Do you have expensive taste but are living on a budget? Luckily, style does not have to be defined by your finances. You can create a luxurious living room that will make your guests believe that you spent more than you really did. When designing a luxe living room on a small budget, it is important to keep in mind:

• How much space you have
• What items you need to replace (as opposed to wanting to replace)

We are going to get you started by providing you with some ideas turn your casual living room into an expensive-looking space. Let’s take a look! 

• Large-Scale Artwork

You can easily create a focal point by hanging up a large-scale piece of artwork. A unique, oversized piece of artwork suspended on one of the living room walls will create an area of interest. This is an easy and inexpensive way to add a wow factor to the space. To make it even more budget-friendly, you can search through thrift stores and flea markets for the perfect piece. You do not have to stick to traditional art forms; large textiles pieces work as well.  

• Add Some Texture

Embrace different types of textures within the space. Swap out your plain couch pillows for textured, woven ones. You can even purchase such pillows for relatively low prices.  Layer materials like metal, woods and glass textures within the space to create more interest.  

• Blend Your Television with The Decor

There is nothing upscale about a big television placed front and center in your living room. Try to look for ways you can camouflage your television. You can try minimizing its appearance by creating a gallery wall around it or storing it inside of cabinets. Just be sure to conceal your cable box and other television accessories. You can also mount the television up over an architectural feature such as the fireplace to help create more balance. 

• Upgrade The Hardware

Away with bland standard curtain rods; add style by purchasing curtain rods and accessories with a finish and style that matches the room’s decor. Stylish curtain hardware can be an inexpensive way to add your personal touch and style. 

• Organize The Room

You cannot create a chic space with clutter in the room. Simplify the living room by removing things that do not contribute to the decor. If you find yourself needing a place for smaller items, you can use a tray to keep the coffee table tidy and organized. 

What tips and tricks could you share with other readers for creating an elegant living room on a budget? We would love to hear below in the comment section. Thanks for reading! 

Buying your first home can being exciting, but chances are, you do not have all the furniture, décor, and living utensils you want right away.  You want to make your new place feel like home but do not want to break bank, and designing your space can be quite challenging when trying to balance your budget and do not have your dream furniture yet.  Sometimes, you will inherit a mix of colors, styles, and genres of furniture and décor to furnish your home or you are limited on a budget to get everything you want in the beginning.  Here are three helpful tips that can help you design your first home on a budget: 

Create Your Design Around What You Have

If you have any furniture when you move into your house, that is a great start.  You can design your theme around what you already have.  It may not be your end goal, but you can simply make a design off the furniture you already own.  Maybe you want to have a warm-hued rustic living room, but you obtained a modern, blue futon.  Designing your theme around your current furniture is a simple trick to save money and not have a room feel awkward.

Quality over Quantity

When buying your furniture, consider quality over quantity.  If you are getting a filler piece until you can afford your next furniture item, you are wasting money.  Start a budget towards the furniture that you really want in your home and make sure they are quality pieces.  This will ensure that you do not have to buy new furniture every couple of years.  Take care of your furniture as you get it so that it can last with your home.

Patience

Do not rush the process.  Break your home into rooms and set aside budgets.  Prioritize what matters to you.  Some people may want their master room to be done first, or maybe you have a child on the way.  Entertainment may be your primary focus, and you may want to invest in your living room or entertainment room.  Make sure that you break down you home into smaller, more obtainable projects, so you do not get overwhelmed.  Remember, Rome was not built overnight.

Do not stress about your home being complete the day you move into it.  Weigh out what needs to be done first and get quality, timeless furniture to enhance your design style.  Even though it may seem stressful waiting on doing rooms, it can help ensure that you do it correctly.  

If you are used to living in a big home, the thought of downsizing can be an overwhelming and downright stressful experience. City dwellers often understand that downsizing will lead to compromising their wants for their needs. To avoid living in clutter, we have some important tips that homeowners should consider when they are planning on downsizing. 

How to Adjust to Downsizing: 

1. Make a Plan.

If you know that you are going to be downsizing, it is best to plan ahead of time. Get together with the members of your household and plan your goals for the move. Make sure everyone is in agreement before moving ahead with the process.

2. Consider The Layout.

Your new home’s layout is crucial to the moving process. Some items in your current home may not fit into your new space. You will need to take into account each room’s size and the items that you will be able to take. Most of the time, downsizing means you cannot take everything. You will have to get rid of some of your items but try to sell them in a garage sale. If you sell your items, you can use the extra cash to purchase a more feasible item for the space. 

3. Stay Positive.

Compromising will be a part of downsizing. If you are moving to the city, you are compromising space for lifestyle. Try to stay positive in the move! Think about a fresh start as a new adventure rather than a frustrating task. 

4. Maintain.

The worse thing that can happen is allowing clutter to accumulate after you have just moved into your new space. You will need to maintain a “small space mindset” while you are shopping. It is easy to overpack your new place with unnecessary items, but remember that the move gave you a chance to purge all your old belongings. Try not to start a cluttered lifestyle. 

5. Multifunction.

Small spaces can be made better with multifunctional furniture. Try to incorporate items that can serve several purposes.

6. Have a Buddy.

Sometimes, we need to be told to get rid of stuff. There may be some things that you think are essential to keep but in reality, it is not necessary for the move. Have a friend or family member with you while you pack to help determine the necessities. 

We hope you have a successful move and adjust well to downsizing. If you ever need new flooring, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Having a small space should not stop you from completing your design dreams. If you are faced with a small home and do not know how to work with the little space, we have six tips for you. Let us take a look! 

Conquering Your Small Space: 

1. Elevated.

The available space on your floors is so valuable that we recommend finding storage solutions for your walls. The space on your walls can be decorated with staggered shelving to help create visual-dimensions and interest in your space. The best part about storing on your walls is that it will give you more room for furniture and other decor pieces on your floor. 

2. Vertical. 

Our best advice for small-home owners is to decorate vertically. In small spaces, you tend to have more vertical room than you do horizontally. Plus, if you play up the vertical appeal, you can make your room look larger than it actually is. 

3. Narrow Spaces.

You need to take advantage of all the space available to you. That means that you must even put your narrow spaces to use. You can add custom shelving to your small corners to help add more storage to your space. 

4. Sizing. 

The size of the objects that you choose for your space can play an essential role in the overall look of the room. In order to make your room look larger than it actually is, you will want to choose small-scale items. When purchasing furniture, try to gauge its size and opt for the smaller option. This will help your room look bigger and give you more room for other items. 

5. Options.

If you are adding cabinetry to your space, you want to be sure that you have a selection of different storing options. By that we mean, you want to have equal parts drawers and shelves. Drawers and shelves both serve useful purposes in a home and by adding an equal amount, you can guarantee that you have as much as you need. 

6. Upwards.

When in doubt, look up to the ceiling. The ceiling holds great storage potential, especially in the kitchen. You can install hooks from the ceiling to hang your essential items or even decor pieces. 

We hope you enjoyed this tips and tricks. Let us know what you think in the comment section below! 

You have just gotten a call. You have two hours to get your house in tip-top shape for a showing of your house. While you are across town running errands, you agree to the showing, but you have zero ideas for how you will get your home cleaned in time. First, we want you to pause and take a deep breath. You can and will get your home cleaned in time because we have five tips to help you! 

How to Clean Quickly for a House Showing: 

Tip 1: Clutter-less. Before you begin cleaning, you want to clear out the clutter from each room. It will make the cleaning process more difficult if you have to clean around the clutter. 

• Pro-Tip: Grab a trash bag and run around your house. Throw away all trash. Make sure you stay focused solely on this task. 

Tip 2: The Sock Trick. If you are pressed for time, place an old, clean sock on your hand. Run your hand over all of your flat surfaces to remove dust quickly and efficiently. 

Tip 3: Top to Bottom. You will want to work from the top of the room to the bottom of the room. This way if dirt or dust particles fall while you clean your fans and the top of your furniture pieces, you can gather the dust later while you clean the bottom layers. 

Tip 4: Load The Dishwasher. Odds are that the people touring your home will not feel the need to look inside of your dishwasher. Put all the dirty dishes inside of the dishwasher and run the load before they arrive. If you are pressed for time, leave the clean dishes inside of the dishwasher during the open house. While the dishwasher is running, you can focus on the kitchen. Wipe down all of the appliances with a damp, soapy rag. 

Tip 5: Vacuum/Mop Your Way Out. While cleaning your floors, you want to make sure you do not trace any dirt back into your space. This is why we suggest vacuuming/mopping as the last step and vacuuming/mopping your way out of the room. 

Tip 6: Get Everyone Involved. If you live with other people, get them involved in the cleaning process. Have everyone tackle a different room to prevent people from getting in the way of one another. 

Tip 7: Stay on Task. Do one thing at a time. Focus on either throwing out the trash or collecting laundry, do not do tasks simultaneously, because you could potentially get distracted. 

Tip 8: Do the Urgent Things First. If you are pressured for time, start with the most important tasks then move to the minuscule tasks. This way if you end up running out of time, you will have the major things accomplished. 

We hope you enjoyed these tips and have a happy house showing!