If your room is in serious need of a makeover but your budget is limited, try using mirrors, wallpaper and window treatments. You can make a room look completely new while incorporating your existing furniture and flooring.
Windows
If you are thinking about changing the look of your windows, decide which type of window treatment is best for your room's decor. If you have the perfect drapes, but there is still something missing, new window hardware may be the solution to completing your window's decor.
- Add wooden shutters or vertical blinds to create a linear look and provide ample light blockage and privacy when closed.
- Layer different textures and patterns when dressing your windows. A roller blind can be combined with curtains or two or three curtains of different weights. A sheer and a drape, can be combined with blinds. Remember that the texture of window treatments are more pronounced because light shines through and on them.
Walls
The wallpaper you put in a room will set the tone for everything else you add. You can make a style statement whether it is traditional, bold or country cottage. Textured wallpaper can camouflage minor damage on walls and can also be painted to complement the look of your room.
- Imagine the detail you can add to a room by hanging wallpaper borders that coordinate with your window treatments. The border doesn't have to be located at the top of the wall. You can use border as a chair rail, 3/4 inch of the way up the wall or even with the top of a door frame.
- Add a "faux finish" to your walls with wallpaper. Several different faux finishes are available by the roll.
Mirrors
Mirrors open up a room by reflecting light and all the other elements in the room. Place a mirror on the back of any door or on the wall to create the illusion of a larger room. There are two styles of mirrors that will create different looks:
- A mirror framed with moulding should complement the rest of the accessories in the room. The additional thickness of the moulding will create a look of an even larger piece.
- A non-framed or beveled edge mirror provides a sleek look. The entire space on the wall covered by the mirror becomes a reflection of the opposite side of the room.
These How-To's are provided as a service from Lowe's, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe's "How-To" clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Please read Lowe's terms of use.
©2005 by Lowe's®. All rights reserved. Lowe's and the gable design are registered trademarks of LF, LLC.
