Are you tired of your current living space? Frustrated at waking up every day to the same boring four walls?
Is your furniture buckling under the pressure after years of use? Then maybe it’s time to reinvigorate your home, without breaking the bank and adding more stress (albeit financial) to the mix.
We don’t always need to buy new furniture and decor to transform our homes. There are ways we can work with what we have before we make another expensive purchase.
So unless your dining table is teetering on one leg and your sofa is suffering from the sharpened claws of your cat, here are several ways you can make a difference to your home while saving you your hard earned money in the process.
Give your dining table a new look
If your dining table is looking rather worn for wear these days with hard to remove stains and scuffed woodwork, then it’s time to give it a makeover.
The simplest way is to purchase a new tablecloth to cover the damages. An elegant white linen will bring a cool contemporary look to the table, or you could give your room a colorful boost with something bright and cheerful to offset the other colors within the room.
Alternatively, adding some LED lights under a glass top will make for a different look.
Hairpin legs are an affordable and elegant way of transforming your table and can be bought in a variety of colors and sizes. Attach them to your dining stools or benches to complement the table, and give your dining room a new vibe.
Your friends and family may enjoy the transformed dining experience, no matter how good (or bad) your cooking is.
Energize your sofas and armchairs
At the end of a hard day, most of us enjoy sitting back on our sofas and armchairs to relax. However, if the fabric is looking a little shabby and the upholstery has seen better days, you may want to make a change.
Throws and blankets can be bought in a variety of colors and can bring added comfort to your chosen sofa. From tartan fleeces to patchwork quilts, there are many options available.
Go for something over-sized and you will also be able to wrap up in it on a cold winter’s evening.
Upgrade your cupboards and drawers
You will be surprised at the magic that can result from a can of paint. Give your cupboards and drawers a bold new look by painting over the woodwork.
Or give the woodwork a new shine and protective shield with a coating of finish. Oil based are generally amber in color, and they will enhance and deepen the woodwork.
You might also consider sanding the wood down, removing any telltale scrapes from the many years of use.
Make the bed of your dreams
We all need our beauty sleep, but if you are waking up each day with a bad back, you aren’t getting a great start to the day. You don’t need to buy a new bed, but you should consider changing the mattress if it is worn, uneven, or lumpy.
Fluffy and bouncy pillows are also a must if your neck is stiff in the morning or even a memory foam pillow which will allow your head to mold into it for added comfort.
Once your sleeping arrangements are up to par and your comfort is secure, it’s time to add to the visual look of your bed, from the headboard to the blankets.
Drape a textile blanket over your headboard if you don’t want to buy a new one, or get rid of it altogether and leave more room behind the bed for something else like an attractive tapestry.
Consider making your own duvet cover with matching pillow cases from upholstered fabric or buy something with a specific feel. Why not go back in time to the 1970’s with yellows and browns or something bright and colorful for a 1980’s look.
Whether you go for contemporary colors or more traditional floral patterns, choose something you enjoy sleeping in.
Satin sheets feel smoothly soft from the minute you crawl into bed and are great for the summer months, while cotton sheets give you a better feeling of warmth for those chilly evenings.
Livening up your wall space
There is nothing wrong with a blank wall, provided you have painted or wallpapered it with the design and coloring of your choice. However, your room can seem quite sparse and boring without some touches of creativity, unless you prefer the minimalist look.
Devote a wall that is personal to you and your family. You don’t need to buy expensive works of art if you already have an aspiring artist in your home.
Frame pictures created by your family members and create your own gallery of paintings. You could also frame family photographs, perhaps with a tableau of faces, old and young.
Adding a few shelves to your walls will also give you room to add your collectible items, from classic model cars to action figurines.
A properly placed mirror will add a feeling of space to your room, particularly if you position it to reflect the light from the outside.
However, you could also choose a range of bright and shiny metallic objects to create a similar effect, adding extra character to the room, and protecting those prone to vanity.
Rearrange or Re-purpose
Sometimes, a simple rearrangement will change the way a room feels, so don’t be afraid to push furniture around until you create a better living space.
If one room is cluttered with unnecessary furniture, consider selling them or re-purposing them into something else. For example, an unused stool could be used as lamp-stand, or use an unused bookcase as a bar for your alcoholic beverages.
An old chest can be transformed into a coffee table, giving your room an antique feel while providing extra storage, useful when you have unexpected guests and your living room is in a mess.
