Modern Décor on a Budget

Just because you don’t have thousands to spend on your home décor doesn’t mean you have to live in a boring home with blank walls and no pizazz. Whether you’re renting or just purchased your own property, you can create a beautiful modern look without spending much money.

Second-Hand Store Finds

Second hand stores, flea markets, and yard sales are great to find home décor items. Try to look beyond the colors and patterns you see and just focus on shape – because you can spray-paint just about anything to transform it. That gaudy mauve and blue vase can be painted a glossy black and that cheap-looking wooden frame can be painted gold and used to frame a mirror for a more modern look. Even furniture can be reupholstered less expensively than purchasing new furniture.

Bold, Bright Colors

Modern design is all about clean lines. So instead of getting too fancy, purchasing lots of expensive items, just focus on one or two larger decorative items per room. The key? Make sure you punctuate the starkness with some color. Bold, bright colors can automatically make a room feel pulled together, so it’s an easy way to decorate. If your landlord approves, you can even paint a single wall to accent with a color – this costs less than painting the entire room, but still looks beautiful.

Your Own Photography

Rather than paying for prints, be your own photographer. You’ll still have to pay to have your pictures printed, but it’s often much less expensive (and definitely more impressive) than paying for someone else’s artwork. Think about interesting angles and play with cool lighting effects by using blinds, laces, and mirrors for reflection. You can also use effects such as zooming in on interesting shapes – remember, it can be abstract art rather than a photograph of a landscape or portrait. Pick up some cheap frames to mount them and you have beautiful artwork for your walls for a fraction of the price of typical artwork.

Use Everyday Items

Instead of spending your money on decorative items that have no function, purchase useful items that are also beautiful. For example, spend a little extra money on pretty colorful mixing bowls and display them in your kitchen when not in use. You may have to spend a little extra money on everyday items, but you’ll save tons of money on home décor. This also prevents your home from getting too cluttered, since items play double roles, and that’s a very important part of modern design.

Allison writes with RentersInsurance.com, where you can go to protect all of your possessions with a cheap renters insurance policy.

Kitchen DIY Tips on a Budget

Contrary to what most people think, renovating your kitchen doesn’t need a large budget to make it look great. Weather your budget is as low as $50 or just over $200, there are many ways you can renovate your kitchen to give it your own personal touch.

Remodel Your Kitchen for $50 or Less
 With just $50 or less, you can begin to remodel your kitchen in stages. For older kitchens that need a face-lift, painting is the least expensive and easiest way to transform a kitchen, and make it easier to maintain. Semi-gloss latex paint for example will not only brighten up a kitchen but will make cleaning up inevitable food splashes a breeze to clean. Painting the baseboard trim and around the doors and windows will help highlight the positive aspects of your kitchen.

Don’t under estimate prep work. Take your time prepping surfaces before you start painting, because kitchen surfaces do accumulate grime over time and with use. Thoroughly wash all surfaces and walls with trisodium phosphate (TSP) or a TSP substitute before you begin to paint. Clean surfaces will help the paint to adhere properly.

Organizing Ideas for $100 or Less
 The first thing that comes to mind when people want to remodel their kitchens, is how to organize and tidy up all the things in the kitchen. So, if you want a new kitchen and you are on a budget of $100 or less, then investing in kitchen organizers is where you want to focus your funds. Getting everything off the kitchen counters and un-cluttering the kitchen will make the area feel more spacious. To do this buy some drawer organizers, lid holders, pot racks and pull out trays. Your DIY on a Budget project to free up space should also take advantage of empty wall space. You could add some shelving. These are all very affordable ways to un-clutter your kitchen space and give it an airy feeling.

DIY on aA Budget: Shop Salvage
 Many homeowners have gotten very creative with their DIY on a Budget kitchen remodeling projects, by shopping for old commercial restaurant equipment. You can find commercial grade restaurant fixtures such as commercial ovens, refrigerators, shelving, sinks, tables and chairs for a fraction of their retail cost. While shopping at restaurant supply and salvage stores, you can sometimes fine inexpensive one-of-a-kind fixtures to be the centerpiece of your kitchen-remodeling project.

Light Up Your Kitchen for $200 or Less
 If you want your kitchen to look bigger, then try to light up areas that can’t be seen well such as corner areas. In this way, it will make your kitchen feel bigger if people can see more of it. There are an unlimited variety of light fixtures to choose from that can not only illuminate your kitchen, but also give it a refreshing new feel. Replacing CFL floods lights with halogen lights will also help to brighten your kitchen so that you can see and enjoy more of it.

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