Decorating home with affordable options
By Pallavii Pitale
With variety of material options to choose from , home decoration with affordable options is possible and can suit everyone’s pocket.
Paints like luster paint, acrylic emulsion, distempers are economical options than the royale , velvet touch and textured finishes. Wall papers are also decorative and economical options, provided there is no dampness or seepages in the walls. For walls that have seepage that cannot be repaired, can have the paneling of cement or other similar types of sheets that can be covered with either wall paper or other finishes.
Furniture can have laminates that look like wood and requires almost no maintenance, enamel paints with it’s colourful and glossy appearance, add a lively touch to any place. Natural polishes can be cheaper options than the veneers, poly urethane coatings, melamines and other decorative finishes.
Old and dull look of the flooring can be changed with the help of vinyl floor rolls or tiles or simply by adding floor coverings such as colourful area rugs or cotton durries on the existing flooring. The chattais made out of natural grass and reeds with ethnic silk and jari borders can add all that charm to any place. Most economical flooring could be ceramic and vitrified tiles as they require almost no maintenance and are available in variety of colours and finishes. Other finishes like laminated board flooring, stone flooring and leather flooring etc. are a little expensive and need more efforts to maintain.
One can add the colour and texture to the existing decor by adding the curtains or the blinds of various types. The blinds can be of made in variety of materials right from wood, metal, vinyl and stiff fabrics of any kinds. The horizontal blinds are better maintained than the vertical ones. The curtains can be made from cotton sarees as well as can be made in fabrics like velvette ,silk and brocade. Normal fabrics like pure cottons are much economical, requires less maintenance and adds the required texture and colour to any place.
Another thing that can enliven your space and make it cozy as well as comfortable, is the cushions with variety of fabrics, shades and decorations to choose from. They not only add the feel of warmth but also create a wonderful ambience. Various shapes sizes and designs can be created for cushions. Cushions with shapes of fishes, turtles, mushrooms, balls and more can work wonders in a kid’s room. Decorative cushion covers made in Velvette, jaquard and satin can be used for bedrooms and living areas. For sleeping purpose off course, nothing can replace the pillows with pure cotton covers. The bedspreads, quilts and related stuff also adds a lot more colour and characteristics to the space.
Last but not the least are the artworks and lighting that add the final touches to any space. Prints of the original paintings made by artists, can work out much cheaper than the original ones. Artworks made by kids at home can be framed as exclusive abstracts, any good patchwork on dress or cloth or a pallu of a saree or a rug / carpet can be hanged on the wall that acts as a piece of art. Simple small paintings available in the market can also be an economical option for artworks. Beautiful old wall clocks, hats, old crockery and many more such items can be used like an artwork.
Incandescent lighting or the yellow lighting with bulbs / halogen / spot lights and tube lights that emit yellow light can add a wonderful warm feeling to the space which is not possible with tube light or the CFL lamps. Since the CFL lamps are the necessity of the times now, they should be used for a general lighting purpose where as the yellow lighting can be used occasionally for the special moments. this can turn out to be a cheaper option as far as the electricity bills are concerned.
Bamboo, fibre glass and many other materials can be used for making lamp shades. Creative use of old metal pots and utensils can be used for making attractive table an pedestal lamps. Lampshades made up of fabric and handmade paper is an attractive, creative and economical option.
A little dash of greenery by means of indoor plants that are either natural or artificial helps in bringing the nature within your space and adds liveliness in any boring space.
Keeping in mind these simple things, anyone can have a beautiful and cozy home without being a spendthrift.
