Revive your apartment in four easy steps
It is 2014, and the best way to ring in the new-year is with a change of scenery (and by scenery we mean home décor, although taking a vacation sounds nice too!).
Redecorating your space is a great way to start the year on a high note, but such a transformation is traditionally not a cheap endeavor. If you don’t have oodles of cash to throw down for new furniture and décor in your local Pier One, then Do-It-Yourself projects may be the way to go when redecorating your pad.
Websites like Pinterest and Etsy have made DIY décor more popular than ever, but it is important to remember that photographs on these websites are often from professional third party décor sites. Intrepid DIY explorers have tried and failed at recreating these ambitious projects. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer the same fate.
Here is a list of some fun, affordable, and easy ways to spice up your décor:
A Pop of Color Goes a Long Way
A new coat of paint can transform a room, but the bolder color choices that are trending in 2014 might be too overwhelming on every wall. Take a look at some of this year’s top colors at Home Depot and consider painting a single accent wall. This saves you time and effort, and looks incredibly stylish.
Rehab Your Bedroom Furniture
If your furniture doesn’t match the style you are going for, it has never been easier to give old pieces a makeover!
Staining or painting bedroom furniture is easy (when done correctly). You can shade dressers and nightstands in a contemporary color like grey, teal or pink for a modern décor plan, or stain those items with a dark varnish to give them a classic antique feel. Be sure that the surfaces you plan to treat are clean of any dust or debris and that you follow any pre-treatment instructions (like sanding) before you get to work.
If you don’t feel like getting your hands dirty, changing your linens and sheets will always shake up a bedroom. Matching your bedding with curtains will can tie a room together in a pinch. If you’re shopping for a spare or children’s bedroom, buying dorm room bedding from specialized sites like OCM can be a thriftier option, and its offered in a whole of styles, from traditional to vibrant.
Get Your Couch a New Outfit
If your living room furniture needs a little love, consider reupholstering your couches and chairs. If the idea of yards of fabric and a staple gun sounds scary, the best alternative is finding attractive couch and chair covers. For affordable covers online, we love Slipcovers.com because they have tons of premade options for standard and overstuffed couches. The best part about slipcovers is that they are easy to remove, so you can change up your living room as often as you’d like on a budget! Similarly, accent throw pillows can be easily modified to switch up a room’s style. Buying new throw pillows at a retail store is pricey; sometimes a single couch pillow can cost upwards of $25. Making your own pillowcases is easy and incredibly cheap. Here is a link to an article about making your own no sew pillowcases.
Repurpose Your Mementos
One of latest trends in DIY décor is making memories into art. We aren’t talking about hanging your framed report cards but, instead, something unique about you that is just sitting in a box or drawer somewhere. For example, if you have attended some fantastic concerts in the past, framing all of your best concert tickets is a way to make your own wall art and show off some of your personality.
Wine lovers can create art with their leftover corks; newlyweds can supplement their wedding photos with framed copies of their vows or programs. The sky is really the limit with this idea, and we love it because it gets your favorite memories out of the dark and onto walls you inhabit every day. You can find cheap picture frames at your local goodwill, or buy them new at a discount décor store.
One my favorite DIY décor projects is transferring one of your old photos to a block of wood. Check out a nicely put together tutorial here. Whether it’s a current picture of you and your significant other or a picture of your old town, it’s a classy way to give any photo a rustic look.
The New Year is a great time to make a change in your home décor, but you shouldn’t have to break your budget to achieve the interior design you want. By taking some of these fun ideas and applying a bit of elbow grease, you can transform your space and still have some cash in your pocket.
