The real test for anyone who is decorating on a budget is their ability to take an inexpensive item, and then be able to camouflage its real value. So what they should be able to do is make a $10 item look like a $100 item instead. This can certainly be achieved, all it requires is a little patience, and a little decorating know how.
However, when decorating on a budget, it does not mean that you have to cut down on the quality of everything that you want. Not only can decorating on a budget be fun, but if creatively undertaken, it can also be done with flair and style.
The first thing you should remember when decorating is that there are no rules except those that you set for yourself. However, having a plan is always a good idea and will help you to keep on budget.
Below are a provided a number of tips that will help you get started.
1. Trust yourself
Remember, you will know more about what looks good for your home than you think.
2. Focal Points
Select the most important element in a room, say a fireplace, and make this the focal point. Then place furnishings and objects around it to draw a person’s eye towards it. You could, if you want, direct the person’s eye towards, say, a window, which then directs them to look outside into the garden.
3. Themes
Provide each room with a theme. You may just decide on a color, or it may be a particular style, say French Country or Italian Tuscany, for say the kitchen. Doing this will give you a starting point, and will help to guide you through the decorating stages.
4. Planning
When planning your design, work from the largest area of the room to the smallest. For instance, start with walls, windows, floors, furnishings and then finish with accessories. It is important to remember the larger the decorating surface, the more impact it will have on the finished design.
It is important when doing any decorating on a budget that you have a plan. So you need to know what furniture you need (if any). What color scheme do you want for each room? What style do you want? By doing this, you will not waste time and money in purchasing things that you do not need, and also that you do not like.
But the most important thing of all when decorating on a budget is to have fun!
