Redecorating in a Recession: Get Your Home Ready for Spring

A fresh coat of paint is an easy, cheap way to brighten a room

Just because money is tight- doesn’t mean your home can’t get a fresh makeover for Spring. We’ve searched around and found these easy, low-cost tips for freshening up your home for the Spring season.

#1- Paint- Paint is a home owner’s best friend when in need of a cheap way to really change the look of a room. When picking a color, think about the size and shape of the room.  Dark colors can make a large room feel sophisticated and intimate, while light colors can make a small room look bright and open.  Also, don’t make the mistake a choosing a color based on a tiny swatch from the store.  Most home improvement centers now sell sample cans (pint size) that can be mixed to any color selection. Buy 2 or 3 of these (they run about $3/piece) and paint a section of the room in question with each color. Look at it in the morning, afternoon and evening light as well as with the room’s artificial lighting. A color can look vastly different on the wall than it does on the swatch!

#2- Organize that Clutter- When you think of refreshing the design of your home you most likely think of fabric, paint and furniture- but one of the easiest ways to quickly help your home’s look is to get organized and clean out any clutter or unnecessary junk that may have accumulated over the winter. Before you start your Spring Cleaning, think about the old adage by William Morris: “Have nothing in your house you do not believe to be beautiful or useful”. Meaning, if you are saving things just to save them- get rid of them!  Donate furniture you don’t use and old clothes you don’t wear- and save the receipts for tax write-offs!

#3- Rearrange the Furniture- If you haven’t really thought about how your furniture is arranged in your home in awhile you might want to sit down and take a second look. Start in a common room in your home and consider whether your furniture layout is working for you and your family. If you moved your couch would it offer a better walkway through the room? If you changed the position of the TV would there be more space for that framed mirror you love? Really think about the space, how you use it, and if it’s working for you. If it doesn’t-change it.  A quick furniture rearrange can do wonders for freshening up the look and feel of your home.

#4- Take Advantage of the Sales- Because fewer people are shopping for home furniture right now, the prices are dropping considerably. Stop in a furniture store and check out the sale prices- you might find a great deal on a piece that you were previously unable to afford. And don’t be afraid to bargain for the price you want. Make a low offer on a sale price. Even if you don’t get your first offer- you may end up paying considerably less than what the price tag says.

#5- Buy Second-Hand Materials- Whenever I am looking to re-tile a bathroom or to find a fresh new lighting solution I always stop by our local Habitat for Humanity Home Store first. Local builders donate extra brand new tile, wood floors, paint, etc., which I’ve purchased for 75% less than cost. I also found a vintage pendant lamp from the 50’s  for which I paid $25  (unlike the replica they sell in Home Depot for $150). Even if you have to put a little elbow grease into making it look like new- it’s definitely worth the savings!

>>Find your local Habitat for Humanity Home Store