How far can $2,000 go toward decorating your new home? Much further than you might think.
While everyone wants an unlimited budget, it’s not always realistic. When working with a small budget, the trick is to focus on one room.
A rich cherry floor in the dining room. Marble tiles in the shower stall. A state-of-the-art dishwasher and high-arching faucet in the kitchen.
If you’re buying a home through a builder, look for ways to move up a level in the upgrade packages on materials such as cabinetry, floors, tile and appliances. When decorating on your own, splurge on a few key products that will make the space pop.
“We get a lot of people that only have a small budget and want to upgrade in a few areas of the home,” said Katie Campbell, sales manager with R. Franczak & Associates, a condominium builder with developments in the northwest suburbs. “One idea is to upgrade kitchen cabinetry with a furniture look and a mocha finish on top for about $1,000.”
Glass doors also can boost your kitchen cabinetry design, adding texture and helping to reflect light. The cost to add glass is about $200 per cabinet, Campbell said. This type of upgrade can be effective even in one spot, such as the cabinets above an island.
When selecting appliances, some builders offer upgrades that will add appliances with stainless steel fronts and more specialized features for $2,000 or less. Along with a more stylized look, you’ll get a range with higher BTUs or a dishwasher with additional washing cycles.
When decorating other rooms, try moving away from oak and maple toward deeper wood tones. As furniture trends have moved toward darker woods and warmer finishes, these products are more readily available in cabinetry, floors and other household products, said Gray Uhl, director of design for American Standard.
A furniture-styled vanity in an espresso finish is one option for updating a bathroom. Add a trendy faucet and a decorative mirror or medicine cabinet and it’s easy to stay within a $2,000 budget.
Those same dark colors also translate well to the floor, but more exotic woods can quickly eat away at a $2,000 budget. The solution is to confine your enthusiasm to one room or use the pricier materials as accent pieces.
If you entertain frequently, splurge on a hand-scraped walnut floor for the dining room.
Or outline the perimeter of the room with a few rows of a rich mahogany wood. In a bathroom, you can bring in marble to accent a floor that would otherwise be outfitted with inexpensive tile. A pattern in front of the vanity would help showcase the sink area and set off the natural stone. For continuity, use the same marble on the wall above the sink.
Laminate or vinyl flooring is another option for those on a tight budget. A hand-scraped oak floor in laminate gives the look of solid wood at a lower price point. “One of the most overlooked areas to upgrade is the floor,” said Adam Vester, design manager for the Pergo flooring company. “Because it is such a large surface it makes such a big impact when you change it out.”
Once you’ve selected the big products to upgrade, it’s time to add in a few finishing touches. Furniture, bedding, throw pillows and lamps are all great additions that can be found at discount prices in resale shops and online sites, said Arica Hilton, an interior designer and owner of Fine Arts & Design in Chicago. “You can also go into designer showrooms, like the Merchandise Mart, and find great deals during one of their sample sales.”
As you peruse the product offerings, don’t forget some basic redecorating projects. There’s nothing like a coat of paint and some new towels and accessories to really dress up a space.
Painting can take many forms, from a sky blue color in a bathroom to a cream textured plaster look in the foyer. Some builders will even forgo the traditional “builder white” in every room if you want a touch of sage, caramel or cranberry.
There are many ways to update your space for $2,000 or less. Focus on one room at a time and get ready to mix and match products to get what you want.
