Home Decorating on a Budget

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You don't need a home equity loan to give your home a new look. Adding a new piece of furniture or a new coat of paint can change the entire look and feel of a room.
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Must Know

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Find a focal point and decorate around it.
If your focal point is a poster or photograph, pull colors from it and splash them about the room liberally. This will not only offer highlights but will also weave the room together.

By: Life123 Editors
Have an idea of what you need before you shop.
Take inventory. Discard what you can afford to discard and build from there. Do not discard those things that have sentimental value—they can never be replaced.

By: Life123 Editors
Stenciling and wallpaper can offer you a brand new look.
If you only have enough finances saved up for one inexpensive project, paint, stenciling or wallpaper will get you the most change for your money.

By: Life123 Editors

Trap Door

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Do not exceed your budget.
It’s possible to get most everything you want at a discount or free, as long as you wait for a sale.

By: Life123 Editors
Don't discount yard sales and trash day.
One man’s trash is, indeed, another man’s treasure. Become an avid yard-saler and check to see what treasures lie in wait at the end of the curb.

By: Life123 Editors
Keep accent pieces in perspective.
Don’t add too many. A good rule of thumb is to add no more than five, with three being a better number.

By: Life123 Editors

Experts Say

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Kathleen Wilson, betterbudgeting.com contributor

The easiest way to pick color combos that work is to borrow from a piece of the fabric or wallcovering to be used in that room. For instance, let's assume the main fabric in a room is a floral. Use one color from the fabric on the walls, one or two on accessories, you get the idea. Just be sure each color or pattern you use shows up in at least two places in the room. Or, use those magazine photos, and borrow one of your favorite color schemes

Budget Decorating, betterbudgeting.com
Debbie Vasen, lovetoknow.com contributor

In the world of flea markets, auctions, yard sales and online retailers such as eBay, the opportunity to find quality used home furnishings is outstandingly easy. Buying products secondhand is a key component of interior decorating on a budget. Peruse your neighborhood or online and discover a variety of traditional and unique decorating options. Look for detail pieces like decorative iron brackets or find new uses for traditional items. Sample an old iron gate as a pot storage rack on your kitchen ceiling or maybe an antique wood ladder as a plant stand.

Interior Decorating on a Budget, lovetoknow.com