Kathy's Favorite Budget Decorating Ideas

•·        Paint     Paint simply put is the cheapest investment you can make, where you will receive the most dramatic result, says 24 Hour Design's Angelo Surmelis. So go ahead, and put some color on those walls for a fresh and inexpensive new look.

•·        Sew Your Own Linens     This is where Big Money can be saved!  If you have a sewing machine, or know someone with a sewing machine, you can quickly and easily transform patterned flat sheets into curtain panels, pillow and duvet covers, tablecloths, even slipcovers and just pay a fraction of what you'd shell out for fabric yardage.

•·        Do It Yourself     "The biggest budget buster is hiring people to do stuff that you could do," says Design on a Dime's, Kristan Cunningham. Just consider all the monies you would save by taking on some relatively simple projects yourself.  There are so many Do It Yourself Shows on TV now a days not to mention your local Hardware Store are all there to help you.  

  •·        Call In Family and Friends     That's right go ahead, Call Uncle Mike and Text Cousin Kevin You may not have a wad of cash or a lot of home-improvement know-how, but you have other resources that can help get your decorating project off the ground. Call on a group of relatives, friends and even neighbors who can supply the muscle or help remove wall paper.  Feed them lunch and you're sure to have happy helpers every time.

•·        Look for Less-Than-Perfect Merchandise     Great Deals can be found here.  Be sure to ask about floor models or slightly damaged items. Chances are, no one but you will be any the wiser, and you'll save big bucks.

•·        Shop Secondhand Stores     This is where the bargains are!  Thrift stores, consignment shops, church rummage sales and especially estate sales.  Look for furniture with solid construction and classic lines that new upholstery or paint will bring back to life.

•·        Be Patient when seeking Sales and Discounts     Patience is everything.  However sometimes you don't have to wait.  Don't be shy, go up and inquire if that item will be discounted anytime soon. Store and Department managers can usually be the best sources for this inside information, and sometime may even offer you the discounted priced before it goes into effects.

 •·        Mix, Don't Match     Mix it up!  Not only is a "Matchy-Matchy" look just plain boring, but buying entire suites of furniture tends to cost more than putting together a creative, eclectic look. Don't be afraid to mix high and low [end] or modern and traditional in your home as this makes it fun and fresh."

•·        Reuse Items You Already Have     Now a days, you don't have to buy new pieces to turn your tired home into a hip space. Instead, turn a fresh eye to what you already have and think about how it might be camouflaged, re-purposed or re-imagined. Reinvent a drab dresser in a guest bedroom as a dramatic dining room sideboard with a few coats of glossy black paint and sparkling new hardware. Make over that old couch with a slipcover in a fabulous fabric. Turn plain pillows into eye-catching accents by stenciling simple designs on them. After all, there's no better budget stretcher than your own imagination.