Low-Cost Decorating: Beautiful Enhancements on a Budget

I have lived in many settings over the years, from a small studio apartment in a city to a five-bedroom colonial in the suburbs. I always decorate my room with the use of that room in mind. A room can be versatile, but no room can manage to be the "jack of all" rooms. A living room can double as a family room or dining area, a bedroom can also be a private retreat for one or two. It is however not a good idea to try to have a living room, family room, dining area, bedroom and private retreat all in one room. It is just asking too much of a single space to accommodate that many needs.

If you are trying to decorate a small studio you must be willing to give up a few ideas for the smaller space. A day bed or a pull-out sofa bed is one way to go. Or you could use a trundle bed you can fold down and push the sleeping arrangement under the other "made up as a sofa" bed when you are not using the bed. Another option is to put the bed up on a high platform so that it is out of site. This frees up space under the bed for a desk and work area or a large closet. You may also want to consider a Murphy bed, it folds up flat against the wall, into a closet when the bed is not in use. Than the doors close and no one knows there is a bed, it looks like a wardrobe closet.

A small gate leg table and a few folding chairs can prove invaluable if you like to have a few friends in for dinner or parties. A folding card table will do just as well when funds are tight. Square card tables can often be found at garage sales and flea markets for just a few dollars. If they are a bit tattered remember that a table cloth will hide almost all sins. When not in use it will be folded behind a door or in a closet and no one will know about it's less than perfect looks. Remember though, you cannot ask a studio apartment to accommodate a forty person party. You will need to limit your guest list to your seating potential and floor space.

Whether you are lucky enough to have more space or you are confined to a small apt. you can change the feel and look of your home for very little money. If you are reasonably handy you have the time to do the work yourself you can change the mood or look of a room by applying a fresh coat of paint. There is a plethora of possible paints on the market today. Some look like suede, some look like stone, some crackle as though they are aged and antique looking. Yes, they really do look like the intended surface when they dry and they can create a great focal point! Other ways to go are; rag painting, sponge painting, marbling or you might try plastic sheeting or news print placed over the fresh, still wet paint and pulled right off. This last technique makes an interesting texture. You could use toweling or rags to rub of a wet coat of paint that is a different shade than the under coat leaving a two-tone texture. These techniques used on just one wall or over small areas of the room add interest and can draw the eye towards an attractive piece of furniture, or away form a less attractive but unchangeable feature like exposed plumbing or heating pipes. Try the technique that you think might work for you on a small area before you put it on the whole area or wall as some of these techniques take considerable work. Yes, paint is cheap, but why waste it and your time when you can experiment before you invest your time and effort in the final look. By bordering an area with two spaced strips of masking tape you can create a frame for your focal wall by using a contrasting color between the two strips of tape..

For a quick change of mood in any room, if you have no time or money for anything else, try an inexpensive tinted light bulb in your lamp. A pink bulb can soften a room gently without making it look too sweet or "girly." A yellow tinted light bulb will make the room look cheerful, warm, sunny and bright. Experiment with different tinted bulbs until you find the one that gives you the effect you desire. You will be surprised at how much effect change as simple as a light bulb can make.