Hi Creativity Exchange readers! It’s Claire from Claire Brody Designs back with another monthly post. If you happened to miss my last contributor post, which was a trash to treasure dresser revamp, you can get to that post by clicking the image directly below:
Today I’m happy to be back sharing some decorating tips with you guys. I really enjoy working with clients and friends with affordable budgets. It’s what my design philosophy is all about.
An affordable budget can vary, but think anywhere from Target/IKEA to West Elm/Pottery Barn to Z Gallerie/Restoration Hardware. In my opinion, it’s all about mixing the high and low to achieve a space that has depth and personality. That being said, I do have clients and friends who come to me with a budget that won’t do justice for their “full room makeover” dreams. In this case, I suggest purchasing a few statement items to spruce up the room and START the makeover with intentions of slowly making more purchases in the future to complete the room. Decorating is a never ending process, right?
So what to do when there is a small budget, but major change is needed? I recommend straying away from a “full makeover” mindset and instead investing in a few statement pieces that will make a large impact. Where to start with the statement pieces? I thought long and hard and came up with three items that will instantly transform a space. These three items are often great starting points when designing a room. It’s nice when you can find inspiration through a single item and from there build out and around that one piece. While there are many pieces that make up a room, these three items are the most impactful in my opinion.
3 Ways to Instantly Transform a Room:
1. Rugs
Area rugs instantly ground a space. They are nice in living or family rooms (and usually needed) because they sections off the seating area. I prefer area rugs in bedrooms as well, but they can go without too. I love to add color or pattern through an area rug as it’s an instant statement. The key to adding an area rug is choosing the right size. It’s always better to have an area rug that is too big rather than too small (although the perfect size is always best). A rule of thumb in the living area is to have all furniture legs on the rug for a luxe feel. You can also go front legs only on the rug. This will create more of a casual vibe. Either way, anything smaller than an 8×10 will likely be too small for most living areas. An idea is to use a large, natural fiber rug and then layer a smaller rug on top that you love but might not can afford in a large size. Layering is all the rage these days.
natural fiber rug | turquoise rug | black and white stripe rug
2. Lighting
Lighting is often overlooked but it can be so powerful in a space. I love unique lighting and there are so many affordable options out there. The easiest (and least expensive) way to update lighting is with table lamps. I prefer matching table lamps on both sides of a sofa and/or bed as it really pulls together the room. Chandeliers and pendants are a bit more expensive but are so, so elegant. My trick when shopping for lighting is to look for options that you haven’t already seen. Use lighting as an excuse to add a unique touch to your room!
bead chandelier | brass pendant | glass lantern pendant |geometric pendant | table lamp | moroccan table lamp | flush mount lamp
3. Art
Art doesn’t have to be fancy. It can be a framed print, a gallery wall or a even a statement mirror. (Yes, I consider mirrors art!) If new furniture isn’t an option, an idea is to add interest to the walls through art which might even take attention away from the sub par furniture. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have art if you have great furniture! Art is the perfect accessory to any room and a great way to pull colors and patterns together that are found throughout a room. Large scale art is becoming more and more popular and like area rugs, it’s always better for your art to be too big than too small.
blue abstract art | black and white art |round mirror | seaside art |black abstract art
Thanks for reading today. That was a long winded post, but hopefully it offered some insight to anyone wanting to make fast, affordable changes to their space. What are your favorite elements when decorating a room?
For more design inspiration and ideas, you can check out my blog Claire Brody Designs here.
xo,
Claire
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
I enjoyed this post. Great tips. 🙂