Modern Home Decorating

Interior decorating magazines want us to gawk at the pricey furniture and perfectly executed sets, but the truth is that these are simply not real. They are actually extremely flawed because the average person cannot live in and maintain such environments. The flawless spaces they portray damage our perception of what home living should be and what it is actually like. The smart average person knows that a counter top (especially in a home that has a family) will never just feature decorative glass containers. Throw in cellphones, keys, a basket of neglected fruit, an abandoned beverage or two and a tray to gather miscellaneous objects, and the idyllic picture becomes reality.

It may be very idealistic to expect that you will be able to achieve those perfectly kept homes you see in the magazines in real life. In fact, they paint an extremely unrealistic picture. What they don’t tell you is how many maids work tirelessly to maintain that ‘ideal home’. Or that the owner doesn’t have kids’ and is often away. More importantly, the cost to have such branded names in your home is not practical or the average person.

There are actually many ways that you can do your home decorating on a budget. Just find what is cheap, express yourself in your style and give your home a more realistic appearance.

More ideas on creating your own rules when decorating can be found here.

With all the many things we may need for our homes, decorating may be least of our problems. There are actually many things that can be done even on a short budget. Home decorating on a budget is the answer.

“There are many budget-conscious things homeowners can do to polish the look of their homes,” said Tracy Christman, vice president of Budget Blinds Vendor Alliance.

Here are some tips that budgetblinds recommends:

While paint color can change the mood of a room, window coverings can change the way light reacts with that color. Cellular shades, plantation shutters, and blinds can also prevent heat gain, which reduces energy use and costs.

Adding a simple drapery panel to an existing window treatment softens harsh angles, adds a bit of drama and makes a room more inviting.

To save some money when buying a drapery panel, ask your style consultant about stopping the fabric at the floor rather than allowing it to puddle.

Swap your drapery panels and accessories seasonally for décor that always seems new.

The basic idea when it comes to decorating with a budget is to invest wisely.  Know what items to buy and take good care of them.

If you’ve been putting off decorating your homes because of budgetary constraints, here’s a pretty good source on where you can find great pieces at a fraction of the cost. Get ready for it… Go to flea markets! It’s that time of the year where people are selling or getting rid of their old stuff to make room for the new ones. In this case, one person’s trash can be your treasure.

You can take old pieces like iron moldings or other antique looking junk from flea markets and turn them into eye catching accents for your home. You can use old cabinet handles as key hangers and mismatched chairs for that unique and frazzled look.

Of course, as with anything, don’t overdo it. Check out the full article over at Home Interiors Zone

Every handyman (or woman) prides the ability to pick the best equipment from stores and use them properly. Of course those without unlimited funds have to make do with what their budget allows. Here are some tips to for savings when it comes to shopping for supplies.

1. Paint – You can apply for a commercial account (data doesn’t have to be real) at Home Depots and you can avail of their 10-15 percent discount on paints. Don’t shirk it, that’s a lot of savings!

2. Nails, screws and Joints – Go for generic, they’re all made in the same plant in china anyway. Plus how can you go wrong with steel?

3. Power tools – While I wouldn’t advise trying to skimp on power tools, it’s best to purchase them during big sales or coupon days. If it really can’t wait then you’re better off borrowing from a friend than buying something cheap.

For more tips, check out he Kansas City Star

For those that want to do home decorating on a budget, nothing beats the elegance that a few well-decorated candles can bring to a room. Candles are very cheap to purchase and they’re available in almost any color so you’re sure to have something that matches with the current color setup that you have in your room.  The high-end candles are quite pricey so to stick to home decorating on a budget, we’re going to decorate our own candles and use those.

To start off, you’ll need the following supples: Ribbon, beads, paint, sequins, decorative wire, markers, tissue paper and stamps.  Once you have these then you’re all set to go.

There’s no set way of decorating these candles so you’ll just have to let your imagination run wild!

Original Source: Integra Project

Home Decorating isn’t just about doing the interiors and painting walls inside your house to give it that fresh look.  You must not forget about the exterior of your house, after all, that is the image that you’re presenting to the outside world. Everyone wants to do home decorating on a budget because who doesn’t want to save money?  Contrary to popular belief, updating the exterior of your house doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

* Curb Appeal is Important – A couple of hours doing yard work is absolutely free.  You’ll be amazed at how good your property can look with a clean yard without all of the clutter.

* Painting – Just like your interior, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for the look of your house.  Since the exterior is exposed to the elements, the colors of the paint will dull a lot faster than the ones inside, refresh it once every couple of years.

The exterior of your home deserves the same attention to detail as the interior. Although, we forget about it once we are living inside the house, exterior and curb appeal are essential for neighborhood appeal, and trying to sell your home. Remember, your entire home is one entity and for minimal cost you can update the exterior, and feel good about it. Who knows, you may inspire your neighbors to do the same!

Full article over at Reality and Investments

There’s always a dilemma between deciding to get new furniture or to simply have your old pieces reupholstered. Before deciding on what do do, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you still like the style of your pieces?

2. Is it sized just right for your other furniture?

3. Does it fit your seating needs?

4. Is it comfortable?

5. Is it still structurally sound?

6. Does it provide adequate back support?

If you’ve answered yes to any of the questions then you should seriously reconsider reupholstering the piece instead of purchasing a new one. If your pieces have lasted this long, then they are probably made of sturdy material which would be really expensive by now.

You can pick a great upholsterer by going to their workshops and looking at work in progress and their recently completed projects. Reupholstering is a great way to breath new life into your furnitures and save money at the same time!

Article Source: ChicagoNow

Photo credit: Buzzle