Spruce Up Your Home For The Holidays!

With the holidays fast approaching, are you dreading being a host to friends and family because you’re unhappy with your living room or dining room?  Is your upholstered furniture looking tired and worn out?  If so, I’d like to recommend some budget-wise decorating ideas to add some “punch” to your room without breaking the bank! Here are my suggestions:

• If your upholstery needs recovering or needs to be replaced, you may want to consider slipcovering your sofa and chairs instead. You can buy stretchable slipcovers at local department stores or online that can fit many different sofa and chair styles.
• If you can’t find a ready-made slipcover to fit your sofa, find a nice quilt or throw to drape over your sofa – they can cover up those soiled or thread-bare spots. Throws can also add a cozy appearance or color to your sofa or chair.
• Buy some fresh, new accent pillows to update your “new” sofa or chairs.
• If your wall-to-wall carpet is very soiled – especially in front of the seating area – why don’t you cover it with an area rug!  If you go to a discount department store or check online home decorating outlets, you can buy a 4X6 or 5X7 foot area rug fairly inexpensively.  Area rugs can add a bit of color or pattern to your room’s décor, as well as unify the conversation area. If you have hardwood floors, a new area rug can also add interest to your room.
• In your dining room - if your dining room chairs have removable seats, they can be recovered easily with about a ½ yard of fabric for each chair.  Simply unbolt the seat from the chair frame and stretch your new fabric over the seat. Make sure you have extra fabric to tuck around the bottom of the seat, and use a staple gun to attach it to the bottom.  Voila!  You have new chairs!

So…if you’re tired of your furniture or you’re just hunting for a new look, try these quick and inexpensive “fixes” to your furniture.  Just by adding new slipcovers, new accent pillows, or a new area rug, you can update the appearance of your room.  Be adventurous and experiment with a new color scheme for your room!  And once you’re done you can stop dreading the holidays and look forward to showing off your “new” room to your guests!  Enjoy your holidays!

— Deborah Goode, C.I.D., is a Certified Interior Decorator and Home Stager.