room makeover--go ahead, be cheap!

a fresh new look without a trip to the bank

By Shayla Sharp

So your house needs a little freshening up, but your wallet is on a diet--what do you do? You go cheap!

"I don't want it to look ugly or cheap," you say? Not a problem. Inexpensive makeovers don't have to look like they came with a tiny budget. The secret is careful creative application--CCA.

Freebies

So how low can you go? Let's start with two absolutely free ways to change up a room--declutter and staging.

That's right, clean up your mess! We all do it. Collect more stuff then we really need or have space for. And that stuff quickly piles up and spreads out when we get busy. So, go through your personal possessions, be honest with yourself, and divide them into three piles. Keep, Store and Get Rid Of.

Things you use constantly or really love get to stay in the room. Stuff you want to keep but rarely use or desire to displaygoes into a box for storage. Things you never use, don't want or are no longer in great condition go out the door permanently! If they're still in good condition consider donating them to a Good Will or other thrift store. If they're too worn out or broken, recycle the item or throw it away.

Now that you've cleaned up a bit, let's look at staging. Staging is simply arranging the things in a room in a manner that looks good and promotes room use. Whether you own Ethan Allen or Walmart, arrangement will determine whether your room looks like a catalog photo or a dorm room. Don't want to move the furniture around a few dozen times? Simply use some grid paper and make a to-scale outline of your room and scaled furniture cut-outs. Move these around until you have an ideal arrangement, then move the real furniture to its new place. (Now's the time to call up favors--or come up with good bribes--for all those strong friends!)

Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose

Don't forget your three makeover R's. While not quite the same as the classic reduce, reuse, recycle, I'm sure you get the general concept. Look around at waht you already own. Can any of it be put in a new location? Maybe a mirror from the hall or framed print from another room would now look stunning in this room. Perhaps those retro curtains could be cut apart and sewn into a few pillows. An old brass lamp can be spray-painted to black for a sleek modern look. Get creative, you may find that you already have everything you need to make your room look awesome--it just might need a little makeover magic to get there!

Accessorize

Adding a little "bling" to the room doesn't have to cost a fortune. A few well placed items can go a long way towards making a big splash.

Just like a great outfit, a room insn't complete until you've accessorized it! Instead of ties, earrings or shoes, think vases, prints, and candles. This is an excellent opportunity to use accent colors in a room (and if you decide you want a different look, just switch out the accessories).

Sure, you can go into Pottery Barn and spend a $100 on a pillow and two candles, but you can also go to Walmart, or better yet, make your own coordinating pillows and window treatments. Don't sew, find someone who does--even without cash, you may be able to barter, or trade, for their services. (I promise, you start talking chocolate or yard work, and they'll be listening!) Check out local thrift stores, you'd be surprised at what gets thrown out when other people are tired of it. Use your creativity to find the treasures out there.

A New Light

Change you light bulbs. Yes, its really that easy. Switch to a more natural light and the colors in your room will take on a whole new look. Be sure and shop for energy efficient, low-mercury versions! Also, look for ways to increase natural sunlight in the room. Use mirrors to reflect light, different window treatments or colors which help to visually brighten a room. Even changing the surface finish from matte to glossy can cause more light to bounce around the room, making it just a little brighter.

Paint

A little color goes a long way. Painting is one of the least expensive things you can do to change the entire look of something. Whether you're repainting a piece of furniture or the walls, a change in color will change the feel. While neutrals are great for being a blank palette to work from, and perfect for selling a house, don't be afraid of color. Lighter colors will make a space seem larger and more open. Darker colors can be used to accent or highlight a feature. Consider painting a darker tone to "frame" windows or artwork. Painting your walls is much less expensive then wallpaper and far easier to change.

So have fun and remake a room--it won't cost much!

Check out these sites to get your ideas flowing:

 

Shayla M. Sharp, owner of White Dragon Studios and freelance writer, enjoys design in all its aspects whether she's designing jewelry or trying to get two-year olds to hold stilll for a portrait. She lives in Oregon with her best pal Stars, a border collie mix, where she plants vegetables and flowers for him to run over.