You’ve had your new place for a few months now, and the bedroom still resembles an impersonal hotel room. If you’re on a tight budget a few tricks will help you decorate like a pro, without breaking the bank. By using your imagination, some planning and a healthy dose of patience you’ll soon have your bedroom looking like it belongs in a home decor magazine.
Step 1
Decide what look you want to achieve: country, romantic, soft or vibrant. Research styles and ideas by paging through magazines at your local library or online at Better Homes and Garden’s top decorating website–you can “make a room” and “paint the walls & trim” with their interactive programs. See Resources
Step 2
Paint the walls with a color that accents your basic plan. Painting is always an excellent (and economical!) way to give a room a brand-new feel in a single day. You can also learn a sponging or ragging technique at your local home improvement center and add interesting texture to your walls.
Step 3
Find a store that carries bedding and offers a layaway plan. By extending the cost over a few weeks or months you can usually fit the price into your budget. Look for “bed-in-a-bag” sets that include sheets, bedskirt, comforter and shams for a coordinated look; some stores also offer “room-in-a-bag” sets that include throw pillows and drapery sets. Buy some complementing throw pillows while you’re there.
Step 4
Renew your headboard with a coat of paint, or if you’re lacking a headboard create one. Two large framed posters of equal size hung over the head of the bed will give the illusion of a headboard at the fraction of the cost.
Step 5
Decorate your bedroom walls with pictures, photos or posters to give your bedroom personality. Low-cost matching frames will pull the pictures together; even framed photos from a calendar can give a theme to a wall.
Step 6
Utilize resale shops, yard sales and discount stores to find the treasures that will fill out your decorating scheme. Picture frames and wicker shelves can be quickly renewed with a coat of spray paint to give them a custom look.
Step 7
Finish your budget bedroom with candles, plants, silk flowers, knickknacks or mementos that are all about you. Make sure the things you see each morning give joy and meaning to you personally as you rise to greet the new day.
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