Changing your decor doesn’t have to drain your bank account! If you’d like a new look for your couch, try a slipcover. They’re budget-friendly, washable, and you can change them with the seasons. Take a look at our guide to choosing the right slipcover for your couch!

1. What Kind of Slipcover do You Want?

Custom slipcovers are great if your furniture has non-linear shapes, or if you want a fitted look. The measurements are done by a professional, who also orders the fabric. This saves you time and hassle, but it can be on the pricey side. Ready-made slipcovers are a good idea if you want a low-cost option. They protect your couch from dirt and spills and come in standard sizes. You can adjust the size with ties or straps.

2. Pick a Material

Pick a fabric that is durable and can be washed in your washing machine. Look for a sturdy and smooth weave rather than snag-prone materials like silk. Cotton and cotton-polyester blends are a good choice and they wash well. Polyester microfibres and some faux suedes are great if you want a fabric in which spills can be wiped right off.

3. Create a Budget

Custom slipcovers can be pricey, and ready-made slipcovers are extremely affordable. Prices will vary, and a custom slipcover can cost at least $600, and a ready-made slipcover can cost as little as $50. Pick a price range that woks for you.

Photos: The Handmade Home, SX 1000.biz, Annabellea, Design Manifest.

Turn an old, junky coffee table into something fit for royalty with this easy tutorial! Forget about the high price tags that usually come with tufted furniture, and make your own for super cheap!

Here is what you’ll need:

– a second-hand coffee table (find one on Craigslist, thriftstores, or garage sales)

– foam

– quilt batting

– buttons

– paint/stain

– upholstery thread and needles

– nail-head trim

– fabric of your choice

Step 1:

Decide how you want your tufting pattern to look like and drill holes through the coffee table.

Step 2:

Cut the foam to size and place it on the coffee table. Next, wrap the coffee table in quilt batting. Staple the batting under the coffee table to hold everything in place.

Step 3:

Stain the legs of the coffee table if needed.

Step 4:

Cover the upholstery buttons with matching fabric if needed. Thread the buttons through the pre-drilled holes using an upholstery needle and secure on the underside of the coffee table.

Step 5:

To create the tailored band around the base of the ottoman underneath the tufted top, cut four fabric strips that are the length and width of your ottoman. For this coffee table, four 6″x40″ strips were needed. Staple the strips underneath the ‘poofy’ top section of the ottoman.

Step 6:

Fold the strips underneath and staple them to the wood.

Don’t forget the corners!

Step 7:

Add nail head trim to cover the visible staples.

And that’s it!

Photos and idea: M is For Mama.

The right mop is what will decide if your floors are going to be left sparkling or not. Choosing the right one is important if you want to get your floors clean, and make them stay that way for as long as possible. Using the wrong mop only cleans the surface grime, making dirt accumulate much faster, but the right mop will get all the way down to the floor and scrub away any trace of grease or dirt.

Everyone should have at least 2 mops:

1. Wet mop – to clean up spills and wash hard-surface floors.

2. Dry mop – to collect dry dust, dirt, and pet hair.

When you choose a mop for wet cleaning, remember its purpose. Not only should it dissolve dirt, but it must remove it from the floor. For this reason, avoid string mops. They’re too heavy to lift when wet and impossible to rinse clean. Instead, get yourself a large-headed wet mop with a swivel base and removable terry covers. This mop will do dual duty; a dry cover quickly picks up spilled liquids, while a cover immersed in cleaning solution dissolves and lifts dirt easily. When the cover gets dirty, simply wash it and replace it.

Sponge mops are also efficient in cleaning spills and floors. Larger cleaning heads get the job done faster, and make sure you get one made of metal – a plastic one can’t stand up to the tough job and can break.

Dry mops come in many forms. Small disposable mops slide easily into tight corners, but they’re flimsy and replacement pads are too expensive. Microfibre mops are a great choice because they’re inexpensive, and can be washed, dried, and reused. Use them to pick up dry soil and crumbs in the kitchen. As with the wet mop, make sure you get one made of metal, and with a swivel base.

Photos: Housekeeping.about, Cleaning Services College Station, North Tryon.

A watery palette is a very neutral, versatile way to decorate your home. From pillows to walls to accessories, decorating with these lovely blues and greens is sure to bring a touch of beach to your home! Read on for some water-inspired decor ideas!

We’re loving this living room! To spice things up a bit, the designer loaded up the coffee table with unique accessories inspired by the ocean: a carved wooden bowl filled with sea shells, and a beautiful green bottle which also doubles as a vase. The artwork on the walls was grouped together to form a collage of natural landscapes, perfectly complementing the watery blues found in the pillows and rug. To keep from overwhelming the eye, the sofa and walls were kept to a neutral beige hue which made way for the eye popping blue accessories.

Looking to keep cool this summer? Try settling on a cool, blue hue for your room. This living room was washed down with blue from ceiling to floor! I love the watery color palette in this room which seems so relaxing and subtle. The different shades of cool blue works well together and is super easy on the eyes, especially after a long day from work. To keep things balanced, the designer chose to keep symmetry on their side: two matching side tables and lamps on either end of this sofa keep things from looking too busy and wrap the room up perfectly. The white lampshades and creamy white carpet keep things interesting and stick to the water colored theme.

For a subtle way to add blues to your home, try adding blue curtains. The blue curtains in this bedroom are highlighted by the gold curtain rod, and the light blue wall makes them stand out.

These candle holders are to die for! Their milky blue tone would be perfect on a worn, light coffee table. Definitely a must-have for any beachy home!

When adding blues to your home, you can’t go wrong with pillows! We especially love these sea creature pillows and their bold blue piping which perfectly frames them. Pair them with neutral colored furniture and walls to keep your living room from looking too busy and make them pop!

Photos: Decor Decoration, Sheilazeller Interiors, Locushire, Houzz, Coastal Home Pillows.

We’re seeing apple green everywhere! It’s the hottest hue for summer, and it’s easy to add it to your everyday decor. Whether you want to go all-out and paint your walls, or just simply change your patio cushions, we’re here to show you how to incorporate it into your home!

1. Paint the Walls

The pale green walls in this dining area add an airy and feminine touch to the room. The rug is a different shade of green, and introduces a pattern to the space. The country-style table makes the room feel relaxed, without taking it over-the-top.

2. Change Your Patio Cushions

These green patio chairs and matching cushions add a bit of fun to this patio. The white linen above the table shields the area from harsh sunlight, and the green bamboo in the back adds a bit of zen to the space.

3. Add Candles

A cheap way to add some green into your home this summer is with candles. We’re loving these succulent candles from Out of Gray.

4. Throw Blankets

This throw blanket compliments the cast iron bed nicely, and the white and beige sheets and pillows neutralize the green walls. A simple trick to update your bedroom or living room is to add an inexpensive throw blanket. A small pop of color can have a big impact.

5. Ceramic Bowls

These apple bowls from The Cookshop are too cute! They add the perfect touch to a summer BBQ for salads, dips, and chips!

Photos: BHG, Archi Lovers, Out of Gray, Betsy Speert, The Cookshop.