Turn your home into a paradise with little to no funds, with these smart interior decorating ideas, without the inconvenience of extra people in your home.
Here are some handy ways to achieve the look you want:
-
- Paint
Though painting is the cheapest investment you can make, it’s also the one with the most dramatic result. Go ahead and put some colour on those walls for a fresh — and inexpensive — new look.
-
- Do It Yourself
The biggest budget buster is hiring others to do things you could do. Consider what you’ll save by taking on some relatively simple projects: painting, tiling, installing a new floor, sewing curtain panels or throw pillows — whatever you feel up to trying.
-
- Look for Less-Than-Perfect Merchandise
You may be able to snag super deals on slightly damaged items, floor models and seconds (such as towels from a dye lot that was slightly off), so be sure to check stores’ “as is” areas or to ask the manager about fire-sale items. Chances are, no one but you will be any the wiser, and you’ll save big bucks.
-
- Save With Stock Items
Custom framing, sewing, upholstering and other skilled labour can add a bundle to the bottom line. Instead, stick with stock items whenever you can: Buy off-the-shelf frames and mats, and trim non-valuable art prints to fit them. Buy standard blinds that are a bit larger than your windows and mount them outside the frames. Snap up stock cabinets and finish them with mouldings for a custom look. Order that sofa in a neutral, ready-to-ship fabric and use the money you save to splurge on colourful throw pillows.
-
- Wait Patiently for Sales and Discounts
Wait to find what you really love at a price you really love. While you shop, ask if items will be discounted any time soon. Store and department managers are usually the best sources for this insider info and may even offer you the discounted price before it goes into effect.
-
- Mix, Don’t Match
Not only is a “matchy-matchy” look boring, but buying entire suites of furniture tends to cost more than putting together a creative, eclectic look. Mix it up by opting for a couch and chairs upholstered in complementary fabrics, flanking a bed with unmatched nightstands and decorating with other diverse items unified by colour, form, material and tone. Or try pairing a stately wood table with shiny aluminium or brightly coloured plastic chairs. And don’t be afraid to mix high-end and low-end or modern and traditional.
-
- Add Unexpected Accessories
Almost anything can serve as an accessory, and that goes for found objects and household items that cost practically nothing. Architectural corbels rescued from a salvage yard make great bookends, while seashells and driftwood collected at the shore create a lovely natural grouping. A bowl filled with crisp green apples lends a bright pop of colour to just about any surface, and a stack of vintage hardbacks adds height, dimension and character to an occasional table.
-
- Reuse Items You Already Have
You don’t have to buy new pieces to turn your tired domicile into a hip space. Instead, turn a fresh eye to what you already have and think about how it might be camouflaged, repurposed or reimagined. Reinvent a drab dresser in a guest bedroom as a dramatic dining-room sideboard with a few coats of glossy black paint and sparkling new hardware. Make over that old couch with a slipcover in a fabulous fabric. Turn plain pillows into eye-catching accents by stencilling simple designs on them. After all, there’s no better budget stretcher than your imagination.
Tap into the inner decorator in you. With these handy tips you will be able to achieve the look that you are going for at hardly any expense.
For the best in carpeting, blinds and curtaining you need to contact Bonetts Interior Projects. The staff at Bonetts Interior Projects will be able to advise you on the look and feel that is best for your home and business. To find out more about the products and services on offer through Bonetts Interior Projects, visit their website www.bonetts.co.za