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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2004)
DIY decorating Finding cheap ways to decorate can improve the look of a temporary home By Breanna Scott • Freelance Reporter After finding 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. "If the 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 things 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." Home 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 rug 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. 013889 Club Mill 1255 Mill Street near UO • 2 bedrooms with balcony • Dishwasher/range/refrigerator/garbage disposal • Landlord pays water, sewer, garbage & expanded basic cable TV • Updated carpets & on site laundry • Off street parking & summer pool • Very nice apartments with competitive pricing www.KeystoneHome.net For more information, call KEYSTONE real estate 746-1402 M-F 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Weekends by appointment Oregon Daily Emerald 019646 The Moving Guide is published by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. Inc., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices in Suite 300 of the Erb Memorial Union. 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