Eclectic interior designs are perfect for anyone who wants to put a fun, creative spin on their home decor. Eclectic means combining different time periods and styles. This results in unique décor, like colonial with a bohemian flare, rural meets modern, or Neo-classic with a trendy urban spin. But it can also be tricky to pull off. While there’s no set rules for eclectic homes, some tips can help turn this mismatched style into a cohesive, unified look.
Method 1 Buying Statement Pieces.
1. Search for one-of-a-kind furniture and knicknacks. Your furniture should help bring your different styles together. Look at different time periods for ideas, like furnishing your living room with a chintz armchair and a mid-century sofa. Hand-made pieces are perfect for eclectic rooms. Go with family hand-me-downs or something you can pick up at a garage sale. This feels creative and personal, which is exactly what eclectic style is about.
2. Make a focal point out of an eye-catching decoration. Maybe it's a painting, chandelier, antique, or special piece of furniture that gets guests talking. Only use one focal point per room. Any more is too confusing and distracting.
A statement piece can also help you to develop an eclectic style for a room. Choose your piece, and then build the rest of the décor around it.
3. Show off your interests and hobbies. Eclectic style is about your personality. If you’re a photographer, make a gallery of black and white photos. Bookworms can fill their rooms with bookshelves, or even use end tables made out of books. Hunters can mount deer heads on the walls. Whatever your hobby, find a way to make it part of your design.
Keep in mind that an eclectic home should look curated and collected. Use pieces that show off your style to achieve this look!
4. Decorate with objects that reflect your history. Your home can tell your story. Decorate with Mexican pottery from your vacation to Oaxaca, Celtic crosses to honor your Irish heritage, and potted cacti from your college years in Arizona. Blend these different parts together. Use family heirlooms like your grandmother’s antique lamp mixed with pop art from your favorite movie.
Even your main style can come from your history, like rustic chic in honor of your grandparents’ farmhouse.
Avoid lots of matching items and brand new pieces. Collect a variety of new, used, and reused pieces over time to make your home look eclectic.
5. Let your style say something about your values and personality. Throw in a splash of bohemian to reflect your free spirited side. If you’re forward-thinking, go with elements of modern style. If you enjoy the simpler side of life, go with a classic, Victorian, or a colonial theme. Your style should be based on who you are, and what you believe in.
Method 2 Unifying Elements.
1. Choose 2 or 3 styles so your design doesn't get too complicated. Eclectic doesn’t mean over the top. It’s easy to get caught up in blending so many styles and objects, but that can turn your home into a messy eyesore. Try sticking to 2 styles (3 max), usually with 1 dominant style and the other complimenting it.
For example, a vintage main style with a hint of rustic charm.
You can create an eclectic style using a minimalist or maximalist approach. Go with the approach that suits you!
2. Pick a single go-to color scheme to unite the room. Eclectic style only works if you connect the mismatched styles. Color schemes can pull a room or house together. Neutral colors are your best bet. Use a neutral like gray with gold or pastel colors to make the room look cohesive.
Don’t use too many different colors, or colors that clash. That's more gaudy than eclectic.
Opt for a single bold color, such as green, to unite the items in your room. Just make sure to be consistent with your color choice.
3. Furnish each room with a variety of textures. Different textures bring out different styles. Try combinations like a shag rug next to a metal coffee table, or a soft, modern sofa beside a hand-carved Victorian writing desk.
Keep a balance of soft and rough textures, with a few objects of each.
Choose art, rugs, and furniture in a variety of different textures to add interest to your space.
4. Chose a color palette, furniture, and decorations that fit the same mood. Think of how you want to feel in each room. You might want one room to unwind, and another to host parties. Keep that in mind when you decorate.
Keeping your furniture in the same general style allows you more freedom to change up your other décor, such as accessories, accent pieces, and art.
If you’re going for something whimsical, fill the room with plants, bright colors, and unique, bold patterns. For something more cerebral, go with bookshelves, vintage furniture, and calming colors.
Method 3 Arranging a Layout.
1. Buy practical furniture that fits your needs. Don’t get so caught up in style that you forget the actual purpose of the room. Remember that you’re living here, so it needs to be functional. A living room should be relaxing, and a breakfast nook should have space to cook. Pick furniture that fits those needs.
For example, get a dining room table that has space enough for your family, not just one that looks stylish.
Comfortable living room furniture is also very important. For example, you might find a really interesting sofa that would look great in your home, but you may regret this purchase if the sofa is not comfortable.
2. Spread out the furniture so the room isn't too crowded. Balance is the key to eclectic rooms. Too much furniture looks cluttered, especially if it’s all bunched together while the other half of the room is empty. Spread out the furniture evenly, so the room looks neat and smooth.
Clutter looks messy, not eclectic, and makes it hard to get around.
3. Remember to leave some empty spaces. You want your interior design to be unique, not overwhelming. Don’t overdo it. Keep it balanced with empty space. Empty space can help put the focus on the decorations that you want to show off. If one wall has a photo gallery, leave another one bare.
Vintage books can serve as a beautiful and classic decoration for your home. They fit into a variety of decor styles, from coastal to French country to farmhouse. Whether you leave them the way they are and display them on bookshelves, or repurpose them into something else entirely, there are many ways to decorate your space with old books.
Finding Vintage and Old-Looking Books
Set a budget. Vintage books can be expensive. Determine how much you want to spend and how you want to use the books you’re buying. If you’re going to deconstruct them, it’s better to buy cheap hardcovers than to spend more on authentic vintage books.
Search flea markets and thrift stores. Visit flea markets and thrift stores in your area to look for old books with cloth or leather covers. Search for thrift stores in nicer parts of town since these will typically have more vintage items. To find shops, type "thrift stores near me" into your favorite search engine.
While browsing the store, look for books that appear to be a matching set, or just find random ones to create a more eclectic look.
Browse eBay for old books. Auction sites like eBay are a good place to find old books that people want to get rid of. Try searching with the phrase “vintage books” or “set of old books” to find books that are decor-worthy. Verify that the seller will take care to ship them to you in waterproof packaging.
Remove dust jackets from hardcover books. Most books will instantly look older and more classic if you remove the dust jacket. If you don’t want to spend the money on vintage books, visit a used to bookstore to find cheap hardcover books. Check behind the dust jacket before you leave the store just to be sure you like the appearance and color of the book underneath.
Use books you already own. If you have any hardcover books at home, check under the dust jacket to see if you like the way the cloth cover looks. Even if you only have paperbacks, you can still remove the cover and use the bound or unbound pages to decorate your home.
Age new books by soaking them in coffee. If you want the aged book look without spending any money, find a book you don’t mind deconstructing. Remove the cover and soak the pages in a bowl or bucket of brewed coffee for a couple hours. Hang the book to dry in the sun, then display it once it’s dry.
Placing Books around Your Home
Stack books vertically and horizontally. Books don’t all have to be lined up horizontally along a shelf. Create a vertical stack of two or three books and place it beside your lined up books to create some variation along the shelf.
The vertical stacks can also serve as bookends to hold the others upright.
Use books as risers on tables. Place a small stack of two or three books on a side table or coffee table. Then put a lamp, small clock, or candlestick on top of the books. Change how many books are in the stack until you find the level you like best.
Find large books to use as coffee table books. Look for large books like old atlases, almanacs, or textbooks and place these on tables as coffee table books. Put them on a large tray with a vase of flowers and an interesting object, like a vintage magnifying glass or compass.
Pair books with the same color scheme. Stack or line up books that create a cohesive color scheme. For example, gather books that are varying shades of blue, or choose different browns for a neutral look. Or remove the covers to get all your books to have the same white or cream-colored spine.
Change the color of books with paint or burlap. If you want all your books to match each other or your decor, brush the covers lightly with paint and then hang them up to dry. Or wrap them with burlap or wallpaper and glue the material to the inside of the cover.
Match books to the theme of the room. Find vintage children's books to decorate a nursery, or place old gardening books in a sun room with lots of plants. If you have a room with a nautical theme, search for old seafaring books or vintage copies of Moby Dick or The Tempest.
Bundle old pages with twine. Whether you have a book that’s falling apart, or you just want one to look like it is, remove the book’s cover. You can separate the pages completely, or leave them with the spine intact. Wrap some twine around it and display this little vintage package on a bookshelf, table, or windowsill.
Tie the twine in a bow and add a dried flower on top for a more feminine decor style.
Repurposing Vintage Books
Attach books to the wall to use as shelves. Drill a couple small holes near the edge of one flap of your book, and buy L-brackets to attach the book to the wall as a shelf. Then place light objects on it like bud vases or small picture frames.
Stack books to become a table. If you have a lot of old books, stack them into a column beside a couch or armchair to use as a side table. To make it sturdy, place the larger, heavier books at the bottom and work your way up to the lighter, smaller ones.
If you don’t plan to reuse them or read them later, you can glue the covers together to add more stability.
Cut a hole in a book to make a planter. Hollow out a book by gluing the pages together, drilling a hole in each corner and using a box cutter to cut the center of the pages out. Pop a shallow plastic container inside to hold a plant, then place your book planter in a windowsill.
Frame books on the wall. Hang an old paperback book on the wall by piercing the back several pages and back cover with thumbtacks. Surround the book with an oversized vintage-looking frame that has the glass removed. Group several of these framed books on the same wall for a bigger statement.
Make a book wreath. Tear pages out of an old book and roll each one into a cone, gluing the edge so it will maintain this shape. Then glue each cone to a styrofoam wreath mold, working your way back to front. Hang the wreath on any wall where you want some literary flair.
For a more elaborate wreath, you can roll the pages into other shapes, like rosettes.
Use pages as wallpaper. Get an extra copy of a book you love and remove all the pages to use as wallpaper. Hold each page where you want it to go on the wall and paint over it with a craft glue like Mod Podge. Cover the entire wall, or just a select area over your desk or bed
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.
Do you love Christmas? Are you interested in spicing up your room for the holidays this season? Well then this article is just perfect for you! Read below to find out how to decorate your room for Christmas!
Part 1 Adding Trees, Lights, and Garlands.
1. Add a Christmas tree. Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes, but a smaller one might look more proportionate in a bedroom. You might also want to get a fake tree as opposed to a real one. They are less likely to shed leaves and do not need to be watered.
Add a small craft tree if you have some desk or shelf space. Art and crafts stores often sell mini versions of Christmas trees, ranging between 8 and 12 inches (20.32 and 30.48 centimeters). You will also find mini lights and ornaments in the same area.
Get a 2 to 4 foot (0.61 to 1.22 meters) tall tree if you have a larger room or not a lot of furniture. You can stand the tree on a small table, a stool, or even a crate to give it extra height.
Get a "pencil" tree if you have a small room or a lot of furniture. Pencil trees can range from 3 to 9 feet (0.92 to 2.74 meters) tall, but they can be as narrow as 8 or 20 inches (20.32 or 50.8 centimeters). They don't take up a lot of space width-wise and are perfect for corners.
If you yearn for that pine-scent, consider hiding a few real pine branches in your tree. You can also use a pine-scented spray as well.
2. Hang pine branches if you don't have room for a tree. If you don't have much floor space, you can hang pine branches from the ceiling in the corner of your room. You can also dress up these branches with mini battery-operated Christmas lights, tinsel, and ornaments. It might be a good idea to use plastic ornaments instead of glass ones, however.
Make sure to thoroughly rinse the branches so you don't bring home any insects.
3. Drape some pine garlands around your room. You can even decorate the garland with mini battery-operated Christmas lights, tinsel, and ornaments. Great places to hang such garlands include above your bed, over your window, around your ceiling, and draped over your bookshelves.
4. Decorate your tree, pine branches, and pine garlands. Find some ornaments, lights, beaded garlands, and tinsel. Drape these around your tree, pine branches, or pine garland. If you are hanging your branches or garlands, consider using plastic ornaments instead of glass ones.
Mini Christmas ornaments might look better on pine garlands. You can find them in art and crafts stores, in the same section that sells mini/craft Christmas trees.
If your tree is less than 3 feet (0.92 meters) tall, use mini battery-operated Christmas lights. The plug-in lights might be too long for smaller trees.
5. Hang up some tinsel. If you can't find any (or don't like) pin garlands, you can hang up some tinsel garlands instead. Great places to hang them include above windows and around ceilings. If you use tape to hang the garlands up, be sure to use clear tape. It will be less visible.
6. Put up some Christmas lights. Great places to hang up lights include above your bed, over your shelves, and around your window. You can get ones that plug into an outlet or battery-operated ones. If you use tape to hang up your lights, try to use clear; it will be less visible on your wall.
If your room has white walls, try to get Christmas lights with white wires instead of the traditional green ones. They will blend into your walls better and clash less.
Unless you are putting them up in your window, avoid getting blinking or flashing lights; those can be very distracting after a while.
Consider matching the lights to your room and decorations. For example, if your room has a lot of cool colors, try getting blue or clear lights. If your room has a lot of warm colors, try getting white or multi-colored lights.
Consider putting "icicle" style lights in your window.
Part 2 Bringing the Festive In.
1. Switch out curtains, blankets, bedspreads, and pillowcases. You don't need to use curtains with Santas and snowmen on them, but red ones might look more festive than pink ones. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Use colors such as red or green. Darker shades might look better than brighter ones.
For a rustic cabin feel, switch out your throw or blanket for a cozy quilt or sweater/knitted blanket. Anything made from plaid flannel will also work.
Make an easy sweater pillow by slipping a square-shaped pillow inside a bulky sweater and tying the sleeves in the back.
2. Buy scented candles, wax melts, or potpourri. If you can't put up a lot of decorations, you can still make your room feel more festive by bringing in scented candles, wax melts, or potpourri. You don't even have to light candles; many scented candles are potent enough on their own. If you are getting candles, consider displaying three different-sized ones on a red, green, gold, or silver candle charger/plate. Listed below are a few Christmas scents:
Gingerbread, Peppermint and Candy Cane, Winter Wonderland, Fireplace, Pine, Spruce, Balsam, and Cedar
3. Bring out snow globes, nutcrackers, and figurines. Shelves, dressers, and desks are great for displaying trinkets such as snow globes, nutcrackers, and figurines. If you already have some on your shelves, consider switching them out for Christmasy ones instead. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
If you like nature, put up some pine tree or reindeer figurines.
If you are religious, put up figurines related to the Nativity.
If you like the classical look, put up a snowman, a Santa Clause, or even a nutcracker.
If you don't want to put away any of your existing decorations, consider decorating them instead. For example, if you have a figurine of a cat, try putting a little Santa hat on it.
4. Hang some decorations from your window, shelves, or walls. If you don't have a lot of room for a tree, you can hang small decorations using thread or clear thread/fishing line instead. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Candy canes and jingle bells can be slung over doorknobs or strung from ribbon.
Christmas cards can be clipped to yarn, jute cord, or ribbon using wooden clothespins.
Christmas stockings can be tacked to your wall using nails or thumbtacks/pushpins.
Ornaments, plastic icicles, and snowflakes (plastic or paper) can be suspended from thread. They'll look delightful against a wall or window.
5. Set up a Nativity or Christmas Village scene. If you like to collect things, setting up a Nativity or Christmas Village scene on your desk or dresser can be just the thing for you. You'll have lots of fun buying figurines and arranging them. You can find them at most arts and crafts stores.
You can also make a Nativity scene at home using popsicle sticks, straw, and wood or clay figurines.
6. Spray some fake frost onto your windows. Try to spray the frost towards the bottom corners of your window to make it look more realistic. Fake frost usually comes in a spray can, like spray paint, and washes off your window with soap and water. They are great for those who don't get snow for Christmas.
7. Make your own Christmas decorations. Not all Christmas decorations have to be store-bought. Homemade ones can have their charm too. If you don't have a lot of money to spend, or just like to be crafty, you can make some of your own decorations and display them in your room. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Find some pinecones outside and paint them with acrylic paint or glitter. Display them on your windowsill.
String cranberries and popcorn into thread to make garlands.
Make some paper chains using construction paper.
Cut out some paper snowflakes from white printer paper.
Make a gingerbread house and display it on your dresser or desk.
Cut out some letters from glitter paper to spell "Merry Christmas" and tack them to your wall.
Part 3 Finding Inspiration.
1. Choose a color scheme that matches your existing room decor. Many color schemes inspire Christmas, but not all of them might work with your room. For example, if your room has a lot of pink and white, the traditional red and green might clash. Red and white might be more suitable. Here are some common Christmas color schemes to get you started:
Red and green : Red, green, and white/gold : Blue and white/silver : Blue, white, and silver : White/ivory and gold : Red and white/gold : Green and white/gold.
2. Decide on a theme. Sometimes, having a set theme can help you choose which decorations to put up. It can also help your room look more unified and less cluttered. As with colors, choose a theme that matches your room. For example, if your room has a lot of heavy, Victorian-era furniture, a rustic or nature theme might clash. Themes that are more Victorian or ornate might work better with your room decor. Here are some common Christmas themes to get you started:
1900s, Charles Dickens, Victorian era, and Vintage inspired
Rustic, woodland cabin-inspired, with lots of gingham, knit, wood, and burlap
Nature, with lots of snow, pine trees, pinecones, reindeer, and woodland creatures
Traditional/classic with lots of red and green, snowmen, and Santa Claus
Fancy/royal with lots of silver or gold, ornate scroll patterns, and lots of rich brocade
Winter wonderland, with lots of blue, silver, and white, snow, snowflakes, icicles, and pine trees
3. Go window shopping. Look at how stores step up their displays. If you see any you like, try to copy them. Take pictures, write down what you see, or make a quick sketch. You don't have to copy the display exactly; you can just use elements from it, such as silver ornaments and glittery snowflakes.
You can also get ideas from a nature walk as well.
4. Consider having some background noise while you work. If you have a laptop, radio, or TV in your room, consider playing some Christmas music or a Christmas movie. They might inspire you or get you into the Christmas spirit.
5. Work with your existing room decor. Sometimes, what you already have in your room might inspire your Christmas decorations. For example, if your room has a lot of wooden furniture in it, you can decorate it with some rustic Christmas decorations to make it look like a cozy, woodland cabin.
Keep the size of your room in mind. If your room is very small and cramped, it might not be a good candidate for a Christmas tree. Some pine garlands, however, would be perfect for it.
6. Look around your room for blank spaces. If you don't know where to start decorating, take a look around your room. See if there are any blank spaces or surfaces, and start decorating there. For example:
Is there a bare wall in your room? If so, consider decorating it with some paper snowflakes or Christmas cards.
Is there a blank corner on your desk or dresser? What about on your shelf? These places are great for displaying mini trees, figurines, and scenes.
Curtain rods and doorknobs are great places to hang decorations from.
Windows are great places to hang decorations, such as lights and ornaments, from.
Tips.
Some decorations need to be hung up. While some are light enough to be taped (such as tinsel), others will need hooks and nails (such as pine garlands). If you live in a rental unit, you might need to keep this in mind.
Keep your decorations proportionate. The smaller your room is, the smaller decorations you should use.
Less is more. It is easy to get carried away and over-decorate. If your room starts to look garish and cluttered, you might need to put some decorations away.
Consider decorating just one part of your room, such as a dresser top or a window.
Clean your room before you decorate it. Vacuum the floors and dust the shelves. Once you put up your decorations, it will be difficult to clean.
Try to keep your color scheme and theme consistent.
If you can't decide on a theme you could just do red and white.
Warnings.
Avoid hanging tinsel and paper too close to lamps, TVs, computers, heaters, and other electronic devices. These can heat up quickly and create a fire hazard.
If you have cats and are planning on putting up a tree, consider using plastic ornaments instead of glass ones. Most cats will knock over a Christmas tree at some point in their lives and break a couple of ornaments.
If you have pets, make sure that you hang your decorations where they can't reach them.
Be sure to rinse any pine branches before bringing them into your room, or you may also bring in a few six or eight-legged "guests."
Looking for an inexpensive way to spruce up your living space? Consider picking out furniture and other decorations with a rustic chic aesthetic. Things like wood, metal, burlap and natural materials can lend a rugged, time-worn look to any home. You can deck out whole rooms with rustic chic decor to create a sense of quiet coziness, or mix and match with modern pieces for a progressive look that defies the decades.
Method 1 Redesigning Your Living Space.
Make the best use of your space. Before you get too eager to shop for new pieces, scan the room you’re planning on decorating. Take note of its size, layout, flooring, walkways, doors, windows, cabinets and other features. The rustic furnishings you pick out should be appropriate for the specific look of each room so that the new atmosphere feels like a natural extension.
Some pieces will look better in certain places than others. Whenever you’re picking out your decor, trust your instincts when deciding where in your home or room it should go.
If you could use a fresh set of eyes, seek out the professional opinion of an interior designer.
Stick with a neutral color scheme. Rustic chic decor is by definition muted and minimal. Forget about bright colors, elaborate patterns or gleaming burnished fixtures. Instead, focus on monochromatic pieces in complementary hues and materials. This basic setting will act as a blank canvas so that you can add personality later by using smaller decorations.
Appliances and fixtures in dark, plain shades will go with a wider range of items.
Vary your tones between rooms. The sun room will benefit from light shades like pine and cream, while the bedroom or study can be done in dark grays, browns and blacks with splashes of color.
Keep furnishings simple. Simplistic items are wonderful on their own, but too many of them can easily start to look busy. Resist the urge to incorporate more and more into a room. Get a few essential pieces, like a maple coffee table or a rich brown leather loveseat, and let them speak for themselves.
Limiting the number of pieces in a given room also helps maximize your space.
A room full of items in all the same style or shade can quickly become monotonous.
Replace tired pieces. If you’re having trouble planning an updated layout for the room or deciding on the perfect spot for new decorations, one good place to start would be getting furniture and accessories that you don’t want anymore. Dull, uninteresting items can be sold, donated or discarded to make room for fresh finds. Assuming you’re not ready to part with a particular piece just yet, you could also have it reupholstered and appreciate it from a new perspective.
Sometimes even small changes can make a big difference. You might not have to totally overhaul your living space in order to breathe new life into it.
Give your old furniture a new home in another room, or store it until you find another use for it.
Method 2 Working with Different Materials.
Show off natural wood finishes. Wood is the ultimate staple of rustic chic style. It’s sturdy, idyllic and, best of all, goes with everything. Oak, cedar, mahogany and walnut are all excellent choices for wood furnishings. To complete the rustic aesthetic, look for pieces with attractive staining, irregular angles and other unique touches like bits of preserved bark.
You can find almost every major piece of furniture for your household in one type of wood or another.
Choose paints and stains that don’t distract from the innate beauty of the wood.
Accent with aged metals. On the flipside of sleek, contemporary styles, old-fashioned metals, such as wrought iron, copper and even artificially-rusted tin can instantly give your surroundings an air of dignified antiquity. Because of their shabby chic characteristics, raw and distressed metals are best used sparingly to offset woods and other finishes.
Lamps, bookends and table legs are good places to weave in metal accents.
Use vintage metal containers in the kitchen in place of traditional ceramic jars.
Incorporate elements of nature. When it comes time to cover the walls or fill up blank space, take cues from the great outdoors. Accentuate end tables and alcoves with decorations made from stone, fur or even faux ivory or tortoise shell. Your living space will have just the right amount of wildness while still looking like it leapt off the pages of a storybook.
If you live near scenic surroundings, switch to a more “exposed” layout with uncovered windows and natural lighting to bring a glimpse of the outside in.
Make sure you’re buying from humane sources. Imitation fur and other materials look like the real thing, but are both ethical and sustainable.
Finish with gorgeous quaint accessories. Put the finishing touches on a room with the same types of items you would ordinarily use to ornament your home, but with a twist—here is where unique fabrics and designs will come into play. Smaller accessories are also the best place to work fanciful designs into the room’s furnishings.
Instead of ordinary throw blankets and pillowcases, go with more eye-catching variations like Navajo or wove saddle blankets and beadwork pillows.
A beeswax candle or wind-up clock will make for a tasteful nightstand display, while blown glass bowls and vases can be substituted for a lifeless dining room centerpiece.
Method 3 Finding Rustic Chic Decor.
Visit your local furniture store. There’s no need to venture all the way to the Alaskan frontier or remote outposts of the Rockies in order to find good looking accoutrements. The rustic look is in, so it shouldn’t be hard to track down a few things that suit your preferences at major home goods stores. You’ll have the most luck when shopping for bigger items like tables, chairs and bedding in these places.
Chain stores like Crate and Barrel, Hobby Lobby and Pottery Barn specialize in rustic home decor.
Furniture outlets tend to charge more, so if you don’t like the idea of paying as much, thrift stores and DIY distressing techniques may be the way to go.
Go thrift shopping. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon forgotten treasures at secondhand stores and vintage boutiques. These are often items that you can’t find anywhere else, and you’re guaranteed a good deal. If you’re remodeling on a budget or looking for one-of-a-kind pieces, a thrift store may be your best bet.
Many old pieces will be ready to display in your home as-is.
Be sure to check beck regularly, as store inventories change constantly.
Distress plain pieces. Rather than scouring various stores and shops for wares with the right rustic vibe, buy furniture and accessories new and modify them yourself at home. Distressing furniture is fast, fun and could hardly be easier. All you need are a few basic tools like paint thinner, sandpaper and specialty paints and brushes. When you’re finished, you’ll have a collection of items that are truly one-of-a-kind.
Painted wood furniture can be weathered to expose the beautiful grain underneath, and metal objects can be strategically rusted or painted over with a matte finish.
Change out the hardware on any dressers or cabinets you happen to come across to customize their appearance.
Repurpose old items. For those little extra touches, look no further than your own attic or garage. Most homes are loaded with scraps of materials that are infinitely useful if applied correctly. For instance, you could use a roll of butcher’s twine to wrap drawer pulls and cabinet handles, wire lanterns for indoor lighting or frame an assortment of old fishing hooks to make wall art that’s anything but commonplace. With a few innovative ideas, you’ll start seeing your junk drawer in a whole new light!
If you have a certain item that you want to use but it doesn’t quite go with the rest of your furnishings, try painting, sanding or distressing it to make it a better visual fit.
Get creative! As your own personal interior decorator, you’re only limited by the scope of your imagination.
Tips.
No matter where you live, you can bring a sense of humble elegance and timelessness to your home by outfitting it in a rustic style.
Come up with an estimated budget that you’re willing and able to spend before you embark on your redecorating project.
Add to and take away bits of your current decor over time to let the look of your home gradually evolve.
Break up the neutral theme of rustic decor with fresh flowers, potted plants, hanging ferns and other greenery.
Head down to a superstore like Walmart and Target to pick up small, inexpensive odds and ends that help tie everything together.
Browse craft websites like Etsy and Pinterest for more ideas and inspiration on how to decorate your home.
Warnings.
Beware of lead-based paints on vintage finds. Lead paint has a tendency to flake off when it ages and can be dangerous to inhale or ingest.
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.
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.
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.
When you want to dress up a mirror by framing it, there are a couple of easy ways to do it. The first is building your own frame around the mirror using baseboard molding, which requires a little bit of carpentry. The other way you can do it is to just repurpose a picture frame and put a matching mirror inside of it. Either way, you'll soon have a much more interesting mirror to bring life to your home!
Method 1 Building a Frame with Baseboards.
1. Use a tape measure to measure the mirror you want to frame. Measure the height and write it down. Measure the width and write it down next. You will use these measurements to determine how long to cut the baseboards for the frame.
This method works for framing basic mirrors that don't have any kind of rim or frames around them already. These types of mirrors are also known as floating mirrors or construction-ready mirrors.
You can use this method to put a frame around a mirror that is already attached to a wall, or to frame a mirror before hanging it.
The mirror needs to have straight edges to build a frame around it with baseboards.
2. Purchase primed MDF baseboards to make the frame with. Go to a home improvement center and select the style of baseboards that you want. Purchase a sufficient length of baseboard to surround the mirror according to the measurements you took.
Primed MDF baseboards are easy to paint so you can make them any color you want for the frame.
Tip: You can also use natural wood baseboards or any other style to get the look you want.
3. Cut the baseboards to length with a miter saw. Measure and mark your baseboards to the lengths you need for the sides, top, and bottom. Place the baseboards in a miter box and cut them straight to the lengths that you need.
For example, if your mirror is 2 ft (0.61 m) wide by 3 ft (0.91 m) tall, then you need 2 baseboards that are 2 ft (0.61 m) long and 2 that are 3 ft (0.91 m) long.
4. Cut the corners of the baseboards to a 45-degree angle with a miter saw. Change the angle on the miter box to 45 degrees. Cut in from the corners of each board at a 45-degree angle down towards the inside edge of each board.
This will make the frame fit nicely together in each corner.
5. Paint the baseboards a color of your choice or leave them as is. Use a paintbrush to coat both the front and back of the baseboards (if you want to paint them). Leave them as is if you are fine with the color they came in (such as natural wood).
It's important to paint the backs the same color as well because they can reflect in the mirror.
6. Install the baseboards around the mirror using liquid nails. Squeeze a zig-zag line of liquid nails along the back of the baseboards with a caulk gun. Start with the bottom board, then the sides, then the top and stick them to the mirror one-by-one.
Liquid nails are an adhesive form of caulking.
Avoid placing the liquid nails too close to the inside edges of the baseboards, or it can squeeze out and get on the mirror when you stick the boards on.
7. Secure the baseboards with painter's tape or lay the mirror on the ground. Tape all the baseboards to the wall with painter's tape if you attached them to a mirror that is already hanging. Lay the mirror flat on the ground while the frame dries if the mirror isn't already hanging.
Painter's tape is the blue masking tape that painters use to cover things up that they don't want to get paint on.
8. Let the frame dry completely for 24 hours. Liquid nails need 24 hours to set before you can apply any stress to the frame. Remove the painter's tape after 24 hours if you used it to secure the frame in place on a hanging mirror.
Liquid nails can take a full week to completely cure for maximum strength, but you will be able to safely touch the newly-framed mirror after 24 hours.
9. Fill any gaps in the corners with caulk and paint over it. Use a caulk gun to squeeze a thin line of caulk into any gaps. Smooth it over with your fingers, then paint over it to match the rest of the frame.
This applies only if you used MDF baseboards and painted them. If you used natural wood boards, you will need to do this part with wood filler instead.
Things You'll Need.
Building a Frame with Baseboards.
Mirror.
Primed MDF baseboards
Miter saw..
Tape measure.
Pencil.
Caulk.
Paint.
Paintbrush.
Liquid nails.
Caulk gun.
Level.
Painter's tape.
Method 2 Putting Mirrors in Picture Frames.
1. Find a mirror and frame that match in size. The mirror needs to be the same size as the glass that goes in the picture frame (if it has any). This is easiest to do with square or rectangular mirrors.
If you can't find a frame and mirror that fit together, then you can have a mirror custom cut to fit a frame you want to use. You can also have a frame custom built to fit a mirror that you already have.
Tip: This is a great way to repurpose antique frames or give new life to old, boring mirrors.
2. Remove the frame glass from the frame if there is any. Remove the frame's backing that holds the glass in place and set everything aside so you just have the frame. You don't want glass in front of a reflective mirror.
You might be able to use the backing to secure the mirror in place, but you can recycle or save the glass for something else.
3. Attach the mirror to the back of the frame using silicone. Put a thin bead of silicone around the edge of the mirror or inside lip of the frame. Carefully align the mirror to the back and press it into place.
If the picture frame has a backing material, you could also attach the mirror to that instead and use it to secure the mirror inside the frame. Just make sure it all fits together in place before you start using silicone to attach the mirror to the backing.
Once the mirror is secured to the frame, there are lots of ways you can decorate it, like by putting stencils on the glass of the mirror, or even gluing things like fabric or shells around the frame.
4. Test the weight to make sure the hanging mechanism is strong enough. A mirror is heavier than a picture. Check by lifting up the mirror and frame slightly off the ground by its hanging mechanism (the wire or the hooks) to make sure it's strong enough to support the weight before you hang it to a wall.
If the frame doesn't already have a hanging mechanism, or the existing one isn't strong enough, then you will have to hang it yourself.
Things You'll Need.
Putting Mirrors in Picture Frames.
Mirror.
Picture frame.
Silicone.
Method 3 Framing Mirrors in Creative Ways.
1. Frame a mirror in a reclaimed wood door or window for a rustic frame. Mount pieces of mirror instead of the glass in an old, rustic-looking door or window frame. Get the mirror pieces custom-cut to the dimensions you need by a mirror and glass company. Mount the mirror with silicone adhesive.
2. Mount a mirror inside a vintage platter or tray for a unique mirror frame. Use silicone adhesive to attach a mirror inside of the tray or dish. Things like old cake pans or serving platters work well.
You can go thrift shopping for cheap, vintage platters and dishes, then get a mirror custom-cut to fit perfectly.
3. Glue anything you want around a plain mirror frame to decorate it. Use a hot glue gun to glue shells, sticks, ribbon, or anything else you can dream up around a regular old mirror frame to give it a new life. Let your imagination run wild!
You could even glue tiles around a mirror to make a mosaic frame.
