Every room feels a little stale after a while, no matter how much you love the colors or the furniture. Fortunately, it is easy to give your room a fresh look without spending a lot of money. With just a little bit of planning, you can feel as though you have walked into a brand new space once you are finished.
Do Not Buy New
New furniture is expensive, so do not worry about replacing all your furniture just to give your room a little freshening up. Slipcovers have come a long way since their plastic ancestors. Now they are stylish and fit furniture well. Dress up sofas and love seats with throws or colorful pillows.
Use Fresh Flowers
According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School in conjunction with Massachusetts General Hospital fresh flowers create an immediate positive result when used at home. Researchers found that people in homes with fresh flowers experienced less negative emotions, such as anxiety, and actually felt more compassionate toward other people. Fresh flowers can last up to two or three weeks if you change the water regularly.
Change Your Lighting
Inexpensive light fixtures are easy to change out without having to rewire a room, and they create a fast change. Instead of harsh overhead lighting, consider instead using floor lamps or judiciously-placed table lamps. These small changes can make a big difference. If you want to do away with overhead lighting altogether, consider putting a ceiling fan in place of the old fixture. You can also save on your energy bills with that change.
Try Using Photo Frames to Create Your Own Art
Photo frames, such as those found at http://www.dunelm-mill.com/shop/decor/photo-frames, give you an easy way to get creative and make your own artwork. Put together a collage of things that you love, such as dried flowers, notes from loved ones, and pictures and place them within a frame or a set of frames. You can change out the collages as often as you like, keeping your artwork new and different.
Change out Your Window Treatments
Often window treatments are overlooked. They tend to blend in with the walls, but changing them up can wake up a room without spending a lot of money. Consider using long panels hung at the top of the wall that drape all the way to the floor. This makes the ceilings look taller and draws the eye up. If you have gone with neutral window treatments in the past, consider choosing a color from your existing theme and using that in your new window treatments.
Once you make just a couple of changes in your room, you will be amazed how different the room feels. Try starting with smaller changes at first, then you can work your way up to larger changes. If you not only have limited time as well as a limited budget, choose just one change and then you can do more as time allows.