By: Lora Maghanoy, FW Editor

Throughout the course of day-to-day living we are told that change
is good. Whether it is switching up your lunch routine and trying
a new restaurant or hitting the gym after work instead of before,
altering the rhythms of life promotes healthy growth.
Nowhere is this truer than in the home. Whether it’s a change of
paint, a little feng shui or a total makeover, a transformation of the
home can translate into a transformation for your soul. Here, FW
offers a few tips on how to redecorate your home for under $500.

Cost-Efficient Changes
Perhaps the simplest way to revitalize your
home on a budget is to paint. Although the task
can be tedious to do on your own and costly to
hire a professional, if you are patient and dedicated
the rewards are greater than the annoyance. When
choosing colour factors to consider are hue (the
colour you are choosing), value (the lightness or
darkness of a colour), intensity (the brightness of
the colour) and temperature (whether the colour is
warm or cool). The right hue can instantly brighten
a space, saving you money and rejuvenating your
home.

Looking for another quick fix? Try rearranging
the room with feng shui, an ancient Chinese practice
of balancing the energies of a room to attract health
and prosperity, in mind. For more information visit
www.fengshuipalace.com.

Pinpoint the Problem
Another important factor to consider is how
specific you are willing to go with your décor. Do
you want to revamp the entire house or just one
room? Are you hoping to start from scratch with
floors, doors, windows and furniture or are you
willing to work with what you’ve got?

By distinguishing exactly what you want to
do with a space and how far you are willing to
go with your redecoration, you will save yourself
time and be able to get your dream room within
your budget. Something to keep in mind is that
additions like doors, hardwood floor or carpet
will cost above and beyond a budget of $500.

In the end, the best way to determine how to redecorate is
to survey the entire situation and decide what needs to be done
versus what you want to be done. By distinguishing between want
and need you avoid frivolous spending stay in your $500 budget.