It’s that time of year when many students might be moving to a new place, fixing up, or thinking about décor for next year. In any case, a budget shouldn’t stop students from making their dorms, apartments or houses look how they want them. Here are some tricks to add a fresh new look to any room without spending a fortune.
First and foremost is color. When thinking about freshening things up, start with a fresh coat of paint. A bucket of paint can change the whole feel of a room for under $50. If you don’t want to do the whole room, then just paint one wall. Try a light yellow or orange for a beautiful accent wall in the summer. Do something different and then base your room around that. Be sure to check with the property owner before painting to prevent extra charges when the lease ends.
Next is the centerpiece of the room – furniture. When trying to cut back, work with what is there already. If the upholstery is worn, cover it with bright throws, quilts, slipcovers or even sheets to draw the eye away from the problem areas. This also works if the color is outdated. Add a few throw pillows to catch the eye and draw attention. Old pillows can be found at garage sales popping up all over town. If you feel like it you can even pick up some upholstery and sew some slip covers together on your own. Thrift shops are another great place to pick up throws and sheets too.
Many don’t think about how important it is to add life to the floor – many older, cheaper places have worn-out floors. Cover an old carpet with a large throw rug or make your own hand-painted floor cloth. These are more good items to look for at thrift shops.
Furniture arrangement: Rearranging your furniture is always a good way to update the look. As with color, create a focal point of your best pieces; they should be the first things people see when they walk in the room. They won’t even notice the ugly stuff in the corner.
Accents and accessories: At this point, the decorating is just about there. All that’s left is those last finishing touches. Think about contrasting colors or patterns here. This is where you can get extra creative.
Look at what is there, gather up old photos, record albums or letters and put them up on a corkboard. If you don’t have one, use a cloth or even a sheet as your base.
Flash, without the cash
Daily Emerald
June 7, 2007
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