Ten Ways To Add Style For Under $100

It's not hard to add style or freshen up your home even if you're on a budget. Just like with your wardrobe, you can refresh your style with a new accessory, adding color, and mixing things up a bit.

1. Freshen up with a pattern. You can do this with draperies, an ottoman, pillows, accessories, and so much more.  Do you have solid colors? Bring in florals, stripes, and prints. Got stripes? Add a vine pattern. A rule of thumb in pattern matching is to watch the scale; mix a small pattern with the large and vice versa instead of keeping everything the same size. Keep the colors similar to make it easy or use complementary colors - opposites on the color wheel - for drama.

2. Bring in a new accessory in a different color or shape and make it a focal point. Blue and white is classic and timeless. Most discount stores have bowls, candlesticks and canisters for under $25. It will truly make a statement and add a bit of glamour. How about a fabulous mercury glass vase? Take a look at Target, HomeGoods, and Marshalls for pieces under $20. Come check out our San Diego showroom. 

3. Update a light fixture. If you can't stand what you have - bath bar fixtures are easy to DIY -  and refinishing with spray paint - as in an old brass chandelier transformed to bold red -  is not a good option, you can find nice fixtures in any style at www.LampsPlus.com

4. Bring in some new pillows.  This alone could completely change the look of your living room or bedroom. Almost all of the big-box stores have great selections for  $17-$25 each. I went shopping with my client at IKEA and found fabulous options for under $15. You can purchase just the pillow cover and use the fill that you already have.

5. Add to throw to your bed, sofa, or your favorite lounge chair. For about $25, a wonderful textured throw will keep you cozy and make a chair or bed more inviting. I found some fabulous faux furs at www.Amazon.com and know that they'll make a great gift.

6. Paint an accent wall or a piece of furniture in a new color. You can buy 'oops' paint for five dollars a gallon at Home Depot. Whether you already have the chair, nightstand, or find from a garage sale, changing just one piece will make a style statement.  

7. Set your dining table. Having your favorite dishes on display will make you feel wonderful. Mix them up for a creative and personal style. Place seasonal greens or findings – like acorns, pine boughs, leaves or pinecones - in a bowl or tray in the center. Add a candle or two and you'll create a beautiful display. 

8. Add candles to table tops, your credenza, the mantle and even bookshelves. There's just something about a candle that provides terrific ambiance. Use flameless candles since they don't need a candleholder, they're safe, and the realistic waxes look good by themselves. There always seem to be good options at www.Amazon.com.

9. Bring in something metallic.  I love mercury glass, and the new votive holders in my shop are under $5. Pillows with beading are a fabulous way to add silver or gold and be festive for the holidays. One of my favorite ways to add sparkle is with a bowl full of silver or gold ornaments. For about $6 you can get a pack at a craft store like Michaels. Mix in potpourri, greenery, to create a pleasing and seasonal display.

10.  Rearranging your furniture is a freebie. Reposition the largest piece of furniture first work in your other pieces. That alone should make a big difference in how your room feels. Even swapping tables or nightstand from living room to bedroom and vice versa can create a totally different style.

Wallpaper is always in style

Whether you want to cover a wall, a piece of furniture, your cabinets or even stair risers, wallpaper is always in style. From Renaissance time where decorative wood stamping was popular, through the reign of Queen Anne where wallpaper was so popular it was taxed, to the modern colors and surfaces of today, wall coverings are an easy and dramatic method of adding color, pattern and texture to interior walls. 

I often scour the paint shops and design showrooms for cast off wallpapers since there are so many great ways to use them. In a client's 100 year old home in NY, covering the stair risers was the perfect way to update and repair them without putting in a new staircase.














An old bookcase or shelves can get a fabulous facelift in hours by adding wallpaper to the back.  My first apartment in NYC had ugly painted plywood shelves, likely done by another tenant. A few hours of labor and I had a work of art. 


If you want to accent cabinets or a door, consider highlighting the panel with a pretty pattern.   You can even transform a flat no-panel door using architectural wallpaper.




Using wallpaper as wainscoting makes a great statement in an entry or stairway. You can add a rail molding if you like, and even add another pattern above it.











If you're using it on the walls, consider the following types and patterns:

Entryway: If cleaning is a challenge for kids and pets,  non-wovens (made of synthetic and paper fibers)  and vinyls (plastic laminated to fabric or paper backing) are good choices.  If not, grasscloth (Real grass woven onto paper or fabric) is elegant and beautiful.  Here a bold pattern and lots of architectural detail can be striking.  This space sets the tone for the rest of the house so you can be creative too.

Dining: Almost any type of paper (the original which can also come coated with this vinyl or acrylic film for durability) works unless you dine often with children and your chairs are close to the walls! I love using it above a chair rail since it creates a fabulous design element.  Traditional wallpapers work well in classic homes, and smaller scales work well so they don't overwhelm. Embossed papers add texture and pattern and are great for uneven wall surfaces.

Kitchen: Vinyl is more durable than paper and stands up to moisture and cleaning. Solids and neutrals are excellent choices so they add detail but don't detract from cabinetry and tile choices.

Bathrooms: Again, a vinyl or non-woven is a good choice for moist areas. Using a fan is still a great option. Bolder patterns are OK even in a small space since it won't seem overwhelming and can even make the space seem larger.

Bedroom: Subtle and neutral are best choices for a restful space. Grasscloth has nice options and flocked and embossed wallpaper is serene and soft.