(ARA) – ‘Tis the season to be chic on a budget, and with more people planning on spending quality time at home this holiday season, a financially friendly and festive facelift might be just what your house needs.
"With stressors like the tough economy and the holiday hustle-and-bustle, finding the time and money for holiday decorating can by trying," says Lisa LaPorta, lead designer and co-host of HGTV’s Designed to Sell. "There are countless quick and inexpensive do-it-yourself projects that can brighten a home in time for the holidays and beyond.”
Most homeowners will be staying put in 2009, according to the 2008 KILZ brand Roller Report. Those homeowners should consider renovations that will outlive the upcoming holiday fuss. LaPorta offers holiday design tips to brighten homes on a budget this year:
Dining rooms for holiday feasts ... and leftovers.
Applying a fresh coat of primer and paint is the easiest way to transform a space with minimal time and money. Save the season’s rich reds and golds for festive accent pieces like trim, picture frames and pillows. Try painting interior walls with shades of deep taupe, warm grey or soft brown. All are trend-right and make an impact without overwhelming interior design. Regardless of paint color, start with a high quality water-based primer like KILZ Premium. This will block and hide water stains and save time by reducing the number of top coats.
Commanding centerpieces for year-round flair.
Starting with a neutral wall color allows infinite options for a festive centerpiece. Fill a glass vase with an arrangement of rich red and orange flowers, simple twigs and glass beads or your favorite fruit for a powerful statement that costs close to nothing.
Kitchens that will enchant guests without breaking the bank.
The kitchen is the most-used, equipment-heavy and expensive-to-renovate room in the home, but it makes a huge impact on visitors -- which is especially important with the hustle and bustle of dinner parties and family get-togethers this winter. New appliances have the greatest impact on kitchen appeal, but can be costly. If you’re not able to make a large investment during the holidays, achieve a similar effect by updating cabinetry with fresh coats of primer and paint. This, along with new cabinet hardware, will make a kitchen appear brand new in time for the holidays at a fraction of the cost of a full renovation.
Merry accents to make a space pop.
* Use the colors of the season. Store cookies, candies, fruits, ornaments, toys and other treats in large glass jars around your home. Their bright colors and playful nature are perfect for the holiday season.
* Consider scale. Christmas trees are such large statement pieces that smaller decorations can get lost in their shadow. This year many stores are offering oversized ornaments, decorations and flowers that will be sure to pop against your home’s holiday backdrop. This is especially important when decorating outside. Instead of hanging decorations on doors and windows, consider wrapping your entire front door with metallic red paper and a giant bow to make a statement visible from the street.
* Make your ornaments. Visit your local craft store for clear glass Christmas ornaments you can fill with personal items, like family photos, twigs and berries, crystal beads or ribbon.
Visit www.kilz.com for more information.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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