5 Top Tips to Save Money When Decorating Your Santa Cruz Homes

Santa Cruz homes are becoming more and more popular, but, with the economy in the state it's in, many new buyers of Santa Cruz homes find they buy their new home, and then don't have the spare cash to renovate to their liking.

While we can't help you with large projects, such as alterations or additions to Santa Cruz homes, we can give you some budget friendly decorating tips that can make a big difference.

1. It's a cliché for a reason, but nothing lifts a room, or a whole house, like a fresh coat of paint! A complete change of color, or a new paint effect, even a stenciled trim, can make a huge difference to the feel of a room, without breaking the bank.

2. Likewise, old furniture, whatever the material or construction, can benefit from a DIY facelift. Try sanding, staining and varnishing wooden pieces, or for a lighter feel, why not lime wash them? Glass can be updated using sand blast film, which gives the appearance of sandblasting in minutes, and steel can be sanded and painted, or powder coated, although the latter will require a professional!

3. If you're looking for new furniture to suit your new Santa Cruz home's style, why not look online? Sites like www.ebay.com, www.overstock.com, or even Craigslist offer bargain deals on new or used items. But just because it belonged to someone else, doesn't mean it's not new to you.

4. Instead of changing your floor coverings, why not opt for a trendy, easy to do painted floor? Whether concrete or wooden, creating a painted floor is as simple as lifting any old carpet, and using an industrial floor sander to smooth the surface, before applying your color of choice, and a floor sealer. Sanders can be rented from tool rental companies, and you can make a weekend project of it!

5. If your budget is very tight, and none of the above is suitable for your Santa Cruz home's transformation at the moment, a couple of dollars, and a trip to a discount home wares store can create a new look for you. An old couch is easily updated with a new throw, or some scatter cushions, and the same goes for lamps, which you can revamp with a new shade. Small, cheap accessories can totally change the look, and feel, of a room.

By using these tips, spending a little time trawling hardware stores, online shopping sites, and even thrift stores, you can get the Santa Cruz home look you want, at a fraction of the cost.

Spend a little time, and a little money, on your Santa Cruz home's décor, and you'll find you can have. For more information about the author, Gregg Rio, and other subjects visit his websites propertyinsantacruz.com, and cacoastalhome.com.

Gregg Rio is an experienced Santa Cruz real estate broker. If you want to search for Santa Cruz homes or find out where the most energy efficient homes in Santa Cruz are, go to PropertyInSantaCruz.com and find yourself a great home by the beach.