From wall decals to funky tea towels
High style on a low budget: Easy, cheap room revamps
Yaaaawn. Blah describes the décor around your home. But thin describes the budget. No fear.
A few items under $150 can almost instantly smarten any space.
Revamps any room
Paint. The whole job is $100-150, depending on room size. Use this calculator to figure how much paint is needed.
Paint too messy? Try wall decals. Starting at $35 or less and with varieties from offbeat to elegant, they're no longer delegated to the kids' rooms.
One new rug. Look for personality and color, about $50-150, depending on size and quality.
Make the kitchen bitchin’
Replace solid cabinets with glass ones. At $50 for a DIY job, it’s cheaper than repainting or restaining existing ones.
New hardware for cabinets and drawers allows one to refresh the entire kitchen for less than $150.
Treating a window is another easy fix. Two funky tea towels ($30 or less for both) hung with rings ($10 a pack) on a rod ($50 or less) revitalize a window ASAP. Total: $100.
Display plates are another wallet-friendly option. No cool ones from Grandma? Scour discount home stores, like Tuesday Morning and Marshalls, for sets less than $75.
Redo the loo
Recolor hardware in the bathroom with a spray-paint can ($4). Instructions here. Or replace for about $70.
What about a new faucet($50) orsink($80) from IKEA?
Less than $100 gets a new shower curtain (stylishly hides any grungy tile), bath mats and towels. Get wild — you can always replace later.
That mirror, mirror on the wall is new, like this one for less than $100, including shipping.
Living area, bedroom and den … oh my
Mantra: accessorize. Try a resin wicker chair ($60), eclectic throw pillows that pop with color ($20 each), reversible throw($20), brightduvet covers($120) or a storage bench ($90, including shipping) at foot of bed or behind the couch.
Striking prints run $150 and lower at online museum gift shops, likeMoMA's. Frame it for about $60, and suddenly, you’re cultured.
Go glass. Fill vases and bowls with personal relics — corks popped on special occasions, concert tickets or sea shells from a beach trip.