Five Cheap & Easy Ways to Update Interior Design
With Very Little Money, Change the Look and Feel of a Room or House
Sep 28, 2009
It is not necessary to hire a professional interior decorator to update a home's interior design. With very little money, a lot of creativity, and items already in the house, any homeowner or DIY enthusiast you can transform an ordinary space into a showplace.
Here are five inexpensive ways to update the interior décor of a primary city residence or a weekend getaway retreat or cottage:
Use Paint to Update a Home’s Look Quickly and Inexpensively
A new color or just a fresh coat of paint is a quick and easy way to update, change or renew the look of a room or an entire house. Think about creating an accent wall with a different color paint. A painted accent wall immediately creates a focal point in any room. For less than $50, one or two rooms could be repainted.
- Budget Buster Tip: Check out the clearance sections at Home Depot and Lowe’s. paint that was incorrectly tinted or returned are offered at very cheap prices.
Rearrange The Furniture and Repurpose Old Pieces
Sometimes all a room needs is a new perspective. Take a good look around the project space, whether that is the living room, dining room, family room or bedroom. Can the furniture be moved around to create a new vignette? Is the room overcrowded and in need of editing? What about that vintage buffet in the dining room that never gets used… wouldn’t it look super painted and moved to the family room as a repurposed but very functional long stand for the new wide screen LCD television? The storage within can be used to tidy up games, puzzles and video games that often clutter a family space.
- Budget buster tip: Always try to use existing furniture before running out to purchase new pieces. Most homeowners are oblivious to how much stuff is hidden in their homes, and this is a great way to save money and give one or more rooms a whole new look.
Using Slipcovers to Create Brand New Furniture
One of the best inventions in home décor and interior design is the slipcover. When budget is an issue and replacing the sofa is not an option, covering with a new fabric slipcover is an excellent option. Most slipcovers are washable so they are kid and pet friendly. In any department store or specialty retailer (like Surefit.com), there is a wide range of covers ranging from loose throws to custom fitted. The more custom the fit, the more tailored the piece of furniture will look as will the overall room design. For Ikea sofas, new covers can be purchased on their website and also by a custom cover company called Bemz.
- Budget buster tip: If the retail price of fitted furniture slipcovers are too expensive, check out sites like Craigslist, Kijiji and eBay for bargains.
Color is the Imperative Link in all Interior Design
In any home redecorating project, success cannot be achieved without color. Even if the room is entirely done in shades of white to elicit a shabby chic feel, it is still planned with color. Aside from painting walls and furniture, there are easy and cheap ways to inject color into a room with cushions, pillows, window coverings, and area rugs. Simply adding a bunch of colorful flowers in a large crystal vase in a room will change the feel from drab to cheery.
- Budget buster tip: For under $10, a cotton throw, a linen tablecloth and four pillows covers can be hand dyed. Once the color is changed, try adding some interest by sewing on some cool ribbon trim, a few old and interesting buttons or some beads.
Accessories are the Finishing Touch
It is necessary to choose a room’s accessories carefully – too much and the room looks cluttered and chaotic; too little and the space appears cold and impersonal. What is not necessary is to spend a fortune on accessorizing a room. Again, look around the home to see what can be moved around to give a fresh appeal. In a dimly lit room, add silver plated accent pieces and a few mirrors to reflect the light. In a large room, add lots of artwork on a single large wall to make the room appear smaller and more intimate.
- Budget buster tip: Second hard stores, flea markets and yard sales are the best way to accessorize a home. For mere pennies on the dollar, a room or an entire house can be dressed in high end pieces that look like a million bucks.
 |
 |
