6 Ideas for Redecorating on a Budget

By Jane Blanchard

Via Moderize.com

Every now and then most homeowners become aware that their surroundings need a lift, but many will hesitate to even think about a makeover because of the money such a project would entail. The truth is, redecorating does not have to be impossibly expensive. Here are 6 ideas you can use to redecorate without dislocating your finances.

1. Purge your place of clutter. Believe it or not, decluttering is sometimes the only way a new look can be born, and for some people, it is the most problematic part of redecorating. Take a look at the stuff in your house and honestly assess what no longer contributes to making your habitat look attractive. Find the courage to give away the things that constitute clutter. If you can do this, a substantial part of your redecorating project is as good as done!

2. Give the walls a coat of paint in a new color. A new coat of paint will make your house look incredibly new, and you can up the ante by splashing on a different color. If you would rather not make radical changes in your color scheme, you can try introducing a somewhat related shade from the same color family. For example, it is possible to go from light gray to a lighter or a darker gray, or you can level up from cream to light canary yellow. This way most of your old stuff will fit right in.

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3. Liven up your walls with frames. Ordinary frames can do a lot to liven up your walls in a totally extraordinary way. For example, imagine a group of pictures in black frames arranged as a group against a taupe wall. Or, a large print of Van Gogh’s sunflowers at the center of a pale yellow wall would really give a room lots of personality. You don’t need to purchase expensive frames to create drama on your walls.

4. Refinish your old furniture. A coat of varnish on wooden furniture and new slipcovers will make a big difference in whether your home looks well-kept or shabby. If you are willing to take on the challenge of reupholstering chairs, there are plenty of videos and online articles to help you learn the process.

Refinishing old furniture means investing in a lot of elbow grease, but it will be worth it. Start by refinishing and reupholstering simpler pieces such as chairs. You will be surprised at the way your refashioned chairs can make a room refreshingly different.

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5. Refresh your living room with throw pillows. Throw pillows are a truly effective and unbelievable cheap way to add pizazz to your renovation. You can have loads of fun gathering throw pillows of the right color, print, size, and shape to create the look you want. For example, symmetrical, solid color pillows evenly distributed on a couch will give your seating area a formal ambiance, while brightly printed ones in bright colors will create a relaxed setting.

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6. Explore new window treatments. There is just no way you can give your house a new look if your curtains are threadbare. Unless you pick high end drapes, new curtains need not be prohibitively expensive. There are numerous ways to come up with creative window treatments.

For instance, you might want to experiment with no-sew Roman shades. Not only are these are extremely easy to do, they cost very little.

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It is important to have a plan when you start your redecorating. Go through the rooms you want to redecorate and imagine how you want them to look when you are done. Browse through popular decorating magazines and brochures to get a clearer vision of how you can get more dash for less cash.

For more design ideas and inspiration, head to Modernize.com.

Thanks Jane!  These are some great ideas!  Sometimes it's those simple things that we forget all about and they're really the most important.  (Like picking up clutter... :) )  

What are some ways you like to redecorate your home on a budget?