Budget Bling

Is your apartment looking like last night’s pizza? Give it some glow! Brightening up any room in your home is a lot easier than it sounds, and it can be done on a budget. Set aside a weekend  for you and your apartment. We have some TLC tips to make it easy, and maybe even fun!

Paint It!

No, not the walls. Pick any piece of furniture, in any room. Head down to the home improvement store and wander the paint aisles. Find a bold color and buy a can of it. Get some advice from the staff on brushes and other particulars and then get to work! You may need to prep your piece before painting it, but then go ahead and make that sad piece sing. A fresh coat of paint will do wonders for the table, chair, shelving, etc. and give the rest of the room a renewed look. Hot colors this year include marsala, a deep wine red color, aquamarine and indigo.

Gold Digger

Gold and gold mixed finishes are insanely hot this year (as are jewel tones). Get a royal look by adding in some sparkly baubles. Light fixtures, vases, frames, lamps, mirrors…lots of easy items offer this metallic glow. Incorporate the jewel tones into pillows or get a new lampshade with sequins and beads.

Au naturel

If the brassiness is too much for you, you can instead go for the natural look with items like petrified wood, geodes or agate. Not sure how natural this is, but as a general hot design trend, cowhide has got it covered. Shells and branches, wicker and bamboo can fit this trend too. Some people are striving for an outdoor look in and go so far as incorporating high-end outdoor furnishings into their décor.

Be an artiste

Take any big wall and make it yours. Think metal wall hanging or a bold geometric oil. This is going to be your statement wall – speaking for the look of the entire room. Bold graphic prints are quite in now, thanks to the resurgence of the ‘mid-century modern’ style. Textured wallpaper is also hot right now. If that’s not doable for you, buy some you love anyway and frame it. Go with a polished brass or muted gold frame. You can do the same with beautiful fabrics.

Center of Attention

This tip can encompass nearly all the previous ones. In any room create a fabulous centerpiece using a unique vase, bowl, pitcher or other vessel filled with fresh or artificial greenery. Don’t be shy here – visit the farmers market and add some lemons and apples for a bright spring look. Go for a walk in the woods and see what leaves and branches catch your eye. Pick up some colorful blooms. An easy element that changes with the season, or your mood. An alternative in the living room is to create an interesting coffee table display. Use a serving tray and pose an odd number of items to create a bespoke centerpiece.