Cost Effective Home Decoration

Inexpensive ways to make a room stand out

2010-05-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

I love when people come up with creative ways to improve a rather basic item. A great example of this is Scrabble pillows, now that is clever inexpensive way to improve a room. I am actually surprised that you don't see these pillows more often.

Giving your rooms a unique theme is a great way to spice them up without paying a fortune. The person who posted this picture went a little further then most with the benches that are shaped like the letter holders. I believe that just doing something small like just having the creative pillows will make everyone who walks in the room smile and that is more of an emotion then most living rooms elicit, so well done.

Now, this is a fun couch!

2010-03-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of independent thinking when it comes to furniture. I get so tired of the usual cookie cutter furniture that almost everyone is bringing out. I don't care if you use a different fabric, it is the same basic idea.

It is not that hard to think out of the box and create a new design like this couch. It didn't take a brain surgeon to create this couch, it just too a little bit of creativity. And creativity doesn't mean it has to cost more.

Sometimes Less is More... with decorating

2010-03-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

When looking at living rooms like this, it is nice to see empty space. I like when rooms have the opportunity to breath and aren't all filled from wall to wall with items. I feel sometimes that people fear empty space and are desperately trying to fill it. There is no need to have this panic, it looks good, just let it be.

So the next time, you find a portrait you want or the next piece of furniture that you must have, don't put it in the one spot that you have left open, replace an older piece with it. This should help you stay frugal because you will have to prioritize what you want to keep.

Separate the Room with Color

2010-02-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

I have found that there are easy ways to make room feel larger then it really is. Color helps out a great deal, it separates things in a way that make a divided room feel much larger.

Now, be careful what colors you use. I have seen this this tactic backfire too many times. If the colors are too close to each other, the room will not blend well and this is not a good thing. Now that you have been warned, good luck!

A useful way to reuse old t-shirts

2010-02-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

We all have those Tee shirts that we have kept for decades and just can't bring ourselves to throw away. You can't bring yourself to wear them in public anymore but they have a special place in your heart. Well, I have found a way to bring some life back to those shirts, get someone to make a quilt out of them.

This is a trend that has going around for the last few years and I can see a lot of merit in it. It cleans out your closet and keeps you warm. It is time that you officially retire those shirts from use and give them new life as a bed warmer.

Sitting in comfort!!

2010-01-07T10:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know why people would buy uncomfortable couches just because they like the style. When you compare them to a chaise like I have shown the picture above, why would you buy anything else.

The best thing about couches as the one above is that their price tags are not a huge as the designer couches that give you a backache after sitting for ten minutes. I push that we should have a consumer movement for comfort over fashion, who is with me?

Pillows for what you need

2009-12-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize until recently that I know nothing about pillows. One of my friends was on my blog and decided to share with me a little of her vast pillow knowledge. And with all good things, I, in turn, share this interesting tidbits with you. Enjoy!

A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the body. There are three main types of pillows; Bed pillows, Orthopedic pillows and Decorative pillows, with some overlapping of use between these.
The classic bed pillow shape is a square or rectangle. These pillows are generally covered with a removable pillow case, which facilitates laundering, keeping the bedding fresh.

The 'Oxford Size' is 20 X 30 inches,

while the 'Continental Size' is 26 X 26 inches,

and 'Travel Pillows' are commonly 12 X 16 inches.

Body pillows are as long as a full adult body, providing support to the head and neck at the top and to the knees and legs lower down. This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides and for pregnant women.

When choosing a pillow make sure you know what type of sleeper you are; if you sleep on your back, your side or on your stomach. And remember there is a difference between regular pillows you use every night and decorative pillows and shams, which you are not supposed to lay on, but are for decorative purposes only. http://www.duvetscomfortersandbedding.com/

This is the best time to decorate

2009-11-25T13:08:00.001-08:00

Well, it’s that time of year again, time for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the two busiest days of my life. One day I spent cooking and eating the greatest food on Earth, then I have a midday nap and I get ready to stand out in the cold so that I can get amazing shopping deals. If you are savvy like me, along with getting all your Christmas gifts and you can also get what you want to spruce up your house.
I have figure out a way to even get more off on my Black Friday sales. My master plan this year is to get gift certificates that at a discount on sites like citydeals or others and then use them for payment on my items. This is what I call a double bonus, a genius move on my part!

Improving the house, one room at a time

2009-11-04T13:47:00.000-08:00

At my house, though there isn't much money to go around for improvement, we always seem to have some project going on. There is no fault on wanting to improve on what you have, as long as you don't go into debt to achieve your goals. I have been scouting around for some good advice and found some on replacing things in your kitchen. Feast on this article and Enjoy!

New Ezine Articles | Updating Your Kitchen on a Tight Budget

Updating Your Kitchen on a Tight Budget

By: Aja Klena

Full blown kitchen remodels can cost thousands of dollars, and you may feel you are going to be stuck with an ugly kitchen for years. But simple changes can make a powerful impact and go a long way towards bringing new life to a run-down look, while remaining budget friendly.

Renovate Outdated Surfaces
Due to the upgrades the design world has made to paint and painting effects, it is now possible to use faux-painting techniques to clean up and mirror higher end counter top surfaces. Your local home decor or arts and crafts store has books and videos and even live classes on different painting techniques that will create the layered look you need, so take advantage of this expertise and get a whole new look.

Out With the Old, In with the New: Window Treatments
If you have become numb to the out of date, tea pot print fabric you have adorning your kitchen window, wake up and take them down so you can replace them with a new window treatment that is more in tune with your new style. A general rule is to keep it simple. Let in as much sunlight as possible by using light airy fabric, and stay away from heavy material or conflicting color schemes.

Reinvent the Walls with Color
One of the fastest ways to achieve a new look is to paint the surface of the walls and or the back-splash. This applies to using the same color you already have, or trading up to a new shade you may have never tried before. Choose a color pallet that is in keeping with the counters and cabinets you will ultimately end up with, and experiment with different techniques till you achieve a look that makes you happy.

Change out the Kitchen Jewelry (Knobs, Fixtures, and Hinges)
This very easy, cost effective way to update the kitchen is still the most overlooked, underused technique around. Take all knobs and hinges on the cabinets and change them out in keeping with your new style choice, as well updating the faucet, plug, and light switches.

Dress It Up (A Look at Accessories)
What you choose to display on your counter-tops can go a long way towards enhancing a worn out, tired look. Place colorful, pleasing accessories such green plants or jars filled with items that are kitchen specific (sugar, pasta, cookies) to spruce up the surface area. Home decor stores have come out with beautiful kitchenware lines that offer painted cutting boards that might add a nice accent while still remaining functional. Display what resonates with you.

Flooring
If you can not afford to replace your existing flooring, give it a good cleaning and dress it up with the use of a new kitchen area rug to pull in additional colors and themes. Make sure that it can be laundered if necessary, and enjoy the extra cushion while cooking.

Resurface the Kitchen Cabinets
In much the same way that paint can fix any of the design problems you may be facing if you do not have a lot of money to put into decorating your kitchen, it can also be turned towards the kitchen cabinets. Just be sure to take the cabinet doors off the hinges before you start, create a system for marking which cabinets go back up and where, and prep by cleaning and sanding. Preferably you want to stay away from an ordinary paint brush and sick with the roller or spray gun to obtain a high end effect.

Shelving Presentation
Instead of focusing on painting and maintaining all of your cabinets, choose a well placed area to remove one of the cabinet doors all together in order to act as an open exhibit. You may use dramatic paint color in this area to draw the eye in, or you can paper the area instead to accomplish the same purpose. Display plates and cups or well chosen keepsakes that match your individual style.

Author Resource:-> Aja Klena is a prominent online author and the senior staff writer for http://www.metal-wall-art.com - a distinctive wall art store specializing in contemporary wall art and wall art metal.

Article From New Ezine Articles

Looking good on a budget

2009-09-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

It is easier then you think to decorate your house for not that much money. The idea is just to be unique!!!