House & Garden: Affordable Decorating

This upstairs bedroom has been functioning as a walk in closet. I wish I had taken a before picture of the multiple clothes racks, a very tidy maze. This room became an excuse to keep outdated clothing. And of course, became a storage place for just about everything. This house has neither an attic nor garage. So you can imagine!

The room was painted ten years ago and has been used as a closet for all this time. No wear and tear on the painted surfaces require a new paint job. The angular walls are crying out for wallpaper but not now. First project, shade for the window. The windows had drapes that I removed as well as the hardware.

 

This picture shows the new shade. More pictures will be taken later to better show off this cut to fit shade I installed in 30 minutes with my drill. This is the third I have installed in my home. The price for this 48 inch width window, less than seventy-five dollars. This photo was taken late in the day and better shows the color of the room. The floor is wood and has been painted over with a heavy coat of oil base paint, I’ll bet. Next step, sconces for either side of shade. These openings for the sconces were covered with outlet covers that I removed.

 

This photo shows the little window alcove in a room that is otherwise 9 feet by 15 feet. No plan for a shade on this window. This window receives light during the early morning and is otherwise shaded. I love seeing the outside lights over the patio shine through this window at night. The wreath has been removed.

 

A closed shade provides incredible dark in this room. The new sconces have been installed. Total cost for sconces, less than ninety dollars. Electrician for installation, sixty-five dollars. The plan is to have a sconce above each twin bed. The room is so narrow, however, one twin may be the only option. Part of the issue is the slant in the wall which makes it difficult to place any type bed flush.

 

This area rug is 6 feet by 9 feet and cost $130. The small desk to the right was my daughter’s when she was a child, and was part of this room, former closet. For now this little desk is here to stay.

 

With this addition of the chair it becomes very clear how narrow this room really is. The chair is an outdoor wicker … A perfect addition to a grandchild’s room. Chair $100 and cushion $30. So far, expenses less than $500. The biggest expense will be the bed.

 

Antiquing the old curtain rod for use over the uncovered window. I always have touch up paint for my painted walls. The rod was painted with an off white paint. The excess paint was removed with a rag moments later. This rod will be used to hold a lighted wreath in the uncovered window. Lily will enjoy this night light during the holidays. The biggest expense is yet to come, the bed and linens.

Here is the twin bed all set up and looking quite nice. Well, cat footprints noticed. Because of the new additions to the family the next piece of furniture for this room is a holiday crib. Within the next two weeks this will be added and the room will be slightly rearranged. Then the finishing touches to make the room cozy.

 

 

 

 

The crib has been added. A few small details and the room will be finished.