don't hate it - embrace it!
Many people have something in their home that they just hate. It might be the pink carpet in the bedroom, the lime green tile in the bathroom or the kitchen cabinets. All these things are costly to replace. When approaching this re-decorating project, decide on a budget. If replacement isn't going to fit in the budget don 't worry, there are things you can do. Firstly, don't ignore it. By ignoring the offending element you may only make it stand out more. Try to work with it - like it was a choice.
Let’s talk about the pink carpet – maybe pink wasn’t your choice or at least it wouldn’t be now. Start by having the carpet professionally cleaned. Choose a paint colour that will downplay the pink and add a trendy accent colour like chocolate brown to update the look. The easiest way to start is to choose a fabric for the room (reupholster a chair, draperies, or just toss pillows) that has some of the offending pink colour in it as well as two or more other colours that you love. Then use the other two colours for the walls and furnishings or accessories (try to repeat the colour a few times throughout the room). The fabric ties it all together. Now instead of the room looking tired and dated you suddenly have an amazingly updated, even trendy room.
If the lime green tile makes you cringe every time you enter the bathroom – don’t hate it, embrace it. Work with it instead of against it. First, clean it and clean or replace the grout. One idea might be to paint the bathroom all white, including the vanity (if the fixtures are white) and accent with the green and maybe a bold red in the window treatment, and accessories. Consider replacing the floor with remnants from the flooring store or lay a new ceramic yourself. Update the light fixture and get a new faucet. The look you can create is only limited by your imagination. Colour does amazing things.
Kitchen renovations are very expensive. You have solid oak cabinets and you hate them. You have some options but you need to consider a few things first. Is it the colour of the cabinets that you don’t’ like? If the colours around the cabinets changed, would you like them better? Oak tends to orange or yellow over time and with the wrong colour on the wall and/or countertop the look can be disastrous. If you simply want a change, consider painting the cabinets. It is not a crime to paint wood – especially if you don’t like it. Paint the cabinets with a Melamine paint and update the look by adding some new hardware. Consider replacing the countertop for a whole new look – it is not as expensive as you think.
So stop fighting with those hideous parts of your home and work with them. Who knows, maybe the next time your friends and family are over they will be complimenting the one thing you hated most.
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