Decorator’s trade tricks easy on budget

DEAR MONICA: No doubt money is tight for everyone and now more than ever it’s important that your home be your sanctuary. So here are 15 decorating secrets that I use in models when I need to save money.

Window treatments

1. Make treatments from the sheets in a bed set. You can’t beat the price of the bed-in-a-bag sets and most come with sheet sets. But do you really want to use them on your bed? They have a very low thread count and can be put to better use on your windows.

2. Dress up store bought panels by adding 18 inches of fabric to the top or bottom. Many windows are longer than the average 84-inch-length panels, so you are a little more limited to what’s available in stores. So take what is more readily available and dress it up. Add a different texture of pattern. Buy a little extra and make a couple of throw pillows.

Furniture

3. When selecting fabric for upholstery, use a less expensive fabric on the body of the piece and back of the pillows. Most times you don’t see the back of the sofa so there’s not need to use the more expensive fabric. Plus, by using another fabric on the back of the back pillows, you can flip them around and have a different look.

4. Add a design to inexpensive bar stools. There’s nothing wrong with simple wood bar stools. How long do we really sit at the breakfast bar? Of course comfort is still important, but if you don’t use them that often consider if you really need expensive ones with memory swivel and upholstered seats and backs.

5. Purchase less expensive side tables for your family and living room. Side tables are rarely seen since they are placed between your upholstery and don’t get the same wear and tear as the coffee table. It’s a place for a lamp, a drink coaster and remote controls.

Artwork

6. Refinish an old frame. If you still like the image but the frame is dated, refinish it. If it’s wood, sand it down and then restain it or paint it. Metal frames can easily be refinished with a can of spray paint. It’s a big change for less than $10.

7. Have a bunch of smaller pieces? Group them together with shelves and accessories instead of having them spread throughout the house.

8. Have a large area with no artwork? Paint large inexpensive canvases for a punch of color. Hang four of them together to complete the space. Add an image with computer transfer paper. You’ll have a custom look without that custom price.

Kitchen

9. If you have the standard 4-inch or 6-inch backsplash, paint the area from the top of the backsplash to the bottom of your cabinets with color. Not just a darker tone of your walls, but real color. Don’t be afraid to add lots of color here because once you place your small appliances back on the countertop you really won’t see that much of it. If you have empty wall space above your cabinets, paint it the same color. When you add color on the wall above your cabinets you don’t need as many accessories, saving you more money.

Bathrooms

10. I’m asked a lot about where I find the drapery panels that I use in bathrooms. When I have a budget, I have them made, but when I don’t I use a ready-made drapery panel and mount it at the ceiling. If I need it longer, I add fabric to the top or bottom like I mentioned for window treatments. Use the spring rod that you already have, move it up to the ceiling and use decorative rings clips instead of the standard shower curtain rings.

11. Nothing says you have to paint or wallpaper the whole bath. Wallpaper does get expensive, so just do one wall. Wallpaper the wall opposite the mirror as it doubles the effect. I do love wallpaper in a bath and you can save hundreds of dollars by just papering that one wall.

Accessories

12. Use fewer, larger statement accessories instead a bunch of smaller ones. First, you’ll have less to dust and one nice accessory will look more expensive than three small ones. If you’re a savvy shopper, you can find one nice accessory at a home store for less than $20.

13. Change the colors on those outdated, old or wrong-colored accessories with spray paint. This works great for accessories you place on your pot shelves, above furniture and in your display cabinets.

Plants

14. Take those old, clear-glass vases from under the kitchen sink and create a floral arrangement with silica sand and curly willows. I love doing this since I’m not a floral arranger; it’s so simple and costs less than $15.

Bedrooms

15. Add different accent pillows to a store bought set so that it doesn’t look like a bed-in-a-bag set.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.