Decorating on a Budget - Top Tips to Give Your Room a Designer Feel
By Geraldine Looker
- De-Clutter - be ruthless. If you have not used something in years, the chances are you will not use it again. Put children's toys out of sight in their own rooms. Use your attic space to store personal items
- Clean and get rid of the dust! Don't forget light fittings & shades, baseboards and windows! Its amazing how sparkling windows can make a difference to letting in natural light.
- Repair any cracks in your walls, sand down when dry to create an even surface. Use decorators tape around windows and doors, to give a clean finish.
- Paint - Amazing how a fresh coat of paint can completely change a room. Add an accent wall that will compliment your room. Look through paint charts. Purchase one or two paint samples. Look at paint samples and colour charts, try out the colours on your wall, do the same with wallpaper samples. Leave them a while before you decide on what looks best and go for it!
- Colour palettes for Dark Rooms - Consider a custom mixed tone - that you can do yourself. If you decide on a darker accent wall, to this dark shade add measured amounts of white paint to achieve lighter shades. For a mid tone, mix equal quantities of the colour and white. For the lighter tone add two parts white to one part colour.
Note:
Always make sure you mix more than you need as you do not want to run out before you have finished painting. Also, it is a good idea to have some left for touching up those scuff marks that happen from time to time. Remember to wash your paint brushes as soon as possible. Paint roller sleeves can be disposable.
- Soft Furnishings & Window Treatments.
Having all soft furnishings in a room in the same pattern makes for a very formal look. A more relaxed style can be achieved by using one fabric for the largest pieces usually the curtains and matching that with other fabrics for small soft furnishings such as cushions
Look for fabrics on sale, ready made drapes. Use sheers and voiles as an alternative, especially if your room does not have a lot of natural light. Use different design pattern on each side of a cushion so it can be reversed.
Re-cover dining chair seats. This is quite simple using contrasting fabric, a staple gun or upholstery tacks.
- Lighting
Natural light is an essential element for any interior space. Look at where the natural light source is and what parts of the room require additional lighting. Whether, you choose a chandelier, an up-lighter, floor lamps or accent table lamps. Think about what you want to achieve, a soft glow or a brighter effect.
Mirrors add depth to a room and reflect the light. Consider putting mirrors behind shelves, especially in an alcove with a recess light added.
- Choose accent pieces:
Prints, canvas, wall art - experiment with putting sets of pictures together. Cover a canvas (or a set of canvases) with fabric that compliments your new décor or paint your own. Where can you showcase your favourite pieces? Add an exquisite coloured glass vase, or piece of pottery, candles, bowls or flowers to an accent table, dining table or shelving unit.
- Plants.
Look in your back yard for inspiration and ideas, use flowers in season.Fresh flowers are a welcome addition to any room. Just Keep it simple and change the flowers before they start to drop and the water turns green!
If you don't have 'green fingers' you can still achieve a stylish look with artificial plants
Feel proud of your achievements. Find more inspiration and ideas. Log on to Geraldine's blog. http://stylebyladyg.wordpress.com/
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