Decorating
Budget Decorator: 15 Decorating Updates That Won't Cost a Cent
On a tight budget? Believe it or not, you can use what you already own to reinvigorate your house or unit
Got the itch to make some changes around the house? Before you head out shopping or hit the online stores, why not first see what can be done with what you have? Sometimes all it takes is a bit of inspiration to see your space with fresh eyes. Let these 15 ideas spark your imagination and motivate you to see your own space anew.
2. Repurpose fabric remnants as art
If you do any sewing or crafting, I am willing to bet you have some pretty fabric pieces in your stash, just waiting for the right home. Stretch a larger piece over a blank canvas, cut a piece to fit in an embroidery hoop or place a small swatch in a frame.
3. Use vases to display jewellery. Instead of hiding extra vases in a cupboard (which is probably overcrowded as it is), put them to work displaying your favourite necklaces and bracelets atop your dressing table. So easy!
If you do any sewing or crafting, I am willing to bet you have some pretty fabric pieces in your stash, just waiting for the right home. Stretch a larger piece over a blank canvas, cut a piece to fit in an embroidery hoop or place a small swatch in a frame.
3. Use vases to display jewellery. Instead of hiding extra vases in a cupboard (which is probably overcrowded as it is), put them to work displaying your favourite necklaces and bracelets atop your dressing table. So easy!
4. Use your throws in a fresh way
Instead of always folding them at the foot of the bed or over the arm of a chair, try using your throws to change the look of your furniture with a bit of strategic folding and tucking. Try wrapping the loose cushion of your sofa with a throw, or lay a throw folded in thirds across the back and seat of an armchair, as shown here.
Instead of always folding them at the foot of the bed or over the arm of a chair, try using your throws to change the look of your furniture with a bit of strategic folding and tucking. Try wrapping the loose cushion of your sofa with a throw, or lay a throw folded in thirds across the back and seat of an armchair, as shown here.
5. Swap accent furniture between rooms
Small furniture (side tables, stools, slipper chairs) is easy to move and a simple swap can completely change the feel of a room. Try placing a side table from the living room in the foyer and a narrow hall table behind the sofa. Place an upholstered chair in the entrance to your home, where it will feel extra luxurious, and bring an outdoor cafe chair into the dining room for a flea market-chic vibe.
Small furniture (side tables, stools, slipper chairs) is easy to move and a simple swap can completely change the feel of a room. Try placing a side table from the living room in the foyer and a narrow hall table behind the sofa. Place an upholstered chair in the entrance to your home, where it will feel extra luxurious, and bring an outdoor cafe chair into the dining room for a flea market-chic vibe.
6. Revamp old jars as fun storage
Have a tiny bit of paint left over from another project? You’ll need only a dab to bring colour to an assortment of jar lids. Use open jam jars to hold pens or paintbrushes and larger closed jars for storing anything from buttons to laundry powder. Gluing small plastic animals to the lids is the perfect finishing touch if you will be using them in a child’s room. Just remember to keep jars on a high shelf until your child is old enough to handle glass.
Have a tiny bit of paint left over from another project? You’ll need only a dab to bring colour to an assortment of jar lids. Use open jam jars to hold pens or paintbrushes and larger closed jars for storing anything from buttons to laundry powder. Gluing small plastic animals to the lids is the perfect finishing touch if you will be using them in a child’s room. Just remember to keep jars on a high shelf until your child is old enough to handle glass.
7. Colour code your bookshelves
Bookshelves looking a bit boring? Spend a winter afternoon rearranging your tomes by the colour of their spines rather than the topic for a change. As a bonus it will give you an excuse to peruse your favourite old books!
Bookshelves looking a bit boring? Spend a winter afternoon rearranging your tomes by the colour of their spines rather than the topic for a change. As a bonus it will give you an excuse to peruse your favourite old books!
8. Turn a crate on its side to hold books
An old wooden crate is perfect for keeping books neat and tidy. Crates look fabulously rustic on their own, but if you want to spice one up, try lining the base with pretty patterned wrapping paper.
An old wooden crate is perfect for keeping books neat and tidy. Crates look fabulously rustic on their own, but if you want to spice one up, try lining the base with pretty patterned wrapping paper.
9. Hang artwork on your shelves
A favourite of decorators, this simple trick can make a room feel more sophisticated in an instant. A small painting allows you to access the books around it easily.
A favourite of decorators, this simple trick can make a room feel more sophisticated in an instant. A small painting allows you to access the books around it easily.
10. Style your open shelving
If you have glass-front cupboards or open shelving in the kitchen, consider it a styling opportunity not to be squandered. Take a look at your shelves as they are now, putting function aside for just a moment. Can you see any clashing colours or patterns? Remove those first, then step back and look again.
Do you see a theme emerging among what’s left? White and silver, for instance, or blue and white would work well. Search your other cupboards and storage areas for objects you use that fit the colour scheme and work them in.
If you have glass-front cupboards or open shelving in the kitchen, consider it a styling opportunity not to be squandered. Take a look at your shelves as they are now, putting function aside for just a moment. Can you see any clashing colours or patterns? Remove those first, then step back and look again.
Do you see a theme emerging among what’s left? White and silver, for instance, or blue and white would work well. Search your other cupboards and storage areas for objects you use that fit the colour scheme and work them in.
11. Put the silverware on display
Whether or not you have silverware, most of us have something we consider too good for everyday use. I say use what you have and enjoy it. If you are worried about breakage (small kids in the house?), at least consider putting some of your favourite pieces on display where you can enjoy looking at them daily. Float a flower in a special teacup by the sink or display fruit on a pretty cake platter on the kitchen benchtop.
Whether or not you have silverware, most of us have something we consider too good for everyday use. I say use what you have and enjoy it. If you are worried about breakage (small kids in the house?), at least consider putting some of your favourite pieces on display where you can enjoy looking at them daily. Float a flower in a special teacup by the sink or display fruit on a pretty cake platter on the kitchen benchtop.
12. Reuse glass jars for flowers.
Embellish small glass jars with colourful washi tape to make an instant collection of bud vases. Line up three, five or more down the middle of your dining table for an easy, casual centrepiece.
Embellish small glass jars with colourful washi tape to make an instant collection of bud vases. Line up three, five or more down the middle of your dining table for an easy, casual centrepiece.
13. Cover a wall with old maps
Make your own wallpaper by decoupaging maps directly onto a freshly cleaned wall. Use maps of your area or nautical maps, or mix and match maps from places you have travelled to.
Make your own wallpaper by decoupaging maps directly onto a freshly cleaned wall. Use maps of your area or nautical maps, or mix and match maps from places you have travelled to.
14. Fill an unused frame with fabric-wrapped cork
Cobble together a pinboard with whatever supplies you have lying around: a roll of hessian, fabric scraps or even an old tablecloth can be used to cover an old corkboard. In a pinch you can even use foam board (like the kind used to display kids’ school projects).
Cobble together a pinboard with whatever supplies you have lying around: a roll of hessian, fabric scraps or even an old tablecloth can be used to cover an old corkboard. In a pinch you can even use foam board (like the kind used to display kids’ school projects).
15. Remove a door and create a hideaway office
Even a tiny linen closet can be transformed into a workspace. Replacing the door with a curtain will help the nook to feel more inviting and give you a bit more space, and you’ll still be able to close off the area.
MORE
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Why DIY Is Good for Your Soul, Not Just Your Home
Curate Your Own Art Gallery at Home
Nifty Thrifty: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
Even a tiny linen closet can be transformed into a workspace. Replacing the door with a curtain will help the nook to feel more inviting and give you a bit more space, and you’ll still be able to close off the area.
MORE
How to Work a Work Space Into Any Room in the House
Why DIY Is Good for Your Soul, Not Just Your Home
Curate Your Own Art Gallery at Home
Nifty Thrifty: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
Art magazines and vintage books are great sources of frame-worthy illustrations. Just cut pages out neatly and pop them into any empty frames you have lying around. Once I framed a whole series of 1970s surfing photos from a feature in The Surfer’s Journal (a particularly artsy surfing mag) for a cool retro take on the beach theme. Look through your stacks with a fresh eye; you never know what you may find.