How to Decorate without Breaking the Bank!

Five Simple Steps to Decorate Your Space

without Breaking the Bank:
Colleen A. Lora, C.I.D.

We all know about the economic conditions these days, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style. I'm always asked, "How can I make my space look new without spending a lot of money." Read on:

• Color: Here is where you get the most bang for the buck. Think beyond beige, explore the science of color and re-visit the color wheel. How do you want to feel in the space? Do you want a serene bedroom? Do you want to bring the outdoors in? Having a baby? There is a whole psychology to color selection and mood is created easily with a gallon of paint. If you are afraid of making a mistake, contact a decorator for a color consultation.
  


• Area Rugs: So many people have beige wall-to-wall carpet. Just by laying a colorful area rug down you anchor the whole space and bring some art to the floor level. For further punch, bring in coordinating pillows or a throw to tie it together.
  


• Window Treatments: If you don’t have window treatments or are living with blinds only it’s like getting dressed up and going out without your earrings – it just looks unfinished. Drapery panels bring the eye up and bring color to areas often overlooked. If you like to change your designs with the season, invest in reversible drapery panels. Just by flipping them around you can create an entire new look.
  


• Space planning: Most people live with the same furniture arrangement for years. If you can’t imagine it any other way – bring in a decorator to help you draw up some floor plan options. There are also some free room planning tools available on the internet. You can achieve a whole new look by new furniture placement or by bringing pieces from another part of your house into a new room.
  


• Think Multi-Function: If you need a coffee table, look for a storage trunk or ottoman and get two uses in one. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on artwork, get some beautiful fabric remnants or gift wrap and wrap artists canvas, attach with staples and hang on the wall. Did you recently invest in a flat screen TV? Don’t feel compelled to buy that entertainment unit – you can use a chest of drawers or a sofa table under the flat screen to house the other electrical components in a more stylish way.
  
  If you liked the information provided and want more decorating advice please contact Colleen A. Lora, award-winning decorator with Décor & You at clora@decorandyou.com or call her at 614-855-1700. Décor & You was voted “Best Interior Design Firm” by Columbus CEO Magazine for 2008-2009.

Thanks for the Support

As my friends and clients know, I recently entered a national design competition that culminated at the World Market in Las Vegas. Happily, I won several awards. The most prestigous of which was a 2nd place award for Single Space Design. The real highlight of the award ceremony was that my award was announced at World Market by internationally acclaimed interior designer and author Mary Gilliat.

Mary has written nearly 40 books and has become a mentor of mine since I joined Decor & You. She is truly a remarkable woman - she hosted the first ever decorating show on television many years ago on PBS.

The submitted room design (you'll see the before and after photos) was a dining room for local residents Bev & Bob Stonecypher. They were the MOST gracious clients to work with - I can honestly say that no job has ever gone so smoothly. The decorators out there will understand that those projects are a rare treasure. On the day we completed the room the Stonecyphers and I sat down and enjoyed a bottle of wine and some great laughs. I'm pleased to say they retained me once again to work on their great room!

I also won an award for my work in progress at the Estates at New Albany - a high end apartment complex nearby. They retained me to do their clubhouse floorplan, furnishings and window treatments. I'll post those photos soon. Thanks to Andee, the property manager. She's a joy to work with and has become a fast friend.

The kind notes and congratulatory words have been sincerely appreciated - I am blessed with such great friends & family that really take an interest in seeing me succeed. Thank you.