Everybody would love a beautifully decorated home. But money is a limited resource and it’s easy to start thinking you just don’t have the budget to make your home shine. Well, that’s not true and we’re here to prove it! We’ve asked the experts and collected 10 awesome interior design tips that will guide you in achieving a stunning style without breaking the bank. Read on to see just how to design for less!
Getting Started with Affordable Interior Design
Before you jump into your budget interior design project, there are a few things that can help you from making some of the most common interior design mistakes. Take our advice and save yourself the hassle!
- Do your research. Thanks to technology and the internet, you’re now able to Google unlimited inspiration as well as how-to’s for decorating your home.
- Know your capabilities. Chances are if you’re not crafty or don’t have an eye for good design, your DIY project might not turn out so well. Stick within your skillset.
- Get help! In the end, sometimes requesting a free quote from an affordable professional saves you money in the long run. Their experience pays off and often times working with a designer gets you to access to exclusive trade discounts.
Want to save money while still getting professional interior design help? Then request a Free Interior Design Consultation to learn how you can save 1000s!
Stunning homes are accessible to any size budget and we’re here to prove it. Check out our design experts’ top budget-friendly interior design tips:
1. Purge All the Excess Clutter
Let’s face it, clutter is never attractive and it doesn’t do any good to your home either. The first step to achieving a stunning style in your home is to get rid of all that you don’t need anymore. Besides decluttering your space and your mind, having less stuff will also make it easier to store everything neatly in your available space. Especially if you haven’t done a serious purge in a long time, this can become a huge task and it can feel daunting. But don’t get discouraged; just start with one small drawer and go one room at a time. When you start it will feel liberating and you’ll get the energy to continue!
While you decide what to purge, remember that what you don’t like anymore can be a treasure for someone else. So keep reading the next points for some ideas about what you could do instead of filling the trash bin with your “needs to go” items!
2. Affordable Interior Design Essential: Get Crafty
It sounds crazy, but the first person that may like the items you discarded is…you! Many times you’ll find yourself thinking you don’t like an item anymore, but in reality, a crafty afternoon could be enough to give it a whole new look and make you fall in love with it again. Without even mentioning the satisfaction of having done it yourself!
From painting it another colour to adding embellishments, you can find tons of easy and inexpensive ideas online. They bring some pretty amazing transformations and who knows, maybe you’ll get inspired for your next weekend project! Crafted pieces are also great conversation starters and will put your own mark on your home, bringing in your taste and personality.
3. Utilize Flea Markets & Swaps for Affordable Home Decor
Even after a creative thought, there will be things you don’t like anymore and can’t reuse in other ways and those need to go. But still, instead of trashing them, think about joining a flea market. To start with, the money you’ll get from selling your stuff will stretch the budget of your remodel. And while you’re there you’ll surely find pre-loved items that are just right for your home! While walking around a flea market, always keep your creative mind awake. Many of the things you’ll find are probably not exactly what you want, but many times all it takes to make them perfect for your home is a small update!
Another great way to get rid of unwanted stuff while getting new pieces in return is swapping things with your friends. You may even transform this into an alternative get-together event. Organize a thematic evening where everybody brings things they want to get rid of. Then lay everything on a table and start shopping. During the evening, you can also share tips and exchange budget interior design ideas to apply to your homes.
4. Start by Shopping for Your Own Home
Moving things from one room to another can seem an absolute no-brainer. But you’ll be impressed by how many useful things you can find around your home! Baskets, boxes, and vases are just some examples of things that can easily transition from one room to another when needed. So, whenever you feel you need something new for your décor, walk around your home and see if you already own it. Shopping for your own home is something you will always do and sticking to a defined colour palette will make it even easier in the future.
When looking at say, living room design ideas, notice what you like about the photo. You could have a similar piece of art or accessory in another room. If you have the same colours repeating throughout your home, you’ll be able to move things around very easily! And while you walk around your home, also keep the next point in mind…
5. Think Outside the Box
Creativity is often the solution to practical problems. And when it comes to home decorating, it allows looking at things in a new light. In particular, if you let your creativity flow you’ll realize that you don’t have to limit yourself to using an object for its original function. Here are some ways you can think outside the box for your home decor. Looking for a new brass towel bar but can’t find it? A drawer pull is much easier to find and will do the job just fine. Want new flower vessels? Mason jars can come to the rescue. Need more storage but your bathroom is too small? Why not just try leaning a ladder on the wall?
See, we are used to looking at things for their original function but actually, they can serve many other purposes too! Looking at objects creatively is also a sure way to save you some money. While at home, you may find something to reuse for a new function. And while shopping, you may choose to purchase a less expensive item and use it in an unconventional way. Up to now, we’ve looked at creative and uncommon ways of using things that will stretch your budget. But they will not be sufficient for you to get a stunning style in your home. So let’s move on and see some affordable interior design tips that can guide you in achieving the home of your dreams!
6. Choose Your Style & Color Palette First
The number one thing that makes a home beautiful is the feeling of cohesion throughout the rooms. It shows you’ve put some thinking into the décor of the space as a whole and it’s a sure way to achieve a high-end feel. So before you go any further, set a direction for yourself. Look through different interior design styles and choose the one (or the mix) that you like the most. Create a new Pinterest board and collect pictures of rooms and objects you love. Then select the colour palette you will use, choosing colours you like and you will not get bored of.
In other words, you need to decide what you want your home to look like. This may seem obvious, but thinking through it upfront and collecting some examples will give you a visual reference and help you make the right decision whenever you’ll be in doubt during the remodel!
7. Easy Budget Interior Design Updates
Do you know the saying “Small details make a big difference”? This is totally true and it’s also one of the best interior design tips! For example, a small thing like swapping the knobs of your kitchen cabinets can transform the look of the entire room from average to “wow!”. Another small change that will elevate the look of your home is changing the handles of your doors to something that complements your style.
And what about light switches and sockets? Updating or embellishing those plates will immediately make your home more stylish. All these may seem irrelevant things at first but we guarantee that if you implement one or two of those, you’ll already see a tremendous improvement in your home!
8. Create Some Focal Points With Your Walls
Walls are one of the biggest surfaces in a room and have the potential to make a big difference in a design. Painting them is great, but it is really only the first option when it comes to decorating a wall. There are plenty of inexpensive alternatives like removable wallpaper and decals. They’re easy to install and remove and the effect is impressive. Sticky tiles are also an option and can be used in every room, including wet areas like backsplashes.
Also, don’t forget the power of big bold artwork! There exist many budget-friendly options out there, but you may also decide to DIY your own art piece with colours, scrap fabrics or papers. Whatever method you choose to dress your walls up, remember that a good wall décor will immediately add character to the space and create a beautiful feature, so it may be all you need to spruce up a room.
9. Lighting is Key
Even the best home can be ruined by poor lighting…do not let it be your home! It doesn’t matter if it’s high-end or affordable interior design. When it comes to lighting, the best advice is layering. This will give you options to use the space in different ways. So let’s sum up the main tips to achieve good lighting. Always start with overhead lighting, which is good to light up the room in general.
Then add floor and table lamps. They will give you a spot to comfortably read and write or, by switching the general lighting off, they’ll create a softer ambience for the evening. Finally, add diffuse lights to help create a cosy vibe. For instance, candles and string lights are some tested ways to set a relaxing mood.
10. Embrace the ‘Work in Progress’ Stages
Especially when working with time and budget constraints, chances are you will not get to redecorate your entire home all in one go. But you know what? This is not a problem at all! It may require a bit of mental training at first, but try to let go if things are not perfect everywhere. Taking time on your affordable interior design project will make the result, even more, yours and this is what it’s all about in the end, isn’t it?
Today, interior design is becoming more accessible and affordable than ever before. Many affordable interior design services are popping up with affordable flat-rate packages rather than services by the hour. These affordable interior designers often use virtual interior design to complete their work.
Clients are able to fully visualize their new interiors through the use of 3D realistic renderings before committing to a design or furniture and decor purchases. Better yet, some of the best services provide exclusive trade discounts and concierge shopping at no additional charge! Floor plans, colour palettes, and implementation guides complete the design package, giving you all you need to make your new home come to life. If DIY is not for you, save yourself some money while still getting incredible designs by using budget interior design services. Request Free Quote Here
