With spring just around the corner, it’s time to focus on sprucing up your home. But balancing a budget and your home improvement desires can be a challenge. Some simple tips and tricks can help you makeover your home for less.
Whether you plan an all-out redo or just a few tweaks here and there, the design experts at www.countrydoor.com will show you that with just a few inexpensive changes, you can make the whole room feel fresh and new.
Make a plan
Decide which room you want to work on first – and what you want to accomplish. If your plan involves moving furniture or painting, or if the scope of work is simply too big to tackle on your own, don’t be afraid to call in reinforcements, but be considerate. Don’t put off asking family members and/or friends for their help – give them plenty of notice.
Carpe clutter
Seize the opportunity to sort, sell, donate or toss all the “stuff” that can creep into a room while we’re not looking, then do a thorough cleaning. Remove window treatments for laundering (or replacement), wash windows, scrub the floor – the works. Before you put anything back, organize it in bins or attractive baskets to help corral the clutter while keeping the room neat.
Add spirit with color
If you’ve been thinking of painting the room, now’s the time. Choose a color with an eye to what will harmonize with the rest of your interior color scheme. Inspiring idea: There are more than four surfaces in a room. Brush coordinating colors onto the floor, ceiling or stair risers for surprising style.
Out with the old
Sometimes, repainting a room isn’t on the agenda, and you have to keep those neutral walls. You can brighten up the space with colorful new slipcovers, bedding or window treatments. Even by switching toss pillows, rugs and window treatments with colorful alternatives, you can make the room look like new again.
Think small
Bulky pieces or too much furniture in a small room can make it look smaller, so use pieces scaled to fit the space. If possible, choose things that can do “double duty” such as a storage ottoman or trunk coffee table. If the entire room has to serve dual purposes (guest room/office, living room/dining area) double duty furniture is the only way to go.
Accessorize
Select fun items to help you express your style and interests, but remember too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. So self-edit and rotate your accessories periodically to keep the room interesting. Inspiring idea: Put knickknack overflow or seasonal accessories in clearly labeled, airtight plastic bins for storage in the basement or garage.
For more decorating ideas join the conversation on Country Door’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/thecountrydoor.
