Decorating your home can be an expensive, complicated, and time-consuming task. But it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of simple DIY projects and general tips that can minimize costs but still give you great results. The following ten tips will help you decorate on a budget regardless of the current state of your home.
Be creative
This first tip is a general one that will come in handy with the following tips. Think you’re just not a creative person? Think again. Everyone has a creative side and you just need to get in touch with that side of yourself. While you may not be skilled enough to paint your own extravagant paintings to hang on your walls, a number of the projects below are well within your range of abilities.
Make your own art
There are many different kinds of art. You don’t necessarily have to paint a beautiful landscape, portrait or still-life. You can do something abstract. Or you don’t have to paint anything at all. If your community has art classes such as ceramics, sculpture, or quilting you can create something worthy of display in your home without spending a fortune.
Repurposed materials
New materials are expensive. But there are plenty of free or cheap recycled materials you can repurpose to make furniture or decorations. Picking flowers from your garden for a nice floral arrangement in your kitchen only costs as much as the seeds and your time and effort. Recycled wood from old furniture can be turned into something else if you’re handy that way.
Display a personal collection
Most people have a hobby that results in a collection of sorts. Whatever you like to collect, you can display in creative ways throughout your home. You can hang some floating shelves or use available counterspace to decorate with things you don’t have to buy.
Mirrors as artwork
Mirrors are much cheaper than paintings but they can have a similar effect. Don’t just hang boring rectangular mirrors. Framed mirrors, and especially antique mirrors that have intricate patterns and interesting shapes can often be found at bargain prices and they can serve as artwork in your home.
Create a family photo gallery
Everyone has family photos laying around or cluttering up their computers or smartphones. There are plenty of services that allow you to print these photographs onto canvas for a relatively low cost. You can create a gallery wall of immediate and extended family members without breaking the bank.
Use bold colors
Too many bold colors will clash and make your home feel cramped. But carefully selected bold colors used sparingly can create a dramatic effect. Consider painting an accent wall. Painting a wall is already one of the most cost-effective ways to redecorate and it’s even cheaper and easier if you’re only painting one wall.
Patterned wallpaper
When you think patterned wallpaper you probably imagine the hideous patterns of the 60s and 70s but there are more subtle patterns that look great. Like painting, it’s a cost-effective way to redecorate a room. If you use removable wallpaper that’s essentially just peel-and-stick, redecoration is a breeze if you get tired of the pattern.
Hang plates
Antique plates are an inexpensive way to decorate your walls. Simply shop thrift stores, antique shops, and online auction sites to find plates at a good price. You can also purchase plate hanging kits that are invisible once the plate is on the wall.
Baseboard heater covers
Many older homes have unsightly metal baseboard radiators that date the home. Rather than replacing the entire heating system, you can purchase inexpensive covers that give it a more sleep and updated look. Simply measure how many feet of covers you need and buy it. Best of all the covers just snap into place.
1080 Bassett Rd Unit D
Westlake, OH 44145 USA
Phone:
866.740.0005
Fax:
888.717.9751
Email:
support@ezsnapcovers.com
© 2024 EZ Snap Covers.
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Measure the height from the floor to the top of the metal wall plate.
Follow our guide for baseboard heater cover measurement:
Any baseboard larger than 7 3/8" (188 mm) will be compatible with our standard cover.
Any measurement greater than 9 3/8" (238 mm) will fit our tall cover.
Measure from the bottom of the finned tube heating element to the top of the metal wall plate,
A measurement of 5 1/2" to 6 3/4" (140 mm – 172 mm) will fit our standard cover.
A measurement of 7 1/2" to 8 3/4" (191 mm – 222 mm) will fit our tall cover.
Measure the distance from the wall or the metal wall plate attached to the wall, to the outside of the finned tube heating element.
Any measurement of less than 3 1/8" (76 mm) inches from the wall will fit our
standard cover.
Any measurement of less than 3 1/8" (76 mm) inches from the wall will fit our tall cover.
EZ Snap™ Wall Widgets are used when your old or existing wall back plate has been removed or if you have to hang your new cover 1 inch or higher to bring them up to a height that will fit our installation guidelines. Just measure your overall desired height, subtract 1", drill a hole, preferably in a stud and attach it to the wall with the included screw.
EZ Snap™ Floor Fidgets easily raise your new covers ¾ inch to compensate for any ¾ inch floor (wood, tile, or other) that has been installed any time since your baseboard heater was originally installed. May be used for any reason when the overall height has been shortened and the total height is less than 7-½ inches for standard height or 9-½ inches for the TALL height EZ Snap™ BaseBoard Covers. Just use the self-tapping screws to secure them to the top of your existing wallplate.
EZ Snap™ Wall Contraptions are used when your wall back plate has been completely removed. EZ Snap™ Wall Contraptions receives your EZ Snap™ BaseBoard Cover and keeps your aluminum fin tube from sagging. These completely replace your wall back plate. To install, slide up from the bottom and make sure the top is at your desired height. Screw to the wall, then bend the front finger up to hold the fin tube in place.
Measure from wall to wall and subtract ½ inch (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.) The endcaps can be pulled or slid ½ inch outward on either end to fit your existing length requirements. Choose 2 flush to wall end caps.
Measure the overall length of the existing unit with ends attached then subtract ½ inch (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.) The endcaps can be pulled or slid ½ inch outward on either end to fit your existing length requirements. Choose 2 Closed or Open-end caps.
Measure from the corner to the end of the unit with ends attached then subtract ½ inch (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.) The endcaps can be pulled or slid ½ inch outward on either end to fit your existing length requirements. Choose 1 Closed or Open-end & 1 flush to wall end cap.
Measure the left side from corner A to corner B (see diagram). Then subtract 3 inches for the 90 degree inside corner, then subtract another ½ inch (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.) Repeat for the right side if also wall to wall. You need to subtract a total of 3½ inches from each side that is wall to wall. Choose your end caps.
Measure the left side from the corner of the wall to the end of the unit with ends caps. Then subtract 3 inches for the 90 degree inside corner, then subtract another ½ inch (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.) Repeat for the right side. You need to subtract a total of 3½ inches from both left and right sides. Choose your end caps.
L-Shaped outside radiators ending in the middle of the wall:
Measure from outside corner of the wall A to the end of the radiator unit with end caps attached B, then subtract ½" (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.)
Measure from outside corner of the wall to the corner of the wall, then subtract 1/2" (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.)
Left leg - measure from the corner out to the end of the radiator subtract 3" for the corner and ½ (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.)
Center leg - measure from corner to corner and subtract 3" for each corner a total of 6"
Right leg - measure from the corner out to the end of the radiator subtract 3" for the corner and ½" (to allow for wiggle room when installing your new covers.).
We recommend that you order covers a little longer than normal and cut them on site, as there are many opportunities for mistakes in measuring and installation. By cutting on site you can fit and cut to fit. The covers can be cut with a good quality jigsaw and a fine metal cutting blade.
Now that you’ve learned how to measure baseboard heaters,
you’re ready to order.