$100 To A New Home

For the last 2 weeks I have been watching the Do It Yourself Network, TLC, and A&E TV to get ideas on how to redecorate our apartment.

My boyfriend Nick’s Mom is coming to visit us from West Africa this summer and I really want our apartment to be welcoming and warm.

I came across a TV show called $100 Makeover on A&E TV.  It caught my attention because I have been redecorating for almost 3 weeks, and although I am not yet finished it has already cost over $500.

I have to admit that the expenses so far have not all been for redecorating. I did buy some furniture for our bedroom which included upgrading our nightstands as well as a new chest of drawers.  I believe that reorganizing and redecorating go hand in hand.  When we start reorganizing the redecorating follows, and if we start redecorating we always find new ways to reorganize.  To date I have spent $477 on furniture and $239 on various home decor.

Redecorating our apartment is a project that is long overdue, but I could never bring myself to spend the money.  Therefore, the visit from Nick’s Mom is the perfect excuse for me to spruce up our apartment with a long overdue makeover.  All I can say is that I wish it was only costing $100.

Here are some Helpful Tips for Redecorating on a Budget from A&E TVs $100 Makeover host Leslie Segrete:

• We don’t have to buy all new furniture if ours don’t match.  It’s perfectly allowable to mix and match side tables as long as we follow two rules; they have to be the same height and we must match the lamps you place on them.
• We can breathe new life into a worn or dated piece of furniture by applying a fresh coat of paint. White or black glossy paint is always a safe choice.  Or, we can take a risk by painting a traditional piece in a fun and vibrant color like yellow or turquoise.
• Simple and inexpensive fabric shades can be made to look like we had them custom made with a simple trick that doesn’t require any sewing. Create a border detail along the fabric shade using gross grain ribbon.  It is available at our local craft store or it is also available on line in a zillion different colors. Attach the ribbon using iron on adhesive tape that is the same width as the ribbon.

Photo by UGG Boy