Budget Decorating

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9 Ways to Make Dreamworthy Rooms — in a Weekend

Don't just sigh and shut the door. With a small change or two, you can create designer-style rooms that you'll love spending time in

Samantha Schoech February 15, 2013

Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it. You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/

Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design.... More

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It would be nice if we all lived in our dream houses with our wraparound decks and views of the sea and perfect, giant kitchens. But most of us don't. We live in the houses we can afford in the areas where we live. Which doesn't mean our homes can't be beautiful and inspirational and comfortable. It just might take a little more effort and imagination to get them there.

The good news is, small, inexpensive changes really can make huge impacts in a space. A fresh coat of paint, the sofa in a different position — these things can be transformative. Here are a few small things you can do in a weekend with a tiny budget. Go ahead and create your dream house.

Contemporary Family Room Contemporary Family Room

1. Paint an Accent Wall

It adds depth and color, and it makes art look about a hundred times better. Plus, if you don't like it, you can just paint it back.

Getting the Accent Wall Right

The Little Things

BEFORE: The wall in my den was too dark for the size of the room, and after a while it just felt gloomy. The room became a repository for everything I didn't know what to do with. In other words, it was majorly cluttered, and not in a nice way.

The Little Things

AFTER: I painted a dark brown wall a bright green (Benjamin Moore's Basil Green at 150 percent), got rid of some clutter and voilà, a cheerful place I love to be in. I also replaced the hanging light and moved some furniture around a little. The space is totally transformed, and I love it.

The Upward Bound House by Nadia Geller

2. Hang Some Curtains

You can create drama, texture and color by hanging curtains in unexpected places. Here they turn an ordinary bunk bed into a private fort. Plus, they hide clutter.

Contemporary Nursery by Nicole Lanteri Design

Nicole Lanteri Design

I replaced boring sliding closet doors with long curtains, and I love the look. It's pretty, maybe even a little glamorous, but the best part is, I can sweep the curtains apart and see the entire closet at once.

Traditional Kitchen by The Virginia House

The Virginia House

3. Paint Your Cabinets

Do you have hideous, outdated cabinets in your kitchen? Paint them. Sure, it takes a little time and effort, but it costs a fraction of what replacing them would cost, and you end up with the exact color scheme you want.

Contemporary Kitchen by Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture

Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture

These cabinets were never hideous, but they are so bright and beautiful in these colors. No one else has this exact kitchen.

Before Photo

Traditional by Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes

Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes

Look at what a huge different a few cans of paint made in this kitchen.

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Contemporary Dining Room by Ninainvorm

Ninainvorm

4. Get Rid of Some Stuff

Here's how you do it: Clean the room. Then sit down and calmly look around. Get rid of whatever catches your eye in an annoying way. I like a lot of stuff, but even if you're a maximalist, you want only the stuff that gives you pleasure. Too much of a good thing is still too much.

Industrial Living Room Industrial Living Room

Less is more: When there are fewer things, the things you love get noticed.

Declutter Your Bookshelves

Contemporary Dining Room by Jeri Koegel Photography

Jeri Koegel Photography

5. Paint the Insides of Your Shelves

This works in every room, in built-ins or stand-alone pieces. It's a great way to update and personalize old furniture, and it works for renters, who may not be able to paint walls.

Traditional Family Room by Mary Prince Photography

Mary Prince Photography

You don't have to go high contrast or supercolorful. Even a subtle change in color will add depth and interest.

Contemporary Living Room Contemporary Living Room

6. Rearrange Your Furniture

You can create whole new areas — a reading nook or a separate TV space — just by rethinking the furniture.

Arrange a Room for Entertaining
Go Rogue With Furniture Arranging

Traditional Traditional Family Room

A few things to think about when rearranging furniture:

Go for it. Move it around. If it doesn't work as you thought, move it again.
Make sure everything is not just pushed against the wall. This is the most common "mistake" in decorating.
Think about creating intimate spaces within a room rather than setting up a whole room.
What is the focal point? You can have more than one.
When you are standing at the entrance to the room, is it inviting you in?

Transitional Living Room by Caitlin Wilson Design

Caitlin Wilson Design

7. Change Your Throw Pillows

Switching accent pillows can change the entire mood and look of a room. This mishmash of colors and textures adds playfulness to this otherwise formal room.

Contemporary Living Room by Supon Phornirunlit / Naked Decor

Supon Phornirunlit / Naked Decor

These Queen Elizabeth silhouettes set the tone for this whole room. I'd call it cheeky elegance.

Eclectic Hall by Little Black Door Designs

Little Black Door Designs

8. Create a Gallery

Pick a wall, a small room or a corner and create a repository for all those things you love but don't really have wall space for. Hang art, posters, family photos and prints of different sizes and shapes. Some people are very meticulous about planning out what to hang where. I do mine organically (that is, lazily), and it has always turned out well.

Traditional Family Room Traditional Family Room

You can create a different look by having an organizing principle like size or frame color. These all have large white mats, which tend to make everything look gallery-worthy.

Guide to Creating a Gallery

Contemporary Dining Room by Don Harris, Architect

Don Harris, Architect

9. Swap Out the Light Fixture

When we moved into our house, every room had those square, flush-mounted Home Depot ceiling fixtures that just scream "rental." Over the years we've slowly swapped them out for statement pieces we love. Our bedroom has a nassa shell chandelier; our hall and dining room have clear globe lights; our den has a Moroccan goatskin and henna light (I kid you not).

Contemporary Kids by Kelton Mack Designs

Kelton Mack Designs

A single, dramatic light like this Maskros pendant can be the main feature in a room and change the look of the entire space. It doesn't have to be expensive.

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Comments (23)

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jojoem123

Hi Christine. I just finished painting my living room and one wall is an accent wall. It looks great. I say go with what makes you happy! You have to live there. Why shouldn't it be the way you like it?

Like February 23, 2013 at 7:15PM

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Michelle Frye

@Christine---I have an open concept that encompasses my living rm, dining rm and kitchen. If everything was the same color it would drive me crazy!! In addition I think it would be boring....I have gray on most of the walls but a buttery yellow on a couple of small walls. I think it's a matter of personal taste.

Like February 26, 2013 at 7:23AM

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Truffle lover

I think you are both so right! It is a matter of personal taste. We did a remodel and knocked down a wall so we also don't have good "stopping points" so I did the whole thing Devine white. Prior owners had everything way too dark for my taste so I was afraid of same thing happening. As time goes by and I settle in more here, I can see an accent wall happening. Thanks for the encouragement.

1 Like February 26, 2013 at 8:54AM

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