With four kids, my decorating budget was spread (very) thin.
I wanted my home — which has four kids living inside it — to look and feel cozy and aesthetically fabulous, but we couldn't spend tons of money to accomplish or maintain that look. To keep our house looking good, we make financially wise choices while constantly going for a high-end look. We're also creative about where we look.
1. I had a vision.
Buy a few decorating catalogs or magazines or — better yet — save your money and ask friends for theirs when they are done. We also took decorating books from the library and snapped photos of rooms we liked. We used these as guides to forming our style and we took them with us when we went shopping.
2. I used Craigslist and discount retailers.
I found that costly name brands arenot always the only way to go. In fact, The Salvation Army stores and other thrift shops often have surprising finds. We found our gorgeous brand new Ethan Allen dining room table at a quarter of the original cost at a local discount store because it had a verysmall scratch — and with kids, scratches are no stranger. Craigslist and other online yard sale sites are equally great at finding deals, especially from people who are moving and need to sell quickly. We found two club chairs for $100 on Craigslist.
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3. We went with a neutral palette base and swapped out soft furnishings.
Trends come and go (and can be costly) but if you choose neutral wall colors and timeless, basic pieces, they can be dressed up or down into any style or theme you want. I easily switch out curtains, pillows, paintings and throw rugs at a very low cost.
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4. Blend high-end with cheap.
When we put on an addition and remodeled our kitchen, we were stunned at the high cost of the low-end cabinets at the two big box home improvement stores. So, we ended up with simple white cabinets from IKEA at a fraction of the cost. Because of what we saved, we had the extra money for granite counters, which we did purchase at a big box home improvement store on sale. The mix of the high-end granite with the cheaper cabinets looks stellar. Plus, if we decide to change our style, white goes with everything.
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5. Shop floor models.
Whether it's a couch, dining room table like ours, oven or fridge, the floor models are worth investigating. You can score higher end brands for pennies on the dollar. Just be sure that warranties are still applicable and check the fine print.
6. Spray paint it.
When we moved into our home, our dining room had a brass finished chandelier that I hated. I had my husband take it down, and I took off the large ball on the bottom, spray painted it a matte black and found shades at a discount store. It looked fabulous, and everyone thought it was brand new. The entire transformation cost me less than $10. Spray paints cover plastic, metal, wood and so many other surfaces. Plus, painter's tape can help you get a bi-colored look.
7. See your furniture with new eyes.
I think a neutral or funky slipcover is the way to go when you can't buy an entirely new couch. Many discount stores sell them, and they will instantly change your entire room for just a few dollars. If you have side tables that seem outdated, consider painting or swapping out knobs for something different. Lamps can be painted and replacement shades found for cheap at most discount stores.
From: Good Housekeeping
Source : BY LAURA RICHARDS | housebeautiful.com
