Decorating on a budget

Making changes to your home in a time when most of us are thinking twice about our spending habits requires a healthy dose of creativity and planning.

Where do you start?

Start by considering the overall look you would like to achieve in each room and start with the areas in your home that you use the most, then work your way through the rest of the spaces. Examine each room carefully and decide what it is you want to change about that space. Does the living room appear too dark? Do the bedroom curtains need replacing? Are the walls too bare? Spend your money where it will have the most impact, such as new curtains, instead of on small but expensive accessories that will easily be overlooked.

Small changes can have a big impact

There are many small and cost-effective changes that can be made that will give your home an instant facelift. Consider covering upholstered furniture in new fabric for a beautiful new look. A fresh lick of paint on dull walls is also a good place to start as painting a wall has always been one of the quickest ways to transform a space.

Create a feature wall by drawing your inspiration from the colours in upholstery patterns on your bedding or a beautiful scatter cushion. Remember that it is always easier to match your wall colour to a fabric sample than the other way around. Use subdued, neutral, or pale colours in larger spaces to introduce light into a room and keep bright colours for smaller areas.

If you do not have the budget for artworks, mirrors can be a cost-friendly alternative. Use them to add light and interest to your walls or mix and match different styles to bring elegance and personality and the illusion of space to even the smallest living areas.

Use what you have

Rearranging your furniture can instantly change the look and dimensions of a room. Try placing your coffee table at a different angle and pull furniture away from the wall to create a more inviting space.

Swop furniture between rooms to create a whole new look. That guestroom mirror might just look perfect in the hallway and that spindle chair from the kitchen, perfect in the bathroom.

Sometimes removing accessories and clutter from a room can work wonders to put the focus back on a beautiful rug or antique chair occupying the same space. An added benefit of getting rid of clutter is that excess furniture and accessories can be sold to increase your decorating budget.

Cast a new light

The correct lighting can transform the mood of a room at little cost. Replace bulbs to create either a cool or warm glow in a room and buy a new lampshade for an instant update. Updated light fixtures or a big statement pendant can be a great focal point in a room.

Try your hand at DIY

Children’s rooms are the perfect place to try out your DIY skills if you do not feel confident enough to tackle a big decorating project on your own. Readymade decorative stickers come in many designs and colours and custom designs made to order is a quick and easy way to bring a striking element to a room.

You can create a unique headboard by having a board cut to size and covering it with foam and fabric using a staplegun. Dated cupboard doors can be painted for a new look without the cost of replacing them. Ask your local DIY store for advice on using the correct products to prepare the surfaces you want to paint. Replace the old door or dresser handles with something more modern or fun for a child’s room while you are at it.

Bathroom on a budget

Redoing a dated bathroom is a costly undertaking but by changing the bath, shower and basin fittings a more modern look can be achieved. Breathe new life into your bathroom by adding fresh new towels, an assortment of aromatic soaps and candles or an exotic plant or fresh flowers. A new bathroom rug and a framed mirror could finish off the instant makeover beautifully.

Having a visually pleasant living space brings new appreciation and enjoyment to the place where most of us are spending more of our time, the place we call home.

The information contained in this article is of a general nature and intended for information purposes only.