Gilmore is a 27 year old who loves decorating and is a self-proclaimed expert on just about everything. At least she likes to think so. Copyright 2011. Consult a design professional before beginning your project.
This was one of the biggest challenges so far, could I decorate a living room for under $1000, and have it be my dream Tuscan villa? This would mean new furniture because I am too lazy to reupholster a couch. Every room in my fictitious dream home is being decorated in a theme of a different country or region. I decided that the living room should be Tuscan, because of the warm comfortable colors. I wanted this to be what welcomes people into my home. As always, I will be carrying my neutral color palette throughout the house to tie everything together, and keep it from looking like a Disneyland ride.
1. Sofa and Loveseat: I want a neutral comfortable sofa and loveseat that I will have for many years to come, so it should be something classic. I chose this mocha brown set. This was my biggest expenditure at $719 for both pieces, but it was a great deal because it was marked down from $1,799.
2. Rug: I’m using a soft rug with just a touch of burgundy in it for only $99.
3. Instead of a coffee table I wanted a bench that could be used as extra seating. This bench was the best buy for under $71, and as Edward from Trading Spaces says “every room needs a touch of black”
4. Like the rest of my dream house the living room will have a chandelier. This bronze chandelier matches the color palette, the scrollwork matches the Italian feel, and the price of $91 matches the budget.
5. I only have $20 left so I will have to really stretch my budget. I will spend the rest of the money on silk, or silk like fabric to make rust color curtains. I will bring in some dark wood side tables that I got at garage sales, and mismatched lamps that I’ve also purchased at garage sales. For artwork I want to mimic stucco walls. I will take big canvases and spread joint compound over them. Then I will make a light wash of yellow color. I will have three of these hanging next to each other, one red, one orange and one yellow.
So after shipping charges I may be just over $1000, but overall I saved thousands of dollars. You can get a great living room set that looks so much more expensive. The key is to purchase your big pieces first so you don’t spend all the money on accessories. Click on any of the pictures that you want more information about. What would your dream living room look like? Have you decorate for under $1000, or do you need help? Leave a comment and let me know.
Everyone has really cute pictures on their fridge, usually held up by free magnets from a realty place. I love the pictures, and then secretly despise whatever realtor or dentist is on the magnet, which is probably not what their advertising department was going for. My mom for years had asked for a matching set of magnets, but it was just one of those little things that got overlooked. I was completely broke and needed a wedding present for a friend, and was looking around for ways to make pretty fridge magnets. I came across the idea of bubble magnets, I made 20 for less than $5 and had a lot of fun.
