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Decorating Tips on a Budget

Woman Doing DIY Projects

Redecorating rooms in your home doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, it can be easy to stay within a small budget and change the look throughout your home. If you are ready to transform the appearance and feel in your home, take a look at our 6 favorite tips to redecorate on a small budget.

SHOP THRIFTY

Shopping secondhand stores and estate sales can be a gamechanger when you are decorating a home on a small budget. As you are shopping, try to keep an open mind to the potential of each item. Sometimes a coat of paint or new hardware can completely alter a piece of furniture to be the perfect piece for your home.

PAINT

Repainting the walls, trim, or even door is a fast way to dramatically change the appearance and atmosphere in your home. If the cost for paint needed for an entire room exceeds your budget, consider painting an accent wall to create a focal point.

ACCENT IT

Use new throw pillows, small rugs, or new lampshades to create accents to your current furniture and décor. You can also find inexpensive hardware to transform your current cabinets and drawers.

CREATE YOUR OWN

You don’t have to be a professional artist to create beautiful pieces to display around your home. Youtube is filled with tutorials on creating practically any type of art you can think of. With some canvas and paints, you can create a personalized piece of art that will bring you joy in your home—and for a fraction of the price you would pay at a retail store. Plus, it’s fun!

MOVE THINGS AROUND

If you don’t have any room in your budget for redecorating right now, you can simply move items around in your home to change the look. You can take things from other rooms and switch them around. Repurposing items from your own home is an awesome way to change the atmosphere without spending any money.

USE NATURE

Bringing in real plants, flowers, or small trees will give your home a natural feel that can be achieved with a small budget. You can even bring in items from your own yard that will cost you no money. Ask your friends and family if you can have cuttings from their plants to use in or around your home. There are also community plant exchange groups where you often can find people offering plants or cuttings at little to no charge.

Do you have any small budget decorating tips that we missed? Stop by our Facebook page and share with us and our Zippy Shell community. If you are getting ready to move or you need a secure way to store your stuff while you are remodeling or redecorating, we’d love to assist you with a free estimate to help you get started on your next adventure.

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Four Ways to Make Your Small Space Feel Larger

living room

Small spaces come with both charm and challenges. Small spaces are easier to decorate, easier to keep clean, and easier to organize, but at the same time, they can feel cramped and claustrophobic. Everyone wants their home to feel open and welcoming, no matter what the size. So we’ve compiled some creative ways to give your home some space, or at least the illusion of space!

Make use of multi-purpose furniture. This will not only save space, but it will also save money as there’s no need to purchase multiple furniture pieces if you can have one item that can do more than one function. For instance, swap out your lounge chair or sofa for a sleeper couch. Replace your coffee table with an ottoman to double up as extra seating for guests. Try a room divider that includes built-in shelving. Buy tables with drawers whenever you can so you’ll have more storage space.

Clear the clutter. Don’t take up valuable space and mental energy with items you no longer use. Ask these questions as you are purging and really think about the emotional reasons you may be hanging on each item.

  • Does this add value to my life?
  • Have I used this in a year?
  • Do I have more than one of these?
  • Would I buy it again?
  • How many times have I used it?
  • Does it fit?
  • Do I have space for this?

Monochromatic decorating gives the illusion of space. Contrasting colors tend to break up a space, making it appear even smaller than it is. Drapes and furniture that match the wall color blend with the space, giving the illusion of a bigger room. Also, decorate with light colors to keep your rooms feeling airy and open. An abundance of dark colors in a small space can feel overwhelming and like the room is closing in on you. Of course, any room will look larger if it’s well-lit, preferably by natural light. Make sure light coming in from your windows is not being blocked by furniture or other stacked objects.

Add reflective surfaces. Try swapping some of the art on your walls for mirrors and see what it does to your home. The reflection will open up the room, making it look bigger. Mirrors not only reflect light, they also reflect the view, thereby tricking the eye into the perception of more space. Just remember that you don’t want the mirror to reflect a cluttered or cornered space – this will defeat the purpose!

If you own items that you don’t have room for, but you want to keep – a mobile storage unit may be the answer you seek. Pack your extra items in a Zippy Shell and send them off to a secure, climate-controlled storage center. Then sit back and breathe a sigh of relief in your small sanctuary of a home!

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Budget-Friendly Seasonal Decor Ideas for Fall

Fall Trees

Fall is in the air! Pumpkin Spice Lattes, cozy sweaters, colorful foliage, bonfires, and college football are sure signs that fall is here. Another favorite of the season is decorating our homes with festive, seasonal décor. Here are a few ideas to display your love of fall décor without breaking the bank.

  • Pumpkins: The holy grail of the fall season! This time of year you can find pumpkins of all shapes in sizes at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, road-side pumpkin stands and even in your own garden! Display pumpkins in your home and on your porch. Carve or paint them to make your Halloween more spooky! Create great family memories by visiting a local pumpkin patch and baking pumpkin pies!
  • Colorful gourds, squash & corn: Again, easy to find at your local grocery store or farmers’ markets. Arrange them in a wide round straw basket for a great centerpiece for your table. Add a few miniature pumpkins for the full fall effect!
  • Fall flowers: For a quick and easy fall decoration, add flowers to your décor. Visit your local nursery or home décor store for ideas to include potted flowers such as mums, pansies and other fall offerings. Give your green thumb a try and plant an autumn garden.
  • Door wreaths: Pick up a fall wreath at your local décor store or get crafty and make your own. Make it a fun fall project by having your kids collect natural items to use such as wheat, leaves, branches, pinecones, acorns and berries.
  • Collect & display fall leaves: For a simple and fun, kid-friendly project, gather leaves of different colors and sizes. Laminate leaves and hang with clear fishing line around your home or doorframes. For a different touch, add a framing mat around the laminated leaves and make a display collection on the wall in your foyer or living room.

For more information regarding storage or moving solutions, please give us a call or visit our website www.ZippyShell.com.