Real Estate Alliance

Has the economy paused your Redecorating plans?

Has the economy paused your Redecorating plans? Fear not, 10 Top “R” Tips to transform your home from the doom and gloom during this Recession.

In today’s economic downturn, cost cutting and drastic budgeting, all plans to redecorate our homes are put on the back burner for the time being. Just The thought of redecorating our home sounds crazy! In reality, redecorating our homes doesn’t need to cost a lot. All you need to do is plan wisely.

Make a plan today, pick a paint colour or throw out those old pictures tha­t are fading. Piece by piece, you'll get into the groove of t­urning the house into your designer home!

Remove:  Spring is in the air and what a perfect time for a spring clean. Change the impression of a room by taking out that extra piece of furniture that has been sitting there for years with no purpose.

Now is the perfect time to go through those closets, shelves, garages and cabinets for "stuff" that is beginning to own you, rather than the other way around.

Using some coloured Post-It notes, designate an area for your "absolutely must keep pieces".

Using another colour of Post-It notes to mark those items that you use occasionally and will consider getting rid of.

The third group is where the fun begins, “the donate or sell items”. You don't have to mark these...just start a pile or throw them into a large box. Old clothes, CDs or cassettes you no longer listen to, appliances, sporting goods, bedding, etc....be ruthless.

Now, go back to pile number two and take out at least 25% of those items and add them to pile number three.

Repaint: It is amazing what a coat of paint can do for a boring table or chair. There are many tips out there both online and in paint shops showing you how to redo an old or run down piece of furniture. Country cream or French cream is all the trend at the moment in all the furniture stores, why not try updating your existing furniture pieces yourself. Try repainting that old pine coffee table or pine headboard for that up to date look.

Re Painting your interior walls is a relatively low cost solution to updating your interior look, especially if you paint them yourself. There's no need to go overboard with bright colours to achieve impact, thoughtful use of complimentary colour tones can result in a room that feels completely new without having to change your existing furnishings.

Repaint those old wooden picture frames to update their look.

Repainting solid wood kitchen cabinet doors that are looking a bit tired, will give them an instant facelift. Country Creams and Orchid White are current favourites and instantly change the style of your kitchen, while also creating a bright and fresh room.

Remember to always use a theme before you start your decorating - it may be a favourite colour scheme or a design theme that you found in a magazine.When you see something you like in your chosen magazine, cut it out and attach it to a mood board to create the style you would like to achieve, making notes as you go along. Make a list

of what is needed to create this style.

Rearrange: Don’t be afraid to move furniture from one room to another to give it new life. Its amazing how one learns how to optimize space once we've removed everything out of the room and set out to restart with a blank canvas.

Change your seating arrangements to either open up a room or to make it cozier.

Move t­hings around until you find a pleasing arrangement that works for you. Get rid of anything that does not fit properly and is rarely used.

Reuse: re use what you already have - there are so many items around the home that can be ‘recycled'. Have a good look as you may already have the items suited for that chosen style hidden away or simply just being used in the wrong environment.

Reuse old magazine covers. Try old or used bookstores for vintage magazine covers. Frame them and create a wall of fashion vintage elegance for that creative and stylish look.

Reuse fabric from sheets and quilts even old clothes to make cushions and curtain tie backs. A fresh group of cushions or a throw can update an old sofa instantly!

Reupholster: New upholstery can completely update a seating arrangement. Always price the job completely first as sometimes it can cost more than a new sofa suite. Remember to price the amount of fabric needed and how much the reupholster will charge to recover the suite. Always shop around!

A great couch is the centrepiece of your living room. Make it classic and make it comfortable. Your couch can be updated as home trends change.

Re upholster an old headboard to give it an up to date look and watch you bedroom style change dramatically.

Replace: Adding new drawer pulls or handles to a tired bedside table or bureau can totally change the impression it makes. Replace the handles to kitchen presses for that updated look!

Replace lampshades, this will give your lamp or light fitting an instant face lift. There are loads of home décor stores nationwide selling very stylish lampshades at very affordable prices.

There are plenty of shops out there selling great, trendy bedclothes at pocket saving prices. Remember to keep busy patterns at bay, go for plain duvet sets and dress up your bedroom with accessories like cushions and throws, which again might already be lying around the house or stored away in a closet.

Ready made curtains can also be purchased at very affordable prices and transform any room instantly.

Charity shops are also a great place to find bargains.

There are an amount of stores and department chains throughout the country catering for Interiors at such bargain prices. Even the good old “euro saver” style stores have fashionable accessories at very low prices. It’s all about keeping an eye out for the bargains and being smart with what you are spending your money on.

Retiling & Recarpeting: If its retiling and recarpeting that is needed to spruce up your home there are fantastic deals around nationwide at the moment and now is the time to hire tradesmen at cost effective prices! But remember always price around for the best deals.

Redecorate & Revive: The most important lesson is that, just as our bodies and our minds are temples, so is our home. It is meant to be a place of tranquility, peace and serenity. Our home should be our retreat from the daily grind and pressures of life. However, before undergoing any redecorating transformation, you have to put your mind in a peaceful state first!