Most of us struggle with our finances, so it can be difficult to get your "style on" in your own home. It tends
to be the last thing that our precious funds can be allotted to. But, I believe that with some imagination, ingenuity and a vision of what you want, you can make your house into a very stylish home. So let's get started! Start with the first room that you wish to redecorate. Sometimes, this can be a group of rooms that need to tie together. It will be a larger project, but, well worth it. For example in my home, my living room, eat in kitchen, staircase and loft are connected visually. So, I needed to paint them all the same color.
2) Get inspiration for your room. Pinterest is great for this. Like many of you, I'm a pinterest junky! I'm totally serious!
3) Find your wall color that you wish to paint it. I advise something that can be a neutral to all of the accent colors that you will be adding in pictures, pillows, wall decor, etc. If you are unable to paint due to cost or renting than just give the walls and molding a good cleaning. You would be amazed at what white vinegar, water and lemon juice can do to moldings. Don't forget the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!
4) Give your windows, blinds and/or drapes a good washing.
5) Go around your entire home and take down all of your wall decor, drapes, table decor and pillows that you want to want to change up. Remember to check your garage, attic, storage areas, etc. You never know what has been laying dormant, just waiting to be rediscovered. I'm a firm believer in reusing, recycling and upcycling if at all possible. Pick out all of the things that are usable. Take the ones that you want to use and repaint, antique, reupholster to fit the style that you're going for. Check your garage for paint, ask your friends for paint that they're not using, check your local Freecycle. These are free things to use to upcycle your "keepers". I have painted many things in my home with paint that I already had.
6) Take all of the items that you wish to part with and talk to your girlfriends. Tell each one separately that you are redecorating your home and you have items that you would love to swap. Have them get together all of the items that they have that they would like to part with and see if you can get things that would work with your inspiration. I did this with my close friend who lives across the street. We both wanted to change our decor. So we swapped a lot of different things. I have to say that sometimes you can get things that would never fit in your budget. Like the large picture behind my couch. That was a swap! You can also make a party out of it and invite all of your girlfriends. Just make sure that they can only swap with you not each other. At least not until your swapping is done. LOL! You don't want to lose out on the best stuff for your home!
7) Anything that you have left, sell. Ebay, craigslist or even a yard sale facebook page for your local area. Don't know of one? Then start one. If you have other stuff around the house that you don't want, sell them too. This will help you declutter and earn money for decorating.
8) Okay, now that your home has been freshly washed and/or painted, decluttered and you have your items that you have upcycled, go shopping!!! First check Craigslist, Ebay, Salvation Army, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Bealls Outlet, Ross, Home Goods, etc. in your area that has discounted items. Remember, the items don't have to be the same as your inspiration, just similar in style. You're putting your twist on it. Don't forget that you can always paint it, strip/stain it or upholster it!
Fabric Tip: Fabric can be super expensive. If you find fabric that you love, but it's too expensive, buy a small amount for a couple of pillows, chair seats or to put into a nice frame for a wall hanging. When doing drapes, upholstering or making slipcovers, go with the less expensive neutral fabric. Almost any color can become a neutral. Since curtain panels are expensive and they usually make you buy each panel separately, check out the clearance area of your fabric store. I have 3 windows in my livingroom. I found gorgeous fabric that looks super expensive for only $7.48 a yard. I bought 9 yards. I actually over bought a little. I wanted to make sure that I had enough and to provide for oopsies. LOL!
**The picture above is part of my living room. It gets a lot of sun during the day and it's not very big, so it's hard to get a good shot without glare. The big picture behind the couch was a swap(free). The lamps/shades were a reuse(I upcycled them two redo's ago-free). The glass end tables/coffee table were hand me downs and reuses(free). The sconces I bought for $10 on fb yard sale board. The smaller picture on the wall was a reuse that I had in my garage(free). The round decorative stand thing on the right end table I repurposed from my kitchen(free). The couch with the pillows is new from Ashley Furniture($540 on sale). The drapes I made from clearance fabric 9 yds at $7.48 a yd($67.32 for 3 windows). The curtain rods I reused(free). The rod clips that hold the panels I got on clearance from Target for around $4.38 a pack of 7, I bought 3 packs($13.14). Total spent $630.46. Not everyone is in desparate need of a new couch. I was so if my couch was in good shape, I would have spent $90.46 on the things in the above picture.
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