The Fall Cure ended in November, but we've learned a few things from our first AT:Chicago Cure group. One of the best lessons is that decorating doesn't necessarily mean shopping. Although retail therapy is part of the 8-Step Home Cure, some of the biggest transformations were made by simply decluttering and rearranging. In the spirit of the Cure (coming up again for Spring '08), here are our tips for decorating without buying anything new...
How To: Decorate Without Buying Anything New
• Declutter! This is probably the single best thing you can do for your space. Clutter saps energy and detracts from a home's strengths.
• Organize. Make sure that there's a place for everything and everything's in its place. If there's no spot for it, get rid of it.
• Clean. Cleaning floors, windows, and surfaces brings a sense of order and calm to a space.
• Rearrange. After your space has been cleared of clutter and cleaned, spend a few minutes in a room and pay attention to its energy flow. Draw up a floorplan and rearrange your furniture for the best flow.
• Paint. Okay, you do have to buy the paint, but painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce up a space.
• Restore. If you have quality furniture that's a little out of date, upgrade it by restoring it with a fresh coat of paint, a reupholstered seat, or new hardware. Click here for tips on restoring old pieces.
Related Links:
(Re-edited from a post originally published 11.05.07)
Comments (13)
AT Daily Email
Top House Tours
Top Posts
Links
design
more friends
- craftster.org
- idealbite.com
- kfreshdesigns
- designboner
- fototiller
- design-milk
- allthatanda
- decor8
- miapartamento
- silkfeltsoil
- home rejuvenation
- clothes-pin
- sfgirlbybay
- tyson williams
- Happy mundane
- fabulously green
- charles and hudson
- grass roots modern
- ikeahacker
- eatdrinknbmerry
- covetable
- uberreview
- crunch22
- modernflat
- modcottage
- shelterrific
- this old house
- modern-roost
- pallapalla
- anticssoblonde
- elaine vigneault
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
What color green is that? It's so soft and beautiful.
view Sleek's profile
All About Eve has it marked on her Flickr photo: The green is "Via Romana" by Sico and the grey on the left is Sico's "Croquis".
view sarah c's profile
lol... Nice cropping out of the messy left part of my messy counter! :p I didn't think to clean up before taking the pic, this was only to show mom. :)
To add to the info Sarah mentionned, I should say that the finish I chose is called "cashmere". It's really soft but not flat at all.
view Eve in Hochelaga's profile
How do you ladies think it would look in a bathroom with bold white subsway tiles?
I'm looking for a soft green. Bmoore makes a blue called Glass Slipper. I want that idea/affect, but in green.
view Sleek's profile
So sad that the Cure is over, but I am so happy to be living in my transformed apartment - and I love my newfound outlook on all things "home". It was great being able to bounce ideas and opinions off of everyone in the group and to see and be inspired by everyone's great efforts. I am now thinking about the tasks that are left on my long-term to-do list and I know that I will be looking forward to the Spring Cure, too. Maybe then I will be ready for just a 1 room remedy, we shall see. It was funny coming home from work tonight and not thinking about the evening's work at home. I actually went to the gym for the first time in weeks! Now I plan to spend the evening relaxing, reading, and getting to bed at a decent hour.
Thanks Chicago Cure group! Amazing work everyone, you all inspired and impressed me more than you might know! :)
view STLcolleen's profile
Sleek, I think it's a good choice, make sure to take pics and show us!
view Eve in Hochelaga's profile
I love your cabinets...do you know where they are from and the style/color. Beautiful home!
view ahatton's profile
That green is "MS Excel Light Green". Just kidding! It does look a lot like Eddie Bauer's "Celadon" and is just the color I selected for my kitchen walls. (NOTE: I just found this color, and the EB Celadon, on the same site, and Via Romana appears to have more yellow in it.)
But you have to remember, the thing about seeing a color on your video screen (whether TV or monitor) is that it's basically a lit image. What you see on the wall is going to look darker, or at least, not as bright as what you see on the screen.
view kuroneko's profile
Sleek--
Just say no to green bathrooms.
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
We should never rule out a color for any particular room. Everytime I think, "Oh, never N$ color in B$ room" I soon see an example using that color that looks great.
view kuroneko's profile
Love that color. You should have someone change the swing on your fridge door to the other side....it's pretty easy to do.
view ohjodi's profile
"We" might not want to, but *I* have never, ever seen a green-based color in a bathroom that works. Just imho.
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
Everyone's probably onto biggerandbetter posts so in hopes someone will read this - my problem with #2 - I have lots of things that have no place because I have no furniture! That is my main problem - I have no bookshelves, no place for office supplies/filing cabinet - I have things I cannot throw away, but no where to put them!
Anyway - that's just been bothering me as I try to get rid of all my crap.
view elizabeth in AL's profile