You can feel the need for a change in your life from time to time. Maybe you want to change your clothing style, revamp your wardrobe, go on vacation to take a break from the daily routines, or dream of living somewhere else because you are bored of your native city and your local activities. Know that change is not that out of reach and that there are things that you can do to break the monotony and feel less mundane.
If you want some adventure but your budget would rather keep you home and safe, maybe it’s time you considered low-cost redecorating your house. Figuring out how to do it cheaply and aesthetically can be challenging, especially if you like luxurious items whose ratio of price to quality you find unfavorable.
Keep reading to grasp practical ideas that cheer you up without squeezing money out of you.
Start by creating a budget
When redecorating on a budget, you first have to establish the budget. Identify what things and aspects don’t spark joy in your rooms anymore. If they are out-of-use and only make wiping the dust harder, get rid of them. Then figure out what things can be refurbished or repurposed and which items need to be replaced.
Search them on the internet and pick the items that offer the best value for money. Write those numbers down and see how you can adjust your budget and what products can suffer a buying delay.
Go thrift shopping
Yes, brand new items bring us so much joy. Psychologically, our brains are attracted to novelty and desire new experiences that provide us with stimulation and boost our learning capacity. That is why we always want to buy new and even unnecessary stuff.
But we can fight this money-consuming mechanism and realize that we can get better deals and still enjoy something new. Cheap, new furniture is lower in quality than used furniture that was expensive at the first purchase. And there are other reasons why you should search for thrift shops as well:
- lower price for higher quality furniture
- it reduces your ecological footprint
- it supports your local economy
- it’s more bounce to the ounce
- it contributes to the fossil fuel industry
- in positively impacts the deforestation issue
Here are some tips for buying second-hand furniture:
- Avoid smelly items
- Check items for bed bugs
- Test the units: put weight on them, open draws
- Don’t forget to bring a measuring tape with you
If nothing appeals to you, and you still want a change in your room, there are some other tricks you can do to bring a breath of fresh air:
- Move pieces of furniture around. It helps cope with stress and adds novelty to your life.
- Change the upholstery of your units. Jacquard fabrics, for example, stand out from other upholstery fabrics through the number of colors used and the complexity of its design. These fabrics look unique and are one of the most popular types of material, as they are wrinkle- and stain-resistant. Its woven pattern doesn’t fade or wear off of your garments. Its resistance to abrasion, accidental stains and pilling are benefits you should look out for in a textile when you want a long-lasting one. It gives an extravagant and grandiose look, all while making your house look homely and chic.
- A cost-effective change comes from accessorizing too. Thrift shops abound in decorations, pillows and blankets.
- Throw pillows and blankets to cozy up your rooms and make guests feel at home. The right amount, fabric and color mix of pillows and blankets make a room feel comfier and more homely. Plus, they add style to your living space.
Don’t forget to buy some good fabric sanitizer to ensure they are hygienic and safe to touch.
Paint
Painting the walls, furniture, or accessories can be one of the most challenging decisions to make. It is sometimes hard to pick a color for a t-shirt, let alone the color surrounding you from when you wake up until you put yourself back to sleep. Feelings and colors are linked: how they affect your emotions depends on a color’s shade, tone, tint, brightness and whether it’s warm or cool-toned.
You can start your painting project by determining what kind of vibe you want to give to the room that needs painting. It would help if you gained an understanding of the psychological effects they might have on you, so your choice suits your personality and delivers the state of mind that you expect from your room. Colors have the following effects on us:
Warm colors
Warm colors like yellow, orange and red conjure up the idea of the sun. The lighter ones brighten up your chamber, make it feel hospitable and comfy, and create a mood of energization and conversation.
It would be best if you used orange in rooms where many activities are unveiled, like the exercise room or playroom.
Yellow represents happiness, captures joy and is the most effective if used in the kitchen, living room or dining room.
On the other hand, red raises a space’s energy level, enhances intimacy, and stimulates passion. You should use it in the entryway, dining room or living room.
Cool colors
Cool colors are stress relievers, calm and relax you, and give a sense of serenity and peace of mind.
You should use green in living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms, as it is the most calming color from the pallets and is effective in relieving stress accumulated throughout the day.
Blue, a restful and soothing color, lowers your blood pressure, and it is advisable to use it in the bedroom and bathroom.
Purple is an elegant and refined color, and you can use it in the bedroom, the office or the living room.
You cannot drag walls to widen up your living space, but with the proper lighting, it will surely come closer to looking larger
Update the lighting. It doesn’t matter if you are redecorating a room or giving the whole house a makeover; you should reconsider the importance of the lighting in your chamber.
You may sometimes fail to see that lighting goes beyond functionality. But it is just as important in determining your emotions and vibrations and the overall aspect of the room.
These are some recommendations according to the effects lightning has on your room and your general state of being:
- Warm, glow bulb table lamps can be used for softer lighting
- Floor lamps bring the night to life
- You can control smart lighting to deliver intimacy or energization
- Fairy lights are psychologically proven to increase dopamine and trigger happiness
