By Nancy Mattia, CTW Features
You’re not ready for a full-on home renovation but you’d like to update a few things and give the place a more lavish look? By choosing certain colors or making over cabinet doors, you can pull together a glam look that your home so richly deserves. Check out seven ways that won’t break the budget:
1 Decorate with neutrals
Reach for the whites, off-whites, creams, grays and a multitude of other neutral colors that give a room a look of elegant opulence. A neutral décor, from the paint on the walls to the rugs on the floor, creates a calm ambiance; it also creates depth, which tricks the eye into making the space look bigger. Mix and match neutrals to customize a look.
2 Update the kitchen cabinets
If your cabinets are in good shape but look outdated, give them a more contemporary appearance by refurbishing them. One way is by refacing them, which involves covering your current cabinet doors with a wood veneer; another option is painting them. While white doors will always be in style, earth tones like taupe and mushroom are popular shades today too. To complete the makeover, replace old handles and knobs with new hardware in a modern style and finish.
3 Add an eye-catching detail to walls
It’s amazing how installing molding (decorative strips of wood) to plain walls can turn a boring room into one with sumptuous style. The different types include crown, baseboard and chair rail molding.
4 Spruce up the front entryway
Create a memorable first impression when you give your home’s entrance a makeover. Upgrades that go a long way include placing pathway lights that lead to the front door, painting the door a bright or unexpected color that coordinates with the existing siding and trim (consider a contemporary color like Viva Magenta, the Pantone Color of the Year), and placing big pots of colorful flowers and leaves on the steps.
5 Hang oversized artwork
Instead of hanging a print of “Starry Night” in your living room, decorate one wall with a large oil painting by a local artist. You can find affordable, interesting art at flea markets and thrift shops. Don’t skimp on size—the bigger the better to make a statement.
6 Display fresh flowers
Many people only buy flowers to honor birthdays and Mother’s Day, but flowers are much more than just special-occasion gifts. Make them a part of your home’s decor—they’ll brighten up your mood as well as the room they’re in. Fill your favorite vase with a bouquet of seasonal blooms and place it front and center on a table or credenza.
7 Unclutter rooms
There’s something about a room with limited furniture and accessories that creates a calm, uncluttered ambiance. Take a look around and remove all those extra chairs, small tables, overflowing bookshelves and anything else that is unnecessary and crowds the space.