Everyone has heard your home is your castle. I’m going to provide some ideas to save you cash when decorating your domestic domicile. My first rule is buy on sale. Scour Sunday ads for bargains. Price reductions coincide with big holidays, scratch and dent, broken set, and factory seconds sales. Outlet stores carry the same quality as the showrooms. Craft shops carry unique accessories.
Shoe string budgets can be remedied by using Craigslist (furniture), shopping gently used furniture stores, and rental stores that sell returned inventory. Check your local TV Internet classifieds. When you find that special piece, pull out drawers and test seating for comfort. Do you need small accessories? Multi family garage sales are a great place to find modular wall units, bookcases, pictures, vases and nicknacks.
The fun really starts with your design. Don’t decorate for anyone other than yourself. Rooms need to be textural. Slipcovers can update furniture. Today dark furniture finishes like espresso, coffee bean and black are in vogue. You can re-stain or paint your light furniture (read a “How To”). Darker upholstery shows fewer stains and dirt while lighter requires more care. Once you decide on your furniture, build your color scheme around those large items. Choose three harmonious textile (furniture and bedding) colors, one main and two accents. If you can, paint your walls sage, wheat, hot chocolate, toasted beige or cream. Neutral colors expand room size. Some people just love red, plum, ocher, and tangerine. Strong color should be on one accent wall only. Darker colors enclose a room. Group your pictures, use a jumbo framed print, and a silk or live tree for eye appeal. Drapes hanging from a fancy iron or wood rod anchor your window. Choose colors and patterns that compliment your decor. Home Depot and Lowell’s carry horizontal and vertical blinds. Patterned room size rugs are both textural and visual anchors. Lamps are accents, use them like art. Heavier parchment shades cast a softer glow. Toss in a few jewel toned pillows and your castle is done.
