10 ways to cheaply perk up your home

Home Décor

By Susan Dunlap
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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The economic downturn has forced all of us to re-examine how and where we spend our money. Rather than "replace," the current trend has become "rethink." We talked with experts to round up some money-saving tips for rethinking our living space:

• Purge, then splurge. Have a garage sale, suggests Patty Potter, interior-design consultant with J&D Fabrics in Forth Worth, Texas. Then, she says, buy a statement piece with your proceeds. Interior designer Ken Jorns concurs that target spending is a great idea. "Invest in a foundation piece, like a great sofa, and then build on that. The sofa will last many years, while the accents can easily be updated."

• Paint the front door Sue Perry, deputy editor of ShopSmart magazine, notes that the first thing people notice about your home is the front entry. Change the color of the front door, she suggests, and don't be afraid to go bold (glossy red or black).

• Replace the hardware at the front entry. Change the door knob on that front door, Perry says. Pay attention to the feel of the fixture you choose. It is the first tactile impression that guests will have of your home.

• Repaint the interior. Jorns suggests using a neutral palette to paint all of the rooms in smaller houses in one color. Painting rooms in different colors creates "islands" and makes the spaces visually smaller. Using a single neutral shade will open up the space and provide a foundation on which to build with color.

• Add some pillows. This is Design 101 — everyone knows how new pillows and throws can update a look. Potter likes to take it a step further by customizing store-bought pillow covers with trims and buttons. Have a set of pillow covers in bright linens for warmer months and another set in rich-toned, cozy fabrics for the cooler months.

• Use books and magazines as décor. Photo stylists use this trick to dress up ordinary spaces, Perry says. Use stacks of books to add height to a tabletop, then top with a pretty vase.

• Add a touch of nature. The latest design trends have been embracing all that is found in nature. Use fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers to bring color and texture into a room, say the folks at design store Robb & Stucky (robbstucky.com). A bowl of bright green apples on the dining-room table or lemons in a glass column are inexpensive and make a great color statement.

• Replace dated décor. Two things that date a home, say the Robb & Stucky experts: wallpaper with a border and carpeting in the bathroom. Absolutely pull up the carpet. Then, just removing the wallpaper border can give any room a quick update.

• Give your kitchen a pop of color. Instead of repainting the kitchen, or upgrading major appliances, use small counter-top appliances to add a fun pop of color, Perry says. Add a stainless-steel blender instead of a new stainless-steel refrigerator.

• Have patience and take advantage of sales. Home décor retailers, such as Pottery Barn, are constantly turning over inventory to make way for the arrival of new items. Instead of buying items when they first appear, Jorns says, wait and your dollar will go further.