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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2004)
DIY decorating Finding cheap ways to decorate can improve the look of a temporary home By Breanna Scott • Freelance Reporter Auer nncung a place, signing the papers and are getting ready to move in, it seems like most of the hard work is done — until taking a closer look at the liv ing arrangements and realizing the work has just begun. The walls are bare, and the furniture is mismatched. It could be time to add some col or to the room with a little cheap redecorating. Many people run into the situation of needing or want ing to redecorate but don't have much money to accom plish their goal. Alisa Caesar, an interior decorator at Drag onfly Interior Designs, provid ed several suggestions on how to improve a space. "The easiest way to make a place brighter is to paint, which adds color and freshens up the space," Caesar said. "However, sometimes paint ing isn't always an option to those who rent." For those who don't have the option of painting, Caesar suggests the next level of im proving the look of the furni ture. "A slipcover on a couch or chair will drastically change the look of a room," Caesar said. "Even a blanket or sheet can be used as a slipcover to change the look of the furniture." Caesar said it is possible to add color in a variety of ways and at almost any price. "For example, an area rug can drastically change the ap pearance of a room," she said. it tne carpet is stained or ugly an area rug will cover that up, and they can be purchased at a variety of prices. A cheaper one can still look nice and can still accomplish the same look as a more expensive one." Once a color scheme is picked, Caesar recommended adding patterns to give a space more variety. "You can add patterned pil lows or curtains to a room that pick up the other colors in the room," Caesar said. "Discount stores are good places to look for patterned things to add, al though it might take longer to find something you really like." She also said window treat ments are becoming more do it-yourself. "All the supplies are avail able at various stores," she said. "You can choose the color, the fabric, the style of treatments and buy a curtain rod to hang them from. Even sheets can be used as a curtain in a pinch." Sophomore Michelle Rose offered some suggestions about decorating on a budget. "If you can identify your dec orating inspiration, then you can find low-budget items that replicate the features that you admire," Rose said. Sophomore Patty Miller said Ikea — the closest store is locat ed just south of Seattle — is a good place to find items for decorating an apartment. "It's trendy style, but cheap prices," Miller said. Miller added that putting up posters is a cheap and easy way to cover bare walls. "It's cool when people do tilings like hang their own art work and add color and per sonality that way," she said. "My aunt, for example, makes artwork out of household ob jects and hangs it on the walls. It ends up looking pretty cool. "Do things like decorate new lampshades for old lamps you find at thrift stores," Miller said. "This will make them look newer and trendier." Miller said throw pillows can add a lot of color to a room and are easy to incorporate. "You can even take an old pillow and cover it with fabric," she said. "They fill up space and accent the rest of the colors in the room easily." I lome decorating is becom ing easier and more accessible as stores focus on do-it-yourself projects. While you may not be able to change everything in a new place on a small budget, you can make drastic improve ments. Simply adding color to the walls, throwing down an area mg and putting new cov ers on couches and chairs can make a drab place look new. "The range of things that people can do varies whether they rent or own and what the available budget is," Caesar said. "But home decorating has become so much more accessi ble to the average person and they are able to do a lot them selves." Breanna Scott is a freelance reporter for the Emerald. . Local stores provide easy, inexpensive options for decorating % There are many places to buy affordable furnishings to make a dwelling cute, comfort able and impressive. The key is shopping around. Although most students can't spend top dollar com missioning artist Vigil Ortiz to design a bedspread or have fa mous designers plaster the wall to accent a Picasso paint ing, domestic necessities can be affordable. Graduate student Kristin Hoobler said she has bought items on discount at yard sales including an antique coffee table for $10 and a kitchen table and a night stand for $2. She said she loves Ross Dress for Less, lo cated in the Gateway Mall in Springfield, andT.J. Maxx, lo cated in the Oakway Center off Coburg Road, where she has found stylish dishes and sheets. Hoobler said she has an artistic eye and enjoys making things work together. "I get to be creative, and I save a bunch of money," she said. Many people have found fantastic savings at thrift stores like Goodwill, with five area locations; The Salvation Army at 2065 W. Seventh Ave. in Eu gene and 346 Main St. in Springfield; Value Village Thrift Store located at 555 W. Cen tennial Blvd. in Springfield; and St. Vincent de Paul's six lo cal locations. However, some of the merchandise at second hand stores is more expensive than at discount stores. For ex ample, a used couch was sell ing at Value Village for $119.99, and stained lamp shades were going for $4.99 at Goodwill. At Ross, furniture pieces range from $12.99 to $149.99, and lampshades are priced at $4.99 and up. TLC's "Trading Spaces" designer Vern Yip said in an online posting that he likes to shop at Target for lamps and glass accessories and at Ba nana Republic for sale bed ding and towels. Area resident Lindsey Lusk said she gets good deals at Discount Depot, located at 3061 W. 11th Ave. She said the last bargain she got there was two Ralph Lau ren pillows for $10. Small touches can also make a big impact. Bright candles, vases and fake roses add color to rooms. Throws cover worn desks and tables, and small pil lows accent other decorations. To inexpensively add spark to a room , find a few decora tive pieces to visually excite and cover flaws with table cloths, throws or paint. 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