Nine Decorating Tips for When You Are on a Budget

Is your living room a little drab? Is your budget a little too tight to achieve the look you want? Then let these nine easy steps help you create the space you want for less.

Start from the base and decorate out. Every room's base is its wall and a new paint color is the fastest and cheapest way of adding life to any space. For around twenty dollars you can create a dramatic, cozy, exotic or modern atmosphere for your living spaces. Bring home several different color chips and tack them up in various places around the room. This lets you live with them for a little while, see the colors in different light throughout the day and help you decide which you color you prefer to use. Also, try different paint techniques such as texturing, skimming and sponging.

Add a border to focus the eye. With or without new paint, adding a border to your walls can draw attention to an area and add a special detail your room may need. A border can be either stenciled with paint, a pre pasted wallpaper or made out of objects and treasures. Place the border at the top your walls in order to create a crown for your room or place the border a bit above the halfway point of your wall to imitate a chair rail. If you have never done this treatment before and would like more information about the proper way first, many home improvement stores offer free instruction classes with step-by-step directions. Call your local do-it-yourself center for upcoming times and subjects for hands on demonstrations.