A True Beginners Guide To Decorating On A Budget
Until the coronavirus crisis hit, most people spent more time outside their homes than inside them. We have transformed our homes into multi-use spaces, now they aren’t just where we sleep, but also the place that we eat with our family, and where we have a home gym or an improvised workspace set up.
With this new paradigm in mind, the focus has quickly shifted to wellbeing, mental health and trying to maintain healthy habits through exercise, diet and more importantly rest.
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We are firm believers that all of us are creatives at heart and with a little dedication and time we can create beautiful spaces. With lockdown measures extended and social distancing continuing to impact all of us world-wide, what a better time to take some inspiration and create our ideal spaces. All it takes is proper planning, ingenuity, patience and a keen eye.
First, find your design inspiration.
Then, break the project down into its components – flooring, furniture, paint and accessories.
Shop Your Home.
There’s no denying that repurposing your old design elements won’t be as exciting as waiting for all new pieces to arrive from the store. But, with a little bit of elbow grease and an investment in free time, it’s possible to totally transform the look of almost any component of your interior design. Plus, it will allow you to save money for must-have purchases later on.
Look for shapes and textures that can also influence your mood. Shiny surfaces tend to brighten any room, or try adding a mirror on a wall. Adding plants or fresh flowers is a great way of bringing the elements into a room.
Anchor The Room With Furniture.
As many shops and stores will be closed, design in this current climate will often be about prioritising spending. When you’re working with limited resources, you have to spend money where you will get the most for your money. In interior design, that means allocating a large portion of your budget towards purchasing quality furniture. Furniture is a wise place to spend your money because it will likely last for years. Which leads us ot the next point..
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Shop Second Hand.
Get to know your local thrift store. Figure out what days they accept new inventory and get there early to scope out every inch of the place, that’s if it’s currently open! Spend some time on any of their websites for bargains. Try ask around to see if your family and friends have anything thats to your taste that they’re not using. When shopping for second hand items, quality is more important than style, which can always be altered. Inspect every inch of the piece for structural quality.
Go Bold With Colour.
It’s time to let you in on one of interior design’s biggest secrets: Colour is cheap. In contrast to other interior deign elements, paint is super cheap. Accessories like throw pillows cost even less. Before you take the plunge with paint, be sure you’ve picked a colour you love. Pick up a few free palettes from your local home improvement store. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few choices, you can pick up samples of each. Paint small squares of each sample colour on each wall of the room see which one you like best. Check on the samples over the course of a few days to see how the colours react to varying amounts of daylight.
A note on choosing colours: I recommend using the 60-30-10 rule when selecting shades for your interior. It states that roughly 60% – think walls, floors and ceiling – of the space should be filled by a dominant colour. Then, the next 30% of the space should go to a secondary colour. The final 10% should be decorated in a bolder accent colour.
Add More Lights.
Natural light can improve productivity and our mood. Make the most of natural light and throw open the windows and doors and flood the room with light, allow all the shiny surfaces to throw light around the room. Try to separate your work lighting with your relaxation lighting. Warmer colours for the evening to calm your spirit and just cold blue bright light or natural light during the day. The use of low level floor or table lamps can create a relaxing calming room.
Trying to complete a decorating project on a shoestring budget isn’t easy. But, with a commitment of time an effort, it can be done. Use these tips to get you started. Don’t be afraid to run with them and really make your interior design your own. At the end of the day, what’s most important is that you are happy and comfortable in your current living space.
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Images | Pinterest
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