Low cost, big impact decor choices
I can’t help it, it’s in my blood: I am very frugal. The idea of paying full-price for anything is challenging for me and when I do pay full-price, I make sure it is a smart investment. But just because I don’t want to spend top dollar, doesn’t mean I want my home to look thrifty. If you’re like me, you want your home to look tasteful without spending too much. I believe they call that having ‘champagne taste on a beer budget.’ I’ve tried many tricks over the years but here are my top 4 tips for low cost, big impact decor choices:
Move the furniture off of the walls: This decor choice is absolutely free and has an enormous impact in a room. I visit a lot of homes and I frequently see sofas, chairs, and furniture pushed against the walls. I understand in principle why people do it, but I encourage you to break the habit. When furniture is off of the walls, you enhance the room’s flow, create better balance, and the furniture looks more to scale.
White paint: For some people, the thought of having a house with all white walls feels soulless. But white walls aren’t boring! White walls are like having a blank canvas that allows for any and all styles to work. They help make rooms feel bigger and lighter plus there are so many white paint options that you can still add tints of color such as blue, yellow, or green. What I recommend is painting the walls white and then adding pops of color using rugs, curtains, pillows, and decor pieces. And if you get tired of a trend or color, you can change out the inexpensive decor pieces rather than redoing the entire room.
Change the hardware: I have a ton of clients who don’t love their kitchens but can’t afford to do a renovation. If you’re looking for a really inexpensive way to freshen up a kitchen, try changing the hardware first. You can paint the cabinetry, too, if you want even more change. But the hardware is usually what makes the cabinets look dated and by just changing the shape and finish, you can bring the space back to life for a few hundred dollars rather than thousands.
Add Texture: One of my clients said to me the other day, “I love my gray and white decor, but I was told I have to have pops of color.” And then I realized, I think that’s a common myth. Using pops of color doesn’t necessarily mean having bold, primary colors in a room. If you like gray and white, embrace gray and white! You can always have shades of the same color and add very subtle pops of color through accent pieces. But if you go for a monochromatic look, the thing you should do is add texture to the space. That means mixing common materials like leather, wool, faux fur, wood, cotton, or linen in the space. For example, one of my clients decorated their living room with a wool rug, performance linen couch, linen curtains, cotton toss pillows with tassels, glass coffee table, faux fur blankets, and velvet armchairs. Then, we added subtle pinks and blues through books, vases, and candles. The space now feels comfortable and understated, but it also looks expensive.
Above all else, this should be your guiding principle when making low cost, big impact choices: being frugal is different then being cheap. If you buy cheap, shoddy made goods, you aren’t saving money because you’ll have to replace or repair that item down the road. Being frugal means you’re looking for a good deal but won’t skimp on quality. If you buy good quality items at a good price, then I promise your home will look as good as your credit card bill feels.
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