As a broke college student with an addiction to home design shows, I know what it’s like to be anxious to decorate your lackluster digs. In your head, you’re mentally decorating your space with Pottery Barn’s latest catalog. The ideas are flowing like crazy; but, the only things flowing from your wallet are old sub club cards and phone numbers of people you promised to call. Do not fear, my design-challenged friend, there is hope, and neither you nor your wallet will be hurt. For many of us, lavish decor is impossible, but with these tips for decorating your space, style is not.

Dress Your Walls!
Giving your walls a color treatment is arguably the most effective way to revamp a room, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. For approximately $30, you can make your home fabulous with a tried-and-true coat of paint (or two).

Decorating the walls is a major factor in setting the tone for your bedroom, living room, etc. Your first step is to pick a paint color that suits the overall theme you desire. Lowes.com explains that a darker color will make a room feel more closed in and cozy, while a brighter color has the ability to really open up a space. The website suggests that you consider the function of your room. You probably don’t want to paint your bedroom lime green because it’s a busy color and may make it hard to get to sleep. However, it may not be such a bad idea to paint a game room green because creates a fun atmosphere.

Painting is inexpensive and easy, but renters are often forbidden to paint their rooms. Fortunately, there are alternatives to make walls stand out. My old roommate, Jennifer, literally dressed her boring walls by giving her room a little texture.
Jennifer had a room with no color and a closet full of silk scarves with no purpose. She quickly changed that, hanging the brightly colored fabrics in a checkerboard pattern across her walls using only pushpins to hold them. Okay, so maybe you don’t have a closet full of richly colored scarves, well guess what, Goodwill does, as do outlet stores. I’ve mimicked Jennifer’s design, with several vintage scarves from thrift stores in my area, and not one of them cost more than three bucks. If used isn’t your thing, you can purchase fabric at any craft store for as little as a dollar per yard. The fabric can be cut into squares and hung in the checkerboard pattern like she did, but don’t limit yourself to Jen’s design. Create a look that you enjoy, after all, you’re the one that has to live in the place.

Kelly Welch

Great writer this month,
filling in Patrick Maloney.
Kelly comes to enliv
with a fresh perspective
on something we all
experience - turning our
drab home into something
awesome - cheap.

Shop Thrifty For Furniture
So bare walls aren’t your problem, the couch and end tables made from milk crates are. Guess what. Good furniture doesn’t have to cost a lot. Again, you should hit up thrift stores, or even garage sales in your city. It’s not necessarily going to be easy to find the bookshelf of your dreams, but you have to look around. Don’t let yourself get discouraged if you aren’t able to find great pieces right away either. It’s important to remember that a lot of the furniture you find in thrift shops is going to be outdated, ugly, or both. You have to look beyond the coffee stains on a table. Is the piece in good condition structurally? If you don’t trust that the piece will make the car ride home, it’s not a sound investment. If it is in good condition, but is a major eyesore, chances are it can be salvaged and turned into a piece of furniture you can be proud to display.

After committing to a table, bookcase, or what have you, just sand down the surface with sandpaper, and make a trip to a hardware store for supplies. Someone there should be able to assist you with the appropriate paint or wood stain and application tools for your project. From there just let your creativity flow. You can simply paint your furniture find your favorite color, you can mix and match paint colors, or you can add some oomph with a photo collage, ticket stubs, even coins. If you opt to collage, simply apply Modge Podge to safeguard your keepsakes when you’re done, or for a tabletop, have a hardware store cut a piece of glass for your art’s protection.

Remember, you’re probably not going to walk into a thrift store and find a treasure the first time or every time you go, but if you shop the stores regularly, you’re sure to find some deals because they constantly have new inventory. It’s also smart to grab a piece of furniture if you love it. Don’t go home and think about it for three days because chances are you’ll go back, and somebody will have snatched it. If money is an issue, sometimes the store will work with you. Don’t be afraid to speak to a manager if you fell in love with a piece of furniture, but your cash flow is lacking.

Accessorize!
Now that the foundation for your room is set, you need to bring in the accessories. It’s great to put color on your walls and furniture in the room, but it’s even more fun to give your room the accents that will bring everything together.

My favorite tip is creating a personal photo gallery in your home. I think we all have loads of pictures we’re proud of stashed in a box under the bed somewhere where they go unappreciated. It’s time to showcase your eye for photography! If you don’t already have eye-catching photos to display, pick up a camera and get out of the house--there are photo-ops everywhere. After picking out some artsy photos take your negatives to a photo lab, and have them blown up to poster size. For around $20, you’ll have your own poster prints for all to enjoy. Just make sure the original photos are sharp, so they won’t get too grainy as they’re enlarged. If posters are out of your budget, consider grouping similarly themed 4x6 prints and hanging them in mini “exhibits.” Your prints will be out of the closet and you can show off your photo skills.

Another way to add to your room is by starting a collection. Whether you choose to collect beer caps in a fish tank, pennies in beer steins, or playing cards on bulletin boards á la Carrie’s former beau Berger on “Sex and the City,” displaying them brings something special to your space. People will take notice too; so don’t be surprised if visitors start dropping by with gifts of rolled change or buckets full of beer caps from their frat parties. Just be sure to choose your collection wisely.
Besides these ideas, you’ll probably want to create a comfortable atmosphere for you and your friends, so do it up with lots of pillows made with funky fabrics. Many stores sell pillows cheap, but if you make them, you can really personalize them. Again, you can buy cheap fabric at local craft stores; and this time add pillow stuffing, needles, thread, and cute ribbons and beads to your list.
Making the pillows is simple. Cut two pieces of fabric in equally sized squares, put the sides you want to show touching each other, so the pillow is inside out. Next, sew three sides of the square together, then flip the pillow so it’s right side out. Fill the pillow full of stuffing and carefully sew the opening closed. Voilá! You’ve made a pillow. Now break out those ribbons and buttons, and design to your heart’s desire. Repeat until you have as many pillows as you want, and then go put them to use...you should be tired after all this work.

Now wasn’t this easy? You’ve dressed your walls, filled your space with furniture, and accessorized your way to a fabulous and inexpensive space that’s all you. Perhaps the most surprising part of this design process is that creditors won’t be calling to cancel your credit card. With all the splendor of your new place, nobody will know the difference. Your only problem now is your place is so cool, you’re never going to leave it! No big deal, just call your friends over for a little social gathering, but don’t forget the coasters for your drinks, that furniture is priceless!