Interior Decorating Information

Budget Decorating - What Is It?


Budget decorating. You see this phrase a lot but what does it mean? Does it mean the same thing to you that it does to me? Probably not, and here's why.

The term "decorating" is easy to understand; it concerns making something (a room, a space) prettier, better organized, more functional, more esthetically pleasing. Okay so far.

It's when we start talking "budget" that the confusion sets in. For instance, I have a friend who thinks following a budget means scrimping on 350 count sheets instead her favorite 700 count set. Me, I like to keep food on the table, gas in the car, and the cable modem hooked up. My decorating budget is what's left over, unless it's close to the holidays when that becomes my gift budget.

You may have a zero dollar budget (been there, my friend). You can still re-arrange your space, clean and de-clutter it, and look around your house for items to use in new, more effective, or unusual ways. You can create a pleasant, comfortable area without taking out a home equity loan or borrowing against the college fund.

Budget decorating is really about getting the most value and impact for whatever dollars you have available to spend on decorating. Put like that, it's not such a difficult concept, is it?

Budget decorating does not mean buying the cheapest of everything or making do with uncomfortable or inconvenient furnishings because they haven't fallen into pieces yet. It does involve some stretching of the imagination to see the potential in a marked down can of yellowish paint of a slightly odd hue that just happens to coordinate with another marked down length of fabric. It also helps to be willing to embrace various decorating styles. Eclectic is the budget decorator's friend!

It's important to spend your money on the most important items first. If you're decorating a bedroom, make sure that you have the best mattress you can afford. Stunning draperies lose some of their charm when viewed after a night of tossing and turning on a lumpy mattress. If it's a home office that you feel the need to spiff up, think about the desk and the desk chair. Oak filing cabinets look wonderful, but if I have to choose between sufficient room to work and a fancy filing system, I'll stick with my painted metal cabinets, thank you very much.

My decorating budget may be less than your budget, and it's certainly less than my friend's budget, and that's okay. Each of us can work within our means to create spaces that reflect our style and outlook on our world. When we sit back to enjoy our newly decorated rooms, we can do so with the satisfaction of knowing that there's still enough money left over for brownies!

LaJoyce Kerns is the creator of the website: http://www.decorate-bedrooms-for-less.com. She provides tips, ideas and techniques on decorating bedrooms for real people. LaJoyce believes that you can achieve beautiful results without breaking the budget, whatever your budget might be.


MORE RESOURCES:

Interior Decorating for Your Dollhouse
Corsavoo.com, France - Aug 23, 2008
Before beginning your interior design plan, be sure that you are clear on how the dollhouse will be used. If the dollhouse is to be used as a toy for small ...


Grand Forks Herald
Grand Forks Herald, ND - 9 hours ago
She had many hobbies and activities that she enjoyed doing that included camping, sewing, interior decorating, playing cards, traveling (especially Hawaii), ...


The many shades of success
Westmount Examiner,  Canada - Aug 14, 2008
In the fast paced world of interior decorating and display (IDD), if you’re lucky, opportunity (and clients) come a knockin’ on your door more than once in ...


Sovo.com

Visibility in high-def
Sovo.com, GA - Sep 5, 2008
Airs Mondays. quo; may be winding down, and “Project Runway” may be switching channels, but “Top Design” — the interior decorating Bravo reality show ...


Pamela Charlene Gorum
Alexandria Town Talk, LA - Sep 5, 2008
In her free time she loved painting, writing poetry, interior decorating and riding her Harley. She worked for Dillard's and Sears for many years. ...


Redecorating your home at little cost and effort
Thaindian.com, Thailand - Sep 4, 2008
You can do a lot with colours and fabrics in particular,” said Sam Bohr, a member of Die Wohnberater, a Berlin-based interior decorating consultancy. ...


A line on design
Bugle-Observer, Canada - Sep 4, 2008
Sarah Pacey is the Award Winning Owner of your local Interiors by Decorating Den, which serves your commercial and residential interior decorating needs ...


Celebrity Baby Blog

Cozy Up to Nesting.com
Celebrity Baby Blog, NY - Sep 4, 2008
Wendy recently spoke to CBB about some features of the new site, and shared information on her interior decorating business and her line at Babies"R"Us, ...


City hall makes its public debut
Farmington Independent, MN - Sep 4, 2008
Even though city staff has relocated, the new city hall has some detail work that needs to be completed — interior decorating pieces that need to be added, ...


Beverly Biehl of Frisco: The hen in the foxhole
Dallas Morning News, TX - Aug 22, 2008
Beverly Biehl of Frisco runs her own interior decorating and feng shui consulting business. Her e-mail address is Beverly @TheIntuitiveInterior.com. ...

Interior-Decorating - Google News

home | site map
© 2006