Sometimes, you can get inspiration from a painting, a piece of furniture, or a quilt that you really love. Then, you can make it a focal point of your new room. Try looking at design websites like Architectural Digest, Better Homes and Gardens, or HGTV for inspiration. Save pictures of the rooms that you like so you can reference them later.
For example, if you’re doing a bohemian theme, you might choose a light cream color for your main color, with bright pink, gold, and turquoise as your accent colors. [3] X Expert Source Suzanne Lasky, ASIDInterior Designer Expert Interview. 31 March 2020. If you’re doing a farmhouse theme, you could choose crisp white for the main color, and use a French blue and bright yellow for your accent colors. Try using an item, such as a throw pillow or Afghan, to help you choose colors for the room.
If you want to add some interest to the room, paint one of the walls in your accent color to create depth! For a smaller room, you can pick brighter colors like light cream or white to make the room seem larger and brighter. Stick with neutral paint colors if you plan to incorporate bold, colorful décor, or if you plan to change out your décor often.
If you do want a few new pieces of furniture, visit a thrift store or look on Craigslist for cheap and free items that people don’t want. Something as simple as draping a new throw blanket over a piece of furniture can update it.
For example, for a farmhouse theme using white walls with accent colors of blue, and yellow, you could have a blue duvet with pale yellow throw pillows. To save money, choose quality sheets and less expensive throw pillows and blankets.
For a more open space, select a focal point for the room and position your furniture along the walls. If you want a more traditional look for your bedroom, position your headboard along a wall and place a nightstand on either side. For most rooms, it’s best to place your dresser along an empty wall so that you have enough space to access it. To avoid moving objects around multiple times, sketch out the room and furniture to scale to see what type of arrangement works best.
For a cozier feel, you can use string lights along your ceiling or hung between walls to give the room some ambient lighting. You can also add a brightly colored lamp shade for a pop of color that coordinates with your color scheme. For example, if you’re doing a rustic or farmhouse theme, look for a lamp with a wooden base and a brightly colored lampshade. Switching out an overhead light fixture in a bedroom for a softer lighting option can also help to make the room seem more relaxing and romantic.
If you don’t have a lot of space, you can make a seating area by positioning a small bench at the foot of your bed, or you can get a set of floor pillows to make sitting on the floor a bit more comfortable.
Look for pieces of art that match your general theme or color scheme. This will help to pull the room together. Hanging up pictures of family and friends can also help to make a room seem cozier and more inviting.
When talking to a contractor, be as specific as possible about what you’d like the room to look like. If you have inspiration pictures, show them. Keep in mind that while using a contractor is more expensive, they can save you time and ensure that the work is done properly.
Do-it-yourself renovations can be a very stressful learning experience, and your project might not turn out exactly as you planned. If you start doing a project and find that you’re in over your head, don’t be afraid to contact a professional for help or advice.
If you’re doing a remodel that requires a lot of demolition, or you plan to add new flooring, add an additional $15-$30 per 1 foot (0. 30 m) squared. The price will depend on what kind of flooring you’re using or how you’re doing the demolition. Keep in mind that doing demolition and renovations yourself will save you money. Then, you can hire a professional to do the parts of the renovation that you cannot do on your own.
Your sketch doesn’t have to be detailed or even to scale. You should just have a general idea of where you’d like to put everything.
This is also a great method for adding a larger closet or ensuite bathroom to your bedroom. Keep in mind that removing a bedroom or bathroom can negatively affect the value of your home. Before committing to combining 2 bedrooms, talk to an appraiser to see how the value of your home could change. If you don’t want to remove a wall, then you could add a door between 2 adjacent rooms, such as a sliding barn door or pocket door. This will keep the rooms separate while providing more space.
If you currently have older carpeting in your room, you might consider replacing it with new carpeting for a fresh look. Try to pick a neutral color that will match your desired theme. Compared to expanding the room or purchasing new furniture, replacing the floors can be pretty cheap and give the room a whole new look. If replacing the floors is not an option, then purchase a large area rug to cover them.
If you don’t have a lot of closet space, you might consider getting an extra dresser or an armoire to hold your clothes. For mismatched furniture, search at places like antique stores and flea markets for unique pieces.
