Post-holiday cleanup is an ideal starting point for spring cleaning and home improvement projects. But if the downturn in the economy isn’t inspiring expensive upgrades, you can still create a new look, add pizzazz or make a decorative statement on even the smallest budget. Just add your own creativity to some helpful tips from some innovative decorators.
Here are some great ways to make the most of decorating projects on a shoestring budget. If you’re out of ideas on how to make low-cost, high-impact changes to your home, check out my list of must-see programs; “Design Cents,” “FreeStyle,” “Mission Organization” and “Design on a Dime” on HGTV, and “Sell This House” on A&E. Each of these offers a lot of inspiration and creative solutions that cost little or nothing.
Looking for free decorating ideas? Start at home…
Design Tip #1: Shop…at Home
When was the last time you rearranged your furniture? Now go one step further. Have you been swapping major pieces or decorative accents between rooms lately? Try buying your own home to create a new look at no cost – it’s easy and inexpensive.
Moving accent pillows, artwork, rugs, or a few accent pieces between rooms is a no-brainer; and rearranging larger pieces like chairs, shelves, and wall units within and between rooms can create a whole new feel. And don’t forget to search closets and storage areas for useful finds. Do you need inspiration? Check out episodes of “FreeStyle” and “Design Cents” on HGTV for tons of free room makeover ideas.
Design tip #2: Clutter your way to style
Often the basics in a room are fine, but the sense of style gets lost in the clutter. Culprits include too many accessories clustered on tables, walls lined with accent furniture, and piles of magazines, books, DVDs, toys, games, and more. In these cases, a good cleaning can feel like a room makeover for free.
To tidy up, grab some moving boxes and mark them: Keep, Trash, Donate, Another Room, and Store. Begin sorting, working around the room until floor, table, and shelf surfaces are clear. Then take a critical look at your furniture. Remove complicated filler pieces that serve no decorative or useful purpose. Keep the pieces you like, especially those that can be used for storage.
Once you know what you want to keep in the room, start putting it together again. Don’t be afraid to move furniture or pictures, and remember Tip No. 1: You may find the perfect accent for this room in another. To see free clutter removal solutions in action, watch a few episodes of “Mission Planning” on HGTV.
In decoration, this is how a little $ can go a long way…
Design tip #3: Paint your way to a high-impact, low-cost look
Decorators differ on many things, but virtually everyone agrees that a coat of paint is the quickest way to enhance a lackluster look on a budget. A fresh coat of paint is just that: fresh. Covers stains and wear to give a room a clean, new feel. Updating walls requires only a few gallons of paint, and clever uses of color can pull a look together more effectively than hundreds spent on new furniture.
If you like your existing wall color but still want something new, try painting an accent wall or sponge an accent color right over the existing paint on one or two walls. Check the “ups” bin at the paint store for great deals on decorative wall paint; you can find the perfect color for just a few dollars.
In just a day’s work, painting a room or a few accent walls can eliminate decades of drabness, typically for less than $50. Do you need ideas? The designers at A&E’s “Sell This House” are masters at changing rooms with a little paint.
Design tip number 4: when in doubt, turn it on
Give dark or dreamy rooms an instant makeover with new or repurposed lighting. Regardless of the color scheme and furnishings, most rooms can be attractively designed with the right lighting by following a few tips from the pros.
In large bedrooms and living rooms, avoid overhead lights that cast harsh shadows and make rooms feel cramped and small. Instead, place table lamps, floor lamps, and small accent lamps in the appropriate places to create a comfortable, soft-light bathroom. You’ll find stylish yet inexpensive lamps at most department and home goods stores, and even consignment stores, or shop your other rooms and storage nooks for no-cost finds.
Lighting cabinets of curiosities, shelves, and display cases also combat shadows while highlighting interesting pieces and collections. Installing accent lights under cabinets and strip lights couldn’t be easier with sleek new battery-powered and plug-in styles. These lights are also ideal for illuminating work spaces in the kitchen. See the many ways inexpensive lighting can be used as a decorative tool in “Sell This House.”
