It's no secret: today's economy is on a downward slope, and it's hard not to feel the effects; but just because you may be on a tight budget, doesn't mean your home has to look like it! There are countless ways to give your home decor a chic and beautiful change without breaking your bank. From simple and subtle to bold and dramatic, here are a few tips and tricks to give your home a cheap and easy makeover (without looking like it):
1)
Repaint your front door a new color. It doesn't take a lot paint, and the front door is a great spot to pick if you want your home to make a new statement. (And if you pick the right color to coordinate with the rest of your exterior color scheme, you won't have to repaint anything else!) Even if the color you choose is more on the conservative side, your friends and family will still notice, since it's the first thing they see when they walk up to your house. But don't be afraid to go a little dramatic with color on your front door. Since it's relatively small in size, a bold, bright color will make a strong statement without being too overpowering-- just make sure the color you choose doesn't clash with the rest of your house. Using a bold color will also help give your home a cosmopolitan feel, since brightly colored front doors are very popular in London and the UK =)
Here are some examples:
Gorgeous!
Lovely!
2) Get your table some fresh new clothes. A great way to dress up your kitchen or dining room is to change the tablecloth. It's super easy, and can be pretty inexpensive, depending on the fabric and brand. You can even get many different styles, colors, and patterns to match any special occasion, or just to fit your current mood. And when it comes to entertaining guests or family, dressing up your table with a nice cloth or runner not only creates a beautiful focal point, but gives an added air of fanciness for the occasion. Of course if you have upholstered chairs at your table, the tablecloth must coordinate; and an easy way to do this is to pick out one or a couple colors within the upholstery pattern. You can even take a picture or sample along with you on your tablecloth shopping journey. On the other hand, if you have all solid-wood tables and chairs, picking out a cloth will be a bit easier (though you still must coordinate with the overall decor of the room). If the finish on your table and chairs is dark, picking a bold or rich color or pattern will be striking and beautiful. If the finish is lighter or natural, picking a light color for the cloth is probably your best bet (but, again, if you bring a picture along with you while you shop, you may find something unique and bold that just so happens to look perfect-- you never know!)
Notice how the tablecloths and runners in the photos below make the entire room look finished and beautiful:
Elegant!
Stunning!
3) Flower Power-- Adding a beautiful bouquet of flowers never fails to give a space some colorful flair, and the best part is that you can spend as little or as much money as you want! From high-end silk arrangements to simply picking a handful from your garden, flower bouquets can be anywhere between pricey to completely free. Natural live flowers always look lovely, but if you'd rather have a bouquet of flowers that won't die on you, our advice would be to go for the more high-end silk arrangements (few things in this world are tackier than a frumpy bouquet of cheap fake flowers). But fear not-- even the designer brand names are likely to have small and beautiful arrangements that may be more realistic for your budget. And think about it-- they'll never die, and will always look gorgeous!
Here are a few bouquets from one of our favorite sources, and a few examples of pieces we've used in clients' homes:
These beautiful arrangements come in so many different colors and sizes and styles, it's easy to find the perfect fit for your home.
In this photo (taken by Eric Roth), the pink and orange hues of the tulip bouquet match perfectly with the rest of the room.
And in this photo (taken by Julie Panzetta), the red bouquet acts as a striking complement to the green shades of this space and commands attention despite its small size.
4) Throw around some color. Adding colorful throw pillows and blankets to a living space is an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your current decor. This is especially helpful if you have a mostly neutral or muted color scheme. Not only will the throws add bright new points of interest, but with a neutral canvas, your color options for the throws are almost endless. You don't have to reupholster your entire living room! Yay! The more throws you put together, the bigger the impact, so you can go as subtle or dramatic as you please. Of course some throws can be quite expensive, but thankfully cheap throws aren't always like cheap fake flowers-- there are plenty of beautiful throws out there that are sure to fit within your budget.
Last week, we wrote an
entry here about the wide variety of throw pillows and blankets we offer here at Robin's Nest that are completely customizable to fit your vision. To avoid overloading you with a million pictures of pillows, here's just one that speaks volumes about the power of colorful throws:
This beautiful space was designed by Robin Pelissier and her design team. Aren't these pillows so chic and cheerful? =)
5) Rearrange what you already have. Talk about inexpensive-- this tip won't cost you a single penny, because you're only using what you already have! Are you sick of looking at the same handful of mantle pieces? Are your wall hangings starting to bore you? What would that armchair look like in the other corner of the room? Rearranging your furniture, accent pieces, and other decorations can freshen up a room in an instant. Switch out your current decorative pieces for ones you may have in storage (or you can even trade pieces with a friend if they're trying to redecorate on a budget as well). Take that area rug out from under the coffee table, put it in an open space, and watch it transform into a new point of interest in a new location. Move your furniture from up against those walls and try positioning them at an angle (or at least up against a different wall). With this tip, the possibilities are endless, totally up to you, and 100% free of charge!
So if you're tired of your same old decor, but your budget isn't what it used to be, don't worry! These are just a few tips that are sure to help give your home a fresh new look--- with minimal harm to your wallet. =)
