Affordable Decorating through DIY

Decorating a space can get pretty expensive, but there are ways around the cost. Many times, the piece you need may already be in your house or can be picked up inexpensively at a thrift store or yard sale.

Of course, the piece you get might not always look like exactly what you need, but with a creative eye and a little time, you can often see the potential in a piece you wouldn’t expect!

The number one way to update a piece of furniture is with a simple coat of paint. A new color—especially something bold and bright—can take a boring, worn-out dresser or bookshelf and turn it into a perfect piece for a kid’s room or a bright addition to your home office.

Don’t be afraid to go bold, the outcome will be worth it!

Glance through your remodeling debris before you throw it all away, you might find something there you can use. For instance, one homeowner took a cabinet door from her kitchen remodel, painted it to match her living room décor, then added it to her mantle as extra decorating and a back drop for other accessories.

What imperfections? Hide what you don’t want to see by doing something creative with it. That scratched up table top? Sand it down, cover it with wallpaper, then add a high gloss protective seal over the top of it. Or, decoupage an old set of drawers with an interesting, eye catching paper or pattern.

Things naturally begin to show wear and tear, but before you dismiss a piece as too worn, test its structural soundness. If you can shake it, push it, and use it as expected without problems, the surface can always be fixed to look better!