I recently learned a new term: sunk costs. This economic principle centers around the idea that once you've paid for a good or service, you have spent that amount, and it's sunk. If you don't like what you've purchased, there's often pressure to continue using it avoid "wasting" that money. Economically, this is ridiculous. The cash is gone whether or not you continue to sit through that terrible movie or hate-wear your itchy sweater. Sound familiar? We do this in our homes all the time!
Have hardly any money to spend on your home decor? Have NO money to spend on your decor? It might seem impossible to design a home that won't end up looking like your budget was zero, but it is possible to get creative and design a home that still looks great despite your small (or non-existent) budget. Here are some of our favorite tips.
Do you want to acknowledge February 14th without making a fuss and/or breaking the bank? These sweet treats will make your Valentines and Galentines smile, and then everyone can move on with their lives...
When you go out to shop for, say, a new side table, what's going through your mind? Style, definitely. Your budget, probably. Then you might have some thoughts about the abstract concept of value; if the price on the price tag is "worth it" or not. But do you know what your local big box retailer was thinking about when they set that price? Psychology.
That beat-up dresser you found at Goodwill needs a little extra something... but what? If you've graduated beyond simple paint jobs and want to create a piece that will truly stand out, look no further than these seven eye-catching DIYs.
Of course we all crave a beautiful, spa-like bathroom... but many of us are living with the reality of average, run-of-the-mill bathrooms on distinctly non spa-like budgets. The good news is that even if a remodel's not in the cards, there are still plenty of things you can do to make your bathroom a beautiful, unique space. Here are nine ideas.
Renting in New York is not like renting anywhere else. In New York, you'll find yourself competing with 12 other people for the privilege of paying twice as much as you ever have in rent for a one-room studio whose proportions can most charitably be described as 'cozy'. And unless you're making quite a lot of money, you probably won't be able to get everything you want. New York has plenty of apartments with features that range from the inconvenient (no oven) to the downright bizarre (a shower in the kitchen). Which one of these unusual features would you be willing to put up with to live in the city of your dreams?
Erica's kitchen sported a pretty standard, run-of-the-mill range hood — the type we've seen a million times over in build grade homes and rentals across the country. Being a resourceful sort of person, she didn't want to spend a bunch of money for an outsourced hood cover, so she sketched out an alternative and set out to build one herself...
This is the year! The year my paperwork will be arranged in a symphony of organization, and my desk will look like an exhibit from the With Flair wing of The Museum of Takin' Care of Business. Obviously, I need to buy all of these...
Cats are people too, and they love a good IKEA hack just as much as anybody. Whether you're trying to hide an unsightly litter box or just create a kitty playground that isn't totally ugly (and doesn't cost a billion dollars), there's something here for you in this roundup of clever cat-centric IKEA hacks.
