Changing up the look of your home doesn’t need to be expensive. There are several things you can do to refresh your look on a tight budget. At the Paint Shop, we’re here to help, no matter what your budget is. And it’s in that spirit of helpfulness and home improvement that we bring you this list of things you can do to change up the look of your home without spending a ton of money.
Create a new accent wall
Instead of repainting the entire room, pick a colour you love and just paint one wall. Because it’s only one wall, you should get a few coats out of a can. There are several ways to go about choosing an accent colour for your wall. This blog post on accent walls has a few ideas to get you started. When you get to your local Paint Shop, our interior decorators and paint pros will be able to help you figure out what colour would look best in your space.
Replace hardware
Sometimes, small changes can have a big impact. Like, for instance, when you change the hardware on your cabinets. Going from bronze to chrome, or traditional to modern, or even staying with the same style but a different look, will have a bigger impact than their small size would suggest.
Wallpaper an accent wall
Accent walls and wallpaper are a perfect match. And with hundreds of options available, there’s a wallpaper that matches your personal style. Starting with the most subtle of options, paintable wallpaper can be coated in the same colour as the rest of the room, with the accent coming in the form of texture. Once you get into patterned wallpaper, the options range from subtle all the way through to outrageous, in styles from traditional to contemporary. From stripes to polka dots to Damascus to whales or dinosaurs, the options are so broad that, really, the best way to choose is to go into a Paint Shop and, with the help of an in-store decorator, flip through the wallpaper sample books until something strikes you as being “the one.”
Refinish a piece of furniture
Giving a new colour to a piece of furniture is one of the most cost-efficient ways to change up the look of your home. Don’t be intimidated – you can paint furniture yourself. And with a bit of patience and care, you can get great results with your very first project.
If you want a flat, non-shiny look, check out the chalk paint options from Cottage Paint or DecoArt Americana, combined with a wax coat for protection. If the chalk paint look isn’t your thing, consider Benjamin Moore’s Advance line of paints, which dries to a hard finish, making it ideal for furniture (and cabinets, or baseboards, or anywhere you need a hard, durable coating).
Add some greenery
We don’t sell plants, but you also don’t have to buy any. In the summer, picking wildflowers makes this the most cost-effective option for freshening up your home. In the winter months, or for something a bit more permanent, consider a potted plant. There are several low-maintenance varieties that thrive with minimal attention and in low light. Aloe, snake plant, and spider plant are all easy to care for plants that will add a bit of year-round greenery and oxygen-making to your home.
New throw pillows for the furniture
When it comes to accent colours, cushions are a great way to change things up on a budget. Although small, changing throw pillows on your couch can have a real impact on the look of your room. You could have seasonal colour changes, festive cushions for holidays, or graphic prints that reflect your personality. If storage space is at a premium, just buy the cushion cover, without the inside pillow, to save space.
Have questions? Feel free to drop by your local Paint Shop for more expert advice. Find a store near you >>
