Coffee Table Set Clearance
coffee table set clearance
Decorating on a Budget: Six Easy Steps to a Living Space You’ll Love
Decorating your home can be a stressful, confusing and expensive process. By following the 6 steps below, you will learn how to achieve the change in your surroundings that you’ve been dreaming of without breaking the bank.
Analyze your living space. Look around the room you want to spruce up. What is it about the room that is giving you the blahs? Do you have too many knickknacks? Not enough? Hate your curtains? Does the room feel too dark, or not cozy enough? By pinpointing what it is that is not appealing to you, it is easier to find a solution to the problem. Sometimes the solutions may be easy, and you won’t need to go any further. For example, I was not satisfied with the appearance of my dining room, but didn’t know why until I sat down at the table and analyzed each item separately. I loved the furniture and the chandelier, but the china cabinets were too cluttered up with china, glassware and other fragile family heirlooms. By limiting the items I displayed in each cabinet, redistributing some to add to other areas of the house and packing some up for storage, I changed the feel of the room.
Create a vision statement for the room. I like to give myself a vision statement for each room to keep me focused when I’m decorating. As an example, here is my vision statement for my bedroom: My bedroom is a peaceful, organized retreat, used for reading, sleep, private time with my spouse, and meditation. By having a vision statement prepared, I know that I want to enhance the romantic mood of the room, provide a small area for meditation and/or reading, and keep it de-cluttered so that it is restful to me (and my spouse). With these goals in mind, it is easy to look at the room and see what fits in and what is contrary to my vision for the room. My small tabletop indoor fountain of lovers holding hands enhances the romantic mood and does not clutter up the room. The bill paying organizer sitting on the bookshelf, however, would be better placed in my home office, since it does not add to the romance or relaxation of the bedroom and adds stress when I am trying to find peace.
I keep a printout of the vision statements for each room in my house tucked into my purse so that when I am out shopping I can easily find it. Yes, the little lava lamp or porcelain figurine might be lovely and it might be on sale, but if it doesn’t fit with the vision of the room you intend it to go in, it will likely end up being a purchase you regret. Staying in tune with your vision statements for the rooms of your home can help you save money by avoiding impulse purchases.
Make a wish list. After you have analyzed a room for simple solutions, and created a vision statement for the room, it is time to be creative! Make a wish list of what you would like to see changed in the room. Don’t talk yourself out of writing anything down, even if it’s not in your budget right now. Wish lists are about dreaming and visualizing your ideal space. If your ideal space includes a new couch or a coffee table, write it on your list! Having trouble visualizing what you would like the space to look like? Check out interior design television shows, websites, magazines and books for suggestions and ideas.
Prioritize your wish list. I prioritize my wish lists in two ways: by cost (what can I afford now?) and by desire (what would make me happiest?). Once you have prioritized all the items on your list, shrink it down to 2 or 3 items, but save your original wish list for later re-evaluation. Look at your highest-priority desired item, and see where it ranks in cost. Is it the most expensive item on the list or somewhere in the middle? If it is the most expensive item on the list, and it is a truly big-ticket item (a flat screen television or a new set of bedroom furniture, for example), don’t lose heart! There may be a creative solution. If it falls into the middle of the price list, consider which items that are less expensive have less impact and can wait until after your most-desired purchase.
Select one item on your list to begin redecorating with. I prefer to choose one highly desired item over several less-desired items for two reasons: if you don’t select the item you want the most, even if you spend the money to add several smaller items to the room, you will have spent money and still will not have the look you desire, and sometimes, by adding the item I desire the most to a room, it changes the entire look and feel of the room, allowing me to remove several items from the wish list, saving time and money.
Consider creative solutions. Want a new coffee table or bureau? Check flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores and Craigslist. Many times you can find good quality furniture that may need just a little TLC to restore to its’ original glory at heavily discounted prices. New curtains top priority? Check the papers (or online stores) for sales and coupons. Crafty? Make your own. For items such as ceiling fans, bathroom or light fixtures, check for clearance items at hardware chain stores, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s, builder supply stores, as well as Ebay and Craigslist.
To raise money for big ticket items, consider selling items you don’t need anymore through yard sales, consignment stores, Craigslist or Ebay. Look at your weekly budget and see what you can trim. Making coffee at home instead of taking a daily trip to the coffee shop or taking your lunch to work instead of fast food can save hundreds of dollars a year! Also, check for floor models, clearance items, coupons, sales and rebates – online and in local stores. Good deals can be found with persistence, patience and a little know-how.
By following the suggestions I’ve outlined above, you too can save money and get the most decorating bang for your buck.
About the Author
Mariann Bell is a Feng Shui enthusiast who has used the techniques and cures of Feng Shui with great success at home and at work. Visit her online store, http://www.IndoorFountainsForLess.com to find quality indoor fountains at bargain prices!