Decorating on the Cheap

Here are some tips to redecorate your home, without the big price tag... just a little imagination, and some elbow grease.

Use things that you already have around the house. Sometimes you can transform a room just by moving a piece of furniture, a picture, or some knickknacks. Try different things. We tend to get use to an item or piece of furniture in the same room and forget to try something new.

Try moving furniture. We often get into a rut where we thing the furniture will only fit where we have it. Sit in a room and think about every different way the furniture could be placed-when you find another feasible option, start rearranging. The only way way to find out if it will really work is to try it.

Painting is one of the cheapest ways to brighten a room. Different colors can even make the room seem bigger. Sometimes, you can even scour clearance racks at the home improvement stores to find a "mistake" color that someone else didn't accept. This could get you a gallon of paint for $5 if you like that color.

Window treatments can definitely brighten up a room and pull it all together. Mix patterns and materials depending on the style of your room. Try combining blinds with material that is wrapped and draped over the curtain rod for a simple, yet elegant window treatment. Look for discount fabric stores in your area...you might be able to find some remnant pieces that will match that you can get for much less.

There is no better touch to a home than pictures that have been in the family for centuries or pictures that you have taken recently. Capture special times and proudly display them. Pictures can be displayed on walls, or they can be placed on tables, desks, bookshelves...in any room, yes even the bathroom!

Search the web to find consignment stores or model home stores in your area- these kinds of stores are plentiful in southern California. Sometimes, items just need a good cleaning or touching up and they're as good as new. You might be able to get some great artwork or knick-knacks for 70-80% less than what you would pay in a retail store!

There are so many ways to inexpensively decorate your home. You can creatively bring beauty, color, and brightness to your living space. With just a little imagination and a little labor, you can end up with a home that is unique and has its own dynamic personality.