Living Room Decorating Ideas Under $100!
I love how changing 3 things in a room can make such a big difference – yeah, just THREE. An American friend of mine, Tina Fussell from the Traveling Mama blog, is now living up in Denmark and loves to do DIY projects and to decorate on a budget. Recently she wrote in with three quick changes that she made to her living room that I think made a pretty big impact — all for under $100!
BEFORE (below)
AFTER (below)
“This cabinet was just washed out and too country for our home here in Denmark. This was one of the few pieces I brought from the States, so I was in a near panic about painting it because it was going to be hard to replace a solid wood piece, but I love the result! I’m so glad I didn’t let fear stand in the way!”
Before (above)
Tina also decided to change up something else in the space, “I didn’t like all the little things on the side tables in our living room and it just didn’t feel pulled together.” So this is what she did…
After (below), “By pulling the tables to the center, we have a place to prop up our feet, but also somewhere my little guys can race their cars!” But that’s not all, Tina decided to change another element in the room…
Before (below),”This wall just felt a bit blank and out of place. The chair was too big for this room and couldn’t recline the way it was suppose to. The table was full of too many little messy things…”
After (below),”I created a new piece of art and exchanged the chair for one that was a better scale. Shopping in my own home, buying a can of paint and a canvas, and moving things about gave me a mini room makeover for less than $100!”
What a great job Tina, thank you for sharing this! What a difference shopping at home and a fresh can of paint can make!
(images: tina fussell)
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June 19th, 2012 at 3:44pm
Fabulous job. Painting makes a huge difference and even I am scared of it sometimes because it seems like such a large task. I really like the self made art, too.
Tina Ramchandani´s last [type] ..Snapshots of my Home Office
June 19th, 2012 at 3:48pm
Great new cupboard she made out of the wooden piece!
desiree – vosgesparis´s last [type] ..Lets talk Concrete and Stone!
June 19th, 2012 at 3:59pm
Amazing job! everything look perfect. Thanks for sharing, have a lovely day! xo
June 19th, 2012 at 4:20pm
I love simple home and room makeovers! The power of paint!! Thanks for sharing!
Ashley {GirlyObsessions}´s last [type] ..A chat with Sylvia Day, author of Bared to You. (Podcast + transcript.)
June 19th, 2012 at 4:20pm
Nice colors. great decoration, looks clean…
juliemarg´s last [type] ..a cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and…
June 19th, 2012 at 4:28pm
Tina is always just full of good ideas! Nice feature!
June 19th, 2012 at 4:51pm
Love it! Her great ideas make me want to rush home and give my own living room a boost!
Heather´s last [type] ..What summer looks like…
June 19th, 2012 at 4:59pm
sometimes small budget push your imagination further and you get better results, it can be to easy to spent thousands and always get what you want
more limits gets limitless imagination working …
thanks for sharing
Monika´s last [type] ..the Bluecoat
June 19th, 2012 at 5:02pm
Tina has done a dreat job, I specially love the new cabinet and the canvas!
June 19th, 2012 at 5:14pm
The cabinet turned out fabulous!!! This style was all the rage during the -80s and -90s here in Norway, but everybody tired of it and has gotten rid of it now. Norwegians are great at 1) buying new or 2) painting white… I love how this shows an alternative.
Dear Demoiselle´s last [type] ..Almost summer
June 19th, 2012 at 5:30pm
It’s amazing what a few changes can do to completely change the view. It’s amazing how much more the architecture of the sofa stands out with the tables moved from sides to front. Love the new artwork and the painted cabinet is gorgeous. Well done, Tina!
kalanicut´s last [type] ..Totally Loving Tote Bags
June 19th, 2012 at 6:29pm
this is amazing! thanks :)
Nuit´s last [type] ..Seriously amazing small kitchens
June 19th, 2012 at 8:30pm
I love tranforming things with paint! :-)
tinajo´s last [type] ..The garden is thriving – and so is my soul!
June 19th, 2012 at 8:40pm
A wonderful change! I love the color of the cabinet, fresh, clear but cosy. The idea with the flowers and pictures on top of it is great! The cabinet looks not as massive, has something light and casual. More PILLOWS PILLOWS PILLOWS on the sofa! Oh, I can never get enough of changes, with textiles and paint, such an fantastic and easy way! Thank you for sharing!
Nicole´s last [type] ..Papierladen
June 19th, 2012 at 9:18pm
What a lovely change. I think the color you chose is perfect for the room! I love the charcol grey color….which brand of paint did you use and the name of the paint?
June 19th, 2012 at 9:53pm
I especially love the wardrobe, I’m always cautious about painting over wood, but this has proven to me not to be such a wimp!
June 19th, 2012 at 11:20pm
Great tips for creating a whole new look without blowing the budget.
June 20th, 2012 at 12:02am
Oh my gosh – they made a beautiful difference!
June 20th, 2012 at 12:16am
Fantastic! I particularly love the wardrobe. I just did an Annie Sloan painting course (all about upcycling furniture) and it was a revelation. I’ll definitely be giving my old pine furniture a make over soon.
Rin Simpson´s last [type] ..Art at Paintworks
June 20th, 2012 at 2:20am
wow that cabinet turned out amazing. I would have passed that light wooden color right by but the dark green really gives it a punch.
June 20th, 2012 at 3:00am
That cabinet looks amazing post paint job. Great shade of grey she chose!
Ronnie xo
Pink Ronnie´s last [type] ..On the kiddo table, part 2
June 20th, 2012 at 3:34am
amazing what paint can do to transform a new room, love the under $100 theme Holly!
June 20th, 2012 at 4:57am
Well done Traveling Mama! I like the dark grey much better than the wood. Very pretty home. Thanks for sharing, Holly~
Desha Peacock´s last [type] ..Dear Vermont
June 20th, 2012 at 6:01am
I love the paint job on the wardrobe, it is a huge improvement and a fantastic colour.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:32pm
I just love the color of the cabinet. I do like natural wood – but I have recently been taken with when it has been painted – so versatile!
Tracy A.´s last [type] .."One dip in the ocean – and seawater, from still wet hands and knees, seeps into the pages." ~ Editorial, The New York Times
June 20th, 2012 at 4:25pm
Absolutely gorgeous! Love this gal & love her redo! That cabinet is beautiful and I love the quick easy changes she made. Shopping in your own home & some cans of paint make me happy every time! :)
xo
Melis
Melissa de la Fuente´s last [type] ..Cheap & Chic
June 20th, 2012 at 4:42pm
I adore Tina’s site and it’s so lovely to see her beautiful home featured here!
Melissa@Julia’s Bookbag´s last [type] ..We Made a Castle
June 20th, 2012 at 7:38pm
I love that little changes can make such a big difference! What a pretty home!
Bonnie McCarthy´s last [type] ..Cherry Picking!
June 20th, 2012 at 8:18pm
Tina’s home is so beautiful. I love her styling.
sandra lund´s last [type] ..Lovage Love
June 21st, 2012 at 12:17am
Love the changes. I am a fan of clean lines..love the “afters”!
June 21st, 2012 at 2:40am
Yes, I love what Tina has done with this one piece of furniture!! Looks amazing!
The whole room is really great – the combining of the two Ikea (cheap) square tables is perfect, I might have to steal that idea!
June 21st, 2012 at 6:05am
Great tips. I’m moving into a new place soon – and the cheaper the better. It still blows my mind how painting/refinishing a piece of furntiture can make such a difference!!
Chrystina´s last [type] ..I’m (almost) over my salad fear, how to make salads at a salad bar
June 21st, 2012 at 9:57am
Grey are for this furniture the perfect color. Thank you for the pictures
Jürgen´s last [type] ..Elizabeth Siddal: Mujer, poeta, pintora y musa./// Elizabeth Siddal: Frau, Dichterin, Malerin und Muse./// Elizabeth Siddal: Woman, poet, painter and muse.
June 22nd, 2012 at 11:30pm
Gorgeous, clever Tina! I LOVE the grey cupboard. The best changes don’t have to be the most expensive-wonderful! C :-)
caroline @trend-daily´s last [type] ..Before and After
June 25th, 2012 at 12:26am
Loved this post Holly, Tina has a wonderful eye!
And I think her cushion collection is just the best!
It’s really useful to see the before and after, rather than
just an end result. I too would’ve been nervous to go so dark on the paint for the wardrobe but Gosh it so works – makes an impact and ties the room together.
I also like the tables brought to the forefront and the little area with the wicker chair. A few tweaks and it’s brought the interior up so many notches!
Beautiful home Tina!
Love Kat x
Kat´s last [type] ..Enchanted wood – only kindness matters
July 4th, 2012 at 11:05pm
It’s amazing. I should take more time and think about paintint instead of buying new stuff.
July 7th, 2012 at 2:17am
Wow, the difference in that cabinet is huge. Normally prefer natural wood, but it looks much better painted.
Never underestimate a quart of paint!
July 9th, 2012 at 5:28am
Thanks for the inspiration. The charcoal cupboard is just stunning. What a transformation. You’ve given me the confidence to paint our dated bedroom furniture.
July 22nd, 2012 at 11:24am
Love love love the color of the cabinet! I think many times we are too afraid of choosing dark colors – even though they really leave a great impact in a room! Before painting my dining room grey, I had thought about it for a long time and everyone was like “No, that’s too dark” – but today I love it! -Anja
Anja´s last [type] ..The Liebster Blog award
December 7th, 2012 at 8:33pm
Love the fact that furniture can be art. Great ideas Holly!