Low Cost Home Makeovers - 11 handy tips. Number 4. Style.

I was recently invited to Grand Designs Live in Birmingham, to talk about home makeovers and how to keep costs down, whether you're selling your home or want to enjoy living in it. To follow is a summary of the suggestions I made, with lots of 'Before' and 'After' photos as illustrations.

STYLE - can you work with the current style, or do you need to change it?
•Use the opportunity to change if budget allows - it's always good to update at least a few pieces of furniture for example
•Don’t follow fashion too closely, it will soon appear dated
•Ensure the style suits the house. You can mix old and new, but very carefully
 If the makeover is for selling. purposes..
•Use as many existing furnishings as you can, in order to keep the budget down

Before - This bank of wardrobes was too overpowering

After - Just moving the furniture around made all the difference

Click here to see all the above house

Before - the budget was low, so we just needed to pull the style together

After - this was more in keeping with the whole house

 CLICK HERE to see all the above house

Exterior of house below

Before - this wasn't the right style for the above house, especially for the second bedroom

After - so, on a low budget, we just calmed it down to appeal to adults

CLICK HERE to see all the above house

Before - The style of these wardrobes was too outdated

After - so we removed them and borrowed furniture from another bedroom

CLICK HERE to see all the above house

Before - this room was dressed in a basic style that didn't suit the house

After - this was much more in keeping

CLICK HERE to see all the above house

Next - ACCESSORIES - where do you add the finishing touches and how far do you go?