his month, I thought I’d share my ‘three Rs’ for you to remain a decorating diva even though you feel more like a recessionista. Spending lavishly—so passé! I believe this is the year that you should open yourself up to do-it-yourself projects, make your space look fabulous and distract yourself from the doom and gloom on CNN. A little elbow grease and some creativity really can help you create a well furnished and decorated space and MIGHT even be something the whole family can get involved in.

Re-Purpose
We want to be as frugal as possible so instead of looking for bargains, look around the house and see what you have in the basement (or your neighbours’ and friends’ basements). Instead of letting those pieces collect dust, take a good hard look at the quality of what’s around and think about how you can revamp them.

For example, an old dresser that no longer fits your décor scheme can be brought back from the dead and given a fresh coat of paint and some new handles to make it new again.  As with any wood furniture, be sure to give them a good sanding and a prime before painting. You will see how different a wood piece can look within an afternoon. Look through magazines and online to find what colours are on-trend this season, and take a sample into the hardware store and get a small can of paint for next to nothing.

I also suggest re-purposing pieces and moving them from their original spot, to throw your guests off.  Something that might not suit your bedroom such as an old side table can always be transferred to the spare bedroom and look good as new.

While you’re at it, find some classic and unloved lamps and take a can of spray paint to them. A new shade might also be all that is needed, either new from the store or custom made with remnant fabric and details. In 20 minutes you can give the base a new look. Whether you tell your guests where you got it or not, that’s up to you.

Re-Configure
Many people live in their homes for years and never think of changing the placement of their furniture. Moving furniture and creating new seating arrangements in your living room will really go a long way in giving you a fresh look for your space, not to mention a good work out! One thing I notice constantly in people’s homes is that furniture is always placed against the walls of a room. Try taking things away from the perimeter of your space and make more cosy looking seating arrangements. The room can look larger and more intimate with that one easy change.  

Taking artwork from different places around your home and exchanging it for other pieces will also do the trick in re-vamping a boring space. If you have lived with a certain piece of artwork in the same place for years, you might not notice it anymore.

Like your art, try moving furniture pieces from other areas of your home to another. Maybe you have a chair in the living room nobody sits in, move it to your bedroom and create a new seating area for reading.

Re-Sale
As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! So go out there and see what pieces you can find in vintage stores and garage sales. Plan a Saturday excursion with your friends, get a coffee and venture out and explore what your neighbours have been keeping behind closed doors.

Some neighbourhoods are better than others; I suggest venturing out to older, more established neighbourhoods. You’re more likely to find fabulous vintage furniture and quality antiques. If you’re really lucky you might find an estate sale in one of those neighbourhoods—sometimes a whole household might be up for grabs and you never know what treasures are no longer needed.

Now, before you load up your car with old coffee mugs and cross-country skis, try to stay focused and look for well-made, wood pieces. Stay away from particleboard or other such cheap products. The more well-made the piece is, the longer it will last you.  The wood pieces will also take paint better when you’re ready to give them a new look.

One thing I must say is to not overlook pieces that might be in rough condition. Look at a piece for what it can be rather than for what it is. There are so many things that can be done, like re-painting, re-staining, or re-upholstering. If the piece is made of solid materials and has good joinery it will be worth getting up early on the weekend for.

If you’re going to take the time to use the three Rs, be sure to take your time, don’t buy impulsively and focus on quality materials. You are trying to be frugal with your spending and you won’t be saving any money if you have throw something out in a month. And remember, if an item is marked with a $50 price tag, offer them $20! NL