Spare rooms are usually the last room we decorate in a home. They tend to become dumping grounds for various items like computers, books, old televisions, unloved toys and seldom-worn clothing. If a friend or relative is coming to stay then you might want to spruce up your spare room and make it more accommodating for them. This article details a few suggestions for decorating your spare room on a budget.
Recycle Furniture
Buying new furniture for a room can be very costly, which is why recycling old pieces of furniture is such a great idea. Even the tattiest pieces of furniture can be easily re-vamped with a fresh coat of paint or varnish. Alternatively you could consider re-covering furniture in wallpaper or wrapping paper. Designs can be matched to other colours in the room to create a stylish environment. Many different items of furniture can be easily recycled in this way, including wardrobes, computer desks and chests of drawers. If you’re always at your computer desk at would like a new one, you can put a bit of your budget into a cheaper, better value one from one of the big suppliers like Viking Direct or Amazon.
Image: Waka Jawaka http://www.flickr.com/photos/wakajawaka/495440275/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Clearout
Spare rooms have a tendency to end up filled with cardboard boxes, hardware and other junk. If you’ve got a hoarding instinct then you might struggle to get rid of these items, but nothing is worse than staying in a spare room where you feel like you’re playing second fiddle to an old exercise bike or sun bed. Sites like freecycle are a great way to get rid of these items for free. It might take some time for someone to respond to your advert but when they do they will usually happily remove the item free of charge, unlike service providers who may charge.
Stencils
If you can’t afford to re-paper or paint the walls of your spare room, then you could consider adding a touch of class with some stencils. Cut designs out of cardboard with a Stanley knife, attach to walls with masking tape and use spray paint to transpose the shape on the walls. You can create a pattern by repeating the same stencil in a pattern around the walls, and you could even consider layering up stencilled patterns on top of one another. This is a great way to give the room a whole new look for a low cost. You could add designs to any generic item of furniture that needs a twist of style.
Build a Headboard
Headboards make a bed significantly more comfortable, and can be created at a relatively low expense with a range of different materials. Colourful headboards are a great of creating a focal point in a bedroom, and can set the tone for the rest of the room.
Lighting
Many rooms don’t look their best because they are not adequately. If there are not enough windows in a room then natural light can be hard to harness. Updating old lamps with brighter bulbs will help a room to appear larger and brighter, as will the use of mirrors or other types of light fitting. Cave-like rooms require ample lighting if you want them to appear bright and welcoming.
