For most Americans, the cold, dark winter months can be bleak and dreary. While braving the snow, ice and bone-chilling cold is often necessary, many prefer to remain indoors. But night after night of board games and movies can seem dull. Why not begin an easy do-it-yourself home renovation project that'll not only keep you occupied but also keep you warm? While many homeowners and renters focus on updating and redesigning the areas of your home that guests see, we often overlook our bedrooms. Take a look at your home's bedrooms; when was the last time they were updated? Now is the perfect opportunity to give your bedrooms a makeover without breaking your budget.
Create a New Layout
Before you open your wallet or run to the store, take time to evaluate the bedrooms in your home. Measure the dimensions of the rooms themselves, as well as each individual piece of furniture in each room. A quick and easy way to make your room feel like you've redecorated is to simply rearrange the furniture in your room. Not only will moving around your furniture motivate you to clean and organize your belongings (or keep your children busy), but also this can be completed for free!
Tip: Before struggling with large furniture pieces, map out the dimensions of the room on a piece of paper. Cut out individual pieces to represent the bed, dresser, desks, cabinets and other items. Mix and match various layouts on paper first so you won't waste time and risk injury by shoving heavy items back and forth.
Use Your Imagination
As a child, you probably drew on your walls and flooring any chance you got. Now is the time to tune into childhood tendencies! Completely redecorating your bedroom walls is not only cost efficient but also fun and kid-friendly. When coloring your walls, you have a variety of options. While painting any room may cause too much inconvenience or require much effort, applying wallpaper is an easier, faster solution and will produce nearly the same results. Encourage your entire home to participate in this step of redesigning. In order to avoid injuries or disasters, children should be supervised when using paint or box cutters.
Tip: The idea of sanding or stripping walls of any or multiple rooms in your home may seem like a daunting task. An even easier solution is to simply decorate the walls with what you love. Show off what you do with your free time! Hang photography, posters, awards, homemade art and other odds and ends to create a truly, unique look.
Don't Forget the Home Hardware
After all the cleaning, moving, painting and removing, you're probably ready to wipe your brow and call it a day. But your bedroom's makeover is not quite complete yet. Replacing cabinet handles and other small knobs and pulls is the last and easiest step that will accent the bedroom's look. Bedroom bureaus, dressers, night stands, tables and closets all need to be appropriately updated. Choose a metal, finish, size and shape that match the look of the room.
For master and guest bedrooms, a dark metal such as bronze, copper or iron. Ornate weathered or rustic drawer handles accent both dark and light furniture pieces. Conversely, simple satin chrome, brass or stainless steel drawer pulls are ideal for bedroom closets, nightstands and tables.
Tip: Before you unscrew any cabinet knobs, be sure you have the appropriate mounting hardware. Typical mounting kits include templates with a variety of options so you will find the best location for any sized handle, knob or pull. Use a pencil (instead of permanent markers or pens) to demark where you plan to install the new hardware. Additionally, professionally designed mounting kits include drill bits guaranteed to work for any cabinet or drawer.
