Decorating Guides
10 Budget-Friendly Decorating Tips
Undertake these small décor projects that are guaranteed to make a big impact
Tired of the same old dining furniture but strapped for cash to replace it? Want to change up your coloured walls without repainting them entirely? Necessity, (and oftentimes boredom), is the mother of invention. With some imagination and a dollop of DIY-ness, you can give your home a makeover that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Try some of these quick fixes for a creatively stylish look – all you will need to spend is a little time and, in some cases, a little money.
The decal here is a perfect piece for the bedroom, giving the impression of a headboard.
Want to keep the kids busy for a couple of hours? Hand them stencils to paint over – it’s literally child’s play. And you’ll be the proud owner of artistically designed walls in no time at all.
2. Create a pop-out feature
Fashion a focal point in the room by painting a single piece of furniture or upholstering the seat of a chair in an eye-catching colour. A splash of colour is a tried and tested way of personalising a neutral space –key word here being neutral. The splashes of turquoise blue here, in a sea of white and wood are bright and cheerful without sticking out like sore thumbs.
Fashion a focal point in the room by painting a single piece of furniture or upholstering the seat of a chair in an eye-catching colour. A splash of colour is a tried and tested way of personalising a neutral space –key word here being neutral. The splashes of turquoise blue here, in a sea of white and wood are bright and cheerful without sticking out like sore thumbs.
3. Make your own gallery
If you wish to showcase your passion, a wall is the best place to do it at. This is where anything goes – your travel photographs, a collage of textiles, porcelain plates, even your precious collection of cast iron pots and pans.
My mother-in-law has an entire wall covered with different kinds of brooms collected from travels across the world. Though I must admit, cleaning it is not exactly a passion of hers.
If you wish to showcase your passion, a wall is the best place to do it at. This is where anything goes – your travel photographs, a collage of textiles, porcelain plates, even your precious collection of cast iron pots and pans.
My mother-in-law has an entire wall covered with different kinds of brooms collected from travels across the world. Though I must admit, cleaning it is not exactly a passion of hers.
Tip: Symmetry is not important, more so when the objects are of similar shape but different sizes. Hang them any old how – it’s bound to look great. If there are only a few pieces or when clustered close together, hang them at eye level.
Smaller ones can be hung on the wall, placed in book shelves, on a stack of books, or on window sills.
Save counter space by starting a herb garden – on a wall. It looks good, plus fresh basil is within hand’s reach.
Here are tips for an lazy indoor plant lover
Here are tips for an lazy indoor plant lover
5. Make a collection
Instead of scattering vases across rooms, place them all together. Even if they are not identical or of the same height, a collection of vases or candle sticks automatically becomes the focal point, more than a scattering of stand-alone objects.
Instead of scattering vases across rooms, place them all together. Even if they are not identical or of the same height, a collection of vases or candle sticks automatically becomes the focal point, more than a scattering of stand-alone objects.
If you don’t have enough candlesticks, a bunch of candles on a tray will do the trick.
6. Update your furniture
On a scale of easy to hard DIY-ness, you can go from just changing handles or knobs on a chest of drawers to painting a geometric design on a sideboard to sandpapering down and chalk-painting the dining table for a distressed finish.
Tip: Painting the drawers of a sideboard in different colours is as easy as it’s whimsical.
DIY: 12 super easy furniture hacks
On a scale of easy to hard DIY-ness, you can go from just changing handles or knobs on a chest of drawers to painting a geometric design on a sideboard to sandpapering down and chalk-painting the dining table for a distressed finish.
Tip: Painting the drawers of a sideboard in different colours is as easy as it’s whimsical.
DIY: 12 super easy furniture hacks
7. Use leftovers
Remodel the staircase or the back of a bookcase with leftover wallpaper. Here, though the stairs have been uniformly done, it doesn’t have to be necessarily so. Assorted pieces of wallpaper, either left over from earlier projects or scored as sample pieces, can be used for an irregular and eclectic look.
Remodel the staircase or the back of a bookcase with leftover wallpaper. Here, though the stairs have been uniformly done, it doesn’t have to be necessarily so. Assorted pieces of wallpaper, either left over from earlier projects or scored as sample pieces, can be used for an irregular and eclectic look.
8. Expand your space
A large mirror or even a collection of mirrors on the wall can make a small space seem roomier. You can even prop up a large piece against the wall.
A large mirror or even a collection of mirrors on the wall can make a small space seem roomier. You can even prop up a large piece against the wall.
9. Coffee table tales
Coffee tables are the focal points of living rooms, so it’d be wise to pay a little extra attention to them. Create seasonal mini landscapes: Spring could see a vase of fresh flowers on a stack of books, while in winter a tray full of candles would set the mood just right. Missing the sea? Replace the candles with shells – or even pebbles.
Coffee tables are the focal points of living rooms, so it’d be wise to pay a little extra attention to them. Create seasonal mini landscapes: Spring could see a vase of fresh flowers on a stack of books, while in winter a tray full of candles would set the mood just right. Missing the sea? Replace the candles with shells – or even pebbles.
10. Repurpose your old furniture
Use reclaimed pieces like an old window frame; replace panes with mirrors to create a brand-new looking glass. An old chest of drawers has been given a new lease of life as the bathroom vanity here.
Use reclaimed pieces like an old window frame; replace panes with mirrors to create a brand-new looking glass. An old chest of drawers has been given a new lease of life as the bathroom vanity here.
Slightly more elaborate on the DIY scale is to use a bunch of reclaimed windows as a transparent divide between two areas – it demarcates boundaries without complete exclusion and adds a touch of quirkiness.
Read more:
How to Stylishly Repurpose and Reuse Old Items in Your Home
9 Ways to be More Eco-Friendly in The Kitchen
Tell us:
Which of the above tips would you consider undertaking? We would love to read your ideas in the Comments section.
Read more:
How to Stylishly Repurpose and Reuse Old Items in Your Home
9 Ways to be More Eco-Friendly in The Kitchen
Tell us:
Which of the above tips would you consider undertaking? We would love to read your ideas in the Comments section.
Decals are easily removable and hence, changeable. Peel. Stick. Et voila! Your room looks instantly made up. Since they are available in countless colours and designs, it is easy to customise and thematise them for each room.
Browse through more rooms with decals