Pimp Your Room!

Is your room looking drab and unloved? Are you tired of looking at the same old things over and over again? Do you know there are a number of things you can do to pump up the decorative equity of the space? Don’t worry if you’re confined by your budget and redecorating is not one of the things possible at this time. Here’s a hint; paint can be your very best friend. For an edgy and modern look, paint old furniture or cabinets satin black, dark brown or deep grey. Also consider other bright colours like teal, red or royal blue. If a whole bank of cabinets in bright red is too much for you, try a chair or two (or the blades of your ceiling fan) as an accent. Not ready to paint the entire room? What about an accent wall? An accent wall does not have to be high contrast or in a screaming colour. For a subtle, sophisticated look try painting the accent wall in a colour just a few shades darker than the rest of the room. Look up. Is your ceiling a plain white? You can carry colour from the walls up to your ceiling. Tint your white with the paint from the walls. It softens the transition between the ceiling and the wall and again, it shows that someone put some creative thought into it.

 

Create a conversational piece and use items in nonconventional ways. Use one or two garden pots in clay or concrete or a galvanised tub as a base for your glass topped coffee or side table. Or use a garden bench as a coffee or sofa table. If your table is low enough or your seat is high enough, use your loveseat for dining room seating. For greater versatility and decorative impact, make your throws and pillows reversible. Pillows and throws are essentially small items that can potentially pack a big punch, and every sofa and bed should have a pillow or throw. Use this opportunity to introduce colour, texture and patterns. Let your pillows and throws be a true reflection of your individual style. If you love bold colours, go for it! If you love texture, stand tall. If you love large geometrics, go for it. If you love lots of fringe and trim, go brave. Accessorise your tabletops and shelves. The key here is to accessorise. While your shelf may be primarily for storage, ‘jam packing’ it just looks functional and utilitarian. Clear off a lot of the items and make room for something purely decorative, using large scale decorative pieces that you absolutely adore. Try to stay away from many small pieces or collections; that just looks dated and cluttered. Decorate your table tops. Look for something beside a vase of artificial flowers on a doily please. On the dining room table, console of dresser fresh flowers could look lovely. But consider using other items. Look at magazines for inspiration. This is an area where you can use mundane items in unconventional ways. 

 

Take a good look at your lighting fixtures. Are the shades dated and dirty? Putting drum shades on your lamps or pendant lights is an instant update. Drum shades fit easily into just about any décor. Look at your sconces; if the shades are dingy, give them a good cleaning or change them altogether. What about a new rug? Even though you have very attractive flooring, I personally find that many spaces look unfinished without a rug. While a rug undoubtedly has a functional purpose, it is like a decorative accessory – think of it as a shawl for your floor. Indeed, rugs are finding their way on walls as art, over beds as canopies and over sofas as shawls. Don’t forget wall art! Are your current paintings faded? Replace them. Are they too small for the space? Group them. Do you have mismatched frames? Reframe them. Remember that clocks, wood and metal pieces, fabrics – all of these items are all art items. The key is to ensure the size is the right scale and in proportion to other items in the room. Top it all off with pleasing aromas. Don’t go too heavy on the scent or you may tire of it easily and everybody may not like your choice of fragrance. Most people love clean smells, so you cannot go wrong with fresh linen or breezy scents. See? A low budget is no excuse for having beautiful rooms. Look around you for inspiration and opportunities to pimp your room just the way you want it!