Homeowners live and die in the challenges of sticking to renovation projects’ budgets. In response, they’re going on a treasure hunt for cheap, creative ways to revitalize their homes. Experts interior designers Amanda Foster, Sophie Clemson, Georgia Metcalfe, Poppy Ashworth, and Georgina Burnett reveal their top achievable insider tips. Then you’re ready to upgrade your home in trendy, sustainable style, without breaking the bank! Their advice encompasses a variety of methods, including the use of inexpensive accessories, creative lighting techniques, and thrifting for unique finds.
While not requiring a fortune to upgrade, the experts stress that even minor changes can make a big impact on a home’s environment. With a little bit of vision and some creative thinking, everyone can make their community a place that attracts people. The recommendations range from inexpensive add-on accessories to intentional reconfigurations that make the best use of a room’s built environment.
Accessories that Make a Difference
Amanda Foster shares on how those cheap trinkets can make all the difference in breathing new life into a home. Adding colourful towels in the bathroom, introducing a new shower curtain, or incorporating a statement mirror are all simple yet effective strategies.
“For example, you could transform an old side table with a fresh coat of paint and use it as a nightstand, or frame a vintage poster to create a one-of-a-kind piece of wall art.” – Amanda Foster
These minor enhancements don’t just elevate the look and feel of the interior, but offer people new levels of individual expression to suit their unique tastes. On top of that, Foster proposes working with thrifted or secondhand materials reclaimed from charity shops and online resale platforms. Not only is this approach more eco-friendly, it can result in one-of-a-kind prints that bring warmth and charm to any space.
Clemson suggests that swapping out handles on kitchen cupboards can be an easy, powerful hack to strengthen your home’s aesthetic. She’s particularly keen on the Chervil brass handles, £7 for a pack of two. These handles are an especially beautiful compliment to shaker-style kitchens!
“Depending on how many handles you need and if you could stretch your budget a little further, Plank Hardware has a beautiful range of handles for £10 for one that will instantly update your kitchen cupboards.” – Sophie Clemson
These small and simple changes may seem inconsequential, but they can really help to bring a space to life and make it sizzle.
Illuminating Spaces with Style
Lighting helps create an atmosphere in your home. Amanda Foster explains the basics of “layering” light in each and every room.
“This involves strategically placing various light sources to create depth and dimension – for example, adding a statement floor lamp in a reading nook can provide focused illumination while also adding visual interest,” – Amanda Foster
In addition to enhancing the atmosphere, well-placed lighting can highlight specific design elements within a room, making it feel more cohesive and curated. Foster says that homeowners should get creative with their lighting fixtures.
Sophie Clemson has some great tips on choosing affordable lighting options. She suggests the Voyager wall light from Dunelm as an affordable option at only £24. On top of that, she features the rather swish Cooper wall fitting by Pooky, priced at £181.
Cushions and throws are an obvious go to, but no less impactful to a room in creating an inviting and warm atmosphere. Clemson suggests these be used as ornamental accents to help make public spots more welcoming. On that shelf, you’ll find her decorative patterned cushion covers at HM selling for only £3.99. You can nab linen blend alternatives in other hues for just £9.99 too.
Redefining Spaces with Colour and Creativity
Creating environments that require less overall redecorating is another area of emphasis for Georgia Metcalfe. She’s particularly clear that inspiring change doesn’t require a complete reinvention, but rather an intentional approach to ways old ideas can be new again.
Poppy Recommends using fun paint methods to outline separate spaces in an open flow space. Faith, a square block of paint might be just the right touch to delineate an office space, providing a little extra function and a splash of unexpected color.
“Perhaps you’ve just moved in and the tiles are quite dated. Simply painting them white will modernise your bathroom,” – Sophie Clemson
Georgina Burnett advises homeowners to make the right surface preparations for best results. For painted solid wood surfaces, sanding before finishing is a must. Don’t skip it to save time or you may find your high-quality finish fails prematurely.
“When it comes to painting furniture, I recommend using high-quality paint formulated for furniture, and always prepping the surface properly to ensure a smooth, long-lasting finish.” – Amanda Foster
Incorporating these strategies into their project will get homeowners one step closer to creating the home they’ve always dreamed of. They can accomplish this without incurring millions in charges.