Home decor begins on the floor

While big-ticket renovations may not necessarily fit your budget these days, there are still plenty of improvements that can offer a dramatic impact without emptying your wallet.

“Start from the ground up when considering cost-effective changes that make a big impact,” says Julie Rosenblum a design expert from Nourison, a leading manufacturer of area rugs. “Cosmetic changes such as a beautiful area rug on the floor can give the impression that you’ve altered your entire living space. Don’t underestimate what an area rug, available in any price range, can do to instantly transform a room.”

Additionally, Rosenblum offers the following checklist for home decor chic on a budget:

• Use area rugs to separate spaces or tie rooms together where large expanses of hardwood floors do not make for a cozy, inviting space. Using a larger area rug can make a space appear larger.

• Use an area rug on top of a carpet: Create a striking focal point in a wall-to-wall carpeted room with contrasting color area rugs strategically placed in a room.

• Experiment with color: Choose your favorite color palette. Once your rug is in place, you’ll have several colors to use to match when introducing small accent pieces throughout your room.

• Texture, Texture, Texture: Even solid colors can become interesting because of the textural properties of the raw fibers that make the rug. Natural wools from flat-weave to plush; wool blended with pure silk or today’s high tech synthetics; plus shags and novelty yarns are just some of the many choices of constructions with different textures. Additionally, many of today’s best handmade and even machine made area rugs feature hand carving, for additional textural appeal.

• Don’t be afraid of patterns: Adding geometric patterns can take a traditional setting and make it appear more modern, while floral patterns and Persian designs have a more traditional appeal. In today’s fashion forward rug selections, many of the traditional patterns are revitalized in newer color palettes so a traditional rug can have a totally new appeal.

• Remember that with area rugs, you are not married to your design decision: If you want to change a room’s look on a whim, pull up the rug and put a new one in its place. Use seasonal rugs to change your environment a few times a year. Use a darker,warmer palette in the cold months, and the opposite when the weather warms up. Pull colors from the flooring to use in complementary accents for the room.

Creative use of area rugs can replace costly renovations for that new look to your home.