Moving into a new home is such an exciting time. It’s a fresh start, a chance to change your life and do things better in lovely new surroundings. However, there’s a snag- decorating a property is expensive. You’ll have browsed homes for sale and settled on the perfect one, but spent just about every penny you have on fees and the deposit. No need to fret if you’ve been left with hardly any cash but home to decorate. Here are some ideas!
Upcycle furniture
One of the most fun and frugal activities when it comes to DIY for the home is upcycling furniture. We live in such a throwaway’ society that when something breaks or becomes worn, instead of repairing it’s thrown away to buy new. Often, people throw things away that are perfectly good just because they no longer like the style. Utilize this wasteful behavior, get your hands on some furniture that people don’t want, and upcycle it so it fits your style. Often, a coat of white paint and some new hardware can make shabby old pieces look chic and stylish again.
Embrace the feature wall
Wallpaper is a great way to add color and pattern to your rooms, but rolls of wallpaper can be surprisingly pricey. To get around this, go with a ‘feature wall’ instead. This is where you wallpaper the main wall of a room and paint the others in a complementing shade. You get all of the fun and homeliness of wallpaper but without the expense. This can be good if you want to go with quite a bold wallpaper too as it prevents the room from looking too busy.
Make your own soft furnishings
If you own a sewing machine, why not make your own curtains, cushion covers, chair seating, and more? Not only do you get more choice with fabric styles and finishes, but it can save you money and be really satisfying to do. It’s easy to make coordinating items which would cost a lot more in the shops.
Use your art and design skills
If you’re artistic you could design prints for a gallery wall (you can find cheap frames from any homeware shop), paint canvasses or edit photos to put in frames. This helps to bring personality to the house without you having to spend a fortune. It’s a chance to practice your craft and build your skills too, plus its fun!
What kinds of crafts have you done to make your home look more personal?
