As much as you’d want to shop for new pieces to give your home a new look, you are never ready with the cash to spend for it, especially if you’re into antiques. However, believe it or not, you can find something you already have that you can “antique-ate”.

A wooden table you have in your house for some time now may not be aged enough to be considered antique but it is aged enough to be given a new look. As it may have been inevitably bashed anyway, you can give it another good whacking and set it off for a makeover. Pick a target and use anything hard to hit it (just make sure you won’t hurt yourself in the process). After you’ve whacked it, sand off any splinters or any sharp edges your whacking has left. Then, paint the cracks with dark wood stain using a fine artist brush. After it dries, coat it with varnish of your choice. Voila! Instant antique piece that did not cost you anything (except maybe a sore arm, if you’re not careful!).

Here are some profiles of the kinds of tiles you might want to get for your home:

Natural stone – Natural stone tiles give a beautiful finish.

Limestone – a soft, sedimentary stone formed over millennia from shells and bones settling on the sea bed – is a classic finish for period hallways. Popular with designers, it comes in a variety of shades from parchment to a soft honey colour. Travertine has a more variegated appearance, and is also available in a variety of forms, including polished, honed and tumbled.

While you think that installing new flooring in your home is difficult, there are a variety of tools you can use to put new flooring in just one weekend. For example, if you are a fan of wood floors yet you are on a budget, you can try the wood laminate. Wood laminate is readily available in your home store and installing it is not that hard.

On the other hand, painting is also one thing you can do. Learn the basics of house painting and do it to your own home. And while you’re at it, experiment with colors and do away with boring hues. A gallon or two of paint is probably the only thing you’ll spend on, while hiring someone to paint for you will be more expensive.

(Taken from http://seotraffictips.blogspot.com/2008/01/house-renovation-plans-that-are-easy.html)

Fancying for some pieces of fabulous artwork but don’t have the money to buy it just yet? Check your linen drawers. You might just find something there.

Materials:

• 18” x 18” (or larger) cloth table napkin/s
• 14” x 14” wood frame (used for canvas paintings)
• Large wire stapler

How to make it:

• Make sure that linen napkin is free of wrinkles and creases. Iron out first if possible.
• Position the napkin with the wrong side up on a flat surface.
• Place the wood frame on top, right at the center of the napkin.
• Fold one corner up into a “hospital corner” (one end tucked in to create a 45-degree fold); staple fold onto the frame to secure.
• Repeat the same procedure on the opposite diagonal side. Make sure that napkin is tightly stretched.
• Repeat procedure for the remaining sides.
• Secure the fabric wrapped on all four sides of the frame by stapling it (again, make sure the napkin is properly stretched!).

Tip:
You can also do this to other fabrics that you find lying idly around your house. Make sure to cut them into sizes that will fit standard wood frames.

(Taken from Real Living magazine, Volume 5, Number 6)

1. Wall shelves – great for maximizing vertical space. Use your wall space from the floor to the ceiling.

2. Door storage – there is a variety to choose from: whether shelves or racks, don’t hesitate to hook space savers at the back of your doors.

3. Trunks – Trunks are big and they’re spacious inside: perfect for storing linen or old books and toys. You don’t have to worry about the space it occupies for it can double as a coffee table or as a mini bench.

4. Ottomans – are very much like trunks, only the other way around. They’re initially made for seating or as foot rests but they do have space inside that can hold stuff as well.

1. Money – How much are you willing to spend on kitchen renovation. Money is important and so is our budget. Know the limits of your budget and how much you are willing to spend for your dream kitchen renovation project, for a better estimation of renovation plans and materials that would best suit your budget.

2. Time – How much time are you willing to spend on the project will you still be able to go about on your work and other personal stuff. Create an attainable schedule which comfortable and beneficial to you and your project.

3. Design – Do a research on designs and layout that you would like to incorporate on your kitchen renovation project and work out a plan

4. Consultation – Consult a Interior Designer to work out you ideas and design including the time and budget of the project.

There is wisdom in getting your home inspected every year or so, which identifies and detects problems before they become worse. Life in a home is a never ending race against decay which starts from the home is constructed till before it’s occupants decide to move on, some homes Read more

Solar power is quickly becoming one of the easiest way to retro-fit existing homes onto the green revolution of today. They can come in customized forms with panels specifically designed to maximize your roof or in kit forms that are easy enough for the DIY worker to install. The technology has advanced to the point that the cost of solar panels have gotten down to a level where they can compete with grid-supplied power, without the bill of course. They can easily be installed onto roofs with supporting hardware that comes complete with all the parts needed for an effective installation. Read more

A DIY warrior is as good as his tools and this is true for it may not only be your work on the line but the safety of everybody within the home. Cheaper isn’t always better so strike a balance between economy and quality so you get the best value for your money.
A ladder is one of the most used tool in the house so invest in a sturdy one with proper rungs and accessories available to maximize use and safety of course. READ all safety labels and warnings on tools, equipment and materials so you don;t get injured and it would also be a very good idea to have a well stocked medicine cabinet or first aid kit within reach.

Do you want to update your home but is strapped for cash? Here’s some inexpensive ways to change the look and style of your rooms:
1.Change your curtains, drapes or slipcovers. A very inexpensive way to change your room’s look is to change and coordinate the colors, patterns and fabric of your room. You can go from country to modern simply by changing your curtains or covers from flower prints to solid neutrals.
2.Choose one big item to replace. You don’t have to throw out everything in the room. Just replacing one item that will serve as a focal point, such as the couch or the bedframe can change your room’s look.
3.Paint your walls. Choose a different shade for your room, but choose a color that will still be compatible with the colors of the furniture and accents. Or, you can just change the color of one wall and make it a theme wall.

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