Updating Rooms on a Budget

Tired of looking at the same “stuff” in your rooms? Ready to make some changes, but limited by budget constraints? Here is a list of 6 easy ways to ramp things up without breaking the bank.

Rugs
Rugs can add a pop of color to a room, cover stains or imperfections and add texture to a space. Watch for sales between mid-December and February, and again between the end of May and the beginning of June. Early September is also a good time to snatch up great deals. Of course, you can also shop second-hand stores and garage sales for surprise bargains as well.

Furniture
You don’t need to go out and buy new furniture to make a room seem fresh and updated. Simply re-arrange it! If you find that you can’t think outside the box because you are so used to seeing your space a certain way, enlist a friend for his or her opinions. The best way to start the process is to completely empty the room. Then, place the largest pieces first. Consider balance, conversation and other functional areas, focus walls, and ingress and egress in your placement decisions. Add different colors, shapes and textures of accent pillows to your sofa to make it look new.

Windows
If you’re happy with the treatments you have on your windows, give them a good cleaning. Whether vacuuming, steaming, washing or sending out the dry-cleaner, just make sure you are aware of the proper care required for your particular treatments. Want a bigger change? Pull down the curtains and put up natural wood blinds or tailored roman shades. Looking for drama? Then rich looking fabrics are the way to go. Windows are one area where a huge impact can be made in a room through color, texture, layering and embellishments.

Plants
Plants add color and life to a space. It’s best to go with live plants rather than silk. If your budget is limited, start with a couple from which you can generate clippings to grow your next couple of pots! Speaking of pots, the containers you choose for you plants can add additional color, texture and detail to a room. Want an added benefit of having live plants in the house? They help clean the air!

Lighting
The subject of lighting can intimidate people, but it’s a very basic and critical component to your space. As with window treatments, you might just need to give your existing fixtures a good dusting or cleaning. But a minor change that can make a big impact in a room is to change out your bulbs. LED or fluorescent lighting is generally best in a kitchen, while compact fluorescent or LEDs work well in bathrooms. Aim for compact fluorescents in living space and bedrooms, but choose bulbs in a more traditional, warmer range (color temperature between 2700k and 3500k).

De-clutter
Pack up or relocate knick-knacks, remove baskets and small furniture and utilize hidden storage space in ottomans or tables. Make sure pictures on walls and on furniture are grouped attractively and not overwhelmingly. Purge if necessary (great time to start that scrapbook you’ve been meaning to create!). Shoot for three or five in your accessories groupings. Want to keep your books? Fine, but organize them by color and they become art rather than clutter. Adding mirrors is a great trick to make a room look bigger and less cluttered. You’ll be amazed at the transformation you can make in 15 minutes, just by removing or rearranging “stuff.”

Happy (and thrifty) transformations!

What's the Big Deal About Color?

Color is one of the first things you notice when you enter a room. It sets a mood for the space and helps bring furniture and accessories together so that they make sense. Color can make a bold statement or serve as an understated backdrop for other focal points in a space. It is also an excellent medium for conveying your own personality and infusing it into a room.

But in general, what do colors mean? What sorts of feelings do they provoke? There is a psychology to color and it is visited with every color decision made by major retailers and other businesses. Here are the basics:

Black
Generally associated with negative terms, like "evil" or "death." But it is a powerful color that can also communicate elegance and wealth. When combined with other colors, it can make a very strong statement and can fit into most any design to add contrast and make other colors more prominent.

White
Viewed as fresh, pure and heavenly. It has a very clean look to it, so it is a great choice for designs utilizing a lot of negative space. Non-profits use white quite often, as it conveys something "good" and "positive."

Yellow
Represents fun, happiness, sunshine and light. It is the brightest color to the human eye and the most playful, cheerful and energetic. Yellow is a good choice for children's spaces, but must be carefully used (especially on a white background). If yellow darkens, it can be perceived as dirty or unpleasant, or even evoke feeling of being scared or cowardly.

Red
Conveys strength and pride, as well as caution or warning. Is a passionate, sexy, sporty color. In a home, it is generally suitable for accent pieces or anything in a space that you want to make "pop."

Orange
A bright, warm color that represents fire, sun, warmth and fun. Young people are particularly drawn to orange. The color has actually been shown to increase the oxygen supply to the brain and stimulate mental activity. It also stimulates appetite. Orange is a good choice for tropical, fun, easy-going or autumnal spaces.

Blue
Is a calming color that conveys creativity and intelligence. Is also evokes feelings of loyalty, wisdom and trust. While often used to represent the sky or water, blue generally looks good in most any shade, except when around food, as it suppresses the appetite. It is a popular color choice among men.

Green
Represents many things, including nature, healthy, fertility and safety. Like blue, it is relaxing. Green is thought to have a healing effect and is frequently used to represent health-related things. In darker shades, it is associated with the military all things financial. Green is increasingly used as the color of choice for websites.

Purple
Evokes a combination of stability and energy, while also being associated with royalty. It symbolizes both mystery and luxury. Depending upon the shade, purple can be flashy (when used with gold), feminine (light shade), and good for children's spaces (bright shade).

So the next time you have color decisions to make, start with the feeling you want to create in the space and choose the color palette that best reflects them.

Source: DigitalSkratch.com