I find myself going into frugal mode after the holidays. Like major frugal mode. After the sticker shock of Christmas, the last thing I want to do is immediately spend even more money on my house. Ironically, after the tree comes down and the the presents are opened and put away, I instantly want to start cleaning house. I want a whole new look and style but my budget says NO WAY. Below is my compromise and it scratches that re-decorating itch perfectly.
Making home improvements doesn't have to be expensive. It doesn't really have to cost anything at all. Below are 10 things you today to help your space take on a new personality in the New Year.
1. REARRANGE FURNITURE - Do something DIFFERENT! Move the sofa, take out a chair, or bring in a chair from another room. Make your space look absolutely silly then bring it all together. Get creative and get in a work-out at the same time!
2. THRIFT IT! - Want new furniture but just can't drop the serious cash on it? Go thrifting! You may not be able to find a whole Livingroom set affordably, but you can find pretty dang cheap end tables, coffee tables, and maybe even a dresser. Buy some cheap paint and put a coat of color on! *Tip: Hit up Facebook for this one! Make a post saying you're looking for some cheap/free small furniture and if anyone has anything, offer to take it off their hands. A lot of people DO have random small furniture laying around that they haven't had a chance to donate or sell yet!
3. POP OF COLOR - Anything can be a pop of color. Pillows, Throws, Candles, Pictures, Your hair (lol)....you get the idea! It doesn't matter if you are pulling items out of the Spring or Summer tubs, put it out there and let it catch eyes!
4. DECLUTTER - I should of made this one #1 because its seriously the best tip ever. Put up your hair, put on your favorite music, and get to work! Give yourself only 5 seconds (Yes, only 5) to decide if it stays or goes. If you don't immediately say "KEEP"! - out it goes! I'm convinced a mini spiritual awakening happens every time I declutter. It's just good for the soul. Period. 
5. KIDS ART WORK - Show it off! Let's be real, we pull our kids artwork out of their backpack, feel super guilty about throwing it away, so we keep it in a random pile of papers or maybe it even makes it to the fridge, then 3 weeks later after the guilt subsides and new artwork comes in - in the trash it goes. Hang it up! Make an art wall. Grab a few $2 black frames from Wal-Mart and frame them very frugally. 
6. THE 5 SENSES - Burn a new scented candle, Bake a new recipe. Play with different materials in your Livingroom. Find a new music artist and play them while you clean. Visually do something totally different in a corner of your home. When you get creative with your 5 senses, things start to feel exciting and new. Change is OK. 
7. HOUSE ITEM SWAP - Create a Facebook event and invite your girlfriends and/or neighbors. Tell everyone to gather 5-10 home items of their choosing and get together for a girls night to swap! Everything must be free and in good used condition. Inviting 5-10 friends means looking through 50-100 FREE new-to-you home items! At the end of the night everything that isn't claimed is put into bins to be donated. It's a fun way to repurpose and plus, who couldn't use a girls night?!
8. DREAM ON - On those days you have zero energy to do anything, pull out a pen and notebook and dream up ideas for your home! Don't do this with a budget in mind or restrictions; just dream it up. Just because it may seem out of reach, doesn't mean that putting it out there won't inspire some creativity and planning on your part. Who knows, your dreams for your home may just happen if you at least acknowledge that the dream is there. At the very least, it's always good to have goals even if they seem a little far fetched. 
9. ORGANIZE YOUR PANTRY - You know you need to. You know you want to. We both know you'll feel SO much better when it's done. 
10. PAINT - Anything. A piece of furniture, a closet, a bathroom. Home improvement stores usually have unclaimed or damaged cans of paint ridiculously cheap. See what colors they have ready to go and grab a gallon. Paint always makes a space feel totally different.
There's my 10 ways to affordably enhance your home today! Helping you all create your perfect space on all budgets is what I'm all about. Feel free to always reach out of you're stuck or have a Home situation that just may need a second opinion.
XO -Keri