Browsing Tag

home decorating

Household

5 Easy Ways To Trim Your Home Improvement Costs

There are many reasons why the average homeowner might want to invest in home improvements. If you’re looking to increase the functionality of your home, add aesthetic appeal with something more modern or in keeping with your personal style, and/or boost the resale value, home improvements are a great way to accomplish all of your goals, especially if you put some time, effort, and thought into the planning process so that you can select the best projects. However, most home upgrades of value are not going to come cheap. And if you’re working with a budget, you might find that you have to compromise in order to get what you want at a price you can afford. Luckily, there are ways to trim costs that won’t require you to take an all-or-nothing approach to your upgrades. Here are a few tips to try.

Get bids. Like any type of consumer purchase, it’s in your best interest to engage in comparison shopping where your contractor is concerned. You should, of course, have a budget in mind for your project. Some contractors may tell you that it is insufficient while others promise you the moon at your price. But what you want to look for is a contractor that tells you what you can reasonably afford with the money you have, that warns you there could be overages should any unseen problems arise once the project begins (such as issues with inspectors, city codes, or elements of your home interior like plumbing or electrical), and that lets you know how you can save money throughout the process.

September 3, 2013

Household

5 Tips For Giving Your Bedroom A Budget Friendly Makeover

Being that most of us spend an average of 6-8 hours each night in our bedrooms, we can totally get why sometimes you might find yourself looking around and thinking, “I really want to give this room a makeover.” Then you look at your bank account and realize that although the desire is strong, the resources are pretty limited.

That doesn’t mean you have to totally go without “upgrading” the space, though. In fact, there are a few things that you can do to makeover your bedroom that are highly effective and also very budget friendly. Check these five recommendations out below:

Paint the walls. You can find a gallon of paint for well-under $20 and being that one gallon can give you about 350 square feet of coverage, in most cases, you only need one (two tops). So if your walls have been white ever since you can remember, why not go with a soft green, a light blue or even a shade of lavender? All of these colors are beautiful to look at, plus they can help to calm you as you drift off to sleep.

Get another comforter. Something that will immediately change the appearance of your bedroom is purchasing some new bedding. Although the cost of comforters can get to be pretty steep, you can find some at stores like Target and Kmart that are well-designed and also pretty durable for under $50.

Hang up some art. Have you noticed that your walls look a little bare? Understandably, you probably can’t afford a Picasso but that doesn’t mean that you can’t add some of your own kind of art. Whether it’s a print of your favorite drawing or painting, some pictures of your family members or friends that you had blown up to poster size and framed or even some stencil art that incorporates your favorite quote, this is another smart and cheap way to change the appearance of your room.

July 30, 2013

Book Reviews

Thrifty Fixes – Home Decorating Ideas That Will Fit Your Budget

The Little Book of Thrifty Fixes For The Home by Bridget Bodoano

Thrifty Fixes is a really neat book. It takes about an hour to read the whole thing and it is jam- packed full of interesting tips on how to decorate your home without spending a lot of money. Especially right now when people are living on tight budgets, it’s a must-read for anyone looking for a reference book on home decorating.

The thing I like the most about this book is that it gives you practical advice on how to use what you already have around the house rather than encouraging you to go out and buy more! The theme is to do more with less and to not discount old furniture, lamps, etc, but to improve them instead. The author also provides tips on how to get the most for your money when you do purchase things for your home.

The author provides tips on everything from flooring to walls to storage. She discusses ways to make your room look larger and many other interesting topics. I liked the way she wrapped everything up by talking about ways to ensure your home is energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Here are just a few tips found in the book:

1. Smarten up your bathroom simply by buying matching towels. They can be purchased at large supermarkets and they don’t have to be expensive.

2. Economy furniture is often made of less material and can look skimpy, so when purchasing furniture, be sure to choose “robust and chunky” over thin and skimpy.

3. Don’t always buy the cheapest products as although it may solve current budget deficiencies, it could turn out to be a false economy. For instance, if you buy a sofa, consider its durability and how long you would like it to last.

4. Fashions come and go, so buy the classics that will outlast the fads.

5. Don’t worry if all of your pictures don’t match. Using a single style of frame will unify a mix of prints, paintings, and photographs.

July 25, 2009