Creating elegance on a budget

Are you struggling to balance your dream of an elegant home with a small budget? See it come to life when you follow these 8 easy decorating ideas for achieving elegance for less.

1. Do an inventory.

When you know what you have you can decide what to do with it. Here are some items you may find: dining chairs, glass bowls, serving trays, extra fabric and trim from sewing projects, plant pots, candles, scraps of wood, cupboard doors etc.

2. De-clutter.

Unsightly clutter can make a new home seem dated. De-cluttering is the route to a sense of comfort that costs nothing but will make your home feel more elegant.

Get rid of items you will never use; give them to someone who will. If it is a total loss, toss it. Don't crowd your home with "dead" pieces, please.

3. Do-it-yourself: renew and re-cycle.
A small budget is no excuse for a dingy and neglected décor. Gather some tools and do-it-yourself. Put new faces on pieces that are in a not-so-good condition but still functional and give a second life to others.

· Re-upholster your dining chairs. Sand side tables then stain or paint them for a fresh new look. Add style with trim, tassels, bows etc.

· Add affordable elegance at a fraction of the cost of a full set of bed linens or upholstering your living room chairs. A few yards of silk fabric will give you several pillows to dress up your chairs or even your bed.

· If there’s a chair in your bedroom that’s always laden with clothes, move it. Pair it with a small table in your home’s entryway, for example.

· Old clothes, graduation and bridesmaids dresses destined never to be worn again can be reborn as fabulous new throw pillows. A little bling goes a long way.

· Remove the back of an old dining chair, sand and paint it. Then lean it against a wall behind a plant to support its running vines.

· Take a teapot you never use and fill it with potpourri or your favorite flower. Alternatively, place a layer of pebbles at the bottom to keep water away from the soil and set a plant. The English Ivy with its variegated leaves adds a bit of softness anywhere you put it.

· Take that last surviving teacup and saucer. Hot glue the bottom of saucer to the rim of the cup and place a candle on the saucer. Voila! A candleholder with a handle.

· Don’t cry over broken dishes. Pick up the pieces and make a mosaic top for that old coffee table in the garage.

4. Paint style in every room.
Paint is the easiest and most cost-effective way to update your home and a fresh coat can drastically alter the look of any room. Use it to make you rooms look larger or cozier.

· Create the illusion of a high ceiling by taking the wall colour about 12 inches unto the ceiling. Or, minimize the overwhelming feeling of a very high ceiling by bringing the ceiling colour down 12 inches onto the walls. You could also try painting one wall a bold, bright, or dark colour for stunning impact.

· Paint your own border design around your bathroom mirror, to personalize you stock kitchen cabinets or at chair rail height in any room. You may use a stencil or do it freehand for the effect you want - traditional, sleek contemporary or casual country look.

· Brighten your laundry room with a sunny yellow colour to help minimize the drudgery of doing laundry. If you’re artistic and there is space, paint a small garden scene complete with a picket fence on one wall or in a bare corner. Furnish that area with a chair or bench and a basket for books where you can sit and wile away the time while the washer does the work.

5. Re-arrange.
You don’t always need to buy new furniture to change your décor. Infuse new life without dipping into your wallet by reconfiguring the furniture layout. Set the furniture at an angle in the bedroom, dinning or living room and see “ordinary” turned to “chic” in one afternoon.

6. Live outdoors.
Bringing the indoors out is as interesting as it’s more popular alternative. Imagine a corner of your porch dressed as an intimate sitting room. A comfy chair or two, with a small coffee or side table with a lamp. Add a couple of throw pillows for comfort, a basket or small bookcase for magazines and books and a pretty throw for chilly evenings. Without cluttering the space, include your favorite accessories, candles, photos and a plant or two. Ensure that your sitting area is protected from direct sunlight and rain. After all, you’ll want to enjoy the space whatever the weather and protect your fabrics and finishings.

7. Accessorize.

Who are you? Select and display the pieces that speak of your personality. The following are some of the more common accessories that help to create beautiful and stylish interiors:

· Flowers or plants will add a touch of the outdoors to any room. Without creating a forest bring in just a few plants or one large one in a statement-making pot. Position a live plant near a window or on a tabletop where it will get sunlight. An artificial one could be placed in an intimate corner. Even a simple floral arrangement on a coffee table of island will liven up your décor.

· Candles? Yes, everywhere. Remember they are not for dusting but for lighting.

· Photographs, paintings, throws and throw pillows, etc. will dress up your new décor but exercise control to avoid a cluttered look.

8. Light it up.
Don't underestimate the effect of good lighting. The wrong lighting can make a beautiful room look ugly. Bad lighting will exaggerate flaws and visually change the colours of fabrics and paint.

On the other hand, good lighting can have a dramatic impact on a carefully orchestrated décor. Experiment with your lighting until you achieve the effect that shows your rooms in all their elegant splendor.

Don't let your budget limit your options. Living more economically does not mean you have to be deprived of living elegantly. The look you’re after is possible. You just need to be inspired to find a way to take the ordinary into the realm of stunning elegance.