Budget Decorating

1- Rethink your layout. Simply rearranging your furniture can make all the difference. You can start by pulling your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning them at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2- Make the most of your furniture. If there’s a certain piece in your room that you are especially fond of, highlight it by making it the focal point of your new room. Use it to draw the eye away from other less than perfect areas in the room. Also, work on coordinating your existing furniture by creating runners or throws from similar or matching fabrics. This can help you pull together mismatched pieces and achieve a more harmonized look.

3- Hide away clutter. Put up shelves and use boxes or baskets to stash away your junk and clutter. Finding storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items may not be as hard as you think. Gift stores are now selling baskets and boxes decorated in all shades, shapes and sizes. You can create your own customized look for a box or basket by applying gift paper or paint in the shade and fabric that suits you.

4- Change your lighting. If you have a single chandelier, try using side lamps to alter the atmosphere of your new room, or include candles for celebrating those special occasions. Changing outdated lamps may also do the trick. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.

5- Use pieces from other rooms. Bring in a piece from another room that you think suitable. Then hunt down other pieces from the rest of the house that would work well with this new addition. These could be pieces that carry the same color, pattern or even texture. For example, using a different rug for your room could help you create a totally new look. Spice up your sofa by adding some decorative pillows that match the colors in the rug and so forth.

6- Update old furniture. This might be a costly option but rewarding all the same. Adding an extra layer of varnish to an old chair, table or chest might make a world of a difference and allow you to use it as a new focal point for your room. Also, consider applying some color or adding accessories to your furniture. A protective coat of paint or new handles may be the perfect answer to a decorative cupboard for your bathroom.

7- Paint a single wall. Paint one wall your favorite color and use it as your new focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.

8- Bring In Plants. Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don't have a green thumb, try artificial plants and trees. The quality of these plants and trees has become so good that it’s hard to distinguish them from the real thing. Also consider using decorative pots for your plants to add color to your new room. It’s important to remember that not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. Deciding to work with what you have and realizing that there isn’t one correct way to decorate a room is all you need to start on you new adventure.