Feng Shui Your Home on a Budget
It’s the start of a new year, and what better way to begin 2012 than with a newly decorated home? Your home is your personal space and decorating it to your tastes and style can provide you more comfort and a fresh attitude as the year kicks off. Redecorating your home doesn’t have to involve draining your savings account or running up your credit card balance. Even a few small alterations can add some life to your home and be done on the cheap.
1. Add a fresh coat of paint
Painting your bedroom, living room and kitchen is one of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to liven up your home and make it your own. Not only can you purchase a can of paint in a variety of color schemes for under $30, but many home improvement stores, such as Home Depot, offer free demonstrations and paint workshops to help you make affordable improvements to your home.
2. Play up your accents
Placing colorful picture frames, vases, pillows or artwork in neutral-colored areas can draw attention to certain spots in your home. Tiny accents can be purchased in several locations, ranging from big-box chains, such as Wal-Mart and Target, to yard sales and dollar stores. Instead of decorating a room in one uniform color scheme, add some pizzazz by placing a deep purple lamp or picture frame in your yellow bedroom or a drastic blue painting in your cream-colored living room. Going against the conventional decorating tips and adding splashes of color here and there can change the set-up of a room.
3. Get rid of the clutter
Storage units and decorative boxes can not only bring more life and charm to your home, but also help you manage your clutter. Purchase small decorative filers and boxes to hold your mail or magazines or build shelves around your living room to hold your CDs and DVDs. Bookshelves can be used for more than housing your book collection, so dress them up with pictures, vases, cookbooks, wine glasses and other items that may be taking up useful space in your home.
4. Re-arrange what you already have
Sometimes, redecorating your home can be accomplished easily by simply moving around your furniture and re-organizing your accent pieces. Switching around the furniture in your home may give you more space and prompt you to throw out old items you don’t use.