How To Have A Stylish Home Without Breaking The Bank

Now that summer is here...are you in the mood to re-decorate but are stuggling with ideas or worried that you may go over your budget?   Follow these decorating tips and you will find that you can pull together a great stylish room without breaking the bank.  Before commiting to expensive renos take a look at what you have. Repair. Revive. Re-invent. 

Sometimes a simple can of paint & updated hardware can re-fresh an old & tired piece of furniture. There may be a hidden treasure in your home.  Lift up that old tired carpet...it might reveal chic wooden floorboards underneath. Do you love that glass lamp base but hate the shade?   Take a visit to the local hardware/lighting store & choose a re-freshed updated shade. Soft furnishings such as draperies, cushions, throws & upholstery have huge interior impact. Use inexpensive fabrics for the background & invest in smaller amounts of luxurious fabrics for the main scheme.  Here are some design tips:

Space ~ Instead of overcrowding a room, give your furniture some space to allow greater appreciation and charm & character.  Take away any clutter. 
Stylish Shortcuts ~ Invest in one item you adore rather than buying lots of inexpensive things you don't love but feel you should have.  When there are fewer objects in a room more attention is focused on their surroundings.  Plain walls & floors work well, even if you prefer pattern keep the space uncluttered, clean & cared for. Take ideas & inspirations from a collection of objects.  Thoughtful use of colour can draw together a space & make the look sophisticated & harmonized.   Choose Neutral ~ Add pops of colour & pattern in accessories.  Accessorize ~ Throws, cushions, art - a great piece of art ceramic, painting, or sculpture will be the focus attention and add interest to a simple room. Look into artists at art schools, art shows, galleries, ~ or create your own masterpiece!Keep it Simple ~ don't overcrowd a room & don't use too many different styles & designs. Stick to simple shapes & similar scale of furniture.Illusion of Space ~ for a light & airy feel to a space, use light colours & choose furniture that is raised above the ground on legs/castors.Hidden Storage ~ Clear away any clutter and invest in smart built-in furniture.
Size Matters ~ Keep a sense of proportion & think horizontally. A mix of different heights will not give clean lines.Bare Minimum ~ Keep floors and walls plain. Bare wood, stone, tiled floors are great. Paint imperfect floors or covers with area rugs/carpet.Set the scene ~ less furniture looks best, but since it focuses attention on the background invest money in woodwork in top condition.Colour Intensity ~ Control colours. Avoid cheap looking colours & finishes. Go for sophisticated & subtle colour palettes.Bare Necessities ~ Keep windows bare if possible but if the view, privacy or cold is an issue use shades, blinds or shutters that are straight and unfussy.Define & Refine ~ For crisp look choose materials such as stainless steel, aluminum glass, plastics laminates and smooth wood with a subtle grain.See the Light ~ Pay attention to lighting. There are plenty of smart simple & inexpensive fixtures.There are plenty of places to find unique & affordable treasures for your home.  Search antique & vintage shops, second hand stores, attend art/craft shows & markets. Searching online on Craigslist & KIJIJI is great for finding furniture that is in good condition at a fraction of the cost.  Unique handmade items can be found on ETSY.  This website is great because it supports small businesses internationally & everything is unique and handmade.  Take a look at souveniers you have brought back from that special trip.   Enlarge family photos & have professionally framed.  Great end lines of fabrics can be found at discount fabric stores.