Are you looking for tips and tricks on how to spruce up your home at little cost and effort? I’d love to introduce you to Jenna. She has beautiful design ideas and great advice on how to inspire you with your home!! Did I mention….she’s our newest contributor on Bargain Hoot. I’m so excited!! That means you’ll be seeing more of her around here!! Welcome Jenna!!
I want to start by saying that I am thrilled to be here and so flattered that Rene reached out to me to participate on her blog. I have been blogging for a few years as a side hobby. My full time jobs are being a mom and marketer for a HIT company. I caught the design bug when I was a newlywed and we moved into our first apartment. My husband was in pharmacy school full-time so we were on a budget and I learned quickly that it takes some creativity, DIY and unexpected resources to make a place feel like home.
The design bug never left and I’ve had the opportunity to help friends and family design spaces in their homes over the years. Our homes are a place where we should feel comfortable, inspired and welcoming to others. My design philosophy is centered around personalizing your home for your family without a huge price- tag. So to get us started I want to share a few design tips and favorites from my home and family.
1. Always have a plan I can’t tell you how many times I got excited about an item, purchased it, only to find out it didn’t really fit in with where I wanted a design to go. Always have a plan when you are setting out to design a space. A mood board or inspiration board can keep you on track to accomplish the look you want and keep you within a budget. I always like to start my projects with a blueprint like the one below.
2. Take the time to find the right design It’s easy to pick out a matching dining room or living room set to get the furniture you need quickly. But the fun in personalizing a space is making it unique and your own. Take the time to find pieces that create an eclectic look. When we remodeled our dining room this spring I spent many hours looking for the perfect furniture, accessories and build projects to make this space our own. And I couldn’t be more pleased with the results; a highly-customized room that was easy on our pocket book.
3. Don’t be afraid of DIY
I never considered myself a creative person before I started designing and I certainly wasn’t one to take on a building or sewing project. But today there are so many helpful resources and sites that can walk you through how to successfully execute a project. And doing so can save you a lot of money! I had never worked with tools before but with the help of my husband we were able to create our first dining room table for about $60.
Likewise I had never used a sewing machine before but when I was inspired by a great fabric I figured out how to use some basic techniques to create a great pair of curtains.
4. Small updates can go a long way You don’t have to have to redesign a whole new room or spend a fortune to refresh your home. Small and fun accessories can change the entire look and feel of a room. For about $100 I was able to take our bedroom from Spring to Winter with a just a few fun updates.
I hope you find some of these tricks helpful and inspiring for you! I look forward to sharing many more and in the meantime I invite you to check out my blog The Suburban Urbanist and learn some more about me. Blessings friends!
Jenna, I’m dreaming of a banquette myself… LOOOOVE yours! How is the round table working out for you? We have a round table, but I was thinking I would have to switch it out with a rectangular one… maybe not?
g i n a at CampClem