Great Decorating Tips That Won’t Break The Bank - Kansas City Apartment and Rental decorating Advice

Let’s face it, most of us aren’t rich and moving into a new place costs a lot of money. There’s first and last month’s rent to pay, a deposit, utilities and more. Doesn’t leave much for decorating, does it? Don’t worry. You don’t have to write a blank check to a decorator to turn an ordinary apartment into an extraordinary home. Money does not have to be a huge issue. There are ways to make every dollar stretch a long way. All it takes is a little patience, a lot of imagination and a sense of adventure.

To start making your decorating look like you hired a pro, the first thing you have to do is create a scheme. Be realistic here. Take stock in what you already own and what could go with it to make the rooms in your home stand out like showplaces. It’s not generally necessary to run out and buy all new things. You can make the old work again.

Once you’ve considered what you have and where it will go, pick colors to accent. If you have a great painting that will be the centerpiece of your living room or even a throw carpet, pick a highlight color and go with it. This will bring the room together and paint doesn’t cost a bundle.

Now, in the dining room, if you have a great table and run down chairs. Consider redoing the seats. It doesn’t cost a lot of money if you do it yourself and generally all it takes is fabric, a screw driver, scissors and furniture staples or decorative furniture tacks. Picking the colors can be tricky. If you have china that’s colorful, maybe go with an accent from this and use it for the walls or the drapes and tablecloth. Have fun with color, but don’t go overboard. If you can’t afford expensive drapes, try discount stores like Wal-Mart or Target. Pick out simple looped curtains and use inexpensive blinds to block the sun and the curtains to hide the blinds from view.

The same goes for the bedroom or any other room in a house. Once you’ve spruced up what you have and chosen a color palette, you’re ready to move on to shopping for finishing touches. Start considering accent pieces that will help bring a room together. Candles, throw rugs, china for the dining room, extra pieces of furniture such as a buffet or accent tables can go a long way. While you can go to an expensive store and buy these items retail, it takes away the fun and doesn’t always fit into a budget.

Instead, consider alternatives for finding the perfect items and turn the hunt into an adventure. Decorating doesn’t have to be done in a day. In fact, it’s more fun if it’s an ongoing process.Here are some ideas on where to go to find the perfect pieces such as art work, lighting, linens and even furniture or knick knacks.

• Discount stores like Target and Wal-Mart. You’d be surprised at the home décor items these places offer. From beautiful wrought iron candle holders to nifty linen lined baskets for storing items in plain view, these stores are worth a look when you’re decorating on a budget.
• Estate sales – You don’t have to be rich to own expensive items. When moves are about to happen, divorces take place, children move out or even when death occurs, estate sales are the norm. These events are generally advertised in local papers and the owners don’t necessarily want to get top dollar for their pieces. They’re looking to get rid of them! You can find steals on furniture, art, antiques and more by visiting an estate sale or two. Plus, the treasures you can find are sometimes worth a lot more than what you’ll pay. Some smart shoppers have even managed to furnish entire places for less than $500 by visiting estate sales and the furniture they walked out with carried quality brand names like Broyhill.
• Garage sales – Okay, not everyone likes these, but you’d be surprised at what you can find on a budget. From furniture and accents to linens and lamps, a few well timed garage sales can net some fantastic items for your home at a fraction of the cost of retail.
• Flea markets – These, too, are more than worth visiting if you’re looking for certain pieces. The prices are generally reasonable and it’s not unlikely to find everything under the sun to decorate a home by visiting different booths and displays.

The key to decorating on a budget is to use your imagination, shop around and be willing to let it take a little time. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and you’ll be all set. If you look at decorating as a fun process and put certain items on a search list, you’ll have fun hunting them down and you’ll enjoy the process of making your rooms “just so” that much more!

by Tiffany Lewis, Kansas City Premier Apartments, Inc.