By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Moving into a new house is a costly, yet exciting adventure. After shelling out money for down payments, closing costs, rental deposits, utility transfers, and a moving company to move your stuff from one location to another, there may be little money left for investing in new furniture. If you find yourself in a position where the pieces you were in love with in your old home do not work so well in your new place, push up your sleeves and use the following DIY tricks to give your furniture a whole new look!Refinishing Wood Pieces
Sometimes all an old piece of wood furniture needs is a fresh coat of paint or stain to make it look new and fresh again. Changing the color of a piece of wood furniture is easy to do during a free afternoon and will easily transform it into a piece that will blend into the style of your new home. For a modern and contemporary look, give it a bright or white finish. If you are going from a modern home to something that is older and classic, consider warm and dark colors. You can also distress the paint job and accent it with hints of color to achieve a shabby chic appearance.
TLC for Upholstered Furniture
Do you own a couch that feels like you are sitting on a cloud when you kick up your feet to watch TV, but the fabric has seen better days? If this sounds familiar, you may be able to save this precious piece of furniture. Give it a good scrub down with upholstery cleaner and a soft bristled brush or arrange for a cleaning company to come over and do the dirty work for you. If there are rips or tears in the fabric, you may be able to flip the cushions over, mend the rips with a special needle and thread, or reupholster it with new fabric from your local fabric store. Reupholstering furniture can be tricky to do, but there are several videos on YouTube that can walk you through the process. Learning how to repair your own furniture can save you hundreds of dollars.
Experiment with Placement
There is no hard and fast rule that a specific piece of furniture is supposed to be in a specific room, unless it is a bed or kitchen table. If you find that a certain end table, cabinet, or bookshelf is not working in a room in your new space, move it into another room where it will work. When you move into a new home, you will probably find that the dimensions are different, and that furniture arrangements that previously worked will not work quite the same in your new space. Experiment with the furniture you own and see if you can come up with all new arrangements that you love.
The Finishing Touches
Home decorating is a fine art and you can have a lot of fun giving your new place the ambiance you desire with some creativity. Highlight architectural details, color palettes, window views, and other features by accessorizing each room the right way. Look for art, window treatments, vases, rugs, pillows, and knick-knacks that pull the room together and make your existing furniture blend in. If your decorating budget is tight, consider sewing your own curtains and finding decorations at your local thrift store that can be upcycled with paint and embellishments.
Moving into a new home does not mean that you have to part ways with your beloved furnishings and decorations. You can use your DIY skills to give your pieces a makeover and save a lot of money in the process. Be creative with the furniture placement and find fabrics, paint colors, and accessories that show off your true style and showcase the beauty of your new place.
