Everyone dreams of a beautifully decorated home. But to get a home as unique as you are, you might think you have to spend thousands of dollars on your finds! It can take years to save and plan your redecorating projects. And worse? By the time you finally get everything you were hoping for, your tastes have completely changed, and you want to start all over again.
What if you could get a completely unique space at a reasonable budget? You just need to get a little creative!
Don’t be Afraid of Second Hand
Okay, so maybe second hand furniture isn’t your thing. I can understand that. But if you look at a second hand shop as a place for raw material, there’s plenty to be done.
Take an old cabinet door. Refurbish it by placing mirrors in the back. You’ve turned an unwanted piece of old wood into a unique focal point for a wall.
Since it does double duty as a mirror, it will also make your space look bigger, and take advantage of any area lighting.
Find Better Use For Your Textiles
Second hand stores and yard sales are a treasure trove of material looking for a new life. You can find everything from shaggy rugs, to old sheets, ready to be made into curtains or wall hangings.
Take a patterned sheet, and use an old necklace as a curtain tie, for a look that is completely unique and entirely yours.
Reuse Metal Hinges To Create An Optical Illusion
If you’re a book lover, you’ll love the chance to make your favorite books part of the decor.
This tip uses simple hinges, like the kind you find at a hardware store for only a couple dollars. Screw them into the wall, and place the books over them. You won’t be able to see the hinges. It’ll look like the books are just floating on the wall!
Keep It Green
Plant life freshens up any decor. Whether it’s a green herb garden, or indoor plants and flowers you grow in pots around the house, it’s a quick and simple way to add colour and freshness to your space.
You can DIY plant pots into old jars or milk jugs, and hang them near your windows to save space.
As a bonus, living plants will help clear the air indoors of any CO2 traces, leading to a healthier home, and a healthier you.
Use Chalkboard Paint
If you’re the artistic type, try some chalkboard paint! It goes on everything.
If you never quite got over the urge to doodle on the walls, or you have a habit of leaving sticky notes everywhere you go, chalkboard paint is a great idea for some creative and playful interior decorating.
Save Money By Asking For Help
It may seem counterproductive to pay an interior design expert when you’re worried about the budget. But they often know how to make the most of a smaller budget.
An expert can point you to where to spend, and where to splurge. Interior designers often do a lot for a little, and have arrangements with suppliers.
They can help you see the potential in items you might have over-looked. And they are often the best way to be sure you’re getting the best deals.
Redecorating on a budget can seem tough at first. With a particular style in mind, it can be hard to find the perfect decor items. But with a little creativity, you can find beautiful inspired pieces, and even create some yourself. And not only will you save money, but you’ll be helping the environment, too!
Great post! When you’ve just bought a new home, it’s likely that you’ll have spent a fair bit of money so you’ll be on a decorating budget. However, you don’t want to compromise on your personal style! It’s a fab idea to check out charity shops as well because you never know what gems you might find. Great idea about the chalkboard paint – my tip would always be to go basic with the paint colour rather than using wallpaper and then brighten the room with pictures and colourful rugs.
Author
Thanks Sophie! I totally agree that using a basic paint color can give you much more scope to be creative with other bits and bobs. And yes, charity shops can be amazing as once in a while you’ll spot something really lovely for a fraction of what you’d usually expect to pay (as in fact I did just a few days ago!)