So the economy is in the toilet and you’re strapped for cash. But if you must stay home with pizza and PBR, well, you should at least cut back in lovely surroundings. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to go broke trying. For a bedroom makeover that wouldn’t break the bank, we consulted Ricardo Rodriguez, a local real-estate broker and project consultant who revamps rooms for his budget-savvy clients.
He transformed this urban boudoir from confused to chic in five hours flat. How? By going subtle. He played up the bedroom’s coexisting vibes — bohemian, art deco, and eco-chic — and added easy enhancements. Instead of tossing existing furniture, he filled in the blanks with cheap essentials from Ikea and small splurges from Boston’s unique boutiques. The result was a functional, welcoming room that plays up the owner’s personality. Apply his fundamentals, and you’ll have your own thrifty redesign done in no time.
Go Neutral
Don’t feel like you have to paint! Really. Neutral colors are best for walls. If you crave color, add a splash with bedding or accessories. You can also drape fabric along a wall. In this room, he used gathered white sheets to cover one of the walls, hide a window, and center the bed. (The sheets? A $12 Target special.)
Cushion the Blow
Pillows are a terrific bedding enhancement. Add a few to change up your look without replacing the entire set. Rodriguez mixed high-end, mid-priced, and affordable pillows in purple, orange, and white (colors inspired by the owner’s vintage quilt) for a texturized update. An IKEA steal holds its own next to a pricier one from Diseno.
Get Lit
Lighting changes a room’s look and mood. Rodriguez found these lovely, eco-chic “wooden” lamps at Target and
paired them with beige and gold lamp shades. He also used an existing lamp from Louis Boston and replaced
the shade with a bold floral print, snagged on the cheap at Target.
Break It Up
Separate your space. A room can have many purposes. Rodriguez took this sleep-only spot and transformed it into a multi-functional bedroom, sitting area, and work station.
Change with the Weather
Add season-inspired punches of color with home accents. Rodriguez chose a stunning orange vase and bright green throw at Hudson and further styled the room by mixing the owner’s pieces with bright finds from IKEA and Target.
Go Green
Always breathe life into a space with greenery or florals. In this case, new and existing vases worked together to hold colorful floral arrangements.
Get Personal
Infuse your sparkling personality into any room by using well-loved items as decor. Rodriguez bought hooks at Target for about $3.50 each and hung scarves and jewelry on the wall. He also found photo frames (for a mere $4) that meshed with the bedroom’s fresh palette. And the photos, of course, were absolutely free. Now there’s definitely something to smile about.
The Goods
• Orange leather pillow, $129 at Diseno
• Large orange vase, $110 at Hudson
• Nightstand, $30 at Ryan’s Furnishings
• Tree branch lamp, $39.99 and lamp shade, $19.99 at Target
• Chairs, $99 each at IKEA
• Sisal pillows (on chairs), $90 each at Simplemente Blanco
• Medusa lilac and organza pililow, $45 at Simplemente Blanco
• Spiderweb sham-size lilac pillow, $75 at Simplemente Blanco
• Gray velvet pillow with white porcelain leaves, $100 at Simplemente Blanco
Where to Buy
Hudson, 312 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, 617.292.0900, www.hudsonboston.com
Diseno, 409 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 617.423.2008, www.disenoboston.com
Ryan’s Furnishings, 45 L Street, South Boston, 617.268.0050
Simplemente Blanco, 46 Waltham Street, Suite 203, Boston, 617.734.3669
Target, 7 Allstate Road, Dorchester, 617.602.1921, www.target.com
IKEA, 1 IKEA Way, Stoughton, 781.344.4532, www.ikea.com
