No-Money Home Makeover IdeasReal Simple

No-Money Home Makeover Ideas
Real Simple

It can be really frustrating to want to make a significant change to your home decor without the funds to buy a new piece or hire help, but very often the most significant changes require no or very little outlay. Real Simple is a great resource for this kind of inspiration, as we can see from this beautifully photographed gallery.

Clockwise from top left: Make a headboard by draping a pretty quilt from your bed frame; add color to your furniture by painting just the legs of a chair or table; organize napkins for a dinner party (or everyday!) by using bracelets as napkin rings; and hide cords by leaning artwork against the walls.

There's a lot more where that came from, so make sure to head over to Real Simple for the rest.

• No-Money Home Makeover Ideas on Real Simple

Comments (8)

a) I think art on the floor looks like it just hasn't been hung yet

b) I love Real Simple.

posted by beanorama on April 9th 2009 at 6:50pm
view beanorama's profile

The quilt over the headboard is cute and easy. I think Martha Stewart Living had a similar idea a while back, but they used a cute striped Dash and Albert (http://www.dashandalbert.com) throw rug and added fabric ties on the sides to secure it to the verticle posts on the headboard.

posted by robinette on April 9th 2009 at 7:38pm
view robinette's profile

Art on the floor is a great way to hide cords... that is exactly what I do and I think it makes a dramatic statement. Art isn't meant to be confined to the limitations of wall-hanging-at-eye-level!

posted by ilovebc on April 9th 2009 at 9:39pm
view ilovebc's profile

I like the quilt idea- too bad I have an arched bed frame (that can really hurt!) I need more ideas of how to give the proper focus to all the beautiful handmade quilts that my grandmother has made for me...

posted by Nolann on April 9th 2009 at 10:43pm
view Nolann's profile

Artwork to hide ugly cords...yes! that's what I do too...

i also regard it as a 'casual' way of displaying art

posted by Shela on April 10th 2009 at 12:11am
view Shela's profile

I had put my artwork on the floor simply because I couldn't figure out where it would look best on the wall. Then I thought, hey it looks pretty good on the floor... then my husband said, when are you going to hang those things!!!

I shouldn't have had to wait for Real Simple to tell me this was OKAY! Point... don't second guess your ideas! If YOU like it, then it's good!

posted by sfteri on April 10th 2009 at 10:47am
view sfteri's profile

Those painted legs are kinda fun. I don't think it's anything I'd do, but the chair looks like it has yellow tights on.

posted by slowdown on April 10th 2009 at 2:47pm
view slowdown's profile

Can anyone source the bed in the first photo? It's absolutely gorgeous.

posted by freneticfloetry on April 13th 2009 at 10:59am
view freneticfloetry's profile