Inexpensive tips to Redecorate your Bedroom

It does not need loads of money to redecorate the bedroom. Adding a new rug or colourful curtains or creating a mood by controlled artificial lighting can change the look of the room. This article offers a few tips to give your bedroom a complete makeover in shoestring budget. Read on...

Your favourite room has lost its shine, the bathroom seems dull, and your bedroom has no romance. It's time for your house to have a makeover - and it need not cost the earth.

Add a rug: An instant way to add colour and design to your bedroom is with a fabulously eye-catching rug. Importantly it will provide insulation and added warmth in winter It is also a good way to disguise a marked floor.

Antique look: To take the edge off stark white cotton fabric or to give lace an antique look, simply soak the fabric in a weak brew of tea. Try coffee for a darker shade. Test on a hanky first.

Bathroom update: When renovating a bathroom, save plumbing costs by leaving the existing plumbing where it is. Plain white porcelain or acrylic fittings are usually the cheapest option, or look for quality seconds for a budget makeover.

Brighter sheets: When your once white sheets have lost their freshness, a cheap, easy and fun way to give them a new lease of life is to dye them. You could color them all the same, tie dye them or dye each sheet a different shade!

Broader outlook: To give the impression that your window is larger than it really is, design your window treatment to a larger scale around the shape of the window. For instance, you could extend curtains 40cm on either side of the window, and fit a pelmet 40cm above - the bottom of the pelmet should fall just below the top of the window.

Cleaning Venetian blinds: Clean aluminum and plastic Venetian blinds by hanging them up against a flat, vertical surface. Sponge with mild detergent and then gently hose them down. Timber blind slats need to be wiped with household cleaner.

Clever curtains: When choosing curtains, don’t limit yourself to specifically designed curtain fabrics, tiebacks and pelmets. Consider dress fabrics, sheets, colorful saris, tablecloths and lace. Scarves make great tiebacks and a throw can become a quick and easy swag.

Color test: When choosing paint colors, always test the color first. Paint one-meter square boards in as many coats as you plan for the walls. Use the correct undercoat where specified and test in both day and night light by holding board against the wall.

Compare prices: Always get three quotes for any decorating jobs around the bedroom. Scrutinize them carefully and remember that the cheapest may not always be the best.

Creative character: Give some character to a featureless bedroom. Add moldings at dado, picture rail and ceiling height, and put up a ceiling rose. Change the look of furniture too, by adding timber motifs.

Creative touch: Be unconventional. Use ordinary objects in interesting ways. For instance, a broken object, such as a spout less teapot, makes an excellent cotton ball caddy, and a fantastic chair or stool could become an unusual side table.

Cut down clutter: Practical and adequate storage is essential. Your house will look good if you clean it regularly, have a place for everything and control clutter. Save floor space by mounting the television and shelving on the wall.

Dyeing carpet: When your carpet has lost its luster, consider dyeing it. This is suitable for both wool and nylon and the cost is usually less than half the replacement value.

Enjoy the view: You will often find a hidden view behind frosted glass. Remove the glass, replace with clear and fit a blind for privacy when required.

First impressions: Give your bedroom exterior a subtle decorative lift by painting the front door. Choose a smart, solid color such as red, dark green or black, and use as red, dark green or black, and use full gloss enamel paint. Add a new door handle and knocker for a finishing touch.

Fraying edges: When long curtains have frayed at the bottom, shorten them to sill length. Short frayed curtains can be repaired with an added border in a complementary braid or fabric. Add a pair of tiebacks to complete the new look.

Hide those bars: Disguise ugly window security bars by painting them "garden" green. Grow a bright flowering vine such as bougainvillea to detract from the severity of the bars.

Interesting arrangements: A medium-sized clear glass vase is an essential for any bedroom. You can decorate it on the outside with a string of beads or a bow, or fill it on the inside with colored marbles, shells or pebbles for an interesting start to a flower arrangement.

Bedroom makeover: When your bedroom is functional but outdated, repaint or varnish doors, replace the cupboard and drawer handles and re-laminate your beds for an economical new look.

Measuring up: When shopping for bedroom furnishings or deciding on a new bedroom, it’s helpful to take exact room measurements with you. Always measure your mattresses and curtains accurately - this will save the embarrassment of having to chop the cloth later.

Mirror magic: Placing a mirror strategically can introduce light, give the illusion of space, reflect an attractive view and, if you follow the principles of Feng Shui, direct positive energy.

Mood lighting: A dimmer facility will allow you to control artificial light strength. It’s great for mood lighting and also for children who are afraid of the dark, as you can adjust the fight for their comfort.

Must-haves: Make sure you have three essential items in your bedroom - a bedside lamp, to save having to get up to switch the light on or off; a laundry basket, to keep things tidy; and a full-length mirror, for perfect grooming.

New-look frames: Give ugly picture frames elegant appeal. Start with a coat of black dark green or red paint. When dry, sponge over with a metallic gold or silver finish.

No-sew napery: For an instant no-sew tablecloth, buy 140cm of a 140cm wide open-weave fabric and fray the edges! Buy extra for matching napkins.

On the move: When moving home, clearly label everything - including all boxes and bags - so the removals know in which room they should go. It’s also a good idea to provide them with a plan of your proposed furniture layout.

Outdoor decor: Bring the inside outside. Use your everyday interior items to make yourself at home whenever you choose.

Patch a cushion: When you find a small stains or rip in a plain cushion, simply sew an embroidered patch over it to disguise the damage.

Picture perfect: To help you to decide where to hang pictures, cut a paper template the same size, and then position it in the proposed spot before drilling any holes. This trick also works when you’re trying to decide where to put your furniture.

Pleasing display: Group charming objects together for an eye-catching display. Consider color, texture and shape, and then arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Quick bathroom fix: When you can’t afford a completely new bathroom, freshen things with a new set of fluffy towels, a colorful shower curtain, a new loo seat and some bright accessories.

Say it with flowers: Fresh flowers are the ultimate accessories. Choose blooms with firm petals, strip off all the leave that fall below the water line and change the water every day. Position out of direct sunlight.

Selling point: When decorating your bedroom to sell, don’t put your own stamp on it too heavily - unless you have a real flair for design. Make the most of any special features, such as a fine view, and stick to neutral tones, which are unlikely to offend prospective buyers.

Shining floors: Keep your polished floors shiny by mopping with two capfuls of methylated spirits diluted in a bucket of hot water

Simply white: To give elegant look to your bedroom and to make the guestroom look neat, put white bedsheet and covers. Keep it simple with fresh or artificial delicate and white flowers.

Skylight sense: Make the best use of natural light in your bedroom. Where a room is dark with little sunlight, consider installing a skylight or sun dome, which transfers and magnifies light.

Spare bed: When working from bedroom deprives you of a spare room, invest in a sofa bed for yourself . If you can afford it, disguise the spare bed as a day bed with an exotic throw and loads of comfy cushions.

Stylish slipcovers: Slipcovers are a great way to completely transform the look of furniture. Great for hiding worn upholstery, they are also useful when you want a seasonal change of pattern and color.

The white start: If you’re in doubt as to what colors to choose for your bedroom, and your decision is marred by the existing colors, start with a blank canvas - give a freshness, a room a coat of white first.

Tiling tips: When tiling, save money by using a cheap tile overall. You can add individuality with an eye-catching feature tile inset at random or used as a border.

Vinyl value: When you need to update your flooring, don’t ignore low-cost vinyl or quality Marmoleum. It’s available in many fashionable designs and colors, is easy to clean, practical and soft underfoot.

Wallpapering tips: When hanging wallpaper, it’s wise to overlap the lengths 3mm to allow for shrinkage once the glue has dried. Rejuvenate tired old wallpaper with a bright new border. Most of us have lived in a time when we needed to decorate an apartment or bedroom on a budget. We probably "borrowed" items from our parents, inherited castoffs from friends, and purchased cheap furnishings that we eventually threw away.

Sooner or later, however, our taste began to mature and the eclectic uncoordinated furniture we once thought was "cool" might now look like just a mish-mash of old stuff.

Let’s face it, we’d probably be happy to get rid of all of it and start over. Unfortunately, few of us have the budget or the opportunity to begin furnishing a bedroom scratch whenever we want.

Nevertheless, there are ways to stretch your decorating budget and find bargains on quality furnishings that will bring years of beauty and style to your bedroom.

Where are these great deals in bedroom furniture?

Try some of these resources the next time you’re bitten with the furniture-shopping bug.

Consignment Stores - These are popping up everywhere and are a great place to sell your old things and find new ones. Items are one-of-a-kind so shop often and be ready to buy when you see just the right piece. Get to know the owner or manager and explain what you need and they might just call when an appropriate piece comes in.

Model Home Sales - Builder model homes are another source of beautiful furnishings. Keep an eye out by visiting models in your area. If you see something you like, ask the sales office how and when the furniture might be available for sale. This is a terrific way to get coordinated and custom items at a fraction of the cost of new. Beware that some pieces may have fading, spots, or dents due to the heavy traffic and cleaning schedules at the models.

Clearance Outlets and Sales - Many major department and furniture stores have outlet center with ongoing or periodic furniture sales. Often the tags are marked with dates and prices are reduced every 30 or 60 days. Furniture in these outlets may be either scratched, a second, and overrun, repossessed, or otherwise imperfect. However, prices will generally reflect any imperfections and may also be negotiable.

Trades - You might have a sofa that’s just too big for your new bedroom room. Your best friend might have a loveseat that’s too small for her family room. Why not negotiate a trade? It can be on a permanent or a temporary basis, as you choose. Here are more bargain shopping resources...

Scratch and Dent Rooms - Furniture stores may have a corner or back room where they keep scratched and dented items available for sale at big discounts. Inquire at your favorite stores and visit often to watch for furnishing that might fit into your bedroom.

Showroom Samples - Design Centers (in most large cities) often have periodic "sample sales" for discontinued furnishings that have been used as showroom samples. Call a design center near you, or watch your local newspaper for ads.

Trash to Treasure - Some people call it "dumpster diving" and others call it "found items" but this can become almost a hobby with some people. Discarded furnishings found in trash bins, on the street, or marked "free" at a garage sale, can be rehabbed into something beautiful if you have the time and creativity. Watch HGTV for some great ideas on trash to treasure refurbishing.

Junk and Thrift Stores - Yes, you probably do have to visit 15 junk and thrift stores to find even one great item. But if you have the time and the patience, this can be an inexpensive source of some wonderful one-of-a-kind pieces. And if you have a friend who frequents these kinds of stores, let her know what you’re looking for so she can call you with possibilities.

Garage Sales and Flea Markets - This is an obviously cheap source for lots of furniture and accessories. Items will generally be inexpensive and may exhibit a great deal of wear. Negotiation is practically expected, so bring cash and bargain away for the best prices.

Auctions - Auction houses are another source of quality one-of-a-kind furnishings. Read up on auctions before you go and be sure to take advantage of the preview days to examine any pieces you might bid on. Better to find out about that wobbly leg or the cracked drawer before the auction begins. Many pieces that are not classified as "antiques" are extremely reasonable at auction.

Buy with an Eye to Refinish - Sometimes you won’t be able to find just what you want and you’ll need to get creative. Begin to look at furniture with an eye for its line, scale, and details. Perhaps a dark wood desk can be repainted and updated with new hardware. Maybe a beat up coffee table can be sanded and stained, or an old chair seat recovered with pretty fabric. The only caution — be realistic as to what you can actually accomplish. A chest with a missing drawer and a cracked top may be too much to fix if you don’t have the time, tools, or space to repair it.