Designate a room to be this weekend’s challenge. Try one or more of these projects:
For $100 and under …
…Remove all clutter and clean the room until it sparkles. Pare down the number of accessories. Do not forget to wash the windows and all the bric-a-brac. This is already a huge improvement.
…Rearrange the furniture around a focal point. It’s free and I guarantee you that at least one of your rooms can use it. “Shop” your other rooms to gather the most interesting pieces of furniture, rugs, and accessories. Group them for emphasis in this room. Go for IMPACT.
…Create tabletop vignettes with accessories or collections. Start the collection you’ve always wanted.
…Paint anything and everything in sight that needs refreshing, including pieces of tired furniture. Go on, go a little crazy and add some color.
…Lower the artwork on your walls. Proportion also matters, so add artwork to your large walls and remove some art from your small walls. Reframe any picture that needs it.
…Set out fresh flowers.
…Go flea market shopping.
…Increase the wattage in all of your lamps.
…Replace your shower curtain and ratty old towels.
For $500 and under, do all of the above, plus…
…Wallpaper the room.
…Buy a new lamp.
…Add a large plant or tree, with an uplight behind it.
…Splurge on fresh flowers for every room.
…Slipcover a piece of furniture.
…Refinish the hardwood floor or install a new carpet.
…Replace the bed linens with a new ensemble.
…Have a decorator create a plan and timetable for you.
…Paint your front door, replace the porch light, set out some colorful planters, and sweep the path.
…Now that the entry to your house is inviting, throw a party and fill the room with people and foods you enjoy. You won’t even notice the room anymore.
For $2000 and under…
…Replace your kitchen set.
…Reupholster some furniture.
…Buy a piece of investment furniture.
…Copy the ideas in a magazine picture.
…Install new window treatments. Install a fabulous new window.
…Hide your electronics in a new armoire.
…Purchase a great piece of art.
…Go away to a spa for the weekend. When you return nothing will have changed, but you won’t feel so bad about it anymore.
