by Kate Rosenberger

Created on: June 27, 2008   Last Updated: August 19, 2011

Everyone has a vision of their own personal dream bedroom. The difficult part is realizing that dream without breaking the bank. If you have the time and flexibility, decorating a bedroom on a budget can be accomplished.

Walls

Painting is an easy and inexpensive way to give a room a facelift. To save money, do the work yourself or recruit a handy friend to help. Pitfalls to avoid are purchasing too much paint and purchasing the wrong kind of paint. Use latex in a flat or satin finish for bedrooms. Keep in mind that custom colors are sometimes nonreturnable. Use an online paint calculator to figure out how much is needed. Benjamin Moore has an excellent tool for this. Finally, do some price comparisons online before heading to the store.

Flooring

Without careful planning, much of the budget can be squandered needlessly on flooring. There are several affordable options available. If the existing carpet is in good condition and the color fits the design, have it cleaned. A professional will charge about one hundred and fifty dollars to clean and protect a carpet in one room. Do-it-yourselfers can rent a carpet cleaner from a home improvement store or supermarket. The cost about is twenty to thirty dollars per day and another twenty dollars for cleaning solution.

A possible option is to refinish existing hardwood floors. Not all houses were built with hardwood floors. Peel back a corner of the carpet and see what is underneath. There may be a nice surprise. Unfortunately, using a professional to refinish the floor can be costly. This is a possible do-it-yourself project. Home improvement stores rent drum sanders for about one hundred dollars a day. Be aware that this is not an easy project. Do some homework before starting. If done incorrectly, the floors could be permanently damaged.

The last and most expensive option is to have new carpets or hardwood floors professionally installed. It is important to shop around. There are many deals and sales to be had that can make a huge difference in budget.

Window coverings, light fixtures and hardware

These items are do-it-yourself musts for those on a budget. The good news is that they make a big difference for little money. Sale and clearance items are abundant in these categories. When shopping for window treatments, remember that lined curtains are a wise investment. They are slightly more expensive than regular curtains but save money in the long run. Lined curtains help reduce utility bills by providing extra insulation

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