How to Decorate on a Budget

by | Dec 3, 2020

Not everyone has money to redecorate every season and stay up to date with the current trends. If you have to decorate on a budget, but still want that expensive-looking interior, you need to get creative.

Here are some tips for decorating on a budget without compromising on the luxury look.

Explore auction sites and op shops

Updating your space with second-hand goods is the best way to stick within your budget. Sometimes people are getting rid of items because they have to move for a job, or they bought a new house and their furniture doesn’t fit, meaning you can get some great furniture at super cheap prices.

I recommend Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace for finding great quality second-hand items.

Take your time

Is there really a rush? You will always pay full price if you have to have the latest and greatest right now! It’s important to know that things stay on-trend long enough for you to wait for a sale. Also, it can help to shop online instead of just browsing the bricks and mortar stores in your area. You may end up paying to ship the goods, but quite often, you can get a similar looking product for a fraction of the price online.

If you buy everything from the same catalogue it often ends up looking lifeless and cold. Pick and choose the key pieces you want and tie them in with what you already have to give your home a more lived-in and unique feeling.

Rearrange furniture

You can get a whole new look in your home by simply moving your furniture into different places. Get online and browse Pinterest for similarly shaped rooms to yours and take note of where they have furniture placed in the room. Do you have an opportunity to move your furniture to make the room feel cosier, or have better flow? Researching Feng Shui can also help with the energy in a room. Knowing how to position furniture will give you options you may not have thought of before.

I always draw up a scaled floor plan and then create little cut out models of the furniture. Then I have fun moving the furniture to different positions on the plan to see where it will work best.

Reuse, refurbish, and upcycle

If you love an old dresser that you already have but it’s looking a little tired, why not give it a lick of paint. Replace the handles or knobs at the same time, and you’ve got a new piece of furniture. Don’t limit yourself to just painting something. Are your dining chairs or lounge just looking a little tired? Why not look into getting them reupholstered? This will give you the look of a whole new piece of furniture, without adding to the massive waste problem we have.

Re-upholsterd armchairs

Declutter

By cleaning out and decluttering, you will give your room a feeling of space. Plus, you may not need to buy much to get the look you’re after once you’ve cleared the space. Now that you know what you want to get rid of, and what you want to keep, determine what you can sell to help fund the new items you want. Have you got an old coffee table or sofa that you just don’t love anymore? Think about giving it a clean and putting it on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace for sale. Even if you get a couple of hundred dollars, it’s going to be better than throwing it out on the street at the next council collection.

Liven your room up with plants

I love indoor plants, and there are some that you just can’t kill. They add character and bring the outdoors in.

Plants are also great for filtering the air you breath giving you better quality of life. The Zanzibar Gem is awesome, as you only have to water them once a month (or once every 2 months), another of my favourites is the Devil’s Ivy, along with the Peace Lily. You don’t have to buy fully grown ones either, get them when they’re small as they will be cheaper, and nurture them into larger plants. Repotting is easy to do as they grow out of their smaller pots.

Paint

Finally, my favourite way to makeover a space is to paint! It’s hands down the cheapest and easiest way to transform a space into something completely different. You can book a Colour Consultation with us to remove the stress of selecting colours that make your home shine.

Get in touch if you’re looking for ways to redesign your space on a budget and need a little help from an expert. We have affordable packages starting at as little as $200 to help you source the perfect pieces for your home; help with colour schemes; and assist with where to place the furniture for maximum appeal.

Give us a call on 0407 480 668 today to discuss your next project.