7 Ways to Save Money on Decorating Your Home this Winter
During wintertime, the decoration of a home can be a fun and practical activity. Not only will the right decorations warm you up, they will also create an inviting atmosphere for guests during the holidays. The good news is that decorating a home does not have to be a prohibitively expensive venture. Here are just a few ways to make your house look great at little to no cost.
1. Use the Internet
In the new marketplace for home design, the possibilities are truly limitless. The Internet has made searching for home design items easy and fast, and the variety can be intimidating. Moreover, businesses will compete for your dollar by offering great sales on top items, and sites like eBay will allow you to search for vintage furniture at low prices.
2. Waste Not, Want Not
Sometimes the secret to decorating a home is creative thinking. You may find that the old prints your mother gave you a decade ago match an oil painting you keep in your kitchen, or that an old rug curled up in the garage goes perfectly next to your fireplace. We tend to discount items we already own, even when they’re of great use in the decoration of our house. In combination with other pieces, a dusty old antique can sometimes take on a new life.
3. Find a Favorite Antique Store
In even the smallest towns, the right antique store might be the source of much great interior design. Finding an antique dealer you trust will ensure that you can know about the best pieces as soon as they hit the market.
4. Trade, Trade, Trade
Moreover, many antique stores carry a trade-for-store-credit option whereby customers bring in their vintage pieces in exchange for a great deal on store items. This is a fantastic way to trade pieces you don’t use for new furniture or decorations.
5. Invest in a Paint Job
One of the best ways to brighten a room for the holidays is simply to a new coat of paint to your walls. Whether you’re looking to simply give your room a clean look with a basic white or recreate the look of a London townhouse with one of Ralph Lauren’s elegant colors for paint, this is a fun do-it-yourself job that will revitalize your home at a fraction of the cost of new furniture or lighting.
6. Go for Stylish but Subtle Furniture
For many homeowners, the purchasing of furniture can feel like a major investment. However, finding stylish but good-looking furniture does not have to break the bank, and companies like The New Oak Tree and others tend to cater to customers looking for understated elegance and good materials. With an eye to quality, a great piece can be had for the right price.
7. Pick Up a Hobby
While it might feel intimidating at first, the process of learning how to modify or build furniture can be a great way to have top items for cheap. Do you like the look of the mirrors at the Art Deco hotel you visited over the summer? A bit of glue and the right materials might allow you to make one for yourself! Did you enjoy a throw-blanket you saw at a villa in Italy last year? Try your hand at crocheting, and you might just create a faithful reproduction with the help of a design guide downloaded for free from the Internet.
For these reasons, finding the right balance in a winter look can make any home sparkle. The trick is for homeowners to find a great way to make a house shine without draining a bank account. With the right means, however, top-notch interior design is a very realistic possibility on any budget.
Category: Home Improvements