Small budget, big dreams? No problem. We asked the hottest names in home design to share their favorite budget decorating secrets. From simple wall treatments and accessories to fool-the-eye tricks, find out how the pros turn boring spaces into showplaces ‑- without breaking the bank!
The Top Six Decorate-on-a-Dime Secrets
1. A Dab of Paint Will Do Ya
"As a general rule," says Kristan Cunningham, host and designer for HGTV's Design on a Dime, "paint is always going to give you the biggest bang for your buck. Bright or bold color adds drama where you want it ‑- and can easily be changed."
Chic fashionista and designer for Target's home decor line, Swell, Cynthia Rowley suggests mixing it up. "You can do different walls in shades of the same hue," she says. Or for a fun twist, pick up a few colors drawn from the room's fabrics and accessories.
And hold on to those swatches, says Nadia Geller, interior designer for TLC's hit show While You Were Out: "When you select paint from the paint store, keep the paint swatch, because it usually has different tones of the color you selected and they can be helpful when you're shopping for accessories."
2. Pump It Up with Plush Stuff
Fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi, who's also Target's newest home accessories designer, says trimmings work wonders: "A bright pillow or throw takes the emphasis off things that don't work and brightens up the room."
Famed New York potter and "happy chic" furniture designer Jonathan Adler agrees, adding, "Throw pillows can transform a ratty old sofa instantly, cost far less than reupholstering and add comfort." He suggests combining pillow sizes and shapes for more interest, and trying oversized floor cushions, which add a punch of color and serve as impromptu casual seating.
Rowley rounds out her rooms with throw rugs: "I buy remnants and have them cut into circles and bound." She groups or scatters the little rugs throughout her home to call attention to specific areas ‑- or to camouflage stains (the perfect solution for pet- and kid-friendly homes!).
3. Shedding a Little Light
Ready for instant atmosphere? HGTV's Design Remix host, Karen McAloon, loves to create pools of warm light with lamps placed around the room. "Three-way bulbs give you reading and working light when you need it and the cozy ambience of lower wattage when you don't," she adds.
If you blew your decorating budget on one or two furniture splurges and can't shell out big bucks for lighting fixtures, Jonathan Adler suggests hiding inexpensive lighting behind a sofa or plant to add major drama.
And for something really unique, try adding colored lighting, recommends Rowley. "It bathes the room in soft, glowing color ‑- especially great for the bedroom and bathroom." While she has custom colored gel sleeves over her lights, you can get a similar effect with unlined lampshades or colored bulbs. Check out AmazingLightBulbs.com for inspiration.
4. Little Things That Mean a Lot
Accessorize, accessorize, say the design experts. When Swell gal Rowley wants to change up a bathroom, she relies on low-cost appointments. "You can change your towels, shower curtain and bath accessories for under $100," she says. Add a vase and fresh blooms for an inviting touch.
"Candles," says Nadia Geller, "are an inexpensive way to create a cozy and warm environment and an excellent finishing touch in a room." Flowers, peonies and roses in particular, says Mizrahi, add color, freshness and intoxicating fragrance. Or you can add drama with an orchid plant ‑- head to Home Depot, where you can find one for around $20.
Another amazing room transformer? Decorative molding and medallions. Jonathan Adler adores Balmer products (visit Store.Balmer.com) to give rooms a "Hollywood Regency look." An affordable alternative to wood moldings, they are easy to install and easy to care for.
And picture this: Framed photos of loved ones add a personal touch and instant focal points, says Kathy Ireland, former supermodel and chief designer for Kathy Ireland Home. Pick up inexpensive frames and embellish them with beach glass, seashells or buttons.
5. Window of Opportunity
"A few dollars invested in sets of curtains to hang from floor to ceiling will add lushness and drama to windows, and will steal all the attention away from a past-its-prime couch," enthuses McAloon. Says HGTV's Cunningham, "Even if you're a renter with standard vertical blinds, adding some softness to either side of a window creates a dramatic vertical line and instantly makes a space feel more finished." Tie a room together effortlessly by using standard, store-bought, solid curtain panels banded with pattered fabric, Cunningham continues. "Make sure that the pattern is represented somewhere else in the room, say, a center pillow on the sofa. Referencing a specific pattern repeatedly in a space makes the overall room look well thought out."
6. Giving 'Em the Slip
Take a good look at the furniture you own and decide what's worth keeping. "Sometimes," says TLC's Geller, "all furniture needs is a good cleaning, paint or a slipcover." Look for a color or pattern that coordinates with all the pieces in the room. Many stores offer inexpensive slipcovers that are easy-fit, durable and washable.
With her flair for design and an eye on budget, Ireland says, "Visit your local yardage store and choose a fabric you love. Drape it over your sofa for an instant update."
Even little touches of colorful fabric make a major statement for HGTV's McAloon. "Because I work on a limited budget, shopping at the better fabric stores is rarely an option. My approach is to look for anything tactile that incorporates the colors I'm going for ‑- maybe it's a place mat, maybe it's a pillow sham."
"Everything," she notes, "is fair game."
