Designing Diva Interiors

So you’re a fan of HGTV and you’re just dying to add a little “wow” to your home without forking over a load of cash? With the cold weather keeping many of us indoors a lot this month there are plenty of small projects to choose from while we wait for warmer temps. Pick one to start on this week and you might just be motivated enough to keep the ball rolling well past Sunday!

1) Paint one room. This is the ultimate quick facelift for any room and usually won’t set you back more than $100 if you forego the faux finishes, glazes and multiple colors on one wall. Not sure which color is right for you? Designing Diva Interiors offers a one-hour color consult for $25 and together  we can find the right shade for your room so you don’t spend hours staring at paint swatches taped to the walls. If you do have a general idea of what you’re after, pick up paint samples in the shade you THINK you want along with the color one shade darker and one shade lighter. Paint samples on each wall and at various heights. Check the samples throughout the day if natural light is present to make sure you’re happy with the color at all hours of the day. Once you’ve decided, pick up your primer if required, tarp, Frog Tape to keep paint off the trim and calk to seal up those holes and gaps. Ask a Sherwin Williams employee which paint brush is right for your texture so you get the job done quicker and you’re set!

2)  Update your hardware in one catagory. Are your doorknobs, light fixtures and hinges  less than fetching? It can be pricey to change out all of these at once but a weekend is just perfect for updating all the doorknobs/locks in the house OR the hardware in all of the bathrooms. Pick your catagory, pick your finish and pick your budget. Its important to know how much you plan to spend ahead of time because prices range anywhere from .50 to 10.00  per piece for simple drawer pulls or hinges and things can snowball quickly once you’re looking at all the options. Be sure to save the product information if you plan to match it up at a later date in another room.

3) Give life to tired walls. With a few cans of spray paint and a weekend in a well-ventilated garage you can add a new twist to old mirrors, photo frames, wall sconces, etc. When we moved into our home a few years ago the previous homeowner left behind a large bathroom mirror that had a grungy gold frame. The ornate details of the frame itself were gorgeous, however. We spray painted it gloss black and now it looks glamourous no matter where we put it (its lived in the bathroom, living room and the guest room so far)! If the item you’re painting is metal, make sure you select a paint specifically for metal (same goes for plastic, wood, etc). Create a Pottery Barn-style family gallery by painting all of your photo frames the same color, scanning your photos in black and white and hanging them together for an updated version of the family portrait collection.