How to Decorate Lavishly on a Shoestring Budget
Posted By Houston Decorator on March 25, 2010
Do you dream of having enough money to create awe-inspiring settings in your home to rival all the rich, elegant interiors you see in all those design magazines? Unfortunately, not many people have the resources required to create such a lavish look. But what it takes to make a room both eye-catching and inviting isn’t money, but just a little of your own unique personality.
Elegance without Expense
Most people believe that in order to transform the look of a room they must spend a lot of money on new furniture, carpet or other flooring, wall hangings, accents, and so on. You’ll be happy to know that it doesn’t cost tens of thousands of dollars to create a dramatic impact in your décor. Rather, you can create a look that rivals any home decorating dream house for just a few hundred.
Make It Your Own
The first step is to put some of your own personality into the décor. When deciding on a décor, many people either go with the latest trends or what they think others will resonate with. Unfortunately, they typically end up with the isn’t really the look they were looking for.
Without any personal touches, the whole look is going to seem contrived. What you end up with is bland-colored walls, pictures that don’t really have any personal ties, and windows without any impact. Just because you have all that “stuff” there to make your home look exquisite, doesn’t necessarily mean that the design’s going to work.
Create a Bold, Dramatic Look
So what else can you do, beyond incorporating some of your own unique ideas? You can create the atmosphere you’re looking for with paint. If you’re looking for a bold, dramatic look, choose a color scheme consisting of up to 5 shades of burgundy, forest, and navy. You’ll be fine as long as you pick a color scheme that blends with the color of your existing furniture. Use the darker shades to paint the baseboards, and the lightest shades to paint the walls.
You can make some rich window coverings and wall hanging yourself for almost nothing. You can make gorgeous swag curtains yourself, for instance, using satin bed sheets. If you’re looking for some unusual pieces to use for accents, flea markets are a great place to start. You might even ask your children to do some finger painting. Have them use colors that blend with and complement the décor. Mat their work, and you’ll end up with some abstract wall hangings that are wonderfully colorful.
Let the Energy Flow
You might also go for a look that’s lively, energetic, and altogether refreshing. Choosing electric colors, you can use several shades of paint as in the previous description. Mix together bright greens, peach shades, and burnt orange, for example. Find a straw-colored woven rug for the floor. You might also want to choose some simple botanical groupings to display on the walls or even on a mission dresser.
You want your furniture to be light, not bulky or oversized. Furnishings, like a wood coffee table or a solid oak sofa table, should be light-colored and basic and design. Use a sheer material to create your own curtains or use something simple, such as wooden shutters. You want to concentrate on a look that appeals to you and imagine the possibilities.
Add Some Contrast
Contrast makes things much more interesting in any décor. It used to be that you wouldn’t consider mixing those floral patterns with stripes and plaids, but now it’s become the thing to do. If you stay within your color boundaries, you’ll be able to achieve a real “wow” factor in your décor that cannot be ignored.
Creating a one-of-a-kind look on a shoestring budget is completely within the realm of possibility. With a little imagination and some of your own unique personality, you can create a fabulous décor in your home.
Comments
Leave a Reply