Painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to give a room a whole new feel.
Plain, white walls come alive with a little color and set the tone for the
whole space. Choose one wall to paint as an accent or paint the whole room, but
remember: dark colors will tend to make small spaces seem smaller, while lighter
shades will open up a room.
Using the same color for several rooms can also add a feeling of continuity
to your decorating as the same shade flows from space to space.
For a great place to find discounted paint, look no further than your local
home supply store (such as Home Depot.) Most of these stores will have a section
of returned paint that customers, for one reason or another, bought and then
returned. These cans of “oops” paint come in a variety of colors and are usually
drastically discounted for resale.
One Man’s Trash…
Garage and estate sales are some of the best places to find inexpensive items
for your home. The key here is to look for potential. See a clean and
comfortable couch in a hideous print? Throw on a slipcover for a whole new sofa.
Found the perfect dresser beneath layers of ugly paint? Sand it down and add
your own stain. Garage sales are a dream for the budget conscious, but brush up
on those bartering skills before you go. One word of caution: don’t let
rock-bottom prices lure you into wasting money on something you won’t really
use. Sure, that Wild West paining is only $2.50, but will it really compliment
the Nantucket beach house feel you’re going for in the den?
In the Neutral Zone.
If you like to redecorate on a regular basis or if you want a room to stay in
fashion for years to come, choose neutral shades for large pieces of furniture
and wall colors. When you want to change your style, just change the accents.
Rugs, artwork, and accent pieces like pottery or plants can easily (and
inexpensively) be swapped out to create a whole new look for a room.