The post How To Save Money On Bedroom Furniture appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>The bedroom should be the most relaxing room of your home. Your sanctuary in all the crazy.
Unfortunately because we tend to just close the door, the furniture within your refuge is often outdated and drab. Over time this can lead to it being the most avoided room of your house. Don’t let that happen to your haven.
Does your bedroom need a freshen up? An overhaul? Perhaps you think you don’t have the money to achieve the look you lust over but you can add charm without spending a large amount of money. Here is how:
• Research – Research is everything! Jump online and find out the average price of the bedroom furniture you are looking for, the delivery costs associated if this is required and then ring the local stockists and see what sort of deal they can do for you.
• Buy on sale – Sounds simple enough, right? This is part of your research. Find out when stores will be having sales, get online and check. Read your junk mail and wait until the sales start to make your purchase. Bedroom furniture is expensive so never pay full price!
• Haggle – This is crucial to getting a bargain! If you cannot haggle, take someone with you who can. Play the retailers against one another until you get a price you are happy with. You can even offer to take floor stock but ensure you get a further discounted price, particularly with beds and mattresses because every Joe Blow and his dog have been laying it!
• Upcycle / refurbish – Upcycling has become extremely popular for those who want new things but cannot afford it. It allows the purchaser to buy it cheap and add their own creativity to produce a one of a kind personalised item.
Tip: When searching for bedroom furniture to refurbish, look for sturdy pieces that will last longer than your chosen bedroom theme. This will then give you the option to upcycle again at a later date or sell it. Check out these great DIY room ideas for inspiration!
• Second hand – If you cannot afford to purchase items brand new; look on your local Buy, Swap and Sell pages on Facebook, visit nearby thrift stores and even check out weekend garage sales. You can often find bed frames, bedside tables, chest of drawers, etc. that are in near new condition for just a portion of the retail price. The only downside to this is that you don’t get the warranty that you would if you were to buy it from a store.
• Accessories – Accessories are your best friend. They can brighten up the room, add life to the area and just give it a fresher and more up to date overview without having to replace all your bedroom furniture.
Everyone wants to feel relaxed and inspired when they walk into their bedroom. They want that sense of calm and hominess to wash over them as they enter. Don’t let your old, dark furniture be the eye sore of your home.
Use these tips to create the bedroom you want while staying in your budget!
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]]>It is time to get organised. Clean up, clear out and start fresh this festive season.
The holidays have rolled around again and guests are spending the weekend. You don’t want to be embarrassed by your old worn out homewares, so it is the perfect time to change your décor. Get that outdated and shabby furniture off your property and spruce it up with something new or new to you.
You know the old saying. This is absolutely true when it comes to furniture and homewares. Unlike 10 years ago, today there are so many options to find a bargain and you are crazy to not try. Consider the following before you go out and pay full price:
Stores and warehouses around Australia have fantastic Christmas and Boxing Day sales. Sometimes you may have to hunt a little to find them but they are definitely there. You can save up to 50% on some items, which is nothing to be laughed at for brand new pieces of furniture!
These websites are full of fantastic bargains. On Gumtree you will even find free homewares, electricals and outdoor furniture. A lot of the time there is absolutely nothing wrong with the items; people just upgrade and want to pass them onto someone else. Keep your eyes peeled for these bargains because they don’t last long!
TIP: For even better deals, check after Christmas when people replace their furniture or are selling their unwanted gifts!
Similar to Gumtree, you can find mountains of free and cheap household goods and furniture in your local area. Social media has opened up opportunities for sellers to get rid of their unwanted goods and buyers to score themselves a bargain. Sometimes all the furniture needs is a little TLC to bring it back to its former glory.
Look around your local garage sales, businesses, the above mentioned avenues and even friends places for scraps that can be turned into fun items. Wooden pallets are fantastic for creating practical but unique outdoor lounges and garden beds. Create feature pieces by turning old doors and cable reels into tables. For the festive season, extra esky’s and ice buckets are required which is where old bath tubs make the perfect addition to an outdoor area.
For more ideas on how you can create your own home decor with a little DIY, CLICK THE LINK!
Style and comfort doesn’t have to be expensive. You can stay well within your budget by doing a little bit of research and bartering to get a better price.
Everyone wants something new but new isn’t always better. Sometimes older products are built to a higher standard and will last longer than many new pieces. Consider your needs, wants and budget before making your purchases.
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]]>Don’t settle with boring and out dated lighting. Make your home shine!
Thanks to renovation shows like House Rules, more and more people are taking DIY into their own hands. They now know that updating their lighting is not only affordable but also beneficial to the appearance of their home.
Lighting can completely alter the aesthetic appeal of a room. With a small change, you can transform your home from dark and dingy to bright and homey. Here is how:
Exterior lighting serves more than one purpose. Yes, it is great for adding street charm and focal points but it also offers a safety aspect.
• Use unique lighting options to create a talking point.
• Path lighting not only looks great but is the most common form of safety lighting on the exterior of the home.
TIP: Exterior lighting shouldn’t be too bright. Keep it dull so you don’t produce dark areas of yard that could result in safety hazards.
Interior lighting can change the entire outcome of a room. By strategically placing lights in a certain way to maximise lighting, it completely alters the ambiance of a room.
• Bright rooms appear larger; this is why natural light is just as important as artificial lighting.
• Light tones – White is the brighter option but it often makes the room feel colder. Tinted and yellow tones are not as vibrant but give the room a warmer feel.
• Dimmers – These are a great option for living, dining and family rooms because you can alter the intensity of light emitted to suit the current activity. Dimmers are also great power savers!
• Consider making pictures or artworks a feature in the hallways, stairs and entries by positioning lights to showcase them.
• Light fixtures can transform your décor. Make sure you choose ones that compliment your personal tastes and your homes interior!
Look at places like Urban Lighting for a diverse range of interior and exterior styles to suit your individuality.
TIP: Make sure your lighting and fixtures are practical for your family and the style of your home!
Each room requires something different to get the most benefits from your lighting upgrade.
• Kitchen – Lights should be bright. This is so you can see what you are doing whilst cooking and give you a safe and comfortable space to prepare meals.
• Bathroom – By placing lights on either side of your mirror you will have ample lighting that is even with minimal shadows.
• Family room – If space permits, the use of a floor lamp or large pendant lighting instead of a table lamp will do wonders. This will create an interest point and add dimension to the room.
• Bedrooms – Add bedside lamps with individual switches. This provides a relaxing environment and allows comfortable and convenient reading.
You may be tempted to purchase a cheaper alternative but investing in high quality fixtures and lighting is worth the outlay! Just remember that for safety reasons and to reduce hazards, any wiring should be done by a qualified electrician.
By modifying your interior and exterior lighting, you are improving not only the appearance of your home but also the practicality and mood of each individual room.
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]]>As building techniques improve and fashions change, the size, shape and style of Australian homes continues to evolve. One of the most striking trends in architecture over recent years has been a move to bigger windows, with a rising number of property owners across the country opting for impressive floor-to-ceiling glazing. But what exactly has caused this phenomenon to take off? Why do we Aussies seem to think that, when it comes to windows at least, bigger is better?
Bathing rooms in natural light to boost our moods
One possible answer is the effect that natural light has on our moods. It’s well known the amount of sunlight we’re exposed to can have a big impact on how we feel and function. For example, it affects our production of the hormone melatonin, which in turn can make us feel more drowsy or alert. Light levels also help to control serotonin, a hormone that affects our mood, sleep and even appetite.
To get an insight into the importance of this issue, it’s useful to look at the impact of exposure to natural light on office workers. According to a study conducted by a team at Northwestern University in Illinois, employees with windows in the workplace reported a better quality of life, less disturbed sleep and fewer physical problems than their counterparts without access to sunlight during the working day.
So, by bathing our rooms in extra sunlight, we could be making ourselves happier and healthier. Even when people want privacy in their properties, they are often still keen to let the light stream in. This is why the translucent sunscreen blinds offered by specialist providers such as CurtainWorld are proving so popular. While offering seclusion, and protection from UV rays, they still allow lots of natural light to enter rooms.
Making the most of the views on offer
We’re certainly not short of impressive views in Australia. From serene ocean vistas to undulating mountain ranges and seemingly endless plains, there are a multitude of scenes to celebrate. Many of the homes with super-sized windows overlook these spectacular landscapes, and this floor-to-ceiling glazing allows their owners to make the very most of the terrain around them.
Buildings designed in this way help people to feel part of their environments when they’re in their properties, rather than being cut off from them.
The epitome of sleek modern design
Then there’s style to consider. These large windows can give properties a sleek, contemporary look that helps to set them apart from more traditional builds. The abundance of glass gives them a minimalist, light and clean appearance that epitomises the best of modern design. Both from the inside and the outside, these features can look simply stunning. They work especially well in uncluttered houses with airy, open plan interiors.
Given the myriad benefits associated with floor to ceiling windows, it’s no surprise that a rising number of people across Australia, and around the world, are choosing to incorporate them into their properties.
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]]>Home decorating can be a bit of tricky prospect. Even if you know what you like, you still might not have a vision for every room when it’s finished. Thankfully, there are lots of great ideas out there to lighten up any room with just a little bit of craftwork. Here are a couple to get you started.
The bedroom is a gold mine of DIY décor possibilities. You could create your own lampshades from spare fabric or materials, sew a blanket or duvet cover of your own design or, if you’re feeling particularly handy, you could even use a circular saw to create a customised bedhead. If you are doing something more hardcore such as this, just make sure to invest in top-quality power tools made by a reliable manufacturer like Ryobi . If you require a cabinet with a mirror, pick an antique one up from an op shop and decorate it yourself with a fresh coat of paint.
There’s lots to work with in the lounge. Consider sprucing up old chairs or lounges with new fabric. You can even create your own curtains – or curtain details if you don’t want to go the whole hog. Why not build a valance of your own design with a few 1×6” boards and screws? If you have a window box, you could even create some seating around it and decorate with homemade pillows and cushions.
The dining room is where you’ll be entertaining indoors for the most part, so it makes sense to want it looking its best in case of guests! If your table is positioned underneath a light – and many are – consider an antique hanging lantern you can decorate. If your dining table has seen better days, spruce it up with fresh paint or create some table settings of your own to give it character.
Space is always at a premium in the bathroom so you can’t take up too much room. Instead, create more! Get rid of your single-tier towel rack and build a multi-tier one of your own out of an old ladder you’ve spruced up. Or you could keep it small and make a storage container for toothbrushes and other items that see daily use. Install a chalkboard on the back of your cabinet mirror so you can remind yourself of important things in the morning.
Even the outdoor room can benefit from a few decorative touches! Repurpose an old urn to support a tabletop for a small outdoor dining space. Build your own wooden lawn furniture if you live in a predominantly sunny area. Combine an old, large tyre with a bean bag for a self-contained reading nook. Take an old garden bench and combine it with a basic wooden wheelbarrow frame so you can move it around whenever you want. There are so many options if you have an open mind and some DIY skills.
There are lots of different ways you can create décor for your home that bring a truly personal yet stylish touch to any room. These are just a few ideas to get you started. Think about what you like decoratively – what you create will reflect your personality, not to mention your artistic flair!
What are your favourite DIY décor ideas? Share your thoughts below.
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]]>If the style of your home is starting to feel outdated, it might be time for a decorating project. Instead of blowing your savings on a whole house of new furniture, check out some of these budget-friendly ideas to decorate your home.
The beauty of shelving units is being able to stash those items you use frequently, but don’t want left all over the place. Picking shelving units in plain colours allows you to strategically place homewares on each of the shelves. Check out a retailer such as www.superamart.com.au for affordable and practical storage units, then dress them up by adding some colourful knick-knacks, vases or photo frames. You can also use these shelves for storing magazines, music collections or even linen. If the block layout doesn’t work for you, look at laddered designs for something different. Storage doesn’t have to be hidden away, or boring!
Lighting your home doesn’t require expensive chandeliers or pearl light covers. There are plenty of inexpensive ways to add light to your home without going over your budget. Look for bedside lamps, lanterns for the dining table or candles to spread around the house. These are all quick, easy and affordable ways to add some light and colour to your home. Candles can be bought quite cheaply from department stores and there are so many scents, styles and colours available to match with the décor of your room.
If you have an eye for art, this is the perfect time to use it! Colourful artworks, beautiful photos printed on canvas and framed prints can completely change the look of a room. You don’t have to search galleries to find an investment piece for your home. Instead, select your favourite family photo to be printed and mounted, or scout around craft markets for creative transfers on wood and gorgeous sketches. Once you have found something you love, hang it as your statement piece in the room.
Subtle additions of light through reflection can exaggerate the size of the room. Placing a mirror where it catches light (either natural or artificial light) makes the room instantly look bigger. Hallways and entrance ways can benefit from the addition of a mirror (either small or large) to brighten the area up. Mirrors can be bought second-hand from most charity shops, or purchased cheaply from many homewares stores. When hanging or standing a mirror, avoid placing it where the surface reflects outside a window or doorway – it’s considered very bad Feng Shui.
You don’t have to use large pieces of coloured furniture to decorate a room. Small pops of colour through rugs, throws, knick-knacks or vases can make a big difference to any space. You can pick up vases in a range of materials, colours, styles and sizes relatively cheaply. These can be placed on mantelpieces, side tables, dining tables or even on your shelving units. Don’t feel that you need to fill your vases either – let coloured or quirky designs speak for themselves.
Re-decorating areas of your home doesn’t have to be an expensive activity.
What are some of the key pieces you use to decorate with?
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]]>Today Mr C is celebrating his 28th birthday and while he is going to be extremely tired from finishing night shift he will be ecstatic when he sees the present I got him. Take a seat, well more like a chair – a wing chair to be exact. A chair fit for a king.
Meet the Churchill Wing Chair. Isn’t she pretty? Image credit: 1825 Interiors
He has wanted one of these wing chairs for as long as I can remember and each time he thinks about getting one something always comes up, there is always a bill that decides it wants to be paid (seriously how rude!) or a school excursion, new uniforms; it just never seems to end. Every year (besides that one he forgot my birthday) he has always gotten me something beautiful, something so me and it is clear that he knows me so well. Shopping for him on the other hand is so friggin hard!! I know what he likes, I know what he wants but there are always so many variations and I find myself constantly second guessing and decide on something entirely different. What if I get the wrong one? He isn’t a socks and jocks type, he is a pointless contraption kind of guy (well he thinks they are justified).
Churchill wing chair from 1825 interiors
A few years ago we spent a night in a hotel after going to a wedding and there were random chairs around the place and we have loved the idea ever since. We have wanted random chairs but lacked either enough space for them or the money. Now that we have built our house it has numerous places for random seating and I wanted him to be wowed by his gift like I am every year. So I saved the money I earned from working and I got him this magnificent wing chair. What do you think?
Wishing Mr C a very Happy Birthday today. xx
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