Liven up your space with a few easy design changes
Tired of your digs? Don’t move house just yet. With a few new items, you can spruce up your current space without hiring decorators, gutting your home or sacrificing your savings account.
LET THE LIGHT IN
A room can feel dramatically different with a few new lamps, and we like the cool Vate series from Ikea. These modernist lamps borrow from the design of Chinese lanterns, but instead of the square shape, they have interesting oblong silhouettes and chrome touches. The Vate Floor Lamp ($39.99, ikea.com) is contemporary and gives off a beautiful, diffused light.
SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS
If your living room feels blah, you can switch color schemes by doing two easy things: Get a new rug to go under your coffee table and couch and find pillows for the sofa. If you’re feeling extra fancy, add a throw for snuggling. We like the rug selection at Macy’s, where a white, shaggy St. Croix Trading Company rug dubbed “Marsh” costs $169 for a smaller size. Kohl’s has great accent pillows, including the retro Elle Decor Shag Decorative Pillow ($22.50, kohls.com). Kohl’s also has The Big One Plush Throw ($16.99, kohls.com), which is lightweight, soft and available in five different colors.
MAKE YOUR BED
Update your bedroom without buying all new furniture — simply purchase a new bedspread. Find a new color scheme that goes with your current room and dress your bed to the nines. Target has a range of affordable comforters. Go bold with the Bryant Color Squares set ($79.99-$99.99, target.com), which has a black and gray modern design and comes with decorative pillows. Or take a girlie approach with the Allison Reversible Comforter (two looks in one set), which has a pretty floral design for only $69.99.
GET THE KITSCH OUT OF YOUR KITCHEN
That old kitchen table you’ve been carting around since college has seen better days. With a little cash, you can update your kitchen nook and eat in style. Sears has quality pieces that won’t empty your wallet. Go for an antique feel with the Carolina Chair and Table Prairie Dining Table ($267, sears.com). Or pretend you have your own café and get the quaint, elegant Oxford Creek Counter Height Dining Set ($159.99, sears.com).
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL
Besides being useful for last-minute makeup checks as you walk out your door, a strategically placed mirror also opens up your room and adds a decorative touch. Bed Bath&Beyond has a great selection of affordable glass. The Plain Black Square Mirror ($59.99, bedbathandbeyond.com), measuring 10 inches by 10 inches, is a perfect accessory to complement a range of paintings or portraits on a wall.
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Tricia Romano is a freelance writer who lives in Seattle. She likes reading on her Kindle and writing for https://www.RetailMeNot.com — the No. 1 coupon site in the world.
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