You've probably been thinking about redesigning certain areas of your house since the day you bought it and keep putting it off because you simply don't see any way that you can afford to go through with the process. However, if you have a small budget to work with, there is a lot you can do to work toward building the inside of your dream home to match the outside that you so love. Let's look as some ideas for inexpensive decorations to get you started.
Flooring:
When you fell in love with the house, it was because you looked at the outside of the old Victorian building and couldn't resist the fairy tale look of the place, right? Then, you stepped inside and found old carpet that was worn in many spots or tile that had been replaced in the 70's and has some sort of paisley design. You can't afford to re-carpet or retile, but you can't continue to look at the place as it is. There are two options to consider. For larger, more open spaces, find a nice area rug - there are discount furniture stores and chain stores offering great prices on these - that you like and can cover up the majority of the eyesore that bugs you. In smaller rooms, go for simple throw rugs. These are very inexpensive, durable, and disposable when you are tired of them.
Walls:
You loved what you saw when you walked into the foyer - high ceilings and bright, white welcoming walls - but when you got to the bedroom, you wrinkled your nose in disgust. Someone in the early 80's had installed dark brown paneling on two of the walls. To make matters worse, the kitchen was covered with ugly floral wallpaper. How can you make this work for you? Paint is the answer in both cases. Until you can afford to start ripping out walls, sand down the paneling and apply a coat or two of lighter, brighter paint to make the place come to life. In the kitchen, score the wallpaper to shred and remove it, and paint over it in the color of your choice. One way to also dress up a wall is to change the window dressings - there is nothing like a new set of curtains to make a room look fresh and new.
Lighting:
Of course, you may find that the rooms you enter have great lighting, or they could be severely lacking. In either case, you can go to wholesalers or surplus locations and choose new fixtures, including ceiling fans (should you need the help cooling down your home in a hot location) for reduced manufacturer prices. Always be sure you have ample light without blasting yourself with the heat of a thousand suns!
While these are all small, inexpensive solutions, you can easily begin to transform your home into a place you can relax and enjoy with these few suggestions. Renovations can be a hassle and cost a lot of money, but redecorating shouldn't be!
