Adding depth to any design is crucial to avoiding that “just off the showroom floor” look and making a space feel personal like combining modern and vintage antiques. Layering contemporary and rustic pieces like this factory wagon cart featured in Better Homes and Gardens with differing patterns create a pretty and homey feel. But between the sectional and the coffee table, this room could cost a pretty penny.

 

You could get the look for less, with these lower cost finds…

 

One of the ways this room creates depth is to use picture molding on the walls. If actually adding the molding isn’t an option because you’re either a renter or not so powerful with the power tools, use painter’s tape to create picture boxes and paint a pattern to mimic the idea. Start with Blue Heather 1620 from Benjamin Moore as the base color and accent with a basic white for the molding.

 

Sectional sofas can be the perfect seating solution for the right space, but they can also be expensive. This one from IKEA is under a $1000 with a removable cover for easy cleaning. Stain or paint the legs to better match your interior.

 

The perfect contrast to the modern contemporary sofa is this rustic factory cart table. It’s an unexpectedly opposite selection that adds further dimension to the classic look of the walls of the clean sleek look of the sofa.

 

This lamp base from Overstock.com is so low cost, you can splurge a bit on a separate lamp shade to get a unique piece just right for the space.

 

Use photowow.com to add a spin to a personal photo. Including the frame this look is under $200 and turns any photo into museum style print.

 

For the textiles, use mismatched patterns on the pillows with a central color to continue adding depth and an area rug with all the accent colors to tie the whole thing together.  Style with coffee table books and a low plant for the perfect finish.

 

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In today’s times many of us have jobs that allow us to work at home, but living and working in the same environment often tends to leave people bored and uninspired with their surroundings. Drawing inspiration from Max Lam’s minimalist apartment design, here is a way to add new life to your home office.

 

 

Adding yellow to one wall is a great way to introduce color to a room and to create a focal point. Lemon Twist from Sherwin Williams is a sunny yellow that will liven up any space.  Though it is bright, using neutral furnishings will help subdue the color and create the minimalistic look.

 

Add sleek lines with this desk from Ikea. The front drawers make it easy to keep the desk top clear of clutter. The dark color also balances out the yellow on the wall.

 

Combining a comfortable chair with a funky pillow is great way to add a little more color to the room without clashing with the accent wall.

 

Storage is important, but it often looks cluttered. Organize your stuff with this stylish shelving unit from Etsy.

 
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This clean and contemporary bedroom designed by Brian Watford is the definition of “city chic.” The Atlanta-based designer successfully blends modern sophistication with vintage luxury pieces to create spaces that are warm and inviting. By incorporating organic patterns and fun accents of teal in this bedroom, he was able to keep the crisp lines and the grey neutral background from being too cold, adding brightness and personality.

 

 

Use this moodboard and the frugal finds below to recreate your own little piece of the city.

 

Start with the dark grey Deep Indigo wall color from Benjamin Moore. $35.99/gallon

 

While dark colors could make a space feel smaller than it is, use light colored furniture that contrasts well, drawing focus away from the walls and making them recede into the background.

 

The white Nordli Bed frame from IKEA is $280 and has the same lines as the inspiration bed.

 

Dress the bed with the Jacquard Pattern duvet cover ($70-111) and Zebra Pillow covers ($39.00) from West Elm to soften the hard lines of the bed frame. Finish with a leaf throw pillow from Target ($30.00) for a low-cost and unexpected accent.

 

The Armen Living 5th Ave bright blue ottoman from Amazon.com ($227) at the foot of the bed is both functional and way to add a bright accent color to this otherwise neutral room.

 

Recreate the two-toned dresser with the Frugal Shopper’s best friend, a simple DIY project. Use the incredibly versatile and inexpensive IKEA Rast dresser ($35.00), along with some dark walnut stain, high gloss white enamel paint and finish with some satin circle drawer pulls for $5 each to get just the right look.

 

Use lighter grey window treatments for $70.00 from Sears to contrast the wall color and dress up with windows.

 

This area rug from Home Goods was only $50.00. Look for one with a repeating pattern that isn’t too geometrical to work with the bedding.

 

Accessorize the space with white frames filled with your favorite black and white prints, and a blue lamp like the one below from Home Goods for $20 to tie the color scheme together.

 

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