Looking for ways to improve your home’s appearance…without spending a fortune?
Fortunately you don’t need to spend a fortune to refresh any room in your house as there are several easy ways to add value and rejuvenate it on a budget.

Ok, so maybe you aren’t Martha Stewart but you certainly have what it takes to perform some simple interior decorating on your home. Hopefully you have set aside a decorating budget (even a small one) and you are now wondering where to start. You will be surprised that it is easier than you think.

Here we are going to cover some ideas to decorate different rooms on a limited budget.

The cheapest decorating idea is to re-arrange the furniture in your existing room. By specifically moving it to “open” the room up this will allow more light into a room and will help make the room feel more welcoming. Most interior decorators will tell you to remove clutter where possible and don’t use too much furniture, especially in smaller rooms. Having too much furniture in a room can make the room feel much smaller and will also make it look cluttered and less appealing.

Here’s how you might give your family room a burst of color – without bursting your budget! Winter is here and I wanted a fresh burst of color! But I had to stay within a budget as we just finished up with holiday spending.
- Go to an inexpensive department store and shop for some fresh colorful items.
- Replace the throw pillows that came with the sofas with bright colored pillows
- Framed photos and prints add a touch of personality to a room. Replace any old tired artwork with some that have vibrant colors that go with the color of the walls. Creating a professional framed look for your prints and photos does not have to cost an arm and a leg.
- Group several simple white glass candle holders of various sizes, insert brand new scented colorful candles and the look will be elegant, yet comfortable and new.

When redesigning your bathroom on a budget.
- Paint can have amazing power and be your best friend. Choose a fresh breezy color or a dark and majestic color they will both have different effects.
- Changing the bathroom accessories such as towel racks, toilet paper dispensers as well as soap dispensers will rejuvenate the space.
- Changing the door knobs from bronze to a brushed nickel can really update a space.

When it comes to decorating a child’s room, sometimes furnishings and the many extras that go with a desired result can be costly. But if you know where to look and are a little bit savvy with crafts, you can decorate a child’s room at minimal cost yet create a stylish haven your kids will love to reside in.

The kitchen is the most expensive room into the house to redo and yet it can add greatly to the value of a home.
- The appearance of your kitchen cabinets rests on the quality of your cabinets. Changing your kitchen cabinets doors can completely change the look of your kitchen and you can do that on a budget.

There are so many inspirations in magazines and on the internet for home decorating. I get excited when I see these decorating products and ideas, and can always think of the perfect design for a space or entire room in my home. Decorating on a budget isn’t as difficult as it sounds.

Most of the ideas above can be done for less than $150. If it just needs a lift to make your spirits soar, you can change a tired room and give it a clean, fresh new look. You don’t always have to think big when redecorating.

So don’t despair just because your money is limited, you can still create a warm and inviting home frugally. And don’t forget when people come into your home and see what you’ve done you don’t need to disclose that you put it all together compliments of your local discount store. Never divulge the sordid details, just simply bask in the glory and let them try to recreate your look.

So just following a few simple ideas, you’ll have a room to be proud of in no time at all.

interior | No Comments »

Whether you’re planning to sell your home or you’ve simply decided your bathroom needs to be updated. Or maybe you have no choice you have leaks and it just has to be done. Whatever the case you have a few important decisions you should make before you get started.

You need to first consider what needs to be replaced. Maybe you’re remodeling because all of the fixtures (tub, shower, toilet and sink) are outdated? Or maybe there is a specific area of the bathroom that just doesn’t fit your needs? Maybe the floor is worn out and needs replacing, or you’d like to knock down a closet and install some shelving for a fresh new look. Whatever the reason before you start you need to pin down the exact things about your bathroom that need work.

Don’t think you need to overhaul the entire room only because the floor needs replacing. You may be able to save yourself thousands of dollars by starting with what irritates you the most and fix it first. If your bathroom seems too small, maybe you just need a pedestal sink instead of a cabinet one to make you room feel bigger. You might not need to tear down that wall after all.

If you’re thinking the best thing to do is to just gut the whole room and start from scratch you have a lot more decisions to make. What are you going to replace your current fixtures with?

Start by taking some measurements of your tub, sink and toilet, the replacements you’re considering, and the size of the room. Keep in mind that just because you want a whirlpool tub doesn’t mean you should have one. Your bathroom may be too small for anything but a standard tub that fits closely to the wall.

Draw some diagrams, and move things around until they fit. But keep in mind that changing the layout of a bathroom is fairly expensive. That means moving water pipes and drains, so unless you’re planning on tearing down the walls and maybe ripping up the floor, your toilet, tub and shower will probably have to stay where they are. But you certainly can replace them with new ones.

Actually picking out your new fixtures etc that you need to buy should really be the easy fun part. Here are some things to look for while you’re shopping.

- Look into purchasing a low-flow toilet. If you haven’t had a new toilet in awhile, you will be amazed at the savings on your water bill once a new, water-saving model is installed. This also holds true for water saving shower heads and faucets. This can be a huge plus to potential buyers, who will love the idea of saving on their utilities each month.

- Safety in the bathroom is also a new and important consideration. Consider grab bars around the tub and a non-slip floor covering specifically designed for bathrooms. Many older bathrooms are lacking in safety features, which can also be a down side when it comes time to estimate a home’s value.

Remodeling your bathroom is going to be a job that requires some forethought and planning. Whether you’re doing it to sell the home or for your family, it’s a must to take space, safety, and convenience into consideration. Don’t forget you spend an awful lot of time going in and out of your bathroom. It might as well be comfortable!

interior | No Comments »