Top 10 Ways to Redecorate A Room Spending Next to Nothing
Welcome back!
During this economic crisis many are learning that their home really is their castle. People are spending more time at home due to the economic issues. People are once again returning to those dining rooms and living rooms that were neglected by eating out and going out for entertainment.
Spending more time at home, sometimes gives people the “itch” to redecorate. Well, in these difficult times, it is not feasible to go on a spending spree to redo a room in your house. However, there are ways to spruce up a room and still spend very little. If you must buy items to redo your room, try the thrift store, garage sales and Ikea. So without further ado, here are my top ten ways for redoing a room on a tight budget:
A Can of Paint
This is my favorite way to redo a room. I love changing the color in a room. When you paint a room it becomes your special space. It’s like leaving a mark saying that you were here. Paint does not have to be expensive. I usually look in the returns section of the paint store. You can get really nice colors at a fraction of what you would normally pay. The best thing about paint is, if you don’t like it, paint it another color!
A New Rug
Carpeting a whole room is really pricey. If you have horribly stained carpet and you cannot afford to replace it, try buying an area rug. Area rugs do not have to be pricey. Most retailers like Target and Walmart sell them. You do not need an area rug that costs thousands of dollars. You can also check on line for a rug as well. I would also suggest your local thrift store. In many cases the cost of the rug and a shampoo is cheaper than buying one new. Believe it or not, an area rug can change the whole feel of a room.
Re-arrange Your Furniture
I know this sounds silly, but it can totally change your room. I constantly try this trick. It drives my husband crazy, but it allows me to show off the room and furniture in different ways. I can breath some life into an old boring room. Just be careful when moving furniture around to not hurt yourself. Also, if you have wood floors make sure not to drag furniture, as to not scratch the floor.
Switch Out Art Work
This is a great trick to give an old piece a new life. If you are redoing your room and there is a print that is hanging in another room, try hanging it in your new room. You can bring in new colors and patterns through artwork. If you don’t have any artwork, try and create something yourself. I know this might intimidate some, but give it a try, you might surprise yourself. If you are not artistically inclined, but you have children, try hanging some of their artwork.
Accessories
This is the easiest part of changing a room. Again, take things from other parts of the house. Picture frames are usually interchangeable. Use a large bowl as a centerpiece on your coffee table, or a breakfast tray. Glass items such as a vase can also bring new color into a room. The thrift store is a great place to shop for accessories. I never buy them new at any stores, they’re too expensive. I would also suggest garage sales.
Change Photos in Picture Frames
I always try to rotate pictures in the photo frames that I have. This is great way to update the look of your room. Wedding pictures, family photos or pictures of friends are great to swap out. Choose different pictures of loved ones and events to showcase.
The Infamous Couch Cover
I am the victim of dated furniture. My husband and I have handed down furniture. It is not the prettiest but, it is comfortable and clean. However, neither of my couches match. A quick way to fix ugly, dated, and dirty furniture is a couch cover. These can be pricey so look for a deal. You can also have your furniture re-fabriced. As always, when it comes to doing these things, they can be pricey, so shop for a deal. Keep in mind it should be much cheaper than replacing the furniture you have.
Throw Pillows
Throw Pillows are a wonderful to update a room. They can be easy to sew if you do not want to buy them. I do not own a sewing machine and am inept at sewing but, I managed to sew some very nice pillows that lasted forever. If the whole sewing thing is not for you, they can be purchased very cheaply. I would recommend Walmart or Ikea. I recently bout 4 pillows at Ikea for under $10. They’re soft and comfortable.
A New Bedspread
This is the best way to redo a bedroom for little or no money. If you have a reversible bedspread, you can switch sides for a while. If you have a duvet, try switching out duvet covers, which is usually inexpensive. Ikea has wonderful duvet sets which usually include the duvet and pillow shams. The thrift store is another wonderful place to buy new bedding. Just make sure to wash it well before using.
Change the Lighting
Properly lighting a room is very important. Lighting of a room either showcase a room or hides it in darkness. Try to move your lamps and lights around to evenly light your room. Try to avoid dark corners. You will be amazed what a difference an extra lamp can make to the appearance of a room. You can purchase lamps inexpensively. If you do choose to buy a lamp second-hand, be careful with the electrical components, the unit may not be up to code.
These few tip can totally change the look of a room. As always, try to make do with what you have. Walk around your house and take stock of what you have, this will help you re-arrange things in your home and give your treasures a new life. Have fun!
Austere Yet Fashionable – Yes, it’s possible
Editor’s Note: This is a new, ongoing column written by my wife Jackie.
When my husband met me, he thought I was rich by the way I dressed. The joke was on him, I was and still am a resale shop junkie. I wear designer clothing and the latest fashions, I just refuse to pay full price.
There really is no need to pay outrageous prices for clothing because when you really think about it, it’s really only clothing. So here are some of my best tricks for being truly fashionable on a budget and, yes, it can be done!
First of all, get to know your local resale shops. I live in the Chicagoland area and I really like the Unique chain for resale shops. Don’t be afraid to go in, there are always treasures to be found in there. The local Goodwill or Salvation army are good places to find deals but they can tend to be on the more pricey so. So, wait for their usual discount days. Also, consignments are usually not a good place to find deals.
The cardinal rule of thrifty clothes shopping is to assess what you really need BEFORE you get to the store. If you need a new blouse, go directly to that section of the store. If you need pants, only look at pants. While in the section of clothing that you’re looking for, look at the labels in the collar, you may be surprised what you find. But one thing I must stress is to look for a good fit as well as quality.
When picking an item out of a resale shop, make sure to check the garment thoroughly for stains, tears, or anything that would make the item unwearable. However, if there is a small tear or it’s missing a button don’t pass it up because that can be easily mended. In most cases it costs less to buy a garment at a resale shop and have alterations done than it would cost to buy new from the mall.
Now, there are certain items that I do not go to the resale shop for. I never buy undergarments or hats at the resale shop. I do on occasion, go to the mall or non-resale shops for those things. When I go to other stores besides the resale shop, this is an opppturnity to study the latest fashions, that can be recreated at a fraction of the cost.
When I do go to the mall, I have one word in mind, SALE. When I walk into a store, I go straight for the sale racks. Don’t be embarrassed that you’re looking for a deal and for your dollar to stretch further. The standard practice in retail is to put the clearance at the back of the store, forcing you to walk through all the pricier items. Resist the urge to browse the new racks, eventually you’ll develop tunnel vision.
The trick is to buy summer clothes in the fall (or end of summer) and winter clothes in the spring (before the summer fashions come out). Last week I made a trip to the mall and did wonderfully with just $20.00. Last but not least, make sure to check your receipt and make sure you got the sales price no matter where you shop. Don’t be afraid to confront cashiers over price discrepancies.
Don’t worry though, it’s all right to occasionally splurge on a pricier item if it’s it a really special and a good value (i.e. a pair of shoes you’ll wear often). Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to stay fashionable on a budget.
Check out below for some examples of recent deals I found.
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$7 New York and Company
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$7 New York and Company
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$11 Sears Entire Outfit
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$2.50 From Resale Shop
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Tag on Resale Shop Pants
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The Full Package
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