Home Decorating in a Down Economy

Home Decorating on a Budget: Get the Chic Without the Shock

Money is tight. But you don’t have to let a tough economy put the squeeze on your style. There are many ways to redecorate the spaces in your home without piling up another debt. You just have to know how to unleash the low-cost/no-cost brainstorms.

1. Move the furniture.
Simply rearranging a room can give it a completely new appearance. Most rooms are in a rut because every piece has been stagnating. You’re just plain bored with it — not with the furniture, but the look.

• Avoid “up against the wall”. If everything is pushed to the sides, you’re suffering from arrested development. Put a chair or bed at an angle.
• Create sub-rooms with groupings like a reading nook or conversation area.
• Swap lamps, accent tables, and chairs from one room to another.

Don’t be held back by what exists now; give your furniture a new purpose and you give your home a new life!

2. De-clutter.
A room with too much “stuff” looks smaller and the excess usually means you’re sacrificing style.

• Grab a few boxes and pack away the non-essentials. Save some items for the next time you want to change the look of the room.
• Give some breathing room to bulging bookshelves. Donate copies to your local library or senior citizen center and then fill the empty spaces with decorative accents like pottery, interesting bookends, or framed photos.
• Reduce the number of decorative accents by switching them seasonally. Stash them safely while they wait their turn for display.

3. Paint!
This is one of the biggest changes you can get with minimal effort.

• Brighten up a drab space with a different color. Be creative.
• Do adjacent walls in different colors or shades.
• Experiment with faux finishes. Your local home improvement center can teach you what you need to know, and you don’t need expensive tools or vast experience to get professional results. In fact, with just two or three colors of paint, a roll of paper towels, and some plastic grocery bags, you can get a color wash treatment that turns your walls into artful surfaces.

4. Shop thrifty
You can shift from shabby to chic with little effort and create character that defines a room. Some of the most exquisite decorating treasures can be discovered at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift shops.

• Salvage beautiful picture frames that can be used to dress up a piece of inexpensive art from a discount store, or use it to make a mirror that can create a sense of larger space in a room.
• Turn a discarded shingle into a message center.
• Breathe new life into vintage linens by making them into a valance for your kitchen window.
• Hang a grouping of china plates on your wall.
• Convert an old stepladder into a display piece by painting it a vibrant color and securing baskets to the rungs.
Let your mind wander and you’ll be amazed where it can take you. Estate sales, online auctions, consignment shops, and salvage yards are also perfect places for the budget decorator. And don’t pass up an antiques shop because you expect high prices. You can often stumble upon a great find and make an offer that won’t be refused.

5. Think “cover up”.
When a fabric surface shows signs of aging, don’t throw it out. Just cover it up!

• Slipcovers are ideal when you’re trying to refresh the look of a bedroom or living room—and they can be purchased for a lot less money than a new sofa or chair.
• Make a duvet cover for your comforter by sewing two flat sheets together.
• Watch for sales at your local craft store. You can often purchase decorator fabrics, trims, pillow forms, and high-density foam padding for 50% off!
• Recover your existing throw pillows using cloth napkins, dish towels, or even your favorite t-shirts.
• Check out the remnants at your local fabric stores or get discarded swatches from a shop that sells upholstery material. It doesn’t take much material for a pillow so even a small scrap can be useful.
• Create a patchwork tapestry from small pieces of salvaged scraps. Add accents like buttons, fringe, or braid for just a few dollars. Pillows that sell for $75 or more can be crafted for less than $20 if you take a little time to find the fabrics and trims.
6. Start with a plan. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed or distracted when you’re looking at redecorating. The best way to approach your project is to do a little homework first.
• Take on one room or space at a time.
• Pick a theme and then create a color palette, which you can do by browsing decorating magazines and visiting your paint store’s color display.
• Do an inventory of the pieces you love, the ones that need a little refreshing, and those that just need to go.
• Look for alternative uses of pieces and accents you want to keep.
• Watch for sales – you don’t have to look too far in this tough economy. You’ll soon discover that you can make a big difference in your décor without a lot of money in your budget.

Redecorating doesn’t have to exhaust your budget or your energy. There are many ways to create a new look in any room using what you already have and then adding a few new (or gently used) touches. Invest your time in your own ingenuity and your money in the essential accents. You’ll reap a high return and the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself!