Keen to take your home interior design to the next level? Searching for ‘interior designers near me’, but on a strict budget? You’re in the right place.
If you’re worried about how much a professional decorator will cost, we’re here to tell you it doesn’t need to cost the earth to create a stylish home. There are many cost-effective methods you can implement yourself to refresh the look of your home. From investing in chic new curtains and DIY headboards to replacing the old carpets in some rooms, just a few simple changes can transform the look and feel of your home.
Ready to find out how? Read on for some of our favourite ideas to improve your interior decor on a budget:
Spruce up your kitchen – In most homes, the kitchen is the room that tends to get the most use. Also known as the ‘heart of the home’, the kitchen is also the room that can quickly start to look the most worn and outdated.
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to add some life to your kitchen is with a simple lick of paint. Give your kitchen cupboards a facelift by painting them in a lighter or brighter colour – this will instantly refresh the entire room. Even if you decide to paint them the exact same colour as they were before, at least you’ll get rid of any signs of wear and tear or scuff marks.
Next, we’d recommend replacing the doorknobs. Invest in a set of cute and quirky cupboard door knobs to add some character to your kitchen without breaking the bank.
If you have a little bit more to spend, invest in a statement piece for your kitchen. This could be an unusual looking kitchen sink which is stylish yet functional. Or, it could be a new worktop with a different finish. A single investment like this can transform the look of your entire kitchen, even with a limited budget.
Trawl the internet for bargains – Sites such as eBay, Amazon, and Gumtree make it so much easier to hunt for bargains. If your budget is limited, you can still find some great ‘pre-loved’ items on these sites. Gumtree even has a section dedicated to people giving away their old items for free. You’ll just have to commit to picking them up, which is a small price to pay for how much money you’ll save. You’d be surprised at some of the gems you can find online, especially when it comes to larger furniture items that would cost an arm and a leg if purchased new.
Opt for bolder colours – Let’s face it, many of us tend to play it safe when it comes to the interior decoration of our own homes. An easy (and cheap) way to completely transform your home is to spice up your colour palette. For instance, be bolder when it comes to the choice of your wall colour. You could go so far as to paint one colour a bright and bold tone as a feature wall. Or you could simply get a little more courageous with your wallpaper choice. This doesn’t cost much at all, and is your chance to make a stylish statement on a budget.
Replace your curtains or blinds – Curtains and blinds aren’t simply there to shield your privacy and keep the light out. Their aesthetic is just as important. The right set of curtains can instantly update the look of a room without the need for costly investment. Or if you already have curtains, replace them with blinds for a neater and completely different look. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it can make to a room when you install blinds instead of curtains.
To open up the windows and add the illusion of space, we’d recommend opting for lighter tones. Remember to get rid of any unnecessary clutter from your window sills. This will help maximise the amount of natural light that streams in.
Upgrade your flooring – If you’re worried about how expensive that sounds, don’t be! We’re not talking about replacing the flooring of your home itself, which can be a costly and time consuming process. Simply dress them up with the right rugs and carpets. This can make a huge difference to not just how the room looks but also how it feels.
Add a statement mirror – Want to refresh a specific area of your home or add the illusion of space in a small room? Introduce a mirror into the mix. Mirrors instantly make any room seem more interesting. They can also make confined spaces feel much bigger. Remember to add a mirror into an area where you know that it’ll reflect any natural light streaming in.
If you already have some old mirrors at hand, upcycle them with a new frame or a simple lick of paint.
Add some greenery – Indoor plants are a highly effective way to inject some colour and style into your home. They add an instant homely feel, and they’re a lot more low maintenance than you might think! Succulents such as aloe vera and jade plants are particularly easy to care for.
Not only can plants spruce up any room in your home, but they also purify the air and have mood-boosting properties. We’d recommend dotting around smaller succulents in the bedroom and any larger potted plants in the main living areas.
Dress your bed to revamp your bedroom – Sure, the main purpose of our bed is to keep us comfortable throughout the night. But you can also turn it into the statement piece of your bedroom with a few simple changes. It’s incredible what a big difference upgrading your bed linen can make. Add a few cushions and throws to take the cosiness level up a notch.
If you’re DIY savvy, you could also build yourself a new headboard. In the UK, many people opt for divan beds without a headboard. If you’re feeling particularly creative, you could paint a statement headboard onto the blank wall space behind your bed. Otherwise you could hang an interesting textile or even build a headboard with wood. For the DIY experts, try building a wooden headboard with shelves that you can place plants on.
Hopefully, the above tips have shown that interior decoration doesn’t have to involve a huge amount of expense or even a huge time investment. Just a few simple and creative changes can give your home a completely new look.
If you’re looking for some professional help or need a little more expert guidance, we’d be more than happy to assist. At Lewis Interiors, we offer interior decor advice in Derby and the surrounding areas. We have over five decades of experience offering interior design help.
Searching for the right items to furnish your home? We also offer a wide range of products including flooring, carpets, curtains and blinds. Visit our showroom in Spondon to take a closer look or get in touch for expert advice to transform your home.