Your Home Improvement Place

The prospect of doing any kind of home improvement work can send even the strongest among us reeling into that glazed-over look due to expenses and the breadth of work likely involved. Ripping apart a bathroom or upgrading the kitchen simply aren’t everyone’s niche or interest. However, a little inexpensive, out-of-the-box creativity can really help bring a time-worn home to life.

Shabby Chic is a style of decorating that uses vintage materials and pieces to create an overall look that’s comfortable, clean and, of course, chic. Typically defined by an abundance of old lace tablecloths, white iron bed frames, sheer curtains and floral prints, shabby chic is old-fashioned, yet contemporary at the same time.

Keep reading to learn how to recreate a shabby chic look in your home without simply looking shabby. Remember, you want it to be worn and soft, not just worn.

The Looks You Want

Start with soft and delicate colors. Shabby chic uses predominantly pastel colors and soft whites to create its look. Paint the walls or any furniture with light shades of pink, grey, muted greens or subdued whites.

Next, use vintage fabrics to get a worn and old look. You can either purchase actual vintage fabrics or simply vintage prints that have been remade. To age the fabric, you can stain it with a light tea brew and take it from a stark and sterile white to a soft and buttery cream.

When working with vintage fabrics, try combining different colors and patterns. Like an old patchwork quilt, match stripes with checks and dots with plaid to create a look that’s eclectic but still pulled together. You can achieve this by using one repeating color or element in each piece of fabric as a way of pulling them together.

Bring Your Furniture to Life

Transform your furniture beyond a coat of paint by updating the hardware to a shabby chic style. Look for glass or vintage knobs and pulls at local flea markets, antique stores and thrift shops. Remember, with shabby chic, they don’t have to match.

While you’re already hunting through flea markets, keep your eyes out for interesting pieces like an old bird cage that could double as a book case or a trunk that could become your next coffee table. Remember, shabby chic is all about making the old new again, so you can be creative.

Creative Thinking is Key

If you’re still in a hunting mood, set your eyes on the closets, attics and storage spaces of your relatives (or even your own) and remember - “if it has good bones, you can use it.”

Finally, always add some cozy touches. Shabby chic style should be warm and inviting, not intimidating. So, make sure there are lots of throws, pillows and old quilts around to make your space really feel like home. In the end, it should look comfortable and inviting.

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We all want to make improvements and upgrades to our home, but it’s not always financially possible. Major renovations are costly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start with minor repairs. A few small touch ups can go a long way to making a noticable difference in your home.

By starting small with affordable projects, you can work toward improving your home while simultaneously saving money for any needed larger renovations. So, keep reading for some great tips on how to fix up your house while minimizing your costs.

1. Start with the Entrance

Your porch and entranceway are the first things a guest sees when he approaches and enters your home. So, start there.

Fix up the lawn with a few new plants, clean the driveway and get rid of any debris outside. From there, move on to the porch. If your deck is old and tired looking, spruce it up with a cheap coat of paint and a few minor repairs. Next, give the front door a fresh new color and a splash of life with a decorative wreath or a new knocker.

2. Paint with Light Colors

Not only does painting freshen and brighten a room, but painting with light or pastel colors will make it feel bigger. So, if you can’t afford to put a new addition on the house, create the illusion of space by clearing out some of the clutter and throwing up a new coat of light paint.

3. Clean

It sounds simple, but a thorough cleaning and a rigorous de-cluttering can go a long way in revamping a home. For the cost of cleaning supplies and a few hours of manpower, you can spruce up the appearance of your house.

Rent a carpet cleaner, wash your curtains, clean the windows inside and out, donate your junk, take your garbage to the dump and just tackle all those little repair jobs that have been piling up. You’ll be amazed by the difference that a good weekend of solid cleaning really makes.

4. Get Creative

Look to magazines or design programs for inspiration and start getting creative. If you’re a handy person, try refinishing that old table to give it a new look or install new hardware to update your cupboards.

Remember, creativity and elbow grease shouldn’t cost you a dime. With the right work attitude and a little extra effort over the course of a weekend, anybody can afford to improve their home. You’ll certainly enjoy the benefits and savings.