Home Decor
How to Redecorate Your Bedroom for Under $500

From time to time, a lot of us feel the need to purge our home of excess "stuff." Some people call it spring cleaning. Others call it a makeover. I call it redecorating.

Generally, I feel the need to redecorate once a year, right after New Year's. Maybe it is the idea of a fresh, new start that New Year's Day represents. Whatever the reason, it comes every January like clockwork. I have discovered that I'm not alone in this process. Lots of people get bitten by the redecorating bug from time to time.

Whenever I decide to redecorate, I generally start with the rooms where I can get the most drastic change for the least amount of money; or I choose rooms where I spend a lot of time. Consequently, my bedroom is usually one of the first rooms I choose to redecorate.

Budgetary constraints keep me, like most people, from thinking outside of what I can afford. By following the steps listed below, you can also make enough changes to a bedroom to energize it without costing you a fortune. Read on to learn more.

Step 1
Determine what you want to change about your bedroom. Obviously, large changes like purchasing new furniture, installing French Doors, or carpeting will not fit into a $500 budget. This article is about redecoration; not overhaul.

Step 2
Decide what type of style you want to use in the room. Some choices include, but are not limited to: modern, antique, Tuscan, French Provencal, Oriental or other designs. Make certain that the color scheme you have chosen fits in with your style choice.

Step 3
If you want to refurbish or change your walls, determine what type of change you would like to make. Some of the most obvious changes would include, but are not limited to: retouching the existing paint, painting all of the walls a new solid color, painting one or more accent walls,
painting stripes or other designs on the wall, wallpapering the wall, putting fabric on the wall or performing some other special wall treatment. Settle on a specific color or color scheme based on your overall decorating scheme.

Step 4
If you want to change or refurbish any of your existing furniture, determine what changes you want to make. This might include things like discarding or replacing pieces that no longer function or don't fit into the new style or simply using accent items like throws or pillows on existing furniture.

Step 5
If you are making your own headboard, decide what type you want to make. Determine the materials necessary to complete the project.

Step 6
Detail on paper how you envision your bedroom once you have finished redecorating. Reposition furniture, wall pieces and/or accessories as applicable. Determine where accent pieces, rugs and accessories should be placed.

Step 7
If you have not already done so, make a list of the things you "need" to change about your bedroom. For example, if you are changing your room from modern to antique, you may need to change your lighting or make all new accessory choices. Be certain you leave nothing off of your list that "requires" changing in order to successfully change your room's style. Prioritize your list from the most important to the least important. Keep in mind that the more drastic the style change you want, the more changes may be required. This might effect your final price tag.

Step 8
If you have not already done so, make a list of the things you "want" to change about your bedroom. For example, you may want to change or add things like accent rugs, curtains, pillows, or throws.

Step 9
Looking at your "needed" change list versus your "wanted" change list, decide which items are most important in order to accomplish your redecoration project. Reprioritize your new list from the most important to the least important. Keep your budget of $500 in mind.

Step 10
Using your prioritized list, determine the budget amount to be spent within each area; keeping the total expenditures at or below the $500 line.

Step 11
Make a shopping list of the items you intend to purchase, keeping your budget and reprioritized list in mind.

Step 12
Research the best and most cost efficient places to obtain the items on your list.

Step 13
If you are ordering anything online or through a catalogue, make certain that there is a money back guarantee in the event you are not happy with your purchases. Place your orders accordingly.

Step 14
Once your online and/or catalogue orders have arrived, make certain that they suit your needs. If so, move on to the next step. If not, back up to Step 12 and start over until you are happy with your online and/or catalogue purchases or decide to look for them locally.

Step 15
Shop locally for the remaining items needed to complete your bedroom's redecoration. These might include, but would not be limited to items like: artwork, mirrors, wall hangings, or other wall pieces; fabric for curtains, spreads, throws or pillows; accessories like vases, candle holders, books, shelves or other items; curtains, shades, and/or blinds;
accent rugs; paint; stain; wallpaper; other special wall treatment;
other special furniture treatment and/or new or refurbished furniture pieces.

Keep both your overall room style and color scheme in mind in making your purchases. Stick to your prioritized list and your budget.

Step 16
If you can't find everything you want or need to complete your bedroom redecorating project, or if it will seriously hurt your budget, determine other ways to achieve the desired end result. For example, if you want a bench for the end of the bed, but can't afford one, consider an alternative piece like a trunk or a hassock that will suit the same purpose.

Step 17
If you are changing the walls of your bedroom, begin your redecoration project with them. Add the paint, wallpaper, fabric, or other special wall treatment before moving on to the next step. Be sure to follow the directions outlined for your specific paint, wallpaper, or special wall treatment. If you are putting fabric on the wall, consider using staples or nails rather than glue to attach the fabric. They are easier to remove and repair.

Step 18
If you are making window treatments like curtains, cornices, or shades, accomplish these next and make sure they are properly hung--along with blinds, if applicable--before moving on to the next step. Otherwise, hang any new treatments or make appropriate changes to the existing curtains, cornices, shades or blinds as planned.

Step 19
If you are refurbishing existing or purchased furniture pieces, accomplish this step before moving on to the next. Otherwise, add any accent pieces like shelves, side tables, lamp stands or other pieces that you purchased to the existing furniture as planned.

Step 20
If you are making your own headboard, this step should be completed next. Decide whether or not to mount the board to the wall or the bed or leave it freestanding. Make certain that it will work within your established plan.

Step 21
Hang new, switch out, or reposition artwork, mirrors, wall hangings or other wall pieces as necessary according to your formal layout plan.

Step 22
If you are changing or adding accent rugs, throws, or pillows place these according to your formal layout plan.

Courtesy: http://www.ehow.com/how_2196718_redecorate-bedroom-under.html

Home Decor
How to Redecorate Your Bedroom without Spending Lots of Money

Do you ever just have the need for change? Do you want to change the look of your bedroom without having to spend lots of money? It can be just as simple as changing your bedding and window curtains that can transform the entire look of your bedroom.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:
Solid Bed Spread
Decorative pillows

Step 1

Choose Your ColorsChoose your color scheme. Try sticking with just two colors to coordinate with. Such as beige & black, blue & brown, black & burgundy or maybe you want to just choose one color and use different shades of one color.

Step 2

Purchase solid comforterPurchase a solid comforter. A beige or tan color is the best. You can buy these cheaper than most decorative bedding. Perhaps you already have a solid bed spread and can use your current comforter. Bedding can be very expensive, so I like to buy solid comforters that I can change the pillows to create a different look throughout the year.

Step 3

Buy decorative pillowsNow purchase many decorative pillows that match your color scheme. Place the pillows on the solid bedspread and now your room is transformed just by changing your bedding. So next time when you want to redecorate it will be a lot cheaper, just purchase more decorative pillows in another color scheme.

Step 4

Lastly, go looking around your house and if you have wall art, accent pieces, and throws with the color scheme, then just go place in your bedroom. Try to use things that you already have in your house when redecorating for less.

Tips & Warnings

1. You might even want to change the window treatment to coordinate with the bedding. Try to stay with solid colors that can be mixed and matched throughout the house when you feel like redecorating.

2. Get tired of one color in a room then change out the wall pictures and window treatment and place in another room. I call this room swapping. No need to go out and buy new wall art and curtains.
#

#

Home Improvement
How to Remove Red Wine Stains From a Carpet
Don't worry-- while that bright red stain on your carpet might look like the end of the world, it doesn't stand a chance against these stain-busting instructions. Follow them with patience and determination and you can have it out in no time.

Instructions
---------------
Things You'll Need:
Paper towels or clean cloth
Rug Doctor brand carpet shampoo or dish soap
Warm Water
Sponge
Hydrogen peroxide

Step 1
Blot the spill with paper towels or a clean cloth.

Step 2
Combine 1 teaspoon carpet shampoo (or dish soap, like Dawn) and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Soak a clean sponge in the mixture, squeeze it halfway dry, then gently blot the stain. Continue until the stain lifts.

Step 3
Sponge the stained area with warm water.

Step 4
Blot dry with a clean cloth or paper towels.

Tips & Warnings
1. Act immediately. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove.
2. Commerical products like Oxy Clean and Wine Away do an excellent job of removing red wine stains

#

#