Redbook© article by Jennifer Vishnevsky
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1) Add a touch of color to your stairs
Staircase remodeling can cost a lot, and this trick will save you money if you do it yourself. Sarah Logan, editor of The Bunny Hub, recommends that you paint your staircase so that it looks like it has a carpet runner. “This gives you the cozy look and feel of a carpet, without the maintenance of owning a carpet,” she says.
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2) Focus on those fixtures
Upgrading a room doesn’t have to break the budget. “Without undergoing a major renovation or gut job, you can give your kitchen and bathroom a facelift by replacing handles and knobs,” says Bonnie Heatzig of The Luxury Real Estate Authority. “You can find knobs at places like Anthropologie or an antique store to add character and invoke your personality into your home.”
Consider replacing light fixtures to change the vibe of the room. They’re also pretty easy to install. “Think chandeliers in an entry foyer or over the dining table or new lighting over the bathroom vanity,” says Heatzig.
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3) Update your switch plates
It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to update a room. “For each space, I typically pick a finish to mimic,” says Leann Greto, head of product development/merchandising at Garrett Wade. “For example, I swapped all of my kitchen switch plates for stainless to match my appliances and give the room a more cohesive look. If you have a bit more time you can create your own custom plate with an easy decoupage method.”
Start by photocopying or printing out a textile in your room. It could be embroidery on a pillow or a stripe or texture from a window treatment. Once printed, cut the paper about 1/3 inch larger than the plate all around, brush the front of the plate in varnish, press paper to the plate, fold over the edges to the back and trim corners. Use a sharp knife to slice the switch hole open and again carefully fold to the back, folding over the edges to the back and then just again brushing on the varnish on the back of the plate to secure the paper. Allow to fully dry before securing to your wall.
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5) Spruce up your storage
Liz Jeneault, vice president of marketing at Faveable, recently upgraded her home by adding trendy storage ottomans to her living room and daughter’s room. “I feel it’s something that every woman and mom should try,” she says. Not only do storage ottomans add an aspect of elegance to your living space, but they’re also great for storing toys, blankets, magazines, and other items that end up getting tossed around.
“If I need to pick up my living room in a hurry because a friend is making a surprise visit, I just simply throw my toddler’s toys and other items in the storage ottoman and then the room looks perfectly clean,” she says. Having a storage ottoman is a simple home improvement trick that can help make things just a little bit easier on women and moms everywhere.
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10) Frame a bathroom mirror
If you have a boring mirror, this is a great way to make it one of a kind, according to ProTip resident handyman and pro Rob Shaw. You’ll need a chop saw, construction adhesive, and eye protection. First, choose a trim that would look amazing around the mirror edges. Measure the dimensions of your mirror, noting the longest measurements from corner to corner.
Set the chop saw’s table to a 45 degree angle and cut. Be mindful that you will need to move the table to -45 degrees for the next cut, you should end up with a 45 and -45 cut on each piece for perfectly joined corners. Size up your pieces before applying adhesive and paint, and decorate accordingly. Then apply construction adhesive to the back of trim pieces and use masking tape to hold them in place starting low and finishing with your top piece last.
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