Low Cost Home Makeovers - 11 handy tips. Number 5. Accessories.

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 some 'Before' and 'After' photos as illustrations.

ACCESSORIES - where do you add the finishing touches, and how far should you go?
• Use accessories to draw attention to focal points
• Accessorise with items that are meaningful whenever possible, for example, choose a piece of art that you all like, so it feels special when you look at it
• Use what you already have, then fill the gaps
• Be organised when shopping, know what spaces you are trying to fill, including measurements, and stick to your list!
If the makeover is for selling purposes...
• Buy low cost high impact accessories - larger items have more impact than several small ones
• Consider the photo angles your Estate Agent will use, and place accessories accordingly

Before - this room had a student-feel to it, but was in a beautiful house

 

After - we only added a headboard, valence, cushions and two ornaments



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Before - the homeowners already knew the colours they wanted...

 

After - so we finished it off for them!

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Before - an outdated bathroom

 

After - a change in paint colour and some accessories brought it up to date

 

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Next - INCREASED VALUE - how important is is that your makeover increases the value of your home?