My Home Inspire Ideas

We all want a beautiful home, the sad part is that many of the things that we would really like to have cost a great deal of money. In todays world, money is scarce. With gas prices, the price of food, and the price of general living, we have to save money in any place that we can. So, while many of us want our homes to look great, we want to do so on the little bit of money we have.
The good news is that there are many home designs and interior design projects that you can do easily and stick to your budget at the same time. There are little things that you can do, which will make dramatic improvements to your home in no time flat. For example, any home design or interior decorator will tell you that a good way to give those walls a new look or a face lift is with wallpaper. Wallpaper is fairly cheap and comes in such a wide variety of designs that you will have no problems finding something to suit your tastes.
Mirrors can make great accents for your home. They can be strategically placed to reflect artificial or natural light within your home, creating a soothing and welcoming atmosphere. As you can see with just these first two tips, it does not have to cost a lot to create a home design that you love.
While the exterior of the home should look good, the interior is where you spend most of your time, so designing something that you feel comfortable and love is important to you. The great part about home design is that you can tackle any room within your home. If your kitchen needs an update, why not consider just repainting some of your cabinets. This can give you a new look, fix some damage even, and save you a ton of money, as an alternative to replacing your kitchen cabinets.
Something simple, but extremely beneficial to the home is to add new plants to your home design. Bringing home a few flowers or plants, no matter if they are real or not, can really add something special to your rooms. Flowers bright up any room and plants just give it a homey feel.
If you feel your walls are just too boring and you really do not want to wallpaper the whole room, why not look into some other elements. The great thing about home design is that you can make it anything you want it to be. Some interior paint, along with some stencils or sponges can help you create your very own work of art. You might even consider borders or decals to help you out as well.
As you can see, there are many ways that you can update your home design and interior without having to spend a great deal of money. All you have to do is use your imagination and get to work, whether its wallpaper, painting, or moving things around a little, you can really had some style to your rooms. (more…)

 Many of us are staying in our homes longer and plan on some level of renovation this year. I have listed my top ten fixes to add value to your home on a budget. 1- Paint, Paint, Paint! – I cannot stress enough the changes you can make in your home with a can of paint. It is the easiest and most cost efficient way to refresh old and worn surfaces on a budget. Paint your interior as well as your exterior for a new and updated look. Interior painting can include your cabinetry, walls, trim, furniture, etc. Exterior painting can include your trim, siding, stucco, brick, shutters, foundation, etc. Start painting!2- Change Your Doors! – Changing your front and back doors can do wonders for the overall style and look for your home. You can find closeout doors at home centers, salvage yards, antique stores, flea markets, etc. Find a door that matches your home style and discard old and worn doors that date your exterior. 3- Lighting Matters! – Updating light fixtures inside and out can change the overall appearance to your home. You can find lower priced fixtures at home centers, lighting stores (they have clearances each year), Craigslist and don’t forget stores like Ikea. There are also a lot of stores online with closeout lighting (Smart Bargains, etc. ). Just look around and you can find a light fixture that fits your needs at a great price. 4- Deck or Patio Redo! – Nothing hurts the look of a home worse than a lack luster entertainment area. Restain your deck, use concrete stain for the patio or make a new area from salvaged bricks or stones. Salvage yards have brick and outdoor materials from buildings that have been demolished. Antique bricks are sometimes easy to find here!5- Remodel Bathrooms! – One of the top renovations for home resales are bathrooms. Keep the colors neutral for long term style and redo what is only in your budget. Change out cabinets for pedestals if you need to make your room look larger. Repaint or stain cabinetry and change out the hardware. New plumbing fixtures can also be found on a budget in closeout centers. Learn to do tile installation yourself with free classes at the home centers. Each change you make will bring you closer to a new bath. 6- Update Kitchen! – This can be an expensive proposition so do what you can toward updating the kitchen. Changing hardware and just cleaning the cabinetry with special products can make the overall appearance more updated. If new cabinetry is not in the budget, then think paint or stain for your old cabinets. Purchase new appliances when possible and keep a look out for dented or slightly used ones at clearance centers. You can save a bundle. 7- Flooring Updates Too! – Update your flooring to hardwood wherever you can and use prefinished for affordability and ease of installation. Engage a friend for help with installation or this may be one place you need to hire a professional. If sticking with carpet, then look for remnants with any carpet company. 8- Improve Systems! – Changes that are aesthetically pleasing or help your home with efficiency are worth the trouble. You can update heating, electrical and plumbing whenever it is within your budget and improve your efficiency rating. This is where you will need help from a professional. They can make changes within a few days. 9- Landscaping! – The overgrown shrubs and trees at the front of your home make it dark and outdated. Most homeowners like a more clean and fresh look with little maintenance. Buy new plants at the end of the season or when they are on sale. You can stay within budget by doing a few at a time and the new look will be amazing. 10- Clean and Cleaner! – The cleaner your home and property looks, the more value it retains. Keep your property and façade clean and fresh and add new flowers in a few pots for color. A well maintained home is a good value!All of these tips can help you keep the value of your home at the top! Remember to always shop around for the best deals, get help when you need to and trade out help and products with other professionals. I even traded out my services with my dentist! Enjoy renovating and keep your home in top condition! It is one of your best investments for the future. (more…)

It seems that today everyone needs a way to save money and spend less. Home decorating is one perfect example of a way to quickly go over budget if you are not smart. The best way to avoid this is to plan ahead. Decide what you need to do and figure out what you really need to complete the project. Today everyone is trying to save money and budgeting whenever possible. Being a savvy shopper is another way of saving money. Here are a few tips to get you started: 1. Try to shop for furniture when there are sales; so that you have a better chance of saving money. Do some research to find out what the pieces you are looking for cost before the sale price. Considering the economy even stores need to make sales; so consider haggling on the price. Sometimes you can even get the delivery charges eliminated. 2. Look for furniture that can serve more than one purpose is a money saver. You can find ottomans that serve as additional seating, a place to rest your feet and storage. Multi-service pieces are he best way to get more for your money. Be smart when shopping for furniture and figure out how a piece can serve more than one purpose. Large chests that are used for storing sheets and blankets can also be used as nightstands. Sturdy baskets can also be used as end tables and extra storage. Think out of the box when purchasing furniture, See if you can come up with different uses for the pieces you are considering. 3. Remember; you get what you pay for so always check the quality of what you are buying. Pull out the drawers. Do they slide out easily? How about the door hinges? Are they sturdy? 4. Look for floor model sales. Many stores constantly cycle their furniture and bring out new pieces and sell the floor models. Older design styles have to be moved for the newer designs and hose older pieces take up valuable store room space. Most stores would rather sell them than store them. Today with dwindling sales some may even sell the floor models if it means making a quick sale. 5. Check out the garage sales and flea markets. Not everything in these places is garbage. Everyone is trying to make extra money. Don’t ever think that people only see junk at garage sales and flea markets. Someone may just want to get rid of unnecessary pieces of furniture and accessories that may be just what you are looking for and at a great price. 6. Re-upholster or re-finish if possible. Sometimes worn furniture may just need new cushions or a little touch-up on the wood finish. If the piece you love is falling apart or looks worn you can just replace the upholstery or have it re-finished – by yourself or an expert (if it’s in your budget). 7. Don’t be an impulse buyer. The easiest way of going over budget is to loose sight of your decorating plan. The piece you see that is on sale and at a good price may not work with your decor. So don’t buy it just because it is inexpensive. Know what you want and stick to your plan. 8. Watch your budget. Keep the amount you have budgeted in mind when shopping and try not to exceed that amount. Overspending is the best way of getting into financial difficulties. (more…)

Many folks find themselves re-thinking aspects of their economic life right now, and that includes home design and decoration. Projects, plans and expenditures may have to be put on the back burner in place of other, more pressing budget needs. But that doesn’t change the fact that your Living Room or Great Room is in need of some new life and personality. Don’t despair! There are some simple steps you can take with your room decor to change the overall design and give a fresh perspective to the area, thus bringing a smile to your face. And there isn’t a price tag that can be put on that!We are going to work with the thought that you will use what you have and not purchase anything new. There are literally no expenses other than some thoughtful planning and elbow grease. Before you take any action, go into the your Living Area and assess the furniture and accessories that currently reside there. Start with the room’s largest pieces and make a list of those that are critical to the function of the room, then work your way down to the smallest items. Your sofa will probably need to remain in the room, for example, for seating purposes. Be selective as you make this list and think about the function of each piece before adding it to the list. As your list is created you are most likely going to have some pieces that are not going to find their way on to your list, and those are the pieces that are expendable to the function of this room. Most people are going to find that they have a chair, end table/coffee table, accent piece, rocker, etc that is not critical to the area and may in fact be taking up good space. You may ultimately keep these items in the room, but for now they are not on your list of ‘keepers’. Now remove everything from the room that is NOT found on your list, including accessories. Physically remove them from the room. The room should now have just the pieces that are necessary to the room’s function. Now comes the fun and creative part of this home decor project, and that is to rework your pieces and arrange them in a new and different way to bring that fresh perspective into play. Many times, furniture is placed in a room against the walls and stays in the same place for years (for some, many years!). Pretend that your room has a hexagon (six sided) shape around the perimeter of the area, so instead of the standard four walls there are six, smaller ‘walls’ or lines on the floor. Take the windows, door openings and other pieces like TVs into consideration, and place your largest upholstered pieces on the hexagon ‘lines’. What you have just done is placed your furniture at some angles and pulled it away from the straight walls, which can bring a totally different design look to a room, and give a different perspective to those seated in the room. For the vast majority of folks, you have also placed the pieces in a different location than they were – you have created a fresh and unique arrangement for your furniture! You have also taken one, two or maybe more, pieces from the area to give it a more open and spacious look. Once you are satisfied with the arrangement of the larger pieces, start bringing in the smaller pieces and accessories that were on your list, with the goal of putting each piece in a different location than in the past. Sometimes the function and size of the piece make it impossible to move, and that’s okay. But your first plan of action is to find a new home for each piece. Do the same with your accessories, and when you are finished, your room will have a new and fresh look! Have you spent any money? Not one penny, and that is the best kind of home decoration. Your Living Room has been thoughtfully rearranged and your home decor and design project is complete. For the time being, until your budget can accommodate your home decorating goals. Enjoy your new surroundings! (more…)

You want a new home design but you have no idea if you can afford it or not. There are lots of options to choose from, yet you want the home design suits your taste and of course your wallet. If you want to have some ideas, you need to check out some Home Design and House Builder sites that provide amazing listing of new home designs and styles to get the best design of your dreams. The first thing you need to do is estimate your house, meet up with the home builders who make houses that are similar in size, quality, and features to the home you want. Home builders will tell you how much per square foot they frequently charge for home structure. They can also give you an approximate idea of what your dream home might cost. Ask them if they have already some price lists, this will both lessen the waste of time. Expect some features to cost more like new furniture, new paints, new landscape and etc.   The most costly areas in building a home are regularly the bathrooms and the kitchen. The number of windows and the size and quality of windows can also change the charge. Vaulted ceilings and high roof pitches can increase the cost of a home design. When you want to use other homes to calculate an estimate, be sure the home has the same style and features of the home you plan to build. According to About. com, “the cost per square foot is often higher for a small home than that of a larger home. When building a larger home, the cost of expensive items (such as a furnace or kitchen) is spread over more square footage. Consequently, a larger home may have a lower square footage cost than a smaller home. Also, it usually costs less to build a two-story home when compared to a one-story home that has the same square footage. This is because a two-story home will have a smaller roof and foundation. Plumbing and ventilation are more compact in two-story homes. ” Check all the sizes of your house, from the living area, dining, kitchen and bathroom. Have your home size rounded up or down to increments of two feet. This reduces wasted materials. Also, the shape of your home is important, better yet take a picture all the different sides of your house. In this way, home builders will have a draft beforehand before the ocular. (more…)

While at one point in time the kitchen was primarily viewed as a service area for cooking, now days the kitchen has turned into a room that is multi-functional and central to many of the activities in the family. The past century has brought about the emergence of both function and interior design within the room we call a kitchen. When it comes to kitchen remodeling and other kitchen ideas, it can take a huge budget to remodel and update the interior design within this room. Believe it or not, the average costs for remodeling kitchens in the past few years have topped $25,000. It definitely is no wonder that the kitchen has been considered one of the most expensive remodeling projects that most homeowners undertake. If you are one of the many people wanting to remodel your kitchen, inspired by the beautiful photos of lovely kitchens on television and in magazines, you may feel that your budget is keeping your dream kitchen out of reach. However, even if you don’t have a huge budget, you do have some options. There are a variety of ways that you can remodel and update your kitchen without totally going broke. Believe it or not, kitchen remodeling and ideas do not always have to be very expensive. You may be shocked at the variety of ways that you can get a beautiful kitchen while still saving money and staying within your limited budget. While you may not want to undertake an entire kitchen remodeling project, there are a variety of great kitchen ideas that can update the way your kitchen looks, even without spending a great deal of money. The following are some great kitchen ideas that will improve the look of your kitchen without breaking your budget. Improve the Lighting – One of the most cost effective kitchen ideas to get a modern look is to update the lighting in your kitchen. There are a variety of economical ways that you can change the lighting to give your kitchen a great look. Halogen lights may be a great idea as well, but if you choose them, consider the ones that bounce off the ceiling. Many come with a dimmer that will allow you to choose the amount of light you need. Task lighting is also inexpensive to install in your kitchen. This type of lighting is great above the sink or above countertops as well. If you want to make a fashion statement or highlight a specific part of your kitchen, accent lighting may be a great choice. Use Some Paint – If you want a new kitchen look, one of the best kitchen ideas is to add a few coats of paint. Paint is fairly inexpensive, and you can totally change the look of your kitchen with a bit of paint. Consider painting your kitchen cabinets. You can add some color to your drab kitchen, just by painting your cabinets. When it comes to your kitchen walls, you can get creative with the paint as well for a modern look. Sponging, rag rolling, or even mottling are great painting techniques that will add some texture and class to your kitchen. New Accessories – Believe it or not, something as simple as adding new accessories can make a huge difference in your kitchen. Just getting new pulls and knobs for cabinets and drawers will add a new look in your kitchen. You can find these pulls and knobs in stone, resin, glass, wood, rubber, and metal. There are also a variety of styles that you can choose from too, so pick accessories that give you a nice modern touch. So, as you can see, when it comes to kitchen remodeling and ideas, you don’t have to spend thousands to get a great look. If you want a new look in your kitchen without having to spend a great deal of money, why not use these budget friendly ideas for a kitchen that is multifunctional and beautiful as well. (more…)

With winter fast approaching and the economy still in turmoil, it looks like more and more Americans will be hunkering down and staying put at home this cold weather season. But being confined indoors doesn’t have to lead to cabin fever. A little kitchen updating-including the addition of new kitchen cabinets-can give your home that winter getaway appeal without your ever having to fill the gas tank or brave icy roads.
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If the economy’s dire straits have your kitchen remodeling dreams on the backburner, maybe it’s time to move them front and forward again. While the recession may alter the way you go about remodeling your kitchen, it doesn’t mean you have to put the brakes on the idea altogether. The Albany Times Union recently ran an article outlining five tips for kitchen remodels that “look good and make ‘cents.’” Each of them affords homeo (more…)