Stylishly decorating your home doesn't have to be expensive, confusing or stressful. Snag a few of the following ideas from professional interior decorators to create a snazzy abode without emptying your wallet.
Where to begin:
Discover your style. Take time to brainstorm which colors and patterns interest you, said Nancy Hyer, interior decorator at Stageworks Home Staging & Redesign. Feel free to explore. Whether it's modern, contemporary, vintage or feng shui, expose yourself to the many mediums of expression. You can draw from these when creating your own individual style. This will open your eyes to the choices that are available, she said.
Find a focal point:
After deciding on a vision for your space, find a piece of furniture (typically a sofa) to be the main focal point or place where the eye is drawn to first.
Don't start by painting the walls, said Sara Freeborn, an interior decorator at Interior Associates of Gainesville. Painting will limit the variety of colors that can be added to the room.
Be thrifty:
Visit thrift stores, antique shops, garage sales or Goodwill to find eccentric, unique or quirky features to add to your home.
"I think it adds a lot of character to a room," Hyer said.
Fancy up those floors:
To cover up ugly flooring and add interest to a room, take a large canvas or any kind of fabric and hem or finish the edges. Paint it or decorate it to your liking and add non-slip material or padding to give it a cushy feel, Freeborn said.
Homemade headboards:
Cut a pattern out of a large piece of plywood and hang it behind a bed. You can also use folding screens to create a pattern to add distinction and texture. Hang four or five window shutters vertically in a row to create a more dramatic effect. Paint and decorate them to match your color scheme.
Furniture with color and class:
Keeping base furniture (couches, armchairs, love seats, recliners) neutral and simple will allow you to have freedom when changing décor in the future, Hyer said. Neutral colors are versatile and will save you from buying new furniture later.
But adding color to other pieces such as coffee tables, dressers or end tables can update a room. Use spray paint to give a piece a new look. Any color will work, but you can't go wrong with dark browns and blacks because they hide imperfections, Hyer said.
To add a little character to a piece, try applying sandpaper to the surface and edges.
For a coffee table in a league of its own, you can glue mirror tiles to the surface or arrange pressed leaves or flowers on the top and then cover it with a glass top. With these techniques, the possibilities are endless, Hyer said.
Not your typical wall art:
Large hollow-core doors are reasonably priced, and they're perfect for decorating and hanging as a pleasing addition to a room, Hyer said. Glue on mirror tiles, paint it or staple fabric to it to create a wall hanging that is sure to catch the eye.
For cost-savvy alternatives to buying an expensive premade painting in a frame, buy a ready-made canvas and staple fabric to it. If your creative juices are flowing, try painting your own work of art. It doesn't have to be fancy. A simple abstract design will do just fine.
An even more cost-effective option is obtaining wood, any size or shape, to paint and hang on your wall. This strategy is one that UF interior design graduate Sereen Gualtieri uses in her own home. "I like the way the acrylic paint looks on it," she said.
The wood is already a natural brown color, which Gualtieri says makes the paint colors richer than they would be on canvas. She scouts out free wood that people are throwing away, either on the side of the road or at a recycling center. When she wants wood pieces that are the same size, she goes to Lowe's because they cut the wood for free.
Resourceful accessories:
Unleash your creativity! Add unique touches with homemade rugs, pillows and art. Instead of buying silk flowers, make arrangements out of branches or flowers from right outside your home. The nature around you can be great inspiration, Freeborn said.
For inexpensive, trendy pillows, buy fabric by the yard and create a simple pillow case by sewing two pieces of fabric together and leaving one side open. It's easy and quick, Gualtieri said.
Remember, different textures add interest to a space. Don't be afraid to include a variety.
Use velvet, shag or silk and contrast them with rough wood pieces or a smooth vase. Start mixing!
