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Victorian Elegance On A Budget

February 27th, 2010 Victoria Pollock No comments

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Nothing says elegance quite like the Victorian style of decorating but while it can be expensive there are many tricks that will give the illusion that you paid a fortune even if you haven\’t. While it is well known that in today\’s society the most well appointed homes are done in this style; in the beginning this was a style for the middle-class.

When you redecorate your home in this Victorian style you should keep in mind that the look you are going for is one that uses dark rich colors. You should keep this in mind when going about your decorating, while adding in some well placed wood panels, stained glass, and wallpaper that has a nice floral theme to it.

You may find while looking around for these types of accessories and furniture that you come across some high prices. But a great way to bring in the look of Victorian elegance is by getting some hardware that looks as if it came from a piece of Victorian furniture. Replacing the hardware on your furniture and other items you can change the look completely around. And the great thing about these items is that they can be found very easily.

A key feature of any Victorian style space are the decorative moldings and plaster work, since plaster work is very expensive a similar effect can be created with decorative cornices at the end of archways. It is very inexpensive and simple to paint wooden cornices to give them an expensive and elegant look.

One of the best traditions of the Victorian look was stained glass and that isn\’t very cheap but you can find a nice lamp that has a shade that is stained glass and it will not cost much money. It\’s a great way to bring in the stained glass to the decor, but not spend an arm and a leg.

The traditional color scheme of any Victorian home was dark and rich colors; however this does give smaller rooms a claustrophobic feel to them. One ways to achieve this elegant look without making the room look smaller is to only paint one wall a deep color then paint the other walls in lighter tones. Floral wallpapers are another really easy way to give an expensive look to a room.

Uses of area rugs are one of the easiest ways to save money when trying to style your home with the Victorian look. You have so many different styles of rugs and colors that can add some great warmth and comfort into any room. Try for rugs that have a nice floral design or some pattern that will go perfect with the rest of the room.

The Victorian look is synonymous with class and elegance, but with following the above tips you can bring this look into your home without paying a lot. Check out those discount stores in your area, and be sure to look at flea markets and garage sales to see if you can find some great deals on the right accessories to add to your very own Victorian look.

If you enjoyed this information about Budget home decorating, then you are going to find these living room decorating ideas inspiring.

Victorian Decor Even When On A Budget

February 24th, 2010 Christine Carrier No comments

Think about Victorian decor, one of the mainstays of the \”new vintage\” trend, and what comes to mind? Rich-looking, ornate styles, with big price tags attached, right? It doesn\’t to be expensive if you know how to make the most of what you already have, along with fabulous finds from other sources.

As always with decorating on a budget, start by thinking about paint, one of the most economical yet striking changes you can make in a room. Vintage decor of the Victorian era is lush with deep, jewel tones such as emerald green, sapphire or ruby. It isn\’t necessary to paint all the walls in these colors; in fact, it\’s not a good idea to do so if it\’s a smaller room you\’re decorating in vivid vintage. If that\’s the case, pick one wall as an accent, then paint the other walls in a light, but complementary tone. You\’ll be surprised at how much an accent wall like this can convey.

An Oriental area rug is a remarkable mark of Victorian design. Choose an area rug with a complementing shade with the rest of the room, or an eye-catching pattern. This can be an instant focal point in the room.

Old furniture can still be useful with such an elegant theme as Victorian. With some accessories like floral sheets, ribbons and perhaps an addition of carvings, the furniture will look fitting to the design. Cushion a furniture piece or even a whole set with an area rug and the room will look put-together.

For the bigger furnishings, instead of the typical Victorian walnut furniture, you can opt for the wicker type.

There are three different kinds of wicker. First, is paper wicker, which is made by twisting paper into several strips and then finished off by weaving them together. Second, is reed, which is derived from natural fibers. This wicker type is soaked until pliable or flexible and then finished off by weaving them together in a crisscross pattern. Lastly, resin, which is molded from plastic. Maintenance for wicker furniture is done by washing with a damp cloth. Just be extra careful with paper wicker as it is prone to rotting, especially when it has soaked up too much water.

How can you soften the appearance of wicker furniture? All you need are cushions and throw pillows, and you\’ll have a more relaxing fixture. Linens make nice fabrics, especially the floral and embroidered ones. In keeping up with the Victorian look, white with lace or ribbons are perfect!

Victorian design is also notable for its velvet and brocade fabrics. Because these textures are quite heavy particularly for warm weather and also quite expensive, you can just use them as accent pieces. Throw pillow covers or a simple drape will do, without hurting your budget.

For your decors like photographs and artworks, go for ornate frames in sepia tones or dark browns. China items and other floral pieces will also look apt to the theme.

Your home will be a set straight out of a period romantic movie.

If you found this information about budget home decorating beneficial, then you are bound to find these bedroom decorating ideas inspiring.

How To Decorate On A Budget

February 19th, 2010 Bethany Cramer No comments

Home decorating is not just an act of vanity of a homeowner. It is a necessity. Do you honestly want to live in a house that looks ugly and feels downright uncomfortable? Do you find unattractive houses pleasing to the eyes? Can you imagine coming home everyday to a place that is poorly kept? OF COURSE NOT, right? Therefore, decorating is essential, no matter where you live, in what house and what your budget is. A big budget for home decorating slashes almost half of the stress that comes with renovating a place, but having a small budget nonetheless gets the job done. Here are some decorating ideas for those with a tight hold on their finances.

Looking through thrift stores, garage sales and discount warehouses is a great way to start your experimental decorating techniques. These places may contain everything from retro artwork and albums for wall hanging, to area rugs that someone no longer wants. An area rug is a great item to help decorate on a budget because it helps provide a color scheme for the whole room, as well as acting as a heating or cooling item during the extremes of winter and summer.

Another way to decorate on a budget is to make decorations out of common items. Buy cheap frames from a dollar store and fill them with things that are not traditional artwork. Items that make you smile or think contribute significantly to filling a space. They express your personality in your living environment.

Painting may not be an option if you are renting a home. As an alternative, you could brighten the colors in your living space by hanging artwork on the walls. An option could be to hang a colourful rug on a wall, thus covering an area that you may previously not have liked so much. This type of coloring can brighten a dim room and make it a far more suitable living space for you.

For wall hangings, you can opt for your own photographs and artworks you can buy in thrift stores. With a nice frame, a simple wall decor will look ten times more attractive. An area rug also makes an impressive wall hanging. It\’s unique and eye-catching.

If you do decide to buy a brand new item, make sure that it is a good catch. Think twice especially if you\’re on a budget. Sure, you can probably get a refund, granted you\’ve kept your receipt and did not scratch the item, but do you know how awfully long getting a refund can get? It\’s better to sell what you\’ve bought online and move on with your life. Stick with your budget as much as possible and purchase items that you know you\’ll be using in the years to come. As with fashion, you should have classic pieces to wear over the years.

Decorating on a budget need not be restrictive or boring. Indeed, by considering the re-using and recycling of items you already have can be far more interesting than purchasing ready-made items. In doing this, you not only save money and reduce your budget, but you also can let your creative side free and create something unique for your living space, whether this is solely for you or for family and friends to also enjoy.

Budget home decorating experts all agree that it is essential to use relevant kitchen decorating ideas if you want to stretch your dollar.

Budget Friendly Decor

February 9th, 2010 Robert Conn No comments

With the recent economic developments, most households nowadays are trying to reduce expenses and living costs. But this shouldn\’t hinder you from getting the look dream home that you want and deserve. Analysts are saying that there\’s less traveling being done today – all the more reason to redecorate your home. After all, that\’s where you\’ll be spending a lot of your time from here on out.

One of the best ways to go about changing around your decor when you have little money is to take what you have and add just a bit of new or used things to the mix. Create a totally different look from what you\’ve ever seen. Changes around the furniture in the room instead of all straight and sleek looking will help the look of the room.

You can even change around how you have your furniture set up, or add some slip covers to them, and move them around. This is one cheap way to go about a brand new look. Don\’t think that you always need the most expensive items in your collection to have a great looking decor.

Expensive items can still be places near cheaper ones, though, provided that the cheaper items are classics or in good taste. Simple furniture pieces with clean lines, for example, are relatively cheap at the store yet will fall right at home with brand-name decor. Plainer items that have a more elegant look to be very versatile design pieces as well.

Visiting flea markets and garage sales are great ways to get more furniture and other items to redecorate with. People are just trying to get rid of things they don\’t want anymore and you will be able to pick up some really great items. Don\’t overbuy things; get things you don\’t really need. Stick to the budget.

Adding in area rugs are always a great way to change the look of a room. There are so many colors, and shapes of rugs that you shouldn\’t have a problem finding one that will match the new look of your room. Plus an area rug is not very expensive either!

Plan out where you will place the rugs though before you go and buy them. You need to make sure they go with the decor and that the size is right too. Area rugs help to save on the wear and tear of carpet and help to keep a child\’s room clean too.

Tasteful arrangement of furnitures and a few new accents will give your home an updated look, even with a limited budget. Just keep things simple and classic, and any space you work on should turn out fine.

If you found this information about budget home decorating helpful, then you are going to love these living room decorating ideas.

Decorating On A Budget

February 4th, 2010 Tammy Hoag No comments

If you are a decorator on a budget, this is the perfect read for you. Below are some money-saving ideas for home improvement:

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle- Take a look around your home. What furnishings can be moved from one room to another to create a new look? Consider something as simply as a using a small ladder for a potted plant rack or using an old nightstand for a TV stands. You may just find that you love your \”new\” old pieces in their new place.

Do It Yourself – there are so many things that you can do on your own and all you need are raw materials and some equipment. For one, instead of buying expensive artworks, why not make your own? Artworks are not only paintings and sculptures. They can be as simple as photographs, murals or swatches of fabric. If you have a pottery or crocheting skills, display your work and your home will be alive with your own \”masterpieces.\” A truly original place of art.

Third, use your artwork. You don\’t necessarily have to be Picasso to display your artwork. Simple creative and artistic stuff you have will look nice. After all, it\’s your home you\’re decorating and not an art gallery. A collage of pictures, paper art or origami, flower arrangement, swatches of fabrics, murals, etc. are already works of art that look will make your home interior unique and artistic, even if you\’re not a real artist. See, no need to spend for a painting or whatever wall decor.

Make New Curtains- Curtain are one of the easiest things to sew and you can create an entire new look for your room for just a few dollars. You can also find many curtains at yard sales and thrift stores, if you feel you are a little bit \”sewing challenged.\”

Shop in unconventional stores – visit garage sales, flea markets, bazaars, discount stores and thrift shops. You\’ll be amazed at the prices and the goods. Before buying, check first for any stains, rip, tear or damage. In case you find an interesting piece but there\’s damage, assess how much repair it\’ll need. If it won\’t cost you much, ask for a discount, buy it then repair it. No wallowing over a missed piece.

Use area rugs – your decorating endeavor will only be called complete if you have area rugs to adorn your floors or walls with. If you don\’t wish to buy new pieces, simply switch area rugs between rooms.

Last but not the least, new lighting. To save more, just change the lights and not the whole fixture. New bulbs for instance will definitely make the house brighter. The newly polished furniture, new paint and some new decors will be more noticeable.

These are just a few of the many money-saving decorating tips you can apply. Be creative and resourceful and you\’ll have a renovated home without having to spend much.

If you found this information about budget home decorating beneficial, then you are going to love these budget living room decorating ideas.

Five Decor Tips For A Budget Makeover

January 26th, 2010 Christine Carrier No comments

It\’s time to give your home a new look but who has the money to pay for a complete makeover? If you don\’t do something soon your home will start looking old. But there is some time-honored principles to follow that will help you decorate you\’re a beautiful, welcoming place that is stress free, well almost.

There are five guidelines used by designers to help you create the right decor for your home and will help you stay within your budget. If you have heard these before this will refresh your memory.

1. Paint.

Nothing looks any newer in a room then freshly painted walls. This is a simple and inexpensive way to create a new look. This is also an easy fix to a color that you no longer care for. You can change the look of your room instantly and without costing a lot of money. Invite family and friends over for a painting party.

2. Adding Light

Something basic but very much needed; light can say a lot about a room. Natural light is the best light in a room so you need to ask yourself, \”How much and what kind of natural light gets in your room?\”. Window treatments can be the deciding factor on the amount of natural light that comes into your room. If the room is dark you can be creative and decorate using the right curtains and material. When you need more light added to a room or a part of a room that is dark then you want to paint the walls a light shade. Install a floor lamp or table lamp that can use the new energy efficient bulbs that can imitate natural light. If your room has no windows or very small windows you will be able to add soft textures to increase the warm and cozy feel to the room.

3. Pillows.

One of the easiest, most simple ways to liven up a room that\’s getting stale is to change the pillows. Check out sewing and craft stores, along with thrift shops and secondhand stores, for fabric remnants and learn to make your own pillow covers. The simplest pillow covers are little more than envelopes that wrap around the pillow form and tie with a ribbon or button. Turn your imagination loose.

4. Area rugs.

Every room needs area rugs. An area rug can provide multiple advantages. You can use an area rug to add color to a room or to define a certain part of the room. You can also use an area rug to hide those ugly areas in your wall to wall carpet that you can\’t afford to replace yet. An older rug can be used to hang on the wall.

5. Using your Imagination

Believe it or not, the best tool for home decor is your imagination. You can create anything on your own budget without any help. Decorate your room with furniture, lighting, drapery, and accessorize with your taste. Experiment with new looks, color, and styles and invent some on your own. It\’s your home; be creative.

If you found this information about budget home decorating helpful, then you are going to love these budget bedroom decorating ideas.

Decorating Using A Budget

January 15th, 2010 Phil Osmond No comments

People who are in the market to redecorate their homes may not have as much money to set aside to do so. The economy isn\’t very good and people seem to be losing their jobs easily. This will cut into any kind of budget that you were hoping to use in order to change the decor of your home. But you have ways that you can add some extra money into that budget pot and make the changes you were hoping to do.

One way to economize when dealing with home decor is to mix styles and budgets. It is important to remember that high cost does not always equal a successful interior. More importance should be placed on whether a space has a sense of balance and harmony. Pieces should relate to each other in the overall scheme. This does not mean that groupings have to match or be of the same price or quality. This would be uninspired and boring.

Using what you already have in your room but changing it around a bit can actually save a bunch of money when you go to redecorate. Most people will put those items they have spent more money on in a grouping not adding the less expensive pieces because they feel that it will make the other pieces look cheap. But really this isn\’t the case if you have brought something and found it at a bargain price, it can still look expensive.

As we all know, rules can be broken. This applies to home decorating as well. Inexpensive items can be paired with expensive items if fashioned correctly. Firstly, expensive and inexpensive can co-exist if there are simple lines. Since simple lines naturally appear luxurious, all items will be elevated to that level. Another way is to invoke a spirit of funkiness. The \”gypsy\” look is to combine a great piece of modern furniture with an antique vase. The contrast is stunning!

Other ways to save money on home decorating involves careful shopping. Flea market, estate sales and even garage sales can be a great source for home decor. They are price moderately and the sales are plentiful during the spring and summer months. The key is to have an idea of what pieces and what colors will work with your decor. Do not buy something that will not be useful or complement pieces already in your home.

Another excellent way to save money when redecorating is to get some area rugs. These rugs will add a nice splash of color to a duller room or just add a nice warm touch to one that you have already made up. Texture is another thing that the area rug can bring into the room. Try buying different styles of rugs like bamboo, synthetic, or jute. The feeling it brings to the room can create a nice addition to the room.

Shapes and sizes also are important consideration when purchasing an area rug. For example, it is important to have a large enough area rug underneath the dining room table. Otherwise, guests will be moving their chairs on and off the rug.

It\’s easy to understand why in today\’s economy you are not looking to spend a bunch of money on a redecorating project. But with some wise shopping and some good thinking you can have a brand new look.

If you enjoyed this information about Budget home decorating, then you are going to find these budget kitchen decorating ideas inspiring.

Beautifying Your New Home While Sticking To A Budget

January 2nd, 2010 Mark Doodle No comments

You\’ve just bought a new house and decorating comes next. This can be a tedious task, especially if you\’re decorating for the first time. Hiring an interior designer to do the work is a tempting idea but not one suited to someone who\’s on a tight budget. Moreover, being hands-on in decorating your home sounds better than having someone else do it, don\’t you think? You can change your mind as often and be as meticulous as you want without annoying anyone…

Decorating is about implementing your style and taste. By choosing things that you like, decorating becomes a breeze. Decorating as a family makes it even more enjoyable.

In decorating a new house, you\’ll get a bird\’s eye view of the space. Without furnishings to block the areas, you\’ll know better which furniture goes well in what room. Obviously, measurements are important. Before buying new furniture, make sure that you know the measurements of the space so you won\’t be spending your money for nothing. If you want to use your old furniture however, then work your other decors around your piece. If no other decors fit in the room, then so be it. You can enhance the room in other creative ways, such as through lighting, wall hangings and color.

Living room: Maybe the old sofa can be brought in with the side tables and the television. Curtain and rugs would accentuate the room and if you have to buy them, to fit the place, big prints are more advisable. An artificial flower arrangement with big bright flowers on one corner or on the mantel would make the room look elegant and pleasing to look at.

Purchase quality beds for the bedrooms. Consider this an investment. Quality beds last longer and will save you the expenses of buying new ones soon. Choose the right size as bedrooms vary in floor area. Don\’t set aside storage compartments, especially if you have a lot of things and there\’s only a small closet. Invest in good cabinets or drawers for longer use.

The Children\’s Bedroom: It should be bright and airy with lovely, pleasing to the eye wallpaper and matching curtains. Of course, if your children are small, a bunk bed to one side would be advisable, leaving enough space for them to play with their toys. A study table should be available for their use as well.

Kitchen: Good storage cabinets along with a side table are required to store cooking utensils, plates, cups, etc. and also give you space to work on. Packaged food lying around can look messy so a cabinet especially for that is required.

The dining area: This could be a separate area or could be incorporated in the kitchen. The dining table is the place where the family sits together so it should be big enough to accommodate all members of the house and at the same time should look appealing to the eye. A pastel tablecloth with a bright rug below would keep it simple yet elegant. A fresh floral centerpiece personally arranged would give this place the finishing touch.

Finishing these main areas will make decorating the other rooms easier. The bathrooms, patio, entryway and hallways, basement and backyard should also be given attention so that you will have a house that looks pleasing in every corner.

Budget decorating has never been this easy; be sure to take a look at this budget living room decorating ideas for the latest tips.