{"id":1520,"date":"2011-04-11T07:18:55","date_gmt":"2011-04-11T18:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardcity.wordpress.com\/?p=1520"},"modified":"2011-04-11T07:18:55","modified_gmt":"2011-04-11T18:18:55","slug":"3-easy-and-affordable-ways-to-breathe-life-into-blah-rooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/3-easy-and-affordable-ways-to-breathe-life-into-blah-rooms\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Easy and Affordable Ways to Breathe Life into Blah Rooms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/t2.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfX3UiJ-_o8qNebm0pwqIcKcsbP8gLah6DTZ_EOnaX_zhwLPyq&amp;t=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It seems inevitable that when funds are tight, the desire to redecorate overcomes me like a wildfire out of control.\u00a0 Right now, my focus is on the dining room.\u00a0 The dining room table and chairs are older than my marriage, but they&#8217;re still in fairly decent shape.\u00a0 While I would love to replace them with a newer, sturdier dining set that complements my current tastes, which have changed over the years, I simply can&#8217;t afford the expense right now.\u00a0 So, how does one breathe new life into a tired-looking room without spending the kind of money that would make a thrifty spouse (like mine) pass out?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here are three easy and inexpensive changes most homeowners can make to spruce up any room:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Paint <\/strong>&#8212; While it may sound clich\u00e9, a fresh coat of paint really does help a &#8220;blah&#8221; room\u00a0become a &#8220;wow&#8221; room.\u00a0 Don&#8217;t be afraid of bold colors, either, especially in a dining room, bathroom, or guest room.\u00a0 Colors with a little punch to them can add a lot of character to existing decor.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plants <\/strong>&#8212; Whether real or fake, plants in decorative pots or baskets fill empty space and bring the natural beauty of the outdoors to indoor rooms.\u00a0 Plants offer visual interest, and they solve a number of decorating challenges.\u00a0 Not sure what to put on that high shelf or awkward ledge?\u00a0 Can&#8217;t think of what to use for a centerpiece on the dining room table?\u00a0 Plants will often do the trick.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Area rugs <\/strong>&#8212; Placing an area rug in a dining room, sitting area,\u00a0bedroom, or hallway can make an enormous difference in the look of the room.\u00a0 Area rugs can be subtle or bold\u00a0in color and design.\u00a0 Either way, they provide a decorative theme in a room, define a space more effectively than furniture alone, and help to dress up the decor that\u00a0is already there.\u00a0<br \/>\n<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"Outdoor Area Rugs\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/THS\/MRGAPY58_lifestyle.sm.jpg?resize=105%2C105\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Outdoor Rugs\" width=\"105\" height=\"105\" \/><br \/>\nIn a dining room and in other high-traffic, mess-prone\u00a0areas, the best choice for an area rug is an outdoor rug.\u00a0 Today&#8217;s <strong><a title=\"Outdoor Rugs\" href=\"http:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Rugs\/\" target=\"_blank\">outdoor rugs<\/a><\/strong> come in just as many color options and designs as indoor area rugs.\u00a0 The difference is that outdoor rugs are exceptionally durable and can be very easily cleaned.\u00a0 Small spots can be removed with mild soap and warm water, but outdoor rugs also can be taken outside and squirted with a hose to wash away heavier dirt or stains.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When the primal urge to redecorate threatens to overtake your own good senses, avoid the desire to chuck everything in the room and start from scratch.\u00a0 Instead, try one or more of these easy and affordable decor pick-me-ups.\u00a0 You might find that a small change or two is all that you need to feel satisfied again with your home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It seems inevitable that when funds are tight, the desire to redecorate overcomes me like a wildfire out of control.\u00a0 Right now, my focus is on the dining room.\u00a0 The dining room table and chairs are older than my marriage, but they&#8217;re still in fairly decent shape.\u00a0 While I would love to replace them with a newer, sturdier dining set that complements my current tastes, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/3-easy-and-affordable-ways-to-breathe-life-into-blah-rooms\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">3 Easy and Affordable Ways to Breathe Life into Blah Rooms<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&raquo;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[26,128,341],"class_list":["post-1520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-indoor-living-spaces","tag-affordable-decorating","tag-decorating-ideas","tag-outdoor-rugs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Nnyf-ow","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1973,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/spruce-up-a-room-in-one-easy-step-paint-not-required\/","url_meta":{"origin":1520,"position":0},"title":"Spruce Up a Room in One Easy Step &#8212; Paint Not Required","author":"Sara May","date":"January 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The floor may be one of the most neglected areas when it comes to decorating. Adding an area rug to the floor has just as much impact on a room, though, as adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls. Area rugs define a space more effectively than furniture\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Indoor Living Spaces&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Indoor Living Spaces","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/indoor-living-spaces\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Affordable Redecorating Does Not Require Paint","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/0.tqn.com\/d\/youngadults\/1\/0\/j\/2\/-\/-\/iStock_000002416748XSmall.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2723,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/small-decorating-ideas-that-make-a-big-impact\/","url_meta":{"origin":1520,"position":1},"title":"Small Decorating Ideas That Make a Big Impact","author":"BYC Temp Admin","date":"December 26, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Decorating Ideas on a Budget Using Paint, Plants, and Outdoor Rugs Small decorating ideas can make redecorating a room very inexpensive. Before you dip into your savings, though, consider making a few smaller and less expensive changes first. You may find that a couple of small, but meaningful, changes to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Indoor Living Spaces&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Indoor Living Spaces","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/indoor-living-spaces\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/THS\/MRGAPY58_lifestyle.sm.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":225,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/outdoor-rugs-for-your-outside-living-spaces\/","url_meta":{"origin":1520,"position":2},"title":"Outdoor Rugs For Your Outside Living\u00a0Spaces","author":"Trey Collier","date":"December 26, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Decorators have fallen in love with All Weather Indoor \/Outdoor Rugs for their beauty and versatility. Homeowners love these attractive, durable accent pieces because they can take abuse from weather, children, pets, and they are incredibly easy to clean.\u00a0 All Weather Rugs are usually made of weather-resistant polypropylene also known\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Outdoor Living Spaces&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Outdoor Living Spaces","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/outdoor-living-spaces-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2732,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/shade-sails-are-a-unique-and-affordable-shading-solution\/","url_meta":{"origin":1520,"position":3},"title":"Shade Sails Are a Unique and Affordable Shading Solution","author":"BYC Temp Admin","date":"December 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Many Advantages Make Shade Sails an Ideal Choice All that's needed to create a shaded spot in an outdoor living area is one of the many available choices for shading. A few of these options include patio umbrellas, awnings, shade canopies, and shade sails. Patio umbrellas are a popular choice\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Outdoor Living Spaces&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Outdoor Living Spaces","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/outdoor-living-spaces-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/3L\/Ford-ShadeSail-1-Large.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":480,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/outdoor-rugs-versatility-and-beauty\/","url_meta":{"origin":1520,"position":4},"title":"Outdoor Rugs \u2013 Versatility and\u00a0Beauty","author":"Sara May","date":"August 20, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Want to spruce up your outdoor room, patio, or deck?\u00a0 An outdoor rug just may be the answer.\u00a0 Outdoor rugs made of synthetic fibers like polypropylene, also known as olefin, are extremely strong and weather resistant.\u00a0 They are also resistant to stains, mildew, and fading, making them a practical choice\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Outdoor Entertaining&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Outdoor Entertaining","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/entertaining\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Outdoor-Rug-Scene-Small","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/outdoor-rug-scene-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":199,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/unique-centerpiece-warms-the-heart\/","url_meta":{"origin":1520,"position":5},"title":"Unique Centerpiece Warms the\u00a0Heart","author":"Trey Collier","date":"December 18, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever searched for a centerpiece that is multi-functional? \u00a0If so, you have hit the jackpot with this one. Not only will this outdoor dining table\u00a0function\u00a0as a fire pit for you and your friends to gather around, but it\u00a0can\u00a0also become a grill or an ice bucket! The Lacosta table's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Outdoor Entertaining&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Outdoor Entertaining","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/entertaining\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lacosta-Dining Table","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/lacosta-dining-height.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1520\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}