowance.

Using an iron, turn over a quarter-inch of fabric at the short sides of the rectangles. Then turn over another half-inch and iron again. This should give neat finished edges to the sides of the decorative strip.

Now turn over a quarter-inch of fabric along the length of both sides of a strip. This should result in a half-inch strip of folded fabric.

Pin the fabric to the plain border on one side of the towel with the right side be facing out. The fabric should be right in the middle of the plain border--probably a quarter inch from each edge, if it’s a standard one-inch border. Use a seam gauge to make sure the fabric is straight.

Whipstitch the cloth neatly to the towel along each edge.

2. Add pre-made decorative accents. If you don’t have any scrap fabric to add to the towel, you can go out and purchase decorative trims instead. When looking at trims, it’s best to choose ones that are sturdy and made of the same fabric composition as your towels, so the towels will be easy to wash. Of course, you still need to pre-wash trims and towels before application.

Cording is a simple, narrow trim. It should be easy to attach with a single whipstitch.

Rickrack is a zig-zagging trim that adds a retro or rural charm to towels.

Lace can be fancy or homey. Whatever style you choose, sturdy cotton lace, like eyelet or Cluny, is best. Avoid anything too delicate.

3. Embroider your towels. If you have a lot of experience with machine embroidery, you can apply this knowledge to your guest towels. If you don’t know how to machine embroider, towels are probably not the best medium to learn on. Cross-stitch is very doable, however.

Start with towels with an embroiderable inset, which are available at well-stocked craft or embroidery stores. Pick up a few colors of cotton embroidery thread and a pack of embroidery needles, as well.

Find a pattern you like. You can find patterns in books, but they’re also available on cross-stitch sites, or DIY and social media sites like Pinterest.

Transfer the pattern to the towel’s embroiderable section, and cross stitch away. Make sure to tie knots off securely, since you’ll be running the towels through the wash.

4. Apply an applique. If you want to monogram your towels, or customize them with a simple shape like a heart or star, think about applique. With this technique, you apply a contrasting fabric patch to the towel and stitch it down securely. It requires a bit more patience, but the results are worth it. You’ll need decorative cotton fabric, fusible interfacing, tailor’s chalk, and a needle and thread.

Prewash both the towel and the fabric you want to apply. This will save the finished design from weird bunching and puckering.

Find a stencil for a letter or shape that appeals to you.

Peel the backing off the interfacing, then lay the wrong side of the cotton fabric against the bumpy side of the interfacing. Run a hot iron along the right side of the cotton fabric. This should make the interfacing stick to the fabric, strengthening it.

Trace your chosen shape onto the right side of fabric, using the tailor’s chalk.

Using a sewing machine or a needle and thread, make a running stitch on top of the traced lines. This will help stabilize them.

Cut out the letter or shape, being careful to cut close to the stabilizing stitches.

Pin the shape to the towel in the correct place. Satin stitch around the edge to attach it.

Method 3 Bleaching and Dyeing.

1. Use bleach or dye to stencil. If you like the idea of a big simple shape to decorate the towel, but don’t want to sew, you can stencil a shape on instead. You’ll need a stencil, tape, spray bottle, and dye or bleach that will contrast with your towel’s color. (In general, use dye for light towels, and bleach for dark ones.)

Pick out a stencil you like. You can print shapes onto cardstock and then cut around the edge to make a stencil, if you don’t have a pre-made stencil that excites you.

Tape your stencil to the towel.

Fill a spray bottle with fabric dye or undiluted clothing bleach.

Spray bleach or dye through the stencil.

Wait a few minutes for the chemicals to develop on the towel. If you want a stronger color, spray more on.

Wash the towel after the stencil dries. Be careful not to wash it with anything that could be damaged by extra bleach or dye.

2. Bleach-paint an image. If you want even more control over the imagery on the towel, you can use clothing bleach to paint on a word or design. This creates a beautiful and artsy appearance, and it’s quite easy. You’ll need chalk, gloves, bleach, a paintbrush, and dark-colored towels.

Sketch out your design in chalk.

Put on your gloves. Now, using a paintbrush or foam brush, apply fabric bleach to the fabric on top of the chalk. You may have to wiggle the brush to drive the bleach into the pile of the towel.

Let the bleach develop, then wash the towel.

Breathe safe! If you’re working with bleach, make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area, wear gloves, and take breaks if you feel woozy.

3. Add an ombre border. You can achieve a trendy image by dip-dying the tips of a towel. You’ll need light-colored towels, RIT dye, gloves, salt, a hanger, newspapers, and a bucket or tub that you can stain with no repercussions.

Put on the gloves, so you don’t end up with purple hands.

Prepare a dye bath according to the package directions. This may require a surprising amount of table salt.

Wet the towel. Fold it in half and hang it over the hanger so that both ends are even.

Dip the tips of the towel into bath, and let them soak for 5-10 minutes.

Hang the towel to dry with its ends positioned over a pad of newspapers (to avoid staining the floor). Don’t let the dyed parts touch anything.

Wash the towel according to the dye’s package directions.

4. Tie-dye the towel. For extra fun for young guests, tie-dyed towels are great. This is a project with an improvisational flavor, so you can even invite kids to help. You will need light-colored towels, rubber bands, a tie-dye kit, newspapers, and a bucket or tarp.

Use the rubber bands to create a base pattern for the towel--there will be white stripes wherever the bands were. Bind the towel into sections for a striped design, or pull and tie off small corners to make starbursts.

Get the towel wet in the sink, then squeeze out excess water.

Place the towel in a bucket or on a tarp and squirt dye onto it. Don’t be dainty--it’s more fun if it’s colorful.

Carefully remove the bands from the towel (you might want to wear gloves for this step), and let the towel dry flat on a thick pad of newspapers.

Wash according to the kit’s directions.

Tips.

Recycle fabrics for this project.

Avoid metallic trims, as they do not launder well.

Use towels as gifts or for sale at a fundraisers.

Use the same techniques to decorate tea towels.

Towel folding is influenced by origami, the Japanese art of paper-folding, but the flexible, thick qualities of towels make them quite different from paper. There’s a bit of a learning curve, so don’t give up!

Warnings.

Use caution with hot or sharp tools, such as an irons, scissors, and needles.

Things You'll Need : Plain towels, Decorative fabric, Seam gauge, Tape Measure, Scissors, Needle, Matching thread.

Common pins, Sewi, Fusible interfacing, Bleach, Spray bottle, Paintbrush, Patterns and stencils.

Desember 03, 2019

how to choose winter interior decor

How to Choose Winter Interior Decor.

Home decor in general is, of course, a matter of personal taste, so when you're looking to decorate the house for winter, the best guide to follow is your own gut. However, an important first step is to decide which areas to focus on, both in your home overall and then within each room. Finding ways to emphasize warmth will then make your home that much comfier during the coldest months. And for those of you who take your shoes off indoors, layering rugs during the winter is a further way to add warmth while adding seasonal variety to your decor.







Deciding Where and How to Decorate.



Choose which rooms to decorate. If you have the budget, time, and inclination to overhaul your home entirely, feel free to go wild. If not, however, prioritize rooms that see the most use. Don't waste time and money on, say, your bedroom, which hardly anyone but you will see. Instead, focus on areas like your.

Living room.

Family room.

Dining room.

Kitchen.

Bathroom(s).



Pick a color scheme. If you're a purist, bring the outside in with seasonal colors that emphasize cold. If, on the other hand, you want to make your home a comfy hideaway from the elements, go the opposite route with warm colors. There's no right or wrong, so follow your instincts and please your own taste.

Cold color schemes include white paired with either blue, burgundy, emerald, gray, plum, or silver.

Warm colors also include white, as well as browns, reds, and yellows.

To find colors that match your paint, furniture, and other decor, use online color palettes.

Add seasonal decorations. If you celebrate Christmas, you're probably already starting the winter off by decorating for that. But whether or not you celebrate that holiday, search the aisles or online for decorations that don't tie directly into the holiday. Use these to decorate your home throughout the winter season, even after you've packed all the Santa stuff away.

Items to look for include figurines, framed pictures, snow globes, wreaths, and garland.

Neutral designs include snowmen, sleighs, winter villages, and bare or snow-covered evergreens.



Use small touches to drive winter home. Again, if you want to go hog-wild about it, feel free to make your home a winter wonderland with any number of appropriately themed decorations. But if time, budget, and space is limited, use them wisely. Consider:

Choosing one fanciful item to stand out as a seasonal centerpiece in a given area, like a model winter village to top a mantelpiece, bureau, or window seat.

Replacing everyday items with seasonally decorated ones, like dish- or hand towels, salt and pepper shakers, and placemats.

Investing in seasonal pillow cases, blankets, comforters, and/or even sofa- and armchair covers to quickly punch up areas like bedrooms, living rooms, and dens.



Choose decorations that transition from season to season. Between school and holidays, both fall and winter can be busy times of year, so plan ahead to minimize work. As you decorate for each season and/or holiday, use items that will still be appropriate as you roll over to the next so you can minimize work. For instance:

Red, yellow, orange, and brown scream autumn when bunched together, but each is a warm color that can help make your winter home more inviting. Say you decorated your living room with throw pillows in all four colors for fall. Simply take away the yellow and orange ones and leave the red and brown pillows.

Hanging wreaths with bare branches is a popular way to decorate for both fall and winter. Simply swap the autumn leaves with more winter-appropriate flair like holly leaves, oranges, or leaves painted in cool colors like blue or silver.

Evergreen garland and pine cones are Christmas favorites, but on their own they work just as well for the whole winter.









Making Your Space Feel Warm and Cozy.



Provide literal warmth with fire. If your house has one, use your fireplace! Rearrange the furniture to make the hearth the centerpiece of that room. Make a blazing fire a daily, nightly, or weekly ritual with your loved ones.

If your fireplace is inoperable, stack some bright firewood in the rack anyway to suggest the idea of a nice warm fire.



Set out candles. Whether or not you have a fireplace, light candles to add the flickering glow of flames to your home. Choose candlesticks or holders that enhance the winter theme either by color, design, or both. Enhance the effect by burning scented candles that fill the house with pleasing smells that highlight the season.

Gold or brass candlesticks provide warm colors and reflective surfaces, enhancing the light and suggestion of warmth.

Mugs, bowls, and jars filled with readymade candles and decorated with seasonal designs are also widely available.

Popular scents for winter include cinnamon, cloves, oranges, pine cones, and various types of wood.

Alternatively, you can also use LED candles if you're worried about fire risks or forbidden to use candles.



Add throws to seating areas. Drape throw blankets over the backs of your couches and armchairs. Arrange throw pillows in the corners of each one, too. If you have an accent chair, pile extras on the seat so family, roommates, and guests can help themselves as needed. Don't be mingy with them; the more, the better!

Choose neutral-colored throw pillows and blankets to use year-round. This way, you can easily dress up each seating area with just a couple of new winter-themed blankets and/or pillows.



Change your curtains. Make an instant dramatic change to your home by hanging curtains selected especially for winter. Choose whichever color or design highlights the season best for your tastes, but favor thick, heavy fabrics to suggest more warmth and protection from the cold outside. For the best insulation, choose thermal curtains, which are designed to prevent heat from escaping while also blocking drafts from the windows.

If you miss the sunlight in winter and still want to let it in without keeping the drapes shut all day, you can also find thermal-backed vertical blinds that allow more light to pass through with minimal heat loss.







Layering Rugs for Extra Coziness.



Determine the best spaces to layer rugs. Assess how much visibility the floor area receives in each room. Favor open areas over small, cramped ones. Use layered rugs where they will stand out and be noticed, rather than areas where furniture blocks them from view.

Larger rooms like the living room or den are generally ideal for this. Depending on the square footage and the amount of furniture inside, master bedrooms can also be a likely candidate.

Layered rugs can also be used in smaller spaces with little or no furniture, like hallways or bathrooms. However, expect rugs to possibly wear out faster here due to concentrated foot traffic.



Select your rugs. Maybe you're buying both at once, or perhaps you're trying to pair a new rug with one that you already own. Either way, make sure the base rug and accent rug complement each other. Make your selections according to.

Size: whether you're choosing an accent rug, base rug, or both, aim to have at least one foot (30.5 cm) of the base rug revealed along each side of the accent rug. With the base rug, always err on the side of too big if you're unsure of how large a rug you should select.

Supporting role versus starring role: favor neutral rugs for your base. Let the accent rug shine by choosing a base rug that won't upstage it. At the same time, make life easier by going with a base rug that can be used year-round while you switch accent rugs by season.

Contrast: make the accent rug pop out even more by pairing it with a base rug that contrasts it. Use color, pile height, shape, texture, or a combination of these features to make your selections more eye-catching.



Lay out your rugs. For areas like hallways or bathrooms without furniture, simply center the rugs in the open floor space. In more heavily furnished rooms, use your rugs to define specific spaces within that room, such as a sitting area in your living room, or the desk area in your home office. This may take a little trial-and-error depending on the sizes of your rugs, the open space available, and the surrounding furniture. For example.

One rule of thumb is to cover at least two feet (61 cm) of both rugs with the furniture surrounding it. Let's say your rug is being placed at the foot of a single 3-seat sofa in the living room, with no other surrounding furniture. As long as you're happy with the amount of rug visible, this should be fine.

Now let's say you're framing the rugs with an L-shaped couch. Covering two feet on either side of the base rug may look fine, but doing the same to a small accent rug may not. Here, you may want to pull the accent rug out from underneath on one or both sides..

Now say that you also have a coffee table to go with your L-shaped couch. If it's solid wood (as opposed to glass and see-through), you may wish to pull either the accent rug or both rugs further out from underneath the couch so they are more visible.

November 17, 2019

how to fake expensive decor

How to Fake Expensive Decor.

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







Designing a Room that Looks Expensive.



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

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

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

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

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



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

Gray.

Slate Blue.

Taupe.

Soft yellow.

Off-white shades like ivory and cream.

Coffee brown.

Tan.

Beige.



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

Vases.

Pillows or cushions.

Blankets or throws.

Picture Frames.

Ottoman.

Tablecloths.

Flowers.

Figurines.

Striped, dotted, or chevron patterned objects.



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

A large painting.

A unique table.

Two retro mod chairs.

A wall decal.

Full-length book shelves.

An ornate mirror.



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

Vertical window blinds.

Formica tables.

Clear plastic furniture.

Furniture painted to resemble marble or stone.

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

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



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



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

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

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

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

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









Finding Cheaper Alternatives.



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

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

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



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



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

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



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

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

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



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

Use an old luggage trunk as a coffee table.

Hang antique dinner plates on the wall.

Drape an old quilt over a chair.

Frame vintage fashion magazines images.

Make shelves out of old wooden planks.

Position a TV on a painted crate.









Making Your Own Décor.



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



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

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

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



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

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

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



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

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

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

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



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

Potpourri.

Shells.

Pieces of coral.

Marbles.

Buttons.

Sticks.

Wine corks.



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

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

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

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





Tips.

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

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

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

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

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

November 13, 2019

how to decorate your home for diwali

How to Decorate Your Home for Diwali.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere and every spring in the southern hemisphere. It usually falls between mid-October and mid-November. Celebrations may involve family feasts, colorful decorations in homes and temples, and prominent displays of light. Making or buying festive illuminations and decorations for your house is a great way to decorate your home for Diwali.





Adding Festive Decor to Your Home



Clean your home thoroughly before you decorate. Dust, sweep, do the laundry, clean all the rooms. It's customary to thoroughly clean your home to help welcome the Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and fortune, during the celebrations. Diwali also marks the start of the new year, so getting rid of old clutter and negativity feels like a fresh start for many.

Many Hindus and even non-Hindus also wait for Diwali to redecorate and paint their walls. To add some extra style without painting the whole house, you might sponge paint your room or just a single wall.

Usually, the guests and relatives are seated in the living room during celebrations. So you can take a little extra care to decorate your living room. Don't worry if your living room is not very big or fancy; having a clean, aromatic and well-lit room does the trick.



Use colored rice, sand, or painted materials to create rangoli. Rangoli, traditional art designs made on the floor during Diwali and other Hindu festivals, are traditionally made of colored granular substances, such as rice or sand. You can buy stencils to make rangoli on your own floor easily, or you can use chalk to draw the design for your own rangoli on the floor. Then use a funnel with a small opening to slowly pour the rice or sand on top of the design.

You can usually buy colored rice or sand at arts and crafts stores. However, you can also create your own colored rice by mixing 1 cup (240 mL) of rice, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of vinegar, and 10 drops of food coloring in a container, covering the container, and shaking the ingredients together for 2 minutes. Make any pattern of your choice like flowers, the Goddess Lakshmi, a Mandala, etc.

If you’re on a budget or simply don’t want to deal with the hassle, simply paint elaborate designs on cardboard or pieces of wood and lay these on the floor as your rangoli. Make your wooden rangoli more elaborate by placing stones, mirrors, or beads on top of them to enhance the painted designs.

The general purpose of rangoli is to add decoration to your home and to bring good luck for your family. In some parts of South Asia, unmarried young women draw rangoli during the month of Margazhi to welcome the god Thirumal into their home and to hopefully find a husband in the near future.



Hang a colorful toran from your door. Buy and hang up prefabricated toran/bandankar or make your own out of greeting cards, craft paper, glitter, and beads. To keep with tradition, add marigolds or mango leaves to your toran and hang it across the outside of your front door for an auspicious and colorful piece of decor.

Most toran have flowers or leaves on them. However, if you don’t have any fresh flowers, you can also fold paper flowers or [[Fold a Paper Leaf|leaves out of decorative paper, or simply cut pieces of cardboard or craft paper into flower shapes and hang these from the toran.

Beyond simple decoration, toran also serve a religious purpose: they’re used to attract and welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into your home.



Put up Tanjore paintings to brighten your prayer room. Many people take time during Diwali to add decorations to the prayer room in their house and make it exceptionally clean. To enhance your prayer room’s aesthetic, hang vividly colored Tanjore paintings in it and illuminate them with soft lighting.

For a more decorative look, hang paintings that also contain gold, glass beads, or precious gems.

Tanjore paintings are generally used as devotional icons. If you’re hanging paintings, especially for Diwali, they should ideally be compositions of Hindu gods, goddesses, or saints.



Decorate your walls with colorful paintings, murals, and designs. You don’t need to limit your wall decorations to your prayer room. If you have more paintings and murals, hang them on every wall in your house to make every room brighter and more colorful.

If you don’t have any paintings or murals, consider making your own wall decor out of old CDs, newspapers, greeting cards, craft paper, or just pieces of cloth.

Painting traditional motifs and designs on your walls is a great way to add vibrancy and color to your walls, as long as you’re willing to paint over them later!



Add color to your home by hanging garlands of flowers or pompoms. String together colorful bunches of flowers, pompoms, crepe paper art or any other vibrant and lightweight pieces of decor. Then, drape these garlands from the ceilings and across your household items to add a final bit of color to your home.

Any species of flower will do for your garlands, so long as they’re colorful! Get creative and make paper ring decorations and make shapes and patterns on the walls. These are cheap and easy to customize for your decor.

There are some species of flower that are believed to be preferred by certain Hindu gods. For example, Kali prefers red hibiscus, Lakshmi’s favorite flower is lotus, Lord Ganesha enjoys marigold, and jasmine is Lord Hanuman’s favorite flower.

The lotus is a symbol of spiritual liberation and knowledge. The Goddess Lakshmi carries it in her hand.. Make your home more inviting to the Goddess Lakshmi by making lovely paper lotus flowers and placing them near the light display so she sees them clearly.



Illuminating Your Home



Make plain candles festive with pressed flowers. Embed flowers in a plain white candle by placing a small amount of glue on them and pressing them flat against the candle. Then, heat some clear wax in a double boiler to 150 °F (66 °C), dip the candle in the wax for 30 seconds, then dip it into cold water and dry.

You should be able to achieve your desired thickness with 1 dip in the wax. However, you can repeat the process of dipping the candle in the hot wax and then dipping it in the cold water until you achieve the preferred amount of thickness.

Make sure you dip the candle in and out of the wax in a smooth motion to avoid making it lumpy.

The water you use doesn’t have to be ice cold; it just needs to be colder than room temperature.

You can use flowers of any shape, size, or species to press into your candles, so long as they’re colorful! If you’d like your candles to have more religious significance, some examples of flowers preferred by Hindu gods include red hibiscus, lotus, marigold, and jasmine.

Make this activity fun for kids by having them fingerprint a design on your candles.



Draw henna designs onto plain white candles. Use henna paste and a henna tattoo cone to create beautiful, auspicious designs on your candles. Leave the henna designs to dry for at least 1 hour or overnight for best results.

Your designs can be anything you wish. Traditional henna motifs include flowers, stars, water drops, spirals, and leaves, but feel free to make your own design as well!



Decorate with diyas. Diya oil lamps are a very common decoration during Diwali, used throughout the Indian subcontinent. You can easily buy cheap earthen diyas. Alternatively, you can try using fruit or seashells for easy homemade diyas, as long as they're sturdy. To make your own unique and original diyas, carve out the inside of a piece of fruit and place a candle inside it, or simply put a candle in a large seashell with a flat bottom.

For best results, use a fruit with a rind that is easy to keep together and manipulate, like an orange or an apple.

You can also use prefabricated diyas made of more traditional materials, such as clay or brass. These can be bought at most South Asian grocery stores. Try making oil lamps at home. You can make them colourful and use the scented oil of your choice.

Diyas are very significant in Hinduism; they symbolize knowledge, enlightenment, and one’s submission to a higher power. If you have a special design in mind or are keen to make unique diyas of your own, you can create beautiful patterns on plain diyas with colours, flower, stones or even try using recycled materials.



Create interesting light displays with lampshades and lace candles. You can use traditional string lights that suit your decor, or make your own lampshades. Draw floral patterns, stars, or other designs on the sides of a small cardboard box and cut them out. Then, place the box over a lightbulb to create festive displays of light. Alternatively, wrap lace around a mason jar and place a candle inside to produce a similar effect.

Experiment with different colors and designs of lace to see which best create the atmosphere you’re trying to bring about in your home. For Diwali, colorful lace works best!

If you have access to a colorful cardboard box, use that instead of a plain box to make your lampshade more festive.

If you’d rather not make your own lampshade, there are plenty of prefabricated lampshades with cutouts available online or in home decor stores.



Wrap cinnamon sticks around your candles to spice up your home. Tie a number of cinnamon sticks around a mason jar or glass. Then, place a candle inside the glass and light it. Cinnamon candles not only add a woody theme to your home, but the heat from the candle will also cause the cinnamon sticks to release their fragrance and fill the area with the smell of cinnamon.

If your candle is relatively thick, simply place your cinnamon sticks directly against it and wrap them together with a rubber band.



Hang colorful strings of light bulbs and paper cups. Place colorful paper cups, seashells, or doilies over light bulbs on a string and hang them across the tops of your walls for a dazzling display of light and color. Or, simply opt for colorful varieties of fairy lights and hang these for an easy yet effective light display.

Colorful paper cups and doilies can be purchased at any crafting store. You might also be able to find seashells in crafting stores, although you can also just find them along the seashore.



Place lights inside colored glass bottles or jars to make lanterns. Find any empty glass bottles or jars that are lying around your house, especially ones that are colored, and make sure their interiors are clean. Then, place candles or light bulbs on the inside to make beautiful colored lanterns.

If you have empty bottles or jars that aren’t colored, simply cover them with bright cellophane paper to give them some color. You can also create designs in the paper for added effect.

You can make Mason jar candles and scented candles to fill your home with delightful fragrances.

For the best aesthetic appearance, use Mason jars and glass bottles with unique or elaborate shapes to them.

November 04, 2019