Guest Post from Marina Chernyak
One of the most economical ways to remodel your home is to change the furniture Changing the seating, for example, in the living room can suddenly make the room look cozier or more spacious. What kind of look are you trying to achieve?
A huge room can be turned into two areas with a screen, properly placed furniture or color schemes. A screen strategically placed can separate a small work area from the sitting area. In one’s own home they should not be afraid to move furniture around to get the desired look. They should display whimsical or serious items, whichever pleases them more. No one outside the home should dictate how it should be decorated. The ones who live there should be completely comfortable and at peace with their surroundings.
Sometimes less actually looks like more, more space, more comfort and more possibilities. We like to see our home sometimes as a blank canvass just beckoning our creative touches. It lends to the excitement of going home, knowing that once we get home, our home, we are able to be ourselves.
For example scattered photos throughout the home gathered and placed in one attractive collage will draw many more glances, but they are still personal and bring delight and comfort to the owner. A collection or hobby can be displayed on a mantle, dresser, or table top. These items show a glimpse of the home owner and invite conversation about a beloved topic.
Mirrors strategically placed in a home improve the lighting and appearance of the home creating the illusion of expense. A mirror placed by a light helps to throw the light and enhance the appearance of the room. Mirrors and lighting can make a big difference in a small room making it appear nearly double in size.
Marred furniture can be sanded, painted or covered with contact paper. Decorative scarves with their fancy designs (pieces of fabric designed to cover tables and dressers) can tie in the color scheme with floral arrangements and throw pillows purchased to match. Desks, dressers, armoires, cupboards and so forth can take on a new look with a coat of paint. For even more elaborate change add new door knobs and drawer handles. One should not limit their self to traditional styles but become innovative with their project. Bringing new life to an old item is richly satisfying and also rewarding. The “artist” can reflect on the resourcefulness and vision for years to come as they turn their salvaged piece of furniture into a one of the kind item.
While it is wise to invest in a few good quality pieces of furniture in the home, there are many places to find bargains to help outfit the rest of home. Just a few of these places are thrift stores, freecycle, garage sales, yard sales, habitat for humanity and your local dollar stores. Knick knacks, throw rugs, candles, furniture, kitchen wares, throw pillows and so forth can be found for little or nothing. Salvaging these items will be richly rewarding in realizing money saved and knowing that one has helped to save the landfills from overflowing from useful items. The money saved on these items can help to enable the homeowner to be able to buy some very good pieces which they will be able to enjoy for a very long time.
Another thing which can be very inexpensive but bring much enjoyment to a home is plants. An herb garden growing on a window sill can do much for the beauty of the home while helping to improve the air within. Pinches of plants can give off a wonderful aroma while cooking and give the household untold health benefits from the fresh herbs being used in prepared foods or teas. If home is truly where the heart is, there is no price tag needed, let the love freely grow and the home will shine within.
Marina Chernyak is freelancer décor writer and co-owner of online cocktail and console table specialty store.