Complete Home Makeover Extras

Now we will talk about how to save money making over various areas of your home. You have to plan for these additional changes and incorporate them into your overall makeover blueprint.

Circle or write down the ideas you think will work best for your home after reviewing this section. You may decide to combine some of these with a new paint job. You may even find that you come up with your own incredible ideas after reading the next few pages.

Tips for Improving Flooring

One simple way to change your home's appearance is to address poor flooring. People with carpeted floors usually fall into two categories; they do not like the color of their carpets or their carpets are worn out and stained.

Regardless of your situation, you do not need to pay money to have new wall-to-wall carpeting installed to fix the look of your carpet and improve the interior of your home. You can buy throw rugs to hide stains on your carpet. Many people put furniture over worn areas of carpet.

There is this idea that you should not put carpet over carpet among some people. This is a myth so ignore it. There is no logic backing this myth. In fact, many home improvement stores sell specialty products to keep a throw rug from wrinkling if placed on top of carpet. You may find remnants you can also use to throw over your carpet at any carpet outlet.

If you own hardwood floors but do not have the money to have them refinished, consider investing in an inexpensive and large throw rug or two to improve the appearance of your flooring. Many rugs are easily laundered in a large washer, so you do not have to pay expensive dry cleaners to clean them.

If you go to a traditional store to buy throw rugs or carpets, you will find they are very expensive. Instead, go to eBay.com or other auction sites and see if anyone is selling oriental rugs or similar pieces like carpet-runners, which you can place throughout your home. Look for those with little wear and tear. These are items you can change any time you want to give your home a fresh look. You can even change them seasonally to improve the ambience in your home.

You can also look into ethnic or small novelty shops, because they often sell hand-woven rugs very inexpensively (surprisingly). You can get a throw rug made of soft wool or similar materials to cover almost the entire surface of a small room for $100 in some cases.

You can also check out second hand stores for used rugs or garage sales. One person's garbage may be another's treasure. Here are a few extra tips for improving the look and feel of your floors:

Use dim lighting if you want to hide stains or a worn carpet. Nothing makes a stain stand out more than direct exposure to the sun or a bright light. Think about the lighting used in dressing rooms. It always makes us look our worst. Have sympathy for your carpets and provide proper, reflective light.
Avoid exposing wood floors to direct sunlight or spills, as this may warp the material. If you do spill something on the floor, be certain you wipe it immediately with a dry cloth. Find something to shade your floors if they are exposed to sunlight during certain times of the day.
Consider a "no shoe" rule in the house to keep your floors looking fresher longer. Most people track in too much dirt from outdoors when they wear their shoes inside the home. You can have a set of slippers ready to wear in the home if you prefer keeping your feet warm.
Focus on decorating other areas of your living space, and placing objects up high on the walls so people are less likely to look at your flooring, and more likely to look at your strategically placed hangings, plants or other items. For example, you can place pictures throughout your home high above the flooring so people immediately look at the pictures rather than stare at your floor. If you have a huge statue on your floor, you will attract attention to your floor. Again, this is nothing more than a common sense tip to improve the appearance of your home.
Consider snap-in "fake" hardwood flooring. Many home improvement stores sell do-it-yourself hardwood flooring. It may not be made of the same material old-school flooring is, but it can work equally well. You can even buy "snap-in" flooring you literally snap into place, so you do not have to hire an expensive consultant to install your flooring.
Keep in mind some flooring is less expensive than others; cork flooring for example, and some types of bamboo flooring, add a charming look and appeal to a home, and often cost less than other hardwoods like oak. They maintain the same durability and often last 20 or more years, so it is worth checking into. Do not buy the cheapest products only, look for those that are durable and will last you a long time. That way you do not have to worry about replacing them often or ever, so you will save money in the long-term. If you sell your home, you can add this improvement in to improve the value of your home.
Consider buying wood flooring that is not finished. You can stain and water seal the flooring yourself to save money. You can also ask a friend to help you do this. This is another instance where trading services comes in handy. And if you do not have a "trade" you can use as a bartering tool, get creative. Try offering someone a night out, offer to watch their children. You might find you are surprised at how easy it is to get help from others when you are open, kind and willing to ask.

Our favorite way to improve the look of flooring without spending a fortune is by using runners in high traffic areas. Often you can buy beautiful runners, long stretches of carpet, very inexpensively. Runners come in many different colors, styles and patterns. You will maintain your floors and add to the décor of your home.

Remember, replica and laminate wood flooring products often look just as good if not better than the real thing. They are easy to install, and you can accessorize them inexpensively with a few well-placed throw rugs. These are an excellent choice for people that want to improve the interior of their homes without spending a fortune on carpeting.

Accessorizing Rooms with Hangings, Lamps and More

Yet another way to decorate your home elegantly without spending a fortune is to accessorize. Most people over-accessorize. If you want to budget, look for a small selection of quality pieces and if anything, consider "under" accessorizing your home. A few special pieces well placed in your home will prove much more interesting than a home full of multiple cheap ornaments.

Accessories include wall hangings, lamps, vases, paintings, plants and other items that can add a sense of sophistication and peace to a room or your home. You can also add items you make, including dream catchers, paintings or items your children make at school (hang their artwork on the walls). Remember, you want to create a home that provides appeal, but one that also reflects your personality. Put what you like out, and place your accessories in convenient, eye-catching locations.

You can also create a unique appeal by selecting one distinguished item and using it as the centerpiece for the room you decorate. Simplicity is key if you plan to feature an exclusive item in your home.

Let's say for example you want to decorate your dining area. You first repaint the walls in an elegant color. You then have a dining room table strategically placed in the center of the room. Select one elegant item as the centerpiece for your dining area. This may be a vase for example, that you can fill with fresh flowers.

The tinted walls and centerpiece are going to be the items that stand out.