Thrifty home decor includes figuring out your style.
Decorating and arranging your home is a personal reflection of your personality, tastes, styles and outlook. The ability to express your feelings and personality in your home surroundings is an art and a talent that's not difficult or expensive to develop. Start by knowing your design style, whether it's southwestern, Victorian, traditional, eclectic, contemporary or some other unique style. From that base you can plan your space, colors and accessories within your decorating budget. Does this Spark an idea?
Figure Out Your Style
Before making any decorating plans, sit down and think about your personality, your preferences and your dislikes. Jot down a list of things you are drawn to, such as the clean, spare look of Japanese interiors or the rugged, rustic natural look of southwestern decor. Go to the library for a couple of weeks and read books and magazines about decorating, design and home decor. Once you know your style, you have a blueprint for your decorating scheme and can look for used and sale items that match your style on your budget.
Make a List
Whether you are starting from scratch to decorate a whole house or just have one room to complete, make a list of the items you need to do the job. Put it on the refrigerator or on the bathroom mirror and keep a copy in your purse or wallet so you can take advantage of sales when you are out. Staying organized in home decorating projects helps you stay within your budget and get the most for your time and money.
Become a Sale Junkie
For home decorating projects on a small budget, you need a strategy. The more department store sales, garage sales, thrift shops and rummage sales you go to, the more opportunities you'll have to find what you need for your decorating projects. Plan to go to two to three sales per week and watch the sales ads for your favorite retailers so you know when they have big sales. Make a contract with yourself to never buy anything at full price.
Use Color
Make the most of your decorating budget with good use of color. A can of paint changes the whole look and feel of the room by changing the color on the walls. Use one accent color in a room with a neutral or white backdrop. Or, use a light color on the walls and a little darker shade of the same color for a large piece of furniture, like a couch or easy chair, to create the look and feel you want on a budget.
Avoid Clutter and Set Limits
Avoid clutter and overfilling your space with decor. Instead, visualize the look and feel of the space. Write down what you want to use to create it and resist the urge to use too many things. Limit what you use to decorate your space and spend your decorating money on a few key pieces that you use with light and color to create the style you want.
Tags: your decorating, decorating projects, look feel, your space, your style, color walls, decorating budget