Small (and Cheap!) Changes, Big Impact
Kit Pollard
April 16, 2009
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and... More
Everywhere I turn these days, I run across articles spouting advice about how to save money but still stay fabulous. "Shop in your closet!" "Dress up your leftovers!" "Bring spa secrets home!"
It's all more than enough for me to long for the return of the days of excess.
But, I have to admit, as silly and repetetive as some of the articles sound, they've got a point. There's a lot we can do with a little - and really, being careful with money is better than spending indiscriminately, in any economy.
With that in mind, I went in search of some great, small, not terribly expensive design tweaks that have the power to perk up a whole room without draining bank accounts. All to be undertaken, of course, after "shopping in your closet" for old home accessories you thought you might have thrown away.
For the thrifty among us, here are some of my favorite ideas:
It's all more than enough for me to long for the return of the days of excess.
But, I have to admit, as silly and repetetive as some of the articles sound, they've got a point. There's a lot we can do with a little - and really, being careful with money is better than spending indiscriminately, in any economy.
With that in mind, I went in search of some great, small, not terribly expensive design tweaks that have the power to perk up a whole room without draining bank accounts. All to be undertaken, of course, after "shopping in your closet" for old home accessories you thought you might have thrown away.
For the thrifty among us, here are some of my favorite ideas:
Three flowers and a bowl full of lemons don't exactly break the bank, but they do add fantastic color and texture to this little space. I especially love decorating with lemons and limes. They look great in a simple white or clear or silver bowl, they can be dressed up or down, and you can't beat the power of the color. Plus, when you're ready for a cocktail, all you need to do is steal from your centerpiece!
Sometimes going antiquing is expensive, but sometimes it turns up cool items that aren't too pricey. A couple of years ago, I ran across an ad in a back of a local Baltimore magazine, placed by a local artist who had found hundreds of cool old gear molds in an abandoned warehouse space.
After visiting the artist's studio, I ended up with a seriously interesting antique gear mold in my living room (it looks kind of like this one here). It wasn't outrageously expensive, but it adds a sense of history and a sort of early industrial vibe to my living room.
After visiting the artist's studio, I ended up with a seriously interesting antique gear mold in my living room (it looks kind of like this one here). It wasn't outrageously expensive, but it adds a sense of history and a sort of early industrial vibe to my living room.
A little bit of color goes a long way. These lamps OR these tables have the power to give a room new energy. Even if you don't have the budget to buy something new, why not pick out an old piece of furniture that could use a little reviving and invest in some shiny, bright paint of your own?
Aren't these candlesticks great? Candles are a great way to add interest to a room and thanks to retailers like CB2 and West Elm, accessorizing your fire doesn't have to be crazy pricey. I like this collection of sticks in multiple heights - it's easy to add or subtract to change the vibe.
In my opinion, there's nothing like modern and minimal but fun art to perk a room right up. Even if your style runs a little more traditional, there are a lot of often forgotten resources for great art that's not outrageously expensive. My favorites include Etsy.com and sales put on by our local art school (Maryland Institute College of Art). It's also worth it to check out cool local bars for art shows. Some of my favorite artwork came right off the wall of our local wine bar.
Sometimes, if you've got a small chunk of money to spend, it makes sense to spread it around. Buy paint and little accessories and everything you can find at Ikea or Target. Other times, for other spaces, it's more logical to blow the whole wad on one really great statement piece - like this amazing lamp. A piece like this will last for years and years and will almost definitely inspire new renovations down the line (when money's not so tight). So sometimes, even when the Dow is tanking, it's OK to splurge.
A little DIY never hurt. I love everything about this flower box - it screams spring. Fortunately, it's also a simple enough shape that it would be easy (or, at least, possible) for even the least handy among us to build. Plus, bright paint hides all manner of building sins.
I love wallpaper. But it can be expensive - especially the really cool, really nice stuff. But if you've got the wallpaper bug, there's no reason to ignore it entirely. Instead, pick a fairly small area and focus on that. It could be a powder room or a closet - or the ceiling of a more prominent room, like this one.
This mud room is even cuter thanks to the actual mud - or the boots carrying the mud, at least. Raincoats, umbrellas, wellies - they might be practical gear, but they're also great potential design accessories. Same goes for scarves and hats. Sometimes "shopping in your closet" works for more than just your wardrobe.
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Fresh flowers just add something that you can't get otherwise. That's why I'm so thankful I live so close to Trader Joe's. The Irish daffodils are getting a little past peak, but I've had a good 6 weeks of $1.29 bunchs of flowers...