Beating The New Home Blues by Decorating

The builder’s sample home was meticulously decorated, and as you waited for your new home to be built you had visions that yours would be equally as gorgeous. But now you’ve moved in and the house is not quite what you expected: white walls, your worn-out old furniture, maybe not quite so many of those “extra options” that the sample home had.

You don’t want the biggest purchase of your life to be a major disappointment, so how do you give your new home a little more pizzazz?

Here are some quick and inexpensive ways to dress up your new home:

— Paint is your number one tool for adding glamour and excitement to your new home. Those white builder’s walls are just begging to be painted, so pick a color scheme and go with it. And don’t discount those paint swatch strips– the colors on each strip naturally compliment one another, so use them as a guide when planning your dÃ?©cor.

— Well-decorated homes have a central color theme throughout the house. Pick an item you love– it can be a quilt, a piece of pottery or anything else. Take a color from that piece and incorporate a shade of it in every room. This will help tie the rooms in your home together– giving you whole house a finished, professional look.

— Go back into that sample home and take notes. What was it about it that you loved? Take note of the paint colors and the furnishings. Many builders spend big bucks to furnish those sample homes, so check out the decor and search for some lower priced knock offs that could give you a similar look.
You can also ask the sales representative who the interior designer was– he or she may be able to tell you where the furnishings and accessories were purchased.

— Ask a friend or neighbor for decorating tips and advice. If you love their style, they will be flattered that you asked.

— Try to plan the dÃ?©cor for the entire house before you start buying knick knacks and accessories. The finishing touches should be the last things that you purchase.

— For a quick lift, replace the cheap light fixtures that builder’s usually install. Go to a home improvement store and pick out some lighting that you love– it will instantly make your home look richer and more beautiful.

— Dress up the windows by shopping for pretty window treatments. Don’t settle for boring mini blinds or plain white shades.

— Scour discount retailers for name brand items at rock bottom prices. Decorative pillows, candles and glassware can bring a cozy feeling to your home.

Remember, those sample homes are pretty misleading– they aren’t really lived in, so there’s no clutter and they’re always spotless. They just aren’t a realistic example of how a home should look, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you have a pile of mail on your kitchen island and shoes scattered all over the floor. You bought the house to live in– so live in it and enjoy it!