Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts

Sunday, June 12, 2011

How To Redecorate Your Home On A Budget - IDEA INTERIOR DESIGN


Small Changes that Make the Biggest Impact: If you are looking to redecorate your home on a budget, consider these tips which require minimal cost and time, but provide maximum impact to any room:



    * Painting: This might seem obvious, but painting a room is the number one way to change its appearance. If you want a peaceful tone in a room, pastels in blues, greens and yellows can instantly make your room a haven of tranquility. If you're going for a more vibrant, energetic feel, brighter hues such as reds or oranges can give this effect. Sound like too much work? Consider an "accent wall". This is a wall that has a different color than rest of the walls in the room. You can then add little touches such as a shelf, picture, plant or that antique console or end table that you never knew what to do with. This wall can become the focal point of your room. You don't have to spend a fortune on paint either, and some of the "designer" brands are no better than the less expensive brands.



    * Slipcovers, cushion covers: If you have a couch or chair that has seen better days, but buying a new one is not in your decorating budget, you might want to try a slipcover. These come in various styles, fabrics & colors with some being loose-ftting & others that stretch & fit tightly over your couch or chair. Keep in mind that you can order custom-fitted slipcovers, but these are definitely more expensive than the regular, off-the-shelf variety. You would be amazed at the difference a slipcover can make in your entire room. Another alternative to a slipcover is a throw or afghan to drape across the back of your couch or chair. Also, just covering your cushions or buying new ones can breathe new life into a tired sofa and brighten up the room. Feeling ambitious? Visit your local fabric store & check out the variety of upholstery fabrics available. You could try just covering your sofa cushions or pillows, or cover the entire couch or chair. There is plenty of information online or in books on reupholstering furniture.

    * Small Touches: As mentioned above, decorating your home on a budget doesn't mean having to spend all your free time doing it. Sometimes just clearing off a cluttered table and adding an inexpensive vase with some fresh (or silk) flowers can refresh a room. Shop around at consignment stores, flea markets and yard sales for second-hand furniture, vases, artwork, etc. If the furniture isn't in perfect condition, but has a few scratches, these can easily be covered with touch-up varnish kits or a coat of paint. Artwork & vases or other decorative items needn't be expensive to make a big difference. Go to a discount store and buy a new pair of inexpensive drapes or a valance to instantly revitalize a room. Window scarves can add a unique and sophisticated look to room as well. For a bathroom, just replacing your old, mildewy shower curtain with a new one can make a huge difference, or add a new throw rug, hand towels or other bathroom accessories instead of doing an all-out remodel.



Create an Oasis No Matter How Small: As a mom to a pre-schooler, I'm no stranger to clutter. And when I look around and see clutter, I immediately start feeling stressed. Since I can't keep my home perfect, or even close, I've found that just clearing off one area, such as my coffee or dining room table(especially if I've been meaning to do it for a long time), can change my mood instantly. Just having one area of calm without clutter, can be an instant mood-lifter.


Also, rearranging the furniture from time to time can breathe new life into a room and open up space you didn't know you had. Indoor fountains and candles are another way to add to your "mini-oasis", and I'm a big fan of both. Nothing is as relaxing as water, and an indoor fountain set either on the floor(the dog or cat may want to use it as his personal circulating water bowl, however), or on your newly-cleared off tabletop can be the perfect calming touch and can also make a big change in the room. To go with your budget decorating, there are many inexpensive indoor fountains available. Place a candle near your fountain and you will instantly create a calm and relaxed mood in your room without breaking the bank. Hanging wind chimes near an open window or a ceiling fan can be very calming. I know all of this may sound a bit like "feng shui", and in fact incorporates some of the elements of it. It might not sound like redecorating, but the point is that small changes can make a big difference in your home and in your mood.

5 Steps to Creating the Home Dreams- IDEA INTERIOR DESIGN


Whether your home consists of 2 rooms or 20, your home should make you smile, feel like a big warm hug and be the place for you that you'd rather be than anywhere else! As you go about the process of making your house your home don't be as concerned with "decorating" in the traditional sense as you are with "creating" a home that reflects your sense of style and is pleasing to you. Above all, fill your home with love, joy, peace, compassion and warmth!


Trends come and go so focus on what will work for you and your family. Keep in mind that creating a home is a process that must not be rushed. Creating a home requires time, effort, thought, consideration, and patience. Your home will be ever changing as you grow through life. So....relax and ENJOY the journey!


   1. Surround yourself with the things you love. It is better to live with an empty space than to fill it with things you don't love. Take time to go through your home and identify the items you love and the ones you don't. Of the items you don't love, get rid of what you can and begin planning to replace or makeover what you can't get rid of right away. Some items, like a sofa or a bed, may take awhile to replace. What can you do to make them more appealing in the meantime? A slipcover? A coat of paint? There is always a creative solution to make items more "loveable".



   2. Focus on creating spaces that work for you and your family. Creating a home that accommodates your unique lifestyle is a priority. Rethink your rooms in terms of the activities that go on in that particular space or the activities you would like to accommodate in that space. Creating spaces for family meals-a table with plenty of chairs, for homework-a desk with adequate lighting and comfortable chair in a quiet area, for quiet time, family game night, may require some rearranging and reassigning of spaces in order to make your home work for you. If there's not a place for "it", "it" will most likely not happen.


   3. Bring in colors and patterns that make you happy. Consider how you want to feel in each room-happy, relaxed, energized-and infuse colors and patterns into that space that make you feel that way. I've included lots of sunny yellow and colorful floral patterns in my homebecause that's what makes me (and my hubby) feel happy, peaceful and energized. The "experts" say to never use yellow in a bedroom because it's an energetic color. I chose yellow for my bedroom because I want to be energized when I wake up. I want to feel like the sun is shining even when it's not. When I go to bed at night I turn the lights off and close my eyes, therefore the yellow walls don't keep me awake. You must do what works for you!


   4. Consider your God given senses.
      Sight, sound, smell touch and taste are all gifts God has given us. They are a very important part of everyday life. If we forget to include them we miss out on many delights.
      Sight can be satisfied by selecting only items you love to look at to furnish your home and by making sure you have plenty of ample lighting.
      Sound plays a very important role in influencing the mood and tone in your home. Beautiful music, laughter, positive words spoken in love all create a positive atmosphere of peace, joy and love. Whereas, "trash TV", yelling and screaming, and angry harsh words create a negative atmosphere of tension, stress, discord and hopelessness. It is important to never underestimate the power of the sounds in your home! The sense of smell is another strong influence in the home.
      Scent brings back memories. My children all recall the "scents of home"...favorite meals like corned beef and cabbage, brownies, candles in the scent of the beach roses from our favorite family get away spot, my perfume and their daddy's aftershave. What scents bring back happy memories for you?
      The sense of touch is especially important when considering upholstery fabrics and bedding. Soft and snugly is much preferred to stiff and scratchy. Flooring is another area to consider touch. Tile floors can be cold and uncomfortable in a bedroom for instance, whereas a soft cushy rug under your bare feet is so much more comfortable. Where can make adjustments for a more comfortable home in the area of "touch"?
      Taste is a consideration when planning your meals. Little things like adding fresh herbs to your favorite jar of spaghetti sauce add a depth of flavor that will delight your taste buds. There are many ways to "doctor up" fresh vegetables and basic dishes to give them a more pleasing and satisfying flavor.

   5. Details are the "little" things that make a big difference The details you add to your home are what add another layer of your unique personality to your home. Do you have any collections? I collect teacups. I have lots of them, each one a unique work of art. I have them displayed in cabinets, on shelves and in vignettes on tabletops. I use some in my bedroom to hold earrings and makeup items. I also have lots of books. Books are everywhere....stacked under side tables and the fireplace hearth and in bookshelves. Anyone can walk into my home and immediately identify my interests by observing the books displayed throughout my home. My collections are pieces of my personality reflected in my home. Other details to include when creating your home are artwork and family photos seasonal décor, creative vignettes on a side table, a dresser or a mantle. Fresh flowers are a detail I especially enjoy in my home. Think of these details as the jewelry that adds the sparkle and flair to your home.
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