DECORATING THE SENSIBLE WAY - ON A BUDGET!

Decorating on a budget can be fun, and it's a better choice anyways. Why pay a hefty price tag when you can put that money to better use and still get a stylish and affordable room?  Not all of us can afford a $20,000 room renovation, but you know what? You really don't need to spend that kind of money to achieve the "I spent enormous amount of money on this room" look or the "I'm stylish and up to date on current home decor trends" look. 

Style knows no price! Style At Home proves this best in their high and low article the feature monthly in their magazine. It completely blows me away when I look at rooms that are virtually the same, but one comes with a price tag of $20,000(yes for one room) and the other with the price tag of $4,408. 

Look below, can you guess which is which? Does it really matter?

source
(hint: the one of the left cost more)

  Eight Tips for Decorating On A budget:

Add Accessories

After looking at the same room day after day, night after night it does gets a little bland. Before you go out and blow all your money to satisfy your decorating itch why not work with what you already have. You can completely transform a room by simply adding different throw pillows, art work, creating an entry way in the hall way, or adding a lamp. Get creative! You'd be surprised how something as little as accessorizing can go a far way in transforming the feel and look of a room. It is also very inexpensive!

Go Window Shopping

So you're simply fed up with your current decor. Your 10 year old lumpy sofa, the sight of your coffee table, the stains on your carpet all make you want to flee to another room? then it is time to go shopping! It's best to start by window shopping to find your inspiration. Look at home decor magazines, expensive furniture show rooms and department stores that have room set ups. Get a feel for what type of theme you're going for and see how particular rooms make you feel. You can take pictures, rip out pages, or note specific items you may have seen; then walk on over to the stores that are in your budget and shop for something similar. Trust me you WILL find it(take a look at the picture above again if you're not convinced)

Set Your Budget and Stick To It

After you've decided what amount of money you can set aside to spend try your best and STICK TO IT. Don't go to a store that you know you cannot afford to shop at or look at a sofa way out of your price range hoping to score a deal. Set realistic goals for yourself; if your eying a sofa that cost a little bit more than your budget will allow see how long it will take to save for such sofa, if you can't find it cheaper then save up.  You don't want to regret your decision later when your house looks fabulous, but your bills are left behind.

Pick Neutral Colours For Big Purchases

Big purchase items such as a sofa can cost a fortune, since your sofa is not something you will be replacing in a year or so pick a sofa that matches with all colours. Grey, beige, white, black and browns are good sofa picks because even though your colour taste might change your sofa will be ready to adapt to any colour scheme. Then the next time you get that itch remember rule number one - accessorize!

Rearrange Your Room

Maybe you don't need to buy anything at all! Rearranging the furniture in a particular room can make it feel like a brand new room. Swap things around, bring items in from different rooms, move the sofa so your living room faces the opposite way, or clear away the clutter. You'd be surprised how refreshed you'll feel with your "new" living room setup. The positive side of this option is it cost you nothing at all. *happy dance*

Paint Those Walls

Another cheap decorating option is painting the walls in the room. A fresh coat of paint gives new feeling to a room and is the easiest way to dramatically change the look of your space. Read How colours affect the mood in a room" and then head to your local paint shop and pick up the colour of choice for ten to thirty dollars.

Revamp Those Windows

So you don't have time to paint? Another easy solution to get out of your decorating funk is to revamp your window treatment. Google window treatment ideas and take a look at all the different styles of curtain, drapes and trimmings you can have. Get picky about material you want, style, and texture. Add a sheer white drape under your favorite colored curtain and expose the white. This will instantly transform the room, and its as easy as putting curtains up.

Have Patience

The best advice I can give is to have patience.  Don't be in a rush to redecorate, take your time and plan what you want from this room so you won't have to do it again months later. If money is the number one issue, keep your eyes on sales and deals, compare prices online or wait for sample sales. Maybe start small and de-clutter the room, a clean home can instantly transform how you feel about that particular room. Overall, just have fun! Decorating should be fun, not stressful.

Share your budget friendly decorating tips with us on facebook or @modsensibility on twitter Or leave a comment below!

HOW TO: CHOOSE THE RIGHT COFFEE TABLE FOR YOUR SPACE

A coffee table is a main staple in anyone’s home. It is the center piece of the living room and usually a main focal point. A coffee table has many functions; a good place to kick your feet up (even though we know we shouldn’t do this, many of us still do), it is the home of your remote control, magazines, and drinks. What a lot of people don’t realize is that a coffee table is also a decorative piece in your home. That’s why so often people don’t explore the different types of coffee tables that are available and end up sticking to something standard and readily available. The best way to choose a coffee table is to combine style and function together. Here are some tips that are important when choosing the perfect coffee table for your space.

TAKE MEASUREMENTS

A general rule is to take some measurements before you buy a coffee table. Prevention is always better than cure. Just like you wouldn't buy a sofa without measuring what space you have to work with, you should apply the same efforts in purchasing your coffee table. Start by figuring out the correct measurements by measuring from the floor to the top of the sofa cushion. Generally, a good height for a coffee table is one that is levelled with your knees while sitting. Rule of thumb, a good size coffee table is 1/2 to 1/3 the size length of your sofa. Also, remember to measure the distance between the sofa and the space where the coffee table will be so you know that there is enough room to walk freely. The standard width is about 18" for comfortable movement. 

STYLE

Now that you have your measurements out of the way, consider the type of look you are going for. There are many options available now-a-days in many different styles and shapes. No longer are you limited to a square or rectangular wooden or glass top standard coffee table. You can choose something that shows your personality and is modern and fun. Or you can go with something that is more laid back and simple. As long as you have an idea of what it is you’re looking for before you go out, it is completely up to you. I made this mistake when I moved into my apartment. I had no vision of what I wanted in a living room, I thought ‘hey, a coffee table is a coffee table’ I ended up buying a modern coffee table, but it didn’t fit the functions that I needed it too and the legs ended up weakening quicker than I had expected them too. 

SIZE

Consider your size before you buy a coffee table. You just spotted a beautiful coffee table; on impulse you buy it only to discover when you get home that A. it doesn’t look as good as it did in a big showroom, or B. You have no space between your sofa and your coffee table for easy walking. Not only will this make your already small space look more cluttered, the frustration it will cause to be stuck with the coffee table will be much more worse. If you are short on space try pairing two smaller side tables together. It is a great option and still looks modern and fresh and offers variety.

FUNCTION

This leads me to function. What is your coffee table going to be used for ? Are you the type of person who likes to sit on the ground and read a book, write, or eat on your coffee table? Choose a sturdier model in this case, one without separate legs so that you won’t have to worry about them wearing down over time, or becoming loose. Do you have children or pets that will be knocking into the coffee table? Are you a clumsy person? I’d suggest rounded edges so that no one is harmed during an accident. Do you need a coffee table that can double as storage, or place decorative pieces on? Or do you just want it to sit there and look pretty in the middle of your living room. If that’s the case, you’re lucky! You have millions of styles and options available to you and don't have to worry about how it will work in your space. 

DON'T FORGET

subscribe to our newsletter by clicking herewhere we will be showcasing our new coffee tables line up. We have some really modern and fun options. So stay tuned! You will also be entered into our monthly draw. Winners are announced EVERY month.

COMMENTS + THOUGHTS WELCOMED!