home decor

How to decorate a teens bedroom is one of the most common questions I
receive. Especially for those on a budget, this can seem like a
daunting task! Never fear, The Budget Decorator is here!

Teen rooms are different for kids rooms in that they should be treated
more like an adult space, but with a fun flair. Involve your child and
come up with a theme that helps to express who they are. (NOT what you
want for them!) Be sure to give the theme a name, even is its
something like “Modern Plush in Blue”, or “Country
Princess” - whatever
will give it life!

Let your teen choose their colors, but give them some guidance. Buy a
decorating magazine, and have them choose a color theme out of the
pages, or surf decorating sites on the internet. That way, they feel
they have chosen themselves, but you are assured you two have chosen a
proven color scheme.

Now, use these quick ideas for transforming your teens room, on the
cheap!

1.PAINT!!! Perhaps a teens room is the most important room you could
consider painting. Teens are very sensitive to color, and they are
much more free with their sense of adventure. Use a bolder color on
the wall behind the bed, and you have instant drama and a great focal
point! (Teens LOVE instant gratification, the paint will be one of
their favorite parts of the decorating project!) Cost of paint: around
$12.

2. Bedding. The bed is usually the focal point of the room, and a
favorite hangout spot for teens to read, do their fingernails, talk on
the phone - so it definitely deserves some attention. An easy way
to
update bedding on a budget is to create covers for the old comforters.
You can do this quite easily with two flat sheets the same bedding
size as the comforter. Flat sheets are cheap, you can pick up twin
size at your local discount store for less than $5! Sew the sheets
wrong side together on three side leaving one short side open. Turn
right side out, the add Velcro, ribbons, or snaps to the inside of the
short end. Insert the old comforter, and close! Easy, quick, and
cheap! Throw pillows can easily be made out of flat sheets as well.
Try using bright, funky colors on the bedding to make a real
statement. Cost of four twin sheets for comforter cover and
pillow - $20.

3. Windows. Light control and privacy can best be met in a teens rooms
with vinyl mini blinds - they are cheap, and easily replaceable. If
an
extra boost of color or softness is desired, add simple curtain panels
over the blinds. Keep it simple here, fussiness is rarely a quality
teens are looking for in their rooms. Remember those cheap sheets?
These are great for sewing curtains because of their large size - no
piecing panels of fabric together. You also don’t need to worry
about
quality of fabric as much as color, after all, the blinds are really
providing the light control. Cost of sheets or blinds - less than
$10.

4. Accessories. Punch up a teens room with some funky details to add
drama and style. Pick up some cool (and maybe a little tacky) fringe
or beading from the clearance table at the craft store, and glue
around the bottom edge of the lampshade, the hems of the curtains,
even onto shelf edging. Save all those free cd’s from Aol and the
like, and then turn them over to the clean side and glue to the frame
of a mirror, or to cover a closet door. Glue together in an
overlapping fashion to make faux frames for all your kids inevitable
posters. Pick up wooden letters from the craft store in their
initials, or to create a significant word or phrase, then paint one of
the brighter accent colors of the room and hang over the bed, window,
or doorway. Use old sports equipment picked up at a yard sale as
curtain rods, hat racks, or magazine holders. Even hung on the wall as
an art grouping, sports memorabilia can be meaningful for a sports
buff. Total cost - can be done for less than $15.

5. Finally, personality. Inject your child’s own special
personality
into his special place. Hang those ribbons and certificates, frame a
few personal photos of family vacations, or find a shelf for those
special stuffed animals they aren’t quite ready to part with just
yet.

Use this opportunity to recognize your childs individual gifts, and
celebrate them. Cost - not a thing. As the commercial goes;
memories - priceless.

Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget
Decorator. For hundreds of free budget decorating ideas, and to sign
up for her free online newsletter and free ebook, visit her at
http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com

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Fall is harvest time so take advantage of the bounty of nature. It’s Thanksgiving time, so take advantage of the generosity of others. Some clever hunting and gathering can help you save time and money and still have a festively decorated home for the holidays.

1. Gather branches, leaves, seed pods, pine cones, acorns and anything else from your yard that fits with the fall color scheme.

Even without a glue gun you can arrange attractive centerpieces and mantel displays.

2. Visit the produce department of your grocery and pick vegetables that suit your color scheme.

Squashes come in all colors, shapes and sizes and last a long time unrefrigerated. Pumpkins may be reduced after Halloween and work well. Arrange them in groups, alone, or around the greenery.

3. Check out your garden for what’s in bloom.

Lucky you if you have chrysanthemums, but many other things will do if you’ll take a second look.

4. Cheap tip for a real glow? Buy a fair-sized mirror at the dollar store or thrift shop, place it on your dining room table, buffet or any low table (you have to be able to see the reflection) and cover it with tea lights or candles. Beautiful!

5. Get accent pieces from your local Goodwill store and thrift shops.
People donate the most amazing holiday decorations that can be yours for pennies. - hand towels, wreaths, pillows, dressed stuffed animals, wall pictures, bedspreads, water globes, statuettes and serving pieces. Drop by often until you find what you need.
6. Change out your lamp shades.

Check out the lamp shade selection at Goodwill and buy some to fit your color scheme, or simply in darker shades to cozy up the house. It only takes a minute to change them. Just make sure before you go to check how your lampshades attach and match them.

7. Don’t forget to check out the holiday picture frames at the resale shop or garage sales.

You could move a favorite photo to a holiday frame and place that somewhere prominent. Neat if you use photos from former holidays, like when the kids were little, or your grandparents were still alive. Also look over the prints at garage sales and bargain stores with an eye toward the frames. You can throw out the print!

8. If you have a neutral couch with pillows, shop the bargain stores for accent pillows in fall colors, or change them all to the thematic color. Slipcovers are also a possibility.

9. Let the children make some decorations.

Some suggestions: Painting Thanksgiving pictures you then frame and hang on the walls or use for placemats. Cutting out leaves in fall colors to place around the centerpiece, scatter across the front door step to welcome guests, or pin to curtains. Given them clay or play-doh and let them fashion pilgrims, turkeys, leaves, or fruits.
10. Don’t forget yourself!
Most thrift stores set up displays of holiday apparel you’ll want to take advantage of for you and the kids. (And the most beautiful hostess is the one who is rested and enjoying the event herself, so take care of yourself and use your EQ skills.)

©Susan Dunn, MA, EQ coaching, http://www.susandunn.cc , mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc . Individual coaching, business programs, EQ Alive! #1 rated program to increase your EQ - simple, no memorizing, it works. Email for information, and free ezine.

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