5 easy + inexpensive ways to make a big decorating impact

I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a big decorating impact in your home.  Some of my favorite ways to do so not only happen to be some of the most budget-friendly but also pretty easy to incorporate.  I’m usually working on pretty tight budgets with clients so I’ve gotten pretty good at finding less expensive decorating options so that we can splurge on big ticket items.  Here are a few of my favorite ways to make a pretty big impact without breaking the bank, all of which I’ve used in my own home:

PAINT THE CEILING.  I never painted a ceiling before we lived in this house and now I’ll never live in another home without one!  This is a great way to create a custom feel, to draw the eye upward and, most importantly, to warm up white walls. In our entryway, we added board and batten to the walls and then painted it all Sherwin Williams Extra White.  To warm it up a little, I painted the ceiling the same color as the walls in the rest of the living area, ICI Newcastle Gray.  It’s so subtle but it makes a huge difference!

ADD AN OVERSIZE MIRROR.  I personally think that bigger is always better when it comes to mirrors; they bounce light around beautifully and make a small space feel so much bigger.  The first thing you see when you walk into our living room is our fireplace/mantle and because we have vaulted ceilings in here, I needed something hefty.  A 40 inch starburst mirror makes quite a dramatic first impression when you walk in!  The same goes for our foyer; I found another 40 inch round mirror at HomeGoods; it had a yellowed frame but I gave a zinc paint treatment and it looks so much crisper against the white walls!

ADD A HOUSEPLANT.  Plants are, hands down, the quickest and easiest way to add a little drama to your space and are always the first thing I run out for when I want to change things up at home or just add some freshness and a pop of color.  Some of my favorites are philodendron, prayer plants and basic palms, all of which I can get for less than $20 at Lowe’s, Home Depot or even Walmart.  I like to keep them in water hyacinth baskets (surprise, surprise) for a little added texture!

DON’T FORGET THE WINDOW TREATMENTS.  I don’t think any room is complete without window treatments.  For me, it’s like leaving the house for a night out without any makeup or jewelry; it’s just that finishing touch that adds incomparable softness and texture.  There are so many inexpensive options out there that will do the trick but my absolute favorite is a two pack of Merete grommet curtain panels from Ikea.  They come in packs of two panels that are 118 inches long for something ridiculous like $40; you can’t buy fabric by the yard for that price!  For a more custom look, cut the grommets off and add some rings!

ADD A POP OF BLACK.  I think every space can benefit from a pop of black to anchor everything together – a gallery wall in simple black frames, a small piece of accent furniture or even a black and white piece of artwork are a few ways to incorporate a dose of bold black to add a little drama.

What are some of your favorite ways to add a little drama on a budget?