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The economic downturn has forced all of us to re-examine how and where we spend our money. Rather than "replace," the current trend has become "rethink." Check out some experts' money-saving tips for rethinking our living space.
1. Paint the front door. The first thing people notice about your home is the front entry, so change the color of your front door. Don't be afraid to go bold -- a rich glossy red or glossy black makes a big statement for very little money. While you're at it, change the hardware, and accessorize the entry by adding a wreath.
2. Repaint the interior. Use a neutral palette to paint all of the rooms in smaller houses in one color. Painting rooms in different colors creates "islands" and makes the spaces visually smaller. Using a single neutral shade will open up the space and provide a foundation on which to build with color.
3. Add some pillows. This is Design 101-- everyone knows how new pillows and throws can update a look. Take it a step further by customizing store-bought pillow covers with trims and buttons. Have a set of pillow covers in bright linens for warmer months and another set in rich-toned, cozy fabrics for the cooler months.
4. Create artwork with your collections. You may not realize it, but you probably have enough of something to make a collection. How about some pretty china plates and platters that you could group and hang on the wall? To create a cohesive, but interesting look, group photos in similar frames together instead of scattered about the house. Grouping things in odd numbers is a winning formula.
5. Replace dated decor. Two things that date a home are wallpaper with a border and carpeting in the bathroom. Absolutely pull up the carpet. Then, just removing the wallpaper border can give any room a quick update.
6. Change up a bookcase. Don't let all of the books stand straight up and down. Vary the shelves with horizontal stacks and add mementos such as rocks you have collected or some framed art.
7. Replace pulls for your cabinets. Don't just go for looks, touch it. It has to feel good in the hand. Then, choose one nice drawer or cabinet door and give it its own statement hardware -- a piece that is in the same finish, etc., but that makes it a focal point. Replace shiny brass hardware, which throws a home into a time warp. Try some of the newer satin finishes. Take a look at your ceiling fan light kits, which are also big red flags for outdated decor. Change the light kit from that tulip-inspired fixture to something with cleaner, more contemporary lines.
8. Give your kitchen a pop of color. Instead of repainting the kitchen, or upgrading major appliances, use small counter-top appliances to add a fun pop of color. Add a stainless-steel blender instead of a new stainless-steel refrigerator.
9. Have patience and take advantage of sales. Home decor retailers, such as Pottery Barn, are constantly turning over inventory to make way for new items. Instead of buying items when they first appear, wait (taking into account that there is enough in stock), and your dollar will go further. This edict also applies when filling empty spaces. Resist the urge to fill rooms immediately. Instead, allow yourself to find what ultimately works in the space over a period of time.
Ideas from Patty Potter, interior-design consultant with J&D Fabrics, Forth Worth, Texas; Ken Jorns of Kenneth Jorns & Associates Interior Design, Fort Worth; Sue Perry, deputy editor of ShopSmart magazine; design team of Robb & Stucky, Southlake, Texas.
