6 Go big with accessories. Many tiny items make a place look cluttered and cheapy. Instead opt for overscale accessories like standing floor vases, plump floor cushions, pillar candles rather than tea-lights.
7 Use texture: Combine shiny, matte, soft and rough natural textures to add richness to a space. Sparkle always adds a dash of glamour.
8 Don't scrimp on the size of your area rug. Many nice rooms are ruined by the use of a postage-stamp sized rug. Can't find one big enough and don't want to spend the earth: go to a broadloom store and order a piece to be cut and bound (choose a sisal look-a-like in wool or sythetic fibre).
9 Do what I did - decorate with black and white. Just like with fashion, these colours (or non-colours) never look tired and combined can result in dramatic spaces that look like their total price tag was much higher that the actual cost.
10 Buy gutsy lamps. Lighting is often an after-thought when decorating on a budget but spindly, too-small lamps are a common faux-pas. Instead, layer your lighting (overhead, task, ambient), switch bulbs to halogen or natural daylight bulbs and buy lamps that have a sculptural appeal.
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4 Comments
We saw a wonderful chest of drawers in a boutique in Stratford that was painted black with great glass knobs $745.00, and replicated it with black paint, glass knobs and italic stencils with the words Dance/Love/Opera/Paris one on each drawer in gold- total cost $35.00- it looks fabulous!
Thanks to Alexus for posting your note about the painted black chest of drawers - it gave me great ideas for refinishing a piece of furniture that I've been trying to figure out what to do with for awhile!
I found awesome scrap book prints and framed them on the wall...the color of the prints on the paper helped inspire me re: other accents colors i could add around the house..the cost for the prints...less than a dollar!
oups Margot sorry I don't understand this as a cheap chic...I go for chaby chic myself...sorry for spelling I am dislexic... shaby chic is when you REALLY don't have money...I get a lot from the spring cleaning week...I go to my neighbours and have found a Muskoka chair blue...paint heavaly worn off for the frunt door of my home...I found what is now my blanket bench that is under the window with a beautiful tree in front of the window so the cats Sweat Pea and Lady can relaxe while bird watching...It gets rid of the need to put the blankets into the closet...and in the living room easy to grab when needed...I go to flea markets for furniture...still trying to find a larg Good pritty couch...that is a bit of a trick with no transportation....the last one cost 50.00...I get furniture from friends and family members...as long as it is colorful usefull or just plain fun and pritty I will take it... Your room is great but looks like something a student from college would love...come to think of It that would have been nice for me 5 years ago...I was in need of your design then too! Heidi12 More please...