Cheap Shelving Ideas with the Ikea Billy Bookcase

If you are an avid reader and have collected a sizable amount of books over time, you will definitely need a proper home for those tomes that are like old friends every time you pick one up. The challenge today is how to find shelving that is cheap, yet durable enough to hold such a sizable collection. Built in bookshelves are very pricy, and if you’re renting an apartment, it is most likely not worth the investment to have them made. So after searching for some time for cheap shelving ideas, I came across the classic Billy Bookcase from Ikea which retailed for only $79.99, which was much more in the budget range I had in mind. I bought four of those and supplemented them with the four smaller Billy Bookcases which were basically the same height but half the width, giving me quite a bit of flexibility in arranging my living room space with the shelves. There are obviously more modern looking styles I could have gone with to include fancy glass doors for….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

5 Best Wall Decorating Ideas

A lot of people wonder how to decorate their walls.  Here are my top 5 favorite room decorating ideas for quick and simple wall decor. Wall Decorating Idea #5: Poster Art What to do: This idea is similar to hanging art on your wall, only cheaper!  Posters often only cost around $1-$20 and you can buy beautiful ones online or in stores.  Just buy a poster that looks like artwork and put it in a nice frame.  You instantly add decor and personality to your walls. Why it’s great: This room decorating idea is not only cheap, but it’s easy to do.  Posters come in all different styles, colors, themes and patters so you will definitely find designs that will match your personal taste and your room’s decor.  The best thing about framing poster art, is that it looks like real art! Wall Decorating Idea #4: Hanging Plates What to do: Hanging plates can make lovely wall decor.  Choose a bunch of plates that you’d like to hang up.  You may have some at home, or you might want….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

The Downside of Fancy Bathroom Faucets

Many people choose to add decor to their bathroom by buying expensive, fancy bathroom faucets.  Although there are many amazing faucets out there, sometimes choosing “luxury” quality might not be the best choice, despite assumptions that these faucets look and work better than standard ones. Before choosing a super fancy bathroom faucet, take a look at these common mistakes. One of the most common mistakes people make when buying a stylish faucet is forgetting that the rest of the bathroom decor needs to match.  I have been in countless bathrooms that are plain and simple, yet the faucets are extravagant.  Stylish appliances can be a great room decorating idea in a bathroom that is equally fancy.  But when used in simple or run-down bathrooms, a fancy faucet can seem out of place and become an eyesore instead of a chic accessory. Another problem that exists with luxury faucets is their maintenance.  They are often more difficult and more expensive to install.  Often, the complicated styles of these high-end faucets means they get blocked up easily and need to be fixed….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

Dorm Room Accessories

Who says your dorm room can’t feel like home…or even better? Even if you are initially repulsed by stark white walls, ugly floors and outdated furniture, the right dorm room accessories can make your space fun and comfortable.  Here are a few dorm room accessories you won’t want to leave home without! A Cork Board. A cork board (or bulletin board) is a great place to hang you class schedule, memos, pictures and calendar.  The great thing about cork boards is that they can add tons of decor and personal style to your room.  You can cover the board with a funky material from a fabric shop or by “recycling” an old t-shirt or sheet with a pattern you love.  Cork boards can also be painted, decorated with ribbons or colored paper.  All you need is a staple gun and some glue. Painting the frame of the cork board (or adding one if it doesn’t come with) is another awesome dorm room decorating idea. Bed Pockets. Everyone knows that in a dorm room space is….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

Painting Furniture Basics

One of my favorite room decorating ideas is painting furniture.  This is partially because my husband and I have a lot of furniture that’s been given to us before we were married and isn’t exactly our taste.  We recently discovered the “magic” of painting- it literally can breath new life into any piece!  Even if you’ve never painted or sanded before (like I hadn’t…) you can still take on a painting project without worrying that you’ll turn what you have into a disaster.  Painting furniture is a relatively easy and fun DIY project.  Remember- it should always be done in a well-ventilated area and the work area should be covered with newspapers to prevent stains. The first step is sand down the piece you want to paint.  Sanding the furniture gets rid of the wax or finish that the piece already has.  I recommend using an electric sander, as it is much easier than sanding by hand! Just make sure that you sand each part evenly and clean up all the dust afterwards. The next….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

Flea Market Decorating Ideas

Summer is approaching and a a great time to check out your local flea markets for great room decorating ideas! But amidst the maze of chachkas and chinkets, where do you begin?  And how do you turn junk into something that can beautify your home? First of all, you should arrive at a flea market early (i.e. before everything good is taken!).  Dress down, be friendly and prepare to bargain! It is good to come prepared with a tape measure and some basic measurements of your home (especially if you are planning on purchasing furniture). An easy way to make your way through a flea market, is by color.  Try picking out a color or a few colors that you are looking for to decorate your home.  Do you have a picture on your wall that you are looking to compliment? A couch you would like to match? With a color in mind, searching for flea market decorating ideas becomes much simpler. In general, check to see if an object is in good condition.  If….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

Budget Dining Room Decorating Ideas

Do you think it takes thousands of dollars to change your dining room from drab to fab? Think again! Try out some our budget dining room decorating ideas and be amazed by the change they’ll make! Just because your dining room furniture is outdated and shabby, doesn’t mean you have to go out and purchase new items.  You can try adding a new centerpiece to your dining room table.  Centerpieces such as colored glass bowls, fresh flowers, candlesticks or plants breath new life to your table.  Coupled with a matching runner, your dining room already starts to look more chic. Instead of purchasing a buffet or sideboard, you can try either paining an old one to in a bright shade.  If you don’t have a buffet, a dresser or shelf from another room in your house can be used instead.  Cabinets can be painted and used to display china or other decorative items.  By painting the cabinets the same color as your dining room walls, you create an elegant illusion that the furniture is built in….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

Budget Paintings for your Home

We all know how searching for paintings that match your walls, furniture, carpets, and most of all your personal style is a very time consuming task. For those of us who can afford it, looking for wall paintings can be wonderful and fun, but what do you do when: a) you don’t have a lot of time or money b) all the cheap paintings in the stores just don’t match your home/style c) everyone seems to already have them d) that blank spot over your fireplace is really starting to depress you! After a long conversation with my interior designer sister-in-law, she let me in on a very important decorating tip. Whatever you can’t find ready-made within your budget, just do it yourself. There are tons of ideas out there on creative wall art ideas, but if you’re interested in hanging up more traditional canvas paintings around your home, then here’s what you do: 1) Go to your neighborhood art store or do a search online and purchase a couple of blank canvases (not a….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

Decorating My Bedroom On a Budget

When moving into an apartment and faced with the task of its decor i was nervous.‎ Every person who walked into my new bedroom fell in love. It has high, ‎curved ceilings in an old Arabian Princess style with arching doorways and patterned ‎tiled floors. The bedroom was so naturally beautiful on its own, whatever i chose to put in it ‎had to live up to it gorgeous structural standard.‎ On top of that, I didn’t have very much money, so I needed to figure out a way of decorating my bedroom on a budget. Looking for Ideas: Whenever I entered a cool shop I snapped pictures on my phone of different blankets, ‎bed spreads, lamps, etc so I could then check them out while in the context of my room. ‎I also took pics of the room with my phone so that I could compare the patterns and ‎colors to prospective purchases while in the stores. ‎ This way I could get a feel for whether things fit without having to commit to buying….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

Magic with Slipcovers

Whether you’re furnishing an empty apartment or you simply want to give your existing room a makeover, one of easiest ways to save money with budget decorating is by using a slipcover over your couch. A slipcover is a piece of fabric specially designed to fit snugly over couches of any shape and size once you tuck them in properly along their self-anchoring seems. There are fancier slip covers made of more expensive fabrics and cheaper ones that can also do the trick. Many manufacturers of slipcovers also provide matching pillows to add to the overall look. So instead of buying a new couch, take a couple minutes and browse sites such as craigslist for used furniture. If you can find a cheap couch that is structurally sound, then a slipcover can make that piece of furniture look like new and even match a new room decor theme you were going for. You can literally save hundreds (even thousands) of dollars, while also having the luxury of changing your mind if you don’t happen to….Read the Rest of this Decor Idea

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