Create eye-catching decor, even on a shoestring budget
This week’s column was written by Miki Bass, CEO of the Arkansas Realtors Association.
Decorating your home can be affordable — and even free with a few tips and tricks I have gathered from experts. You don’t have to break the bank to give your home a fresh new feel.
Let’s dive in to a few ideas to brighten your surroundings. Shop your own home — look around the house, and see if you can repurpose furniture. You probably have some accessories that you can use in a different place or for a different purpose. Use books as decorative accents, switch up your lampshades, recover old throw pillows, etc. The options are endless!
MIRRORS Whether you find a bargain mirror at a flea market or yard sale, mirrors match anything, and they brighten up any space. Using a mirror as part of your decor will make a room feel much bigger and more open.
PILLOWS
You may have an old plain couch — but if you toss some pretty pillows on there, it will completely brighten up the entire space. Gather pillows from around the house and arrange them to add comfort and color. Choose pillows that have different patterns in complementary colors for a perfectly mismatched look.
KIDS’ ART
Instead of hiding away all of your kids’ masterpieces, put them on display in beautiful frames. There is always new art coming in to change up your gallery from time to time.
PAINT
Painting your walls is one of the most cost-effective decorative updates you can make to your home. You can save even more money — and create more of an impact — by just painting an accent wall.
CANDLES
Candles look best when they’re grouped together. The larger the surface, the larger the candles should be. Group four or five pillar candles in the same color but varying heights in glass containers.
FIXTURES Updating old fixtures is an easy way to make your home sparkle. Knobs, handles, drawer pulls and light-switch plates are small, inexpensive details that can give your home a high-end feel.
GREENERY
Having plants or flowers in any room makes you feel more alive. Whether you display bouquets of fresh blooms from the grocery store or living potted plants, sprinkling in greenery will give your decor a layer of texture that makes your home feel more livable. Greenery has simple yet modern appeal. In your kitchen, place a small herb garden on your windowsill to add life to the room.
NATURE
Bring the outdoors in. If you see something outside that you love, such as a rock, a branch, etc., bring it home with you, and use it to decorate. These creative finds can make unique accent details.
ARTWORK
Even an inexpensive piece of artwork can have the appearance of a masterpiece with oversize matting and framing. When surrounded by an 8-inch mat, a small print gains the look of something valuable. Consider investing in original artwork by local artists, and find out when they are having showings of original works at affordable prices.
House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors. com.