Not everybody has the time or the budget to redecorate on a whim, unless you’re living on the Main Line or in the Hamptons, and your kids are getting ready to be shipped out to camp for the summer. For the busy bee whose life revolves around work and paying the bills on time, going out is often a necessity as it offers a reprieve from looking at the same old walls day in and day out. Let’s face it, if you’re still renting in your 20’s and 30’s most likely you’ve inherited some of your blah furniture (hopefully not from your dorm room days), and have recycled and schlepped the same nick-knacks from one place to another. Before getting my domicile style together, I was one of those unfortunate souls who avoided going home after work so that I wouldn’t deal with the sad reality of my lackluster abode. How times have changed! Now I can’t wait to rush home and put my feet up in metro fabulous style. Think chenille and mohair throws, colorful down pillows, lovely warm lighting, and the list goes on. I can hardly wait for a long weekend, so I can invite my party reveling peeps over to my pad till the wee hours, or until the bubbly runs out. I’m an ingenious hostess – I supply the atmosphere, and they supply the bar!
No need to be green with envy – you too can have it all, starting with a pad you’re eager to return to as soon as you punch out your time card. Here are three instantly cool, affordable, simple make-overs:
- Think Wall Spirit. Add a unique flair and personality to your home by adorning your walls with the awesome environmentally friendly art decals and wall tattoos from wallspiritshop.com. Close your eyes for a minute, think of a dreamy theme, then choose your design(s) online – available in small or giant decals in up to 30 different colors, starting at $19.95! There is even a tutorial on the website, which gives you step-by-step tips on how to do it all by your lovely self. I would pick a large decal for the main living area, and some smaller ones for a hallway or kitchen. Keep some walls bare for contrast, for when you have the time to paint. Think bright and swanky. Voila, stylish meets practical in the blink of an eye.
- Think Floor Sense. A new rug gives any space an instantly fresh face-lift. I love Dash & Albert’s collection of stylish and affordable area rugs, starting at $30. This textile company has it all: bedding, pillows, and a super huge collection of rugs to suit everyone’s state – from clean and simple, to graphic chic, to cottage charm. I love their signature style striped 2×3 cotton rugs and 5×8 runners for an instant kitchen, bathroom or hallway lift. For the living room or bedroom I would suggest the wool rugs, unless your taste tends to be more country, in which case the inexpensive cotton rugs will give you the most bang for your buck. Make sure to choose your wall decals first, and then pick the rug patterns and colors to match accordingly.
- Think Throw Pillows. Now that you’ve got all your patterns and colors in place, it’s time to accessorize with an array of throw pillows. Choose different sizes, shapes, textures, and fabrics. To keep things affordable I would think no further than Pier 1 which will offer you a more eclectic selection, and Target or Home Goods for cleaner bolder designs or a mixed bag of styles. Make clever use of all those stores, and peruse through their home accessories section for nicely shaped bowls or vases. Think design forward, unique, and conversation type pieces. And don’t forget to pick up some candles while you’re there.
Now get ready to hang, lay, throw, and light up your newly spruced up pad just in time for your first summer bash. And no matter where you end up years from now, if you apply these 3 I-Dream-Of-Genie-Instant-Decorating-Tips, you’ll always be one stylish home dweller.
