Decorating on a Shoestring Budget

Right now one of the most popular shows on television is, â??Trading Spaces.â?? If you havenâ??t gotten an opportunity to watch this show, the object of the game is to decorate one room in someone elseâ??s house with a budget of a $1,000. The decoratorâ??s truly struggle to accomplish this so you know it is hard when even they, trained professionals, are having problems creating the room of the homeownerâ??s dreams.

Do not despair just because your money is limited- you can still create a warm and inviting home frugally. When people come into our home and see our front room (the only room we have decorated since we are relatively new homeowners) they always comment on how beautiful our drapes, furniture, and whole look of this room is. Do you think I disclose that we put the furniture together ourselves and that the whole décor came compliments of Target? No way! Never divulge the sordid details, just simply bask in the glory and let them try to recreate your look. Here are a few tips for creating an inviting home on a budget.

· Watch television shows, read books, and look through magazines to gather inspiration for creating a stylish home. Although many of the things you look at are completely out of your budget, you can try to recreate it with lower costing materials and a little creativity. Some great looks can be found on www.potterybarn.com, www.pierone.com , www.ikea.com, and www.marthastewart.com.

· Paint is the cheapest way to really change a room. One thing I have learned is to never be afraid of color- bright colors can really liven up a room. Be wary though with small rooms because this can make the rooms look smaller and closed off. In smaller rooms use softer and lighter colors- yellows, light green, lavenders, and white/off-white.

· Getting your home organized will make your house look well-kept. To find out some great ways to get your home as well as yourself organized, go to www.organizedhome.com . This site is wonderful for learning how and what you need to do to clear out the rubbish in your home. With different styles of baskets to organize your items it not only makes the room look cleaner, but it also adds to the décor.

· Target, Kmart, and Walmart all offer great items for your home at a much lower cost. Target has fantastic drapes, tableware, towels, pillows, and furniture for your home. Kmart offers incredible linens, drapes, and sheets from the Martha Stewart line. Walmart offers great fabrics for those do-it-yourself projects in making pillows, drapes, and linens.

· To add pictures to your walls, look through old art books or photograph books. Buy a cheap frame to put it in and you will have beautiful artwork for a fraction of the cost.

· Rearrange your furniture in your home. Try to find new ways to break up a room or to make the room more open and inviting.

· Light a candle and put potpourri in a bowl. This really warms up a room, not to mention adding a beautiful smell to the air.

· Find slipcovers for your couches. Doing this is a lot cheaper then buying a new sofa and when you get tired of it you can take the covers off. These are especially nice if you have little children because it is a great way to preserve the quality of your furniture. The slipcovers are easier to clean because you can throw them in the wash, unlike your couch. A couple of great places to look for nice slipcovers are www.kohls.com and www.surefit.com.

· Want something in particular in your home, but canâ??t afford it? Hit www.ebay.com and bid on it. Ebay always has great things for your house not to mention beautiful antiques and collectibles which make your home more unique.

· Buy large pillows to use as extra seating. These are great for when you have a large group over and not enough seating. Donâ??t invest in more seating; just buy big beautiful pillows for your guests to sit on.

· Go to the garage sales, but go early. Those who wait do not get the deals that the early risers get. Donâ??t underestimate the Salvation Army and Goodwill either because you can find some interesting and beautiful things for your house.

· Learn one craft that will aid you in decorating your home. Several of the fabric and craft stores offer wonderful classes for learning crafts such as sewing and floral for a very low cost. By learning crafts you can make things yourself at a lower cost or you may be able to make money off of this to afford you more luxuries in your home- you just never know.

· Hit your local Dollar Tree for some great buys on things to make your home more inviting. You might laugh at this one, but you would be surprised what ends up at that store. I have bought beautiful mugs, baskets, and stationary for a buck a piece and no one knows that I spent so little money. Try to think outside the box and go to the stores that are normally not known for quality houseware. This is where you get the real deals.

· Purchase all different types of blankets and put them under your end tables or drape one on your sofa. They make your guests feel cozy and invited especially on those cold winter nights.

· Put a book or two on your coffee table that can be a conversation piece, but don't overdo it. People tend to get carried away with this and then you lose the beauty of the furniture underneath. One or two books are nice, but four or five looks like clutter.

· If you buy the do-it-yourself furniture or have a piece that looks like it needs a face-lift try replacing the knobs on those cabinets and drawers. A beautiful brushed silver knob or ornate gold knob can make the item look entirely different.

· Replace your old plastic curtain rods with sterling silver or gold rods. Target and Kmart have some really beautiful ones with different styles of ends (leaves, fruit, glass) that really add that special touch.

· Try a theme room, but donâ??t get carried away. Remember that whatever theme you chose you will have to live with it for a long time. Go for classic themes that seem to withstand the ages. If you choose to pick a theme for the room do hints of it throughout rooms, but donâ??t make the entire room one big theme. Just give your guestâ??s hints of it.

I hope these tips will offer you some insight on decorating your own home. My advice to you is that you start small and with one room at a time. Do not get carried away with redoing your whole home or you will feel overwhelmed. Concentrate your efforts on one project until you are completely satisfied and then begin thinking about another project.

Amy Allen Clark is a stay-at-home mother of a two year old son. She is founder and creator of http://www.momadvice.com Her web site is geared towards mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on a budget, and for those seeking work-at-home employment. The author resides in Granger, Indiana and her hobbies include reading, writing, and cooking. Please visit her web site for more information on these various topics for mothers

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Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:50:53 GMT Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says - Washington Post Boston Globe Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says Washington Post - 14 hours ago By Del Quentin Wilber Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell told jurors in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday that the powerful Alaska Republican had a "sterling" reputation among the nation's military and political leaders. Reporter's Notebook: Powell Takes the Stand for Stevens FOXNews Powell says Sen. Stevens' integrity "sterling" Reuters CNN - The Miami Herald - ABC News - Anchorage Daily News (subscription) all 2,873 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:13:53 GMT Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. - The Associated Press ABC News Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. The Associated Press - 1 hour ago HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Now that the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled same-sex couples have the right to wed, opponents of gay marriage are pinning their hopes on an infrequent ballot question in a longshot bid to block the unions. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage AssociatedPress Conn. Ban On Gay Marriage Reversed Washington Post New York Times - Boston Globe - Reuters - San Jose Mercury News all 1,674 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:41:18 GMT Palin hammers Obama on the abortion issue in Johnstown - CNN Boston Globe Palin hammers Obama on the abortion issue in Johnstown CNN - 44 minutes ago (CNN) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took her message to voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, lashing out at Sen. Barack Obama for his views on abortion. Palin drubs Obama on abortion during Pa. rally The Associated Press Palin Gets Personal On Abortion Issue CBS News MSNBC - New York Times Blogs - Pittsburgh Post Gazette - The Tribune-Democrat all 95 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:06:21 GMT GM Is Said to Be in Preliminary Talks With Chrysler (Update2) - Bloomberg BBC News GM Is Said to Be in Preliminary Talks With Chrysler (Update2) Bloomberg - 2 hours ago By Jeff Green Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp. is in preliminary talks with Cerberus Capital Management LP's Chrysler LLC about a possible merger or other partnership, people with direct knowledge of the talks said. Source: Chrysler, GM discuss merger, acquisition The Associated Press GM mulled Chrysler acquisition: Huh? BloggingStocks DetNews.com - Right Pundits - Fox 28 - Forbes all 1,000 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:39:15 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune BBC News Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young International Herald Tribune - 4 hours ago AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Ex-President Of Finland Is Awarded Peace Prize Washington Post Nobel Finn Wall Street Journal Voice of America - findingDulcinea - Burlington Hawk Eye all 1,468 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz - Ars Technica Canada.com This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz Ars Technica - 3 hours ago By Jacqui Cheng | Published: October 11, 2008 - 09:30AM CT This week's most-read Apple news was all over the map, but in a good way. Don't Buy A Mac Laptop* Washington Post Apple may launch new laptop United Press International Forbes - CNNMoney.com - Computerworld - Macworld all 182 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:43:05 GMT Obama Aims for Electoral Edge, Block by Block - New York Times Sydney Morning Herald Obama Aims for Electoral Edge, Block by Block New York Times - 29 minutes ago Lukas McGowan is focused on getting voters out on Election Day. “Once we register them,â€� he says, “that’s only half the job. Obama thanks McCain for remarks, presses attack Reuters FOX News poll: Obama leads McCain United Press International Voice of America - CBS News - The Associated Press - Washington Post all 2,330 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:21:34 GMT RSS to HTML Increase Web Traffic

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