Toni-Lynn
08-08-2008, 11:13 PM
http://www.scottcommonsense.com/images/ap_2008_08_everyday.jpg
If your décor is a little droopy, this is the perfect time for a change of scenery. There's still plenty of warm weather ahead to perform a home makeover inside and out. Consider these 10 inexpensive tips:
1. Greet your guests with gusto.
Take a tip from the Doors of Dublin (http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/DoorsofDublin.html) and paint your front door a daring color. You'll become a landmark in your neighborhood.
2. Go to pot.
Get a huge new planter for the front porch and window boxes for the windows to transform the look of your house.You can fill them with long-lasting fall mums and marigolds.
3. Become a basket case.
Get baskets or bins to keep your clutter under control. Depending on your room's motif, you can choose from wicker, fabric, leather or wood baskets and bins. Stack them in a corner or tuck them under an end table.
4. Cut a rug.
Whether you have hardwood floors or weary wall-to-wall carpeting, a new area rug can give your room a whole new look. You don't need to buy an expensive, collector's quality Oriental rug.Nearly any carpeting store will cut carpeting (even a remnant) to fit any size, plus they'll sew banding around the edge to finish it off.
5. Pillow talk.
Add color and comfort to your living room by throwing some bright, puffy pillows on your couch or overstuffed chairs. Even better: add a new matching, stretch-to-fit slipcover to hide any old, tired upholstery.
6. Employ some flower power.
Isn't it amazing how a bouquet of fresh flowers can steal the scene in any room? Invest in a dramatic vase or bowl for your coffee table or dining room table and keep it filled with fresh (but inexpensive)flowers from your garden or the grocery store.
7. Picture a better décor.
Pop new poster prints into your old frames to introduce new colors in your living room or dining room. Or get a small grouping of complementary frames and fill them with your best family or travel photos. Mount them on the wall or place them on the fireplace mantel or on end tables.
8. Give your bath a boost.
For less than $100, you can buy two new shower curtains (one for the tub and one to make curtains for the window), new guest towels and a can of paint. Instant bathroom makeover!
9. Lighten up.
Sometimes all your room needs is better lighting. A small accent lamp, a stately floor lamp simply a new shade on your old lamp can change the ambiance of your room. Don't forget to use energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
10. A new point of view.
Don't replace the furniture – just rearrange it for a better traffic flow or a new look. A lot of people are using the principles of feng shui (http://fengshui.about.com/od/thebasics/qt/fengshuibasics.htm) to arrange their furniture to encourage more peace, harmony and positive energy in their homes.
If your décor is a little droopy, this is the perfect time for a change of scenery. There's still plenty of warm weather ahead to perform a home makeover inside and out. Consider these 10 inexpensive tips:
1. Greet your guests with gusto.
Take a tip from the Doors of Dublin (http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/DoorsofDublin.html) and paint your front door a daring color. You'll become a landmark in your neighborhood.
2. Go to pot.
Get a huge new planter for the front porch and window boxes for the windows to transform the look of your house.You can fill them with long-lasting fall mums and marigolds.
3. Become a basket case.
Get baskets or bins to keep your clutter under control. Depending on your room's motif, you can choose from wicker, fabric, leather or wood baskets and bins. Stack them in a corner or tuck them under an end table.
4. Cut a rug.
Whether you have hardwood floors or weary wall-to-wall carpeting, a new area rug can give your room a whole new look. You don't need to buy an expensive, collector's quality Oriental rug.Nearly any carpeting store will cut carpeting (even a remnant) to fit any size, plus they'll sew banding around the edge to finish it off.
5. Pillow talk.
Add color and comfort to your living room by throwing some bright, puffy pillows on your couch or overstuffed chairs. Even better: add a new matching, stretch-to-fit slipcover to hide any old, tired upholstery.
6. Employ some flower power.
Isn't it amazing how a bouquet of fresh flowers can steal the scene in any room? Invest in a dramatic vase or bowl for your coffee table or dining room table and keep it filled with fresh (but inexpensive)flowers from your garden or the grocery store.
7. Picture a better décor.
Pop new poster prints into your old frames to introduce new colors in your living room or dining room. Or get a small grouping of complementary frames and fill them with your best family or travel photos. Mount them on the wall or place them on the fireplace mantel or on end tables.
8. Give your bath a boost.
For less than $100, you can buy two new shower curtains (one for the tub and one to make curtains for the window), new guest towels and a can of paint. Instant bathroom makeover!
9. Lighten up.
Sometimes all your room needs is better lighting. A small accent lamp, a stately floor lamp simply a new shade on your old lamp can change the ambiance of your room. Don't forget to use energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
10. A new point of view.
Don't replace the furniture – just rearrange it for a better traffic flow or a new look. A lot of people are using the principles of feng shui (http://fengshui.about.com/od/thebasics/qt/fengshuibasics.htm) to arrange their furniture to encourage more peace, harmony and positive energy in their homes.