Changing the Look of a Room for under $40
Did I get your attention?
Now, I'm no master decorator by any means, but I think I was able to make some good changes in my living space. I know it will never look like one of those professionally done spaces like you see in a magazine, but it is our space and we love it. We live here, we play here, we eat here, and sleep here! As the Nester says, it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
If you remember my living room, here it was totally before my work started:
Not too shabby but not what I had in mind either! So, I had some canvas drop cloth that I picked up from Lowes. I cut it in half to make curtains out of it. Originally, I had them in my master bedroom but that wasn't right so I took them out with a mistreatment in mind.
Let me just say here: I really love the Nester. I emailed her with a question about a mistreatment I saw on her blog and she emailed me back straight away with an answer. I know she's a busy with kids and unpacking and she still emailed me right back! Classy. Thank you ma'am!
So, I got some upholstery tacks and some curtain ring clips and easy-peasy, I was done with that and it made a HUGE difference!
I think I underestimated how much fabric could change a room. With the left over fabric, I made a mistreatment for the entertainment center. I'm not totally happy with how it has turned out -yet- but it is a work in progress. It hides what needs hiding so for now, it works.
I am going to make something like this for over the TV. I found it in a Lowes magazine we get from time to time called Creative Ideas and here are instructions for the project! They have lots of great tutorials and creative ideas to browse through!
So here's the break down for where the money was spent:
canvas drop cloth $29.99
rustic clip rings (on sale! 1/2 off!) $4.99
upholstery tacks $2.29
No money for repainting the room yet, but it is on the agenda for later. The best part of my room make-over was how fast it was. Literally in one day, we had a new look for very little money. You can't beat that with a stick!
30 comments:
Looks good, I like the new furniture arrangement!
~Michelle
Lovin it! I love the furniture arrangement, thats how I have mine set up and I love it! My living room is super tiny and that worked the best, yours however is huge! LOVE LOVE LOVE the curtains, I am workin on some drop cloth curtains myself. Yours look awesome, what a huge difference! I like how you put it around the tv stand too to cover it up, looks Great! Don't you just want to sit and stare at your new pretty room now? And even better knowing how little you spent and what a difference it made!
Thanks for coming by my blog and leaving such nice comments! I love them!
What a super idea. I love the drop cloth drapes I keep seeing all over blogland. Such a fantastic idea and the price can't be beat. Gorgeous room. It looks beautiful. Hugs, Marty
Hi Sarah! Oh, how lovely your curtains look! I'm just going to have to get me some of those drop cloths - they look so awesome! Great job and I really like the homey feel to your home!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :0
Very nice - You did good. Be sure and let us see when you paint.
Glenda
Fabric makes such a difference in a room. What color are the walls? It is hard to tell. I love dark, dramatic colors.
WOW! Just adding a little fabric and moving the existing furniture sure did transform your room. I think it even looks bigger in the pictures! Hope to see you soon over at my blog, feel free to visit anytime...
Wow--just the addition of the fabric and the repositioning of the furniture really changed the look of your room! Great job. Hope to see you over my way one of these days...
Hello - love what you did in your living room! Your curtains are fabulous. And the re-arrangement of your furniture makes such a difference - looks more intimate and comfy! Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
How incredibly creative to use drop cloths for curtains. I have never thought of that, but it really is a great idea. I love what you did. Your home is just beautiful. Amy :)
g'day, thanks for poppin by my place
love how you have the furniture arranged, mine isn't big enough for that and the fabric round the entertainment centre is such a good idea
happy blogging!
Sarah
It looks great ... love the window mistreatments!
Jane
Great job. I know about the work in progress. I have been in this house for a year and am still trying to get the furniture right. I think you did great I love the new arrangement and what you did to the entertainment unit was great. Thanks for sharing. I am inspired.
Have a Blessed Week,
Sherry
Great job on being creative on the cheap ! I love that lowes mag too, great ideas.....Your windows are so large and beautiful !~Hugs ~ Kammy
The arrangement is very nice!Good job!
Who would have ever thought a drop cloth could look so good. You have a great space and I love how the curtains look. Isn't the lowes magazine great? I love getting it and looking through it. Thanks for stopping by ~Anna
Very Creative! I think they turned out great!
~Liz
I especially like the color -- dark color of your walls.
Drop cloth curtains-- who woulve thought of that? great idea.
Thanks for sharing.
TTFN~~Claudia ♥
it really looks great - i esp. like the tv treatment!! that was a great idea
will you email me? I want to give you an idea.
mrballbox329@aol.com
Hi Sarah -- I love how simple changes can make such a big impact. Your room was lovely before, but you are adding layers and touches that are making it even lovelier!
Thanks for visiting That Old House. As for the ventilation on the shelf thing we rigged up to hold the TV and the boxes, there's plenty -- there is at least one inch above and to the sides of each box, and the entire back is open-- so no problem!
I figured out how much room I needed to hold the boxes, first, so that I'd have circulation space around them. Checked the size of the credenza -- it was big enough -- and decided that solid 4 x 4 lumber would be most stable (and cheap!) for holding up the shelf.
Found a pre-made black shelf at Home Depot, had 3 lengths of the 4x4 cut, to equal the depth of the shelf, plotted out where they would go by putting them and the boxes on the credenza -- and then made sure the shelf fit.
I put it together first w/out painting the 4x4s to make sure it all worked, then painted them and WOW that really made the difference. The shelf and supports just sort of disappear, you don't really notice them, and it all blends in together.
They sell things like this in catalogs but they cost more than $100. HA! Mine cost less than $10.
If you do this, please let me know! I'd love to see it. I'm just really happy with this arrangement -- the credenza was cheap also. I love a good bargain!
Have fun! If you have any questions, you can find my email thru my profile.
Best wishes.... Cass
Love the way just a few changes and little $ made a huge impact. Great job! ;)
I just love these ideas that didn't take much money to create! Good job!
Brenda
Great ideas. Love something that makes a big difference for very little money!
Christi
Very creative, great job! I love all the aqua blue touches. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Canvas drop cloths? Brilliant! I love quick and easy, one day-er projects!
Great changes - it looks really wonderful!
Manuela
Very creative...Just blog hopping tonight and enjoyed reading yours....
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! I love your couch pillows and that Lowes wall project looks really awesome!
I love what you've done with those drop cloths!
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