- Use fabrics
Tablecloths and runners can cover a multitude of sins. We all know this – but a fashion for clean surfaces and the fuss-free have led us to largely forget this. Gone are the days of your grandmother’s doilies and nasty velour sofa covers – thank God! — although vintage homewares and tableware are making a major comeback. Take advantage of this trend to creatively infuse fabrics into your home decoration – covering scratches, patches and worn out surfaces as you go along. A throw elegantly arranged on a chair looks great.
2.Keep it clean
We don’t mean to be rude about this – but a clean home will always look miles better than one that needs a good dusting. Who cares if the carpet is faded and the bathroom tiles are outdated? It gleams!
3.Burn candles
Anything looks more romantic by candlelight – especially the ‘stylishly distressed’ look.
4. Cushions!
A new sofa will set you back a small fortune – a new set of cushions are a steal in comparison. Perfect when you want to effect refreshment or introduce a new colour scheme (and comfy too).
5. Windows framed
How are you framing your windows? Curtains or blinds; dark colours or bright; heavy fabrics or light? New window dressings can bring a whole new character to a room, allowing you to make fresh decisions about the type of feel you want to go for and reassess your priorities when it comes to mood and lighting.
6. Rearrange
What could be cheaper? Make the best of what you’ve already got – would the television look better situated on the opposite wall, for instance… no? How do you know – have you tried it? Even better, perhaps that bookcase would benefit from a shift to another room. Just because it’s always sat there, doesn’t mean it always has to.
7. Replace
This may be cheaper than you expect. If an item or element of your home doesn’t fit with the look you’re trying to achieve, it’s definitely worth investigating how much it costs for an update. You won’t know if you can afford it or how steep the interest will be until you’ve done the research. If you still don’t think it can be done, think about how you can creatively work around the cost. If you hate your doors and flooring, for example, try replacing just one or the other. New doors might look great with the existing floor, or you could opt for new flooring and paint your doors to complement.
8. Investigate the alternatives
Can’t afford real wood? Have a look at some upmarket laminate or veneer. Lusting after those designer tiles? I’m sure they’d look just as good in two rows instead of three. Keep your mind open to cheaper options and don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to so-called shortcomings – you might be able to turn them around into a feature.
9. Exchange
Now this is one most people would be reluctant to do. If you’ve always coveted your sister’s dining room dresser, and you know she doesn’t rate it all that much – why not broker a swap? You never know, she might be grateful for the excuse to get rid of it and shop for a shmancy new one. If you throw £40 and a home-cooked meal into the bargain, you’re both laughing. What’s there to lose?
10. Gumtree
Now this is the bargain-hunter’s best friend. Online selling-and-buying tools such as Ebay and public advertising networks such as Gumtree are an easy and exciting way of finding all sorts of stuff you want for your home that you didn’t even need – as well as the particulars you might have been looking for. This is the catch; over indulge and you might find yourself in a worse predicament than where you started. For this reason:
Bonus Tip – it is never too soon for a de-clutter. It will take bags off of your home’s shelf life.
Nadia Tariq is a freelance writer and online marketer based in the UK. This article was written on behalf of Kens Yard, the online internal doors store.
