Decorating your home or giving an old room a makeover does not have to be an expensive activity.
There are plenty of ways that you can create a new look and add some pizazz without breaking the bank.
The following are five cheap and easy ways to decorate your home.
1. The power of paint
Painting is one of the best ways to decorate a room. Not only is it cheap to do, but it also allows you to get creative. You can simply repaint the entire room in a new colour.
If you want to see which colour would be best, check out Benjamin Moore's Color Capture app and Color Change - two smartphone / tablet apps that allow you to "try on" new paint colours by uploading a picture of your room and virtually painting it. You can also find a whole range of other interior design apps out there.
If you don't want to spend the time repainting the whole room, why not try an accent wall? PIck a complementary color—the brighter or darker the better—and give one wall in your room a makeover.
Not only is it a cheap and easy fix to give an old room new life, but it provides a centerpiece for the room and will create a conversation piece amongst your guests.
To be even more decorative, why not try out a design, such as painting vertical stripes or using stencils to create an intricate design.
You can go bold with two opposite color paints, or you can make it more subtle by simply using a high gloss paint over a flat paint in the same color.
Painting doesn't only refer to your walls. You can also give old furniture a facelift by painting it a new color.
Spray painting furniture is usually the easiest way to go, and spray paint comes in many different colors, so you can stick with something more common, like blacks and whites, or you can go bold with yellows and oranges.
2. Get playful with pillows and throws
Pillows are another cheap and easy way to spruce up a room.
Adorn chairs and couches with pillows in bright and bold colors and patterns.
If you can't find any at your local retail stores, such as Target or Walmart, try repurposing your own old ones.
Visit your local fabric store and find a fabric you love. Take it home and get to sewing.
You can also opt to choose throw pillows that are a different design than your standard square for an added touch of elegance.
Throws are another great way to add pops of color throughout a room.
Bold plain throws can add color while patterned throws can add flavor and texture.
Use throws over couches and chairs, or even place it over half of a coffee table for a more unique look.
3. Accentuate with accent rugs
Accent rugs come in all shapes, sizes and patterns, and they can be a great and cost-effective way to makeover your home.
If the decor in your home is pretty plain, opt for a bolder rug to give the room some pizazz.
If you want to get really creative, try adding more than one accent rug to the room in different areas.
For example, place one rug under the couch and coffee table, and use a different complementary rug underneath a desk or formal sitting area.
This creates a unified separation between the two areas and can give the room some character.
4. Organize your clutter
Finding creative ways to declutter your home is another cheap way to decorate.
Go through all of your things and get rid of the items that are unnecessary.
Find containers to use as storage, such as old vases or bowls, and place them onto bookshelves.
Baskets are also another great way to organize magazines, toys and blankets and keep them from standing out.
It's also a good idea to look at your furniture, not just your knickknacks.
Do you have a table or chair that seem out of place? If so, get rid of it.
There is no need to put every piece of furniture you own into one room. Keep your essentials, and remove anything that doesn't fit.
5. Get moving
The best and cheapest way to decorate your home is to simply rearrange your current furniture.
Do you have an old dresser in your guest bedroom that would look great in your foyer?
Maybe all it needs is a coat of paint and some new hardware.
Take two old end tables and push them together to make a coffee table.
Try moving your couch from one wall to another.
If you have a big enough room, try moving your couch from the wall and placing it more towards the center of the room.
You can even try to recreate the focal point of the room.
Do you have a beautiful fireplace that nobody notices because all of your furniture faces the television?
Why not place a sitting area in front of the fireplace or re-arrange furniture so the focal point now moves away from the television set.
Decorating your home doesn't have to be expensive.
Instead, it simply takes a little effort and a lot of creativity.
Open your eyes to your current belonging, invest in some paint, and you'll have a fresh new look before you know it.
Need A Decorator?
Don't forget - if you don't want to DIY decorate, you can always post a job on Top Tradespeople and we will help you find a decorator and compare quotes from local tradesmen in your area.
