COST EFFECTIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS

In the interest of expressing your ‘inner designer’ while sticking to a reasonable budget, here are some tips to lift your spirits without breaking the bank.

The two all-around champions: paint and lighting

Nothing has greater impact for less money than a fresh coat – and colour – of paint. Every room in the house can benefit from an uplifting (or subdued) new shade to go along with the season and the mood of the room.

A room can also be transformed by simply bringing the right amount – and kind – of light into it. Install dimmers on every overhead light, and illuminate corners with free-standing or table lamps, ensuring that there is both ambient and task-specific lighting throughout your home.

The Kitchen

A kitchen renovation is one of the biggest – and most expensive – home-improvement projects you can take on. But hold on to your dollars and consider some of the following face-lift tips to transform your tired kitchen on a budget:

• Replace all the hardware with something more contemporary, and consider changing the faucet while you’re at it.
• Paint the cabinets, remove fussy mouldings or add some detail to flat-panel doors.
• Change the counters – new laminates are dramatically improved over those available in the recent past and they remain the most cost-effective option. There is even some granite on the market that is cost effective (shop around!) and may provide just the update you need.
• Install new flooring – natural-look porcelain tiles are almost a perfect copy of the real thing, giving you a high-end look on a budget. Laminates (both wood-look and sheet ‘tiles’) are the most inexpensive alternative and can be installed in no time. While slightly more expensive, cork tiles are easy to install and can really transform the room.

The Bathroom

These small but hardworking rooms are a budget-makeover dream. With just a few key updates, your tired bathroom can be completely overhauled:

• Change the fixtures – faucet, towel bars, and hardware on cabinets. Even sinks and toilets (especially if they are of the pastel variety!) can be an inexpensive switch with huge punch.
• Replace an old medicine cabinet with a wall-mounted style that has more design flair, or if you can sacrifice the storage space exchange it for a stand-alone mirror with a dramatic frame.
• Paint the cabinets, and consider colours other than white, especially in small rooms that can take a hit of colour.
• Bring in new towels and accents, like waste baskets and soap dishes, to go with the new ‘theme.’

Whatever room you’re updating, start by taking a look around at rooms you admire and pick as your inspiration the things about them you like the most.  An entire kitchen can be transformed with a new faucet and cabinet hardware; a bedroom given new life with new linens and lamps. With your goal in mind, pick materials wisely - spend a little more on your ‘inspiration’ pieces and remember that investing in a few great components is cheaper by far than spending on a complete overhaul of the space.

Kelly Margani is an interior design consultant specializing in transforming residential interiors in Toronto. Contact her at kelly@kellymarganiinteriors.com