Transform Your Bedroom Without Breaking the Budget
Time for A Breath of Fresh Air? Have you been cooped up in your house working from home? Maybe you’re feeling cabin fever from the winter months. Either way, sprucing up your bedroom can lift the atmosphere and give you a renewed sense of peace and lightheartedness. It’s amazing how the space around you can impact your wellbeing! One of the quickest ways to fall asleep peacefully and wake up refreshed is to give your bedroom a new look.
While Ellen’s love for real estate remains her number one passion, she has also developed incredible interior design skills from her years in the industry. If you’re looking to switch things up and refresh your space, here are Ellen’s tips for renovating your bedroom without emptying your bank accounts.
Before Ellen’s Recommendations
What to Keep
The biggest way to avoid spending all your money in a renovation project is knowing what to hold on to. You don’t have to throw out – or even sell – all your belongings just to create a new feeling in your room. If you paid good money for high-quality items, don’t toss them out!
1.Trim: Repainting trim is only necessary if it’s a wild color, or if the old paint job is peeling and cracking away. While professional painters recommend repainting your trim every 4 years or so, if you have a basic, well-matching trim color and it’s not mucked up, it’s honestly not worth the trouble. Just go ahead and save that project for another time.
2. Drapes: Thinking of replacing your curtains? They might just need a good wash! Many drapes or curtains can be sent to the dry cleaners where you can be sure of a refreshed and wrinkle-free look. However, for budget-friendly options, you can learn to deep clean your curtains at home with a little elbow grease (and some quick research). Pay close attention to the fabrics at hand and wash accordingly. Don’t forget to check for stains before simply tossing them in the laundry! Once clean, you can hang to dry – but some curtains will need a good ironing for a crisp, clean facelift.
3. Rugs: A good rug needs a good cleaning every now and then – even in a leave-your-shoes-at-the-front-door home. You can definitely hire professional cleaners to whisk your rug away and return it fluffy and fresh, but we’re aiming for low budget right now. For at home work, start by thoroughly vacuuming the rug on both sides. Then, take that rug outside to the driveway or the back deck. Use warm (not hot) water and a bit of mild dish soap to concoct a cleaning solution; then spot test on a small corner piece to make sure the rug dye won’t run. If the rug is colorfast, go ahead and use a sponge or scrub brush to deeply rub the cleaning solution into the carpet fibers. Lather up then let sit for several minutes. Use a garden hose to thoroughly rinse all suds out of the rug and follow up with a squeegee to wring excess water out. Now it’s time to let that rug dry – don’t forget to flip it over once the top is dry; soggy bottoms are not your friend. Once the rug is completely dry, bring it back inside and vacuum well. Finally, use a soft-bristled brush to loosen and fluff the rug fibers. There, much better! If you do want to replace the rug try your local shops first! Brooksiders, check out the great rugs at “a store named STUFF.”
After Ellen’s Advice
What to Change
Now that you’ve tackled what you can, it’s time to address a few changes to your bedroom. There are plenty of ways to redo your space, but these are probably the most refreshingly noticeable.
1.Paint: You’ve left the trim color on, but it’s time to switch up your overall mood. How do you choose the best bedroom color? First, consider the colors that look best on you. Pick a color that you wear well so that when you’re doing your makeup, or getting dressed, or just chilling in your room, you can look and feel your very best. Secondly, consider the amount of natural light your room gets versus the amount of artificial light. Choose hues that will do well in lamplight, in the natural light of your room, or under the artificial lights. Don’t forget that the direction your room faces will also impact your shade choice. South-facing rooms, for example, have warmer toned light and can handle cooler paint colors. North-facing bedrooms, on the other hand, experience cooler-toned lighting, so it’s important to choose a warmer paint hue. Experts recommend blue and green hues for east or west facing rooms. You don’t have to go crazy with the color choices when Ellen recommends “warmer” or “cooler” paint; the principles apply to neutrals as well. For example, the north-facing room that needs warmer paint can be a warmer shade of gray, or very light pink, or very pale but glowy yellow, while the sunnier rooms can handle more blue-toned grays and crisper whites.
2. Bedding: Ellen’s budget-friendly bedding choice is to find a bed-in-a-bag option that suits your taste. Ikea, Target, and many “home” centered stores features affordable bedding sets that can really make your room feel like a new space. These “bed-in-a-bag” choices often include everything from sheets and duvet cover to pillows and shams. Discover a pattern or color palate that fits your refreshed mindset and enjoy the welcome change of new bedding and a new perspective.
3. Rearranging: Ellen appreciates how a simple perspective change can refresh your room – and your mindset! Move your bed to a different wall, change the direction your dresser faces, or even switch your bed and sitting areas! Anything is possible. Keep in mind these quick tips while rearranging: don’t block the door/pathways, measure your space and pieces before you move them, and get furniture sliders for larger items so you don’t hurt your back. It’s also a good idea to start by placing the largest furniture items first and working down to the smaller pieces.
Need A Bigger Change?
If you’re stuck in an apartment where you can’t make as many changes as you’d like, maybe it’s time to talk about your homebuying options. Ellen would love to walk you through your options and help you make a choice that suits your needs. Just contact her online today!
Interested in discovering more homeowner tips and tricks? Be sure to check out Ellen’s blog “The Brookside Local” for all things homeowner: maintenance checklists, mortgage refinancing, home improvement projects, and Kansas City real estate tidbits.
Don’t forget! Follow @ezbrookside on Instagram to keep up with Ellen’s news, daily doings and listings!
