Tips for Renovating and Decorating on a Budget

Doing home renovations and decorating can be difficult when you are stuck to a specific budget. However, there are a few simple things you can do to fix up your home and make it exactly to your taste and style. If you are on a very tight budget, you can start with tackling a few of the items below. Not all of these items have to be accomplished at the same time, which is what makes these renovations and decorations doable. The important thing to start out with is knowing the style and feel of what you are going for. This means you should sit down and plan out exactly what you are hoping your renovated home will look like. In this way, as you continue renovations and decorating, your theme will remain intact and obvious.

Add Rugs

The first thing you can do to help change the style and feel of your home is to buy a new rug. Rugs are an easy way to add a different texture, color, or pattern into a space without spending a lot of money on redoing the entire room. If you already have a rug that you love, you should consider rug cleaning. Sometimes, simply deep cleaning a rug you already own can bring out new colors and textures that were hidden by years of dirt and grime. Rug cleaning also can allow you to buy a used rug that might be substantially less expensive than a brand new rug. Simply cleaning it can make it smell fresh and look brand new.

Change Lighting

If you are wanting to change the feel of your house, you should look into changing the lighting or adding windows. Natural light can improve sleep, productivity, and can even improve your mood. By adding in another window, you can increase your natural light. However, since adding a window can be tricky, an easy way to change the lighting in your home is to add different lighting elements. Changing from floor lamps to a chandelier is a great way to add a bold lighting element to your home. Incorporating the lighting elements into your style can give your home better flow and more character.

Switch Shades

Just like lighting and windows can bring in new style and light into your home, you can also get large shades or blinds to add in a new focal point. Bold colors and patterns can create a dramatic moment in an unexpected area. By changing it up and bringing in something interesting in a typically boring area, you can further your home's style and sense of balance.

Bring in Blankets

An extremely simple and cost effective way to add warmth to a home is through the use of blankets and pillows. Soft things can help to create a warm moment within your home. By adding more blankets and coordinating the color and patterns, you can creatively add in your style. That said, if you are hoping to go for a more cool and simple feel, you can try removing some of those warmer elements. Taking away pillows and blankets can give a house a new, fresh feeling and reinvigorate a home.

Find New Paint

Another cheap way to completely change the feel of a home is through paint. The color of paint can affect your mood. While colors like blue and green are associated with calm and relaxation, yellow and orange can bring feelings of warmth and energy. Depending on what room in your house needs the renovations, you can match the color to what you want people to feel. For example, painting a kitchen yellow can help you wake up and feel invigorated in the mornings, while painting a bedroom blue or purple can help you feel more relaxed and calm. Using paint in different ways can also change how a room is viewed. Adding vertical stripes of paint can make a room look taller, while adding an accent wall can make a room feel more grand. Paint does not cost much and therefore is an excellent, easy way to change the style and feel of your home.

Modify the Ceiling

A simple renovation you can do is to change your ceiling. Whether this is by adding moulding, paint, or even wallpaper, putting something on your ceiling is becoming a trend. The ceiling is an unexpected an under utilized place of the home. It is a blank canvas, so you can change it however you want bringing in a moment of drama or warmth, depending on the feel you are going for. If you have a flair for the dramatic, some people have even started placing gold leaf wallpaper on bathroom ceilings. While this is not a budget friendly option, you could mimic this trend by placing a golden wallpaper or even a mirrored wallpaper on the ceiling. Anything unexpected and eye catching is sure to be a moment of interest to your guests.

Update Cabinets

A simple way to make sure your personal style is reflected in every room is to maintain a continuity between rooms. This can easily be maintained through metal or wood accent elements. In the kitchen these accents can continue to be used on your drawer pulls and door handles. If your home has a warm feel, it is likely to have a lot of wood and brassy tones. If your cabinets are made of wood, you should opt for getting brass handles or pulls to tie into other brassy elements in your home. Door handles are something you can find in most thrift stores or second hand shops and there are some very unique items available. If you are handy, it is also possible to make a door handle or pull out leather. However, a basic knowledge of how leather works is necessary prior to making any sort of door handle.

While a home renovation can be daunting and scary for your wallet, it doesn't have to be. By planning ahead and taking it slow, you can ensure that you style will be portrayed exactly how you want it without breaking the bank.