Ideas that call for a little imagination can add instant style to any decor. Paint, fabric and a little creativity go a long way when you want to update your home’s decor.
The Week brings you five easy ways to breathe new life into your home in record time – without breaking your budget. So, get ready to refresh your space with these easy ideas this weekend.[break]
Update: Change or paint!
One of the easiest and budget-friendly things you can do is to update lampshades with new ones in more contemporary shapes, or simply fresh white shades. Also, paint is the classic makeover potion. Instead of repainting a whole room, just paint one wall in a focal color or paint a contrasting rectangle over a sofa to use as a gallery space. You can also paint the insides of bookshelves in an unexpected color, or paint your ceiling a lighter version of the wall color.
Update your kitchen with paint or any other space in your home. Update your window dressings. You can make your own from sheets or lengths of saris even and hang them from attractive new curtain rods.
Photo-Courtesy-Arjun-Shah
Focus on the accessories
A simple but effective tip: Edit your accessories. Too much of a good thing is too much. Try taking all your home decor accessories and putting them in a box, then putting them back one by one where they’ll have the most impact. Take down all your paintings and other art objects and move them around to different walls or different rooms. It’ll be like seeing them for the first time. You can also create a gallery wall of family photos and other small pictures in matching or contrasting frames, arranged in a collage on a large wall on the stairwell or hallway.
Revamp your bedroom essentials
The most personal space in your home should be the coziest of retreats; and, since most of your time in this room is probably spent in bed, it makes sense to pay careful attention to your bedding, in terms of both comfort and style. And you’ll find that options abound: beautifully hand-embroidered covers, handmade quilts and soft sheets, all easy to coordinate for one of the simplest weekend makeovers of all. But remember, bed linens don’t all have to match. You can shop at sales for sheets and blankets. then pick up one tone in the main pattern of the comforter and then tie it all together with a lightweight throw at the end of the bed.
Pay attention to the details
Small things can make a huge difference, especially when you don’t want to make drastic changes and don’t have much money to work with. Without even repainting or replacing the doors, you can use knobs and pulls to lift your old cabinetry out of the doldrums. Whether you go for sleek stainless steel handles, Victorian-style bin pulls, glass knobs or something whimsical, such as butterfly-shaped knobs and pulls, such hardware can lend immediate personality to your cabinets, be it in the living room or the kitchen. Before you visit the stores, figure out how many knobs and pulls you will need. Next, take measurements to make sure your choice will work. Think about comfort as well as style. After you find the perfect hardware, it’ll just take 10 minutes for installation – and voila!
Jazz it up with carpets
Few elements make as dramatic an impact on a room as well-chosen carpets and rugs. Wall-to-wall is a comfortable, beautiful choice. But it must be professionally installed. If you would prefer a do-it-yourself option, consider laying a neutral-toned piece of bound carpet almost as big as your room. In an instant, the whole space will seem softer and more inviting. Neutral-colored carpet doesn’t have to be dull; it can bring in interesting texture and even hints of color. You can skip the carpeting altogether and go straight to the myriad choices in area rugs, from rich Orientals to jazzy geometrics. Or, pick up an inexpensive rug in a color that complements your room. It will brighten up everything around it with virtually no effort on your part. If you already have wall-to-wall you’re not crazy about, a few strategically placed throw rugs can make it fade into the background.
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