Have a spare pouf in your living room? Bring it into the bedroom for a cozy surprise. Photo: Cote Maison
1. Scent it
One of the quickest and easiest ways to freshen up your bedroom is with a new scent. Try mixing homemade lavender water for a pre-bedtime spritzer on your linens. Or, place a wickless candle on your nightstand for a peaceful scent as you doze off.
Total cost: $5-$10
2. Rearrange
Take inventory of items around your house. Do you have a side table in your living room that could make a great nightstand? Is there a chandelier in your dining room that could brighten up the bedroom? Rearrange furniture in your home to breathe new life into your bedroom. You'd be surprised at the difference you'll be able to make.
Total cost: $0
3. Paint it
It should come as no surprise that painting is at the top of our quick-fix list. A cheap, quick and easy way to completely overhaul a bedroom, we're big fans. Try a more soothing color such as an ice blue or sage green to promote relaxation.
Total cost: $10
4. Clean your mattress
You'd be amazed at how many dustbunnies may be hanging around your sheets. Next time you switch out your bedding, take a vacuum cleaner to your mattress and sweep up any allergens that may be lingering. Your bedroom will be fresher and ready to ring in the spring!
Total cost: $0
Open those shades and let the light pour in! Photo: Jason Loucas
When you leave for work in the morning, open those drapes! Not only will you cut down on your heating bill, but your bedroom will be light and airy when you return home. Of course, when it's time for bed, be sure to shut the drapes and keep your room as dark as possible to ensure your sleep routine isn't affected.
Total cost: $0
6. Move the alarm clock
If you have an LED flashing alarm clock, move it out of eyesight as you get ready for bed. Try placing it on a lower shelf of your nightstand, or simply turn it around. Although you may not realize it, light is one of the most distracting elements when sleeping -- even light from your tiny alarm clock.
Total cost: $0
7. Say goodbye to the TV
The fastest way to make your bedroom more calm and relaxing? Get that TV outta there. Not only is it an eyesore, but it's all too tempting to catch up on your celebrity gossip instead of turning in on time.
Total cost: $0
8. Cool off
If your bedroom's temperature is too hot or too cold, your sleep can be disrupted. Most experts say that a slightly cool room is ideal for sleep, as it matches our internal temperature.
Total cost: $0 (in fact, you're saving money!)
9. Write it down
Invest in a worry journal to keep on your nightstand. Next time you find yourself worrying about the day's events, write it down and forget about it. Nighttime is for sleeping, not worrying!
Total cost: $5-$10
10. Bring in flowers
My favorite update for the bedroom? Infuse your room with fresh flowers, either on your nightstand or bedroom desk. After all, placing fresh flowers in your bedroom aids sleep!
Total cost: $10
With these fresh ideas, you'll be fighting the bedbugs in no time at all. Night, night!
For additional cozy bedroom ideas, read more:
-Ingredients for the Coziest Bedroom Ever
-How To: Bedroom Feng Shui
Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
I can't see how moving a chandelier from the dining room to the bedroom could cost nothing, unless you're an electrician. And paint costs more than $10, not to mention the brushes and roller and paint tray, etc., etc.
ReplyHello Sasha, I totally agree!!!! I thought the same thing - how do you uninstall the chandelier in the living room and then install it in the bedroom without incurring any costs? And yes, painting can get expensive. I've painted my living room three times in the last 7 years, and it always runs me quite a bit of money.
#3. Paint it. Cost $10. I don't know when the last time you painted, but I don't think you could paint a closet for $10.
Replythere was a time in hospitals that flowers and plants were removed from patients' rooms because they took oxygen out of the air. I would never put fresh flowers or living plants near my sleeping area.
ReplyJules,
Plant give off oxygen, not the other way around. Plants put MORE oxygen in the air and help reduce the carbon dioxide we expel. DIDNT ANYBODY TAKE A SCIENCE CLASS>>> GEEEZZZ!!!
uhhh ... actually plants put oxygen INTO the air (through respiration), and they remove carbon dioxide (which we exhale) ... it's an excellent symbiotic relationship! kids learn this in elementary school~ it's called the oxygen cycle
Hi rossbd and amy, As a science student, i agree with you about plants Giving out oxygen, but freshly cut flowers do not take CO2 out of our air and disseminate oxygen in the same way as living plants. They are dead stalks that have been cut from their roots. Hospitals did their patients a service to remove the fresh flowers at night.Thanks for your responses. I will do some research.
Jules
The only way to do this room under 10.00 is to bring things from another room. Such as Rugs, pillows,light,drapes,chair,plants. If you have some old material around the house use it to cover some new pillows.
Replyhmm...paint costs more than $10.00
ReplyHELLO??? Even if you paint a room yourself, you can't even buy enough of a paint for $10. You need at least 3 gallons for 2 good coats. A gallon of good paint will cost between $20 and $30. Also,these designers don't take into account the fact that most of are not 'do-it-yourselfers" nor do we get big bargains on supplies as contractors do. I just had my 1700 sq.ft. home painted professionally for $3200.00
ReplyHeellloooo same dumb idiot who made similar stupid "suggestions" in her previous article! Just what hole did Erin Loechner crawl out of and what gives her the right to tell others thngs to do that would acutally ENDANGER HEALTH! Paint at $10?? Made in China and full of lead?? Open drapes to keep utilties down? Actually - it is the total opposite. Closed drapes in winter keeps heat in, closed drapes in summer keeps heat out. Flowers in a bedroom - yo dummy - what about allergens and asthma? The writer gets worse with ever piece. Etc. etc., etc. AOL would do well to pull this woman's plug - or man's plug - and save themselves some risk of lawsuits. Whom ever this person is, they are not qualified to sweep a floor.
Reply