Buying a house is expensive and if you don’t keep a budget, doing up the interiors can get way out of hand. The sheer variety of shelves, sofas, dining tables, wall hangings, and gewgaws can make you go a little nutty and you will need to rein yourself in. The best way to fill up your newly bought nest AND plan affordable home styling is to start with the big items and then customise as you go. Remember, less is more and you have the luxury of doing up your place at your own pace, so don’t rush the process!
Retain, Restore, Reuse
When moving into a new place, the temptation to decorate it with brand-new stuff is real. But, take a step back and assess what you already have that could be reused with a bit of restoration.
Big items like a bookshelf, dining set, sofa, sideboard, chest of drawers, coffee table, side table, and beds must be considered. If these are in good condition, find use for them. They can always be repainted and repurposed if they don’t fit the aesthetic of your new home. Don’t be in a rush to discard these, because buying all-new furniture can rack up that bill.
Here are a few ways you can make your old furniture work well
- Reupholster the sofa to match the colour scheme of the living room.
- Paint the bed to match the bedroom’s style.
- If you think the mattress needs a change – try a memory foam topper instead of buying an expensive new mattress.
- Reuse an old cupboard or old chest of drawers in the balcony area or kitchen to store detergents, garbage bags, kitchen towels, etc.
- Repolish and stain the coffee table to a desired hue.
- Do the same with the dining table. Sometimes just swapping out the chairs can change the entire feel of the set. If buying new chairs will put a dent in the budget, buy tie-up cushions or reupholster the chairs.
- Clean and polish the dining table to match the coffee table or contrast it tastefully.
- You could add a light fixture above the table to elevate the look.
Paint is your best friend
A pop of colour can do wonders – like pairing red lipstick with an all-black outfit. If you’ve decided that your walls will be a light colour for the rooms to look larger, consider painting one floor-to-ceiling niche a vibrant hue. You won’t need art or shelves of plants or anything to decorate that wall, since it already stands out.
If the niche is near a doorway you could add a little table or a small chest of drawers with a pot or vase, family pictures, or even a decorative tray. If there are no niches, an accent wall is a great option. This becomes the focal point of a room and breaks the monotony by adding depth and dimension to the room. An accent wall is a great way to subtly decorate a room without springing for expensive wall decor.
When painting the new home you plan to move into, consult with a paint expert or specialist – these are usually provided by the company you choose like Asian Paints or Dulux. Try to use paint colours and textures to allow for maximum effect with minimum add-ons.
Keep the floors clear
Optics is everything. Keeping only the most basic furniture floor-bound is the best way to make a room look bigger.
Ditch the floor-standing TV cabinet and wall mount your screen. Get a wall-mounted floating shelf under it for some balance and maybe a vertical one off to one side. Avoid making it too symmetrical for an edgy look.
Opt for floating bookshelves instead of floor-standing bookcases.
Alternatively, get a coffee table with book storage options.
You could also get a bookshelf built around the TV screen and alternate some cubbies with plants, succulents, art, and figurines or mementos.
Reusing old furniture or repurposing them can be a great way to stay in budget and still have stylish tasteful things in the home.
Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash
