10 Budget-Friendly Weekend Upgrades
Spend your next weekend refreshing your interior at minimal expense, by simply tweaking, updating and enjoying the pieces you already own
Giving your home an update doesn’t always need to involve spending lots of money. Sometimes, it’s more a matter of rethinking what you already own. A few simple hacks can cleverly reinvent existing pieces, while spending a few hours getting creative with household items can repurpose them for a totally new use. Even just moving your finds and furniture around can beautifully refresh your interior. It doesn’t matter if your budget isn’t as bright and breezy as you want your home to be, you can still treat yourself to these quick and easy upgrades.
Isolate a few key objects
Try creating a little pause point or tableau by grouping a few pieces together on a table or shelf. Isolating a handful of objects from a crowded setting and showing them off in an ordered space allows you to appreciate their beauty. Add some fresh flowers too, for an injection of colour.
If you have the space, set up your tableau in the hallway or on a landing, or clear a shelf to show off your new display.
A stylist’s guide to table vignettes
Try creating a little pause point or tableau by grouping a few pieces together on a table or shelf. Isolating a handful of objects from a crowded setting and showing them off in an ordered space allows you to appreciate their beauty. Add some fresh flowers too, for an injection of colour.
If you have the space, set up your tableau in the hallway or on a landing, or clear a shelf to show off your new display.
A stylist’s guide to table vignettes
Revamp a chair
Give an old or cheap chair a fresh new look with some bright paint. First, rub it down (with sandpaper if necessary), then add a coat or two of your chosen colour to transform even the humblest of seats.
If the idea of sanding fills you with dread, go for a chalk-based paint instead, which should stick to anything.
Give an old or cheap chair a fresh new look with some bright paint. First, rub it down (with sandpaper if necessary), then add a coat or two of your chosen colour to transform even the humblest of seats.
If the idea of sanding fills you with dread, go for a chalk-based paint instead, which should stick to anything.
Create a work of art
The colourful line art on the wall of this kitchen was actually made by sticking drinking straws to a board. The lesson? You can make your own art – and for very little money!
The colourful line art on the wall of this kitchen was actually made by sticking drinking straws to a board. The lesson? You can make your own art – and for very little money!
Colour coordinate your books
This is a fun project for a weekend afternoon. Arrange your books according to their cover colour. You might be surprised by how exciting and eye-catching your newly organised shelves will look, and what fun you’ll have rearranging them. If this inspires you, check out the next tip for how to extend this idea.
This is a fun project for a weekend afternoon. Arrange your books according to their cover colour. You might be surprised by how exciting and eye-catching your newly organised shelves will look, and what fun you’ll have rearranging them. If this inspires you, check out the next tip for how to extend this idea.
Group entire shelves by colour
Group books with the same coloured spine together, then create little styled ‘moments’ within your shelves by adding other similarly toned objects. Here, ceramics, figures and tiny models have been arranged alongside books of the same hue for a creative and thoughtful display.
Group books with the same coloured spine together, then create little styled ‘moments’ within your shelves by adding other similarly toned objects. Here, ceramics, figures and tiny models have been arranged alongside books of the same hue for a creative and thoughtful display.
Make a feature of found objects
If you’ve been for a country walk in the woods or on the beach and found some pretty natural items, arrange them when you get home to show them at their best. From twigs in a vase to pebbles in a spiral, a little relaxed styling can help these natural treasures shine.
Decorating for free with found objects
If you’ve been for a country walk in the woods or on the beach and found some pretty natural items, arrange them when you get home to show them at their best. From twigs in a vase to pebbles in a spiral, a little relaxed styling can help these natural treasures shine.
Decorating for free with found objects
Frame it
If you have some old pictures you’re bored with, or which cost very little in the first place, reinvent them as DIY art by saving the frame and popping a more meaningful image inside. Here, a postcard has simply been pegged to a wire, but you could use photos, drawings or invitations, hung up like this or simply taped or tacked to the wall.
If you have some old pictures you’re bored with, or which cost very little in the first place, reinvent them as DIY art by saving the frame and popping a more meaningful image inside. Here, a postcard has simply been pegged to a wire, but you could use photos, drawings or invitations, hung up like this or simply taped or tacked to the wall.
Label your furniture
Turn a simple chest of drawers into a tower of fun that may also encourage your children to put their clothes away. Paint it with blackboard paint or any other dark, very matt paint, then chalk on the name of what goes in each place. Adding a drawing, as shown here, will help young children identify where their clothes go more easily.
Turn a simple chest of drawers into a tower of fun that may also encourage your children to put their clothes away. Paint it with blackboard paint or any other dark, very matt paint, then chalk on the name of what goes in each place. Adding a drawing, as shown here, will help young children identify where their clothes go more easily.
Build a hanging rail
Simple wooden branches, gathered while on a walk in the woods, can be tucked inside shelf brackets, as seen here, slotted into cup hooks or suspended using clear fishing wire to create imaginative additional hanging space.
TELL US
Share your clever, budget-friendly hacks and ideas for a quick home update in the Comments below.
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Simple wooden branches, gathered while on a walk in the woods, can be tucked inside shelf brackets, as seen here, slotted into cup hooks or suspended using clear fishing wire to create imaginative additional hanging space.
TELL US
Share your clever, budget-friendly hacks and ideas for a quick home update in the Comments below.
MORE
Tiny Hacks That Make Life a Tad Better
Reduce Your Ecological Footprint With These Lifestyle Hacks
11 Small Changes for a Happier Home Life
Old jam jars and storage jars are useful for storing desk clutter or children’s art materials, but they can be made to look extra stylish with some bright colour. Try painting the lids and, for a child’s room, sticking small plastic animals or figures to them.
Strips of patterned washi tape can also be used on jam jars to great effect.