Call us optimists, but we firmly believe that anyone can have a magazine feature-worthy home. Even if you’re on a shoestring budget, there are plenty of ways to decorate your interior or garden. If your new year resolution is to revamp your home in 2022, here are some cheap and easy ways to achieve your goals.
1. PAINT A STATEMENT WALL
Create a focal point in your living room adding colour to an empty wall. Go for a bold hue that contrasts with the other colours in the room. For instance, a purple or dark red wall pairs wonderfully with a neutral beige décor. Or, if you have grey walls, why not follow Pantone’s colour of the year advice and paint a statement wall in a vibrant shade of yellow?
No matter your choice, the Paint Racer refillable roller and the magic paint tray can help you complete the task without any annoying spills.
2. CREATE A DIY LIVING ROOM BAR
If 2020 taught us something, it must be that sometimes we have to adapt to new situations. Such as sipping your favourite drinks at home instead of going to the pub. So, why don’t you set up a bar in your living room? All you need is a bar cart and a cheap wine rack. To keep your investment as low as possible, go for an inexpensive, acrylic bar cart you can find in most home renovation stores.
3. RETHINK WHAT YOU HAVE
Revamping your home for free is also possible, by simply rethinking and repurposing what you already have. Start with uncluttering, getting rid of any unnecessary items. Then, go through the rubbish pile and see what you can repurpose. For instance, an old chair or suitcase can make a lovely side table. An old shirt can become an unconventional pillowcase. As for the items you don’t want to use at all, donate to a charity what’s still usable or sell them on eBay.
4. UPSCALE A DATED SOFA WITH SLIPCOVERS
Whether you’re dealing with old and rotten upholstery, stubborn stains, or you’re just tired of your sofa, a slipcover can help you give it a new lease of life. You can find a wide selection of cheap slipcovers on the market or, if you know how to sew, you can easily transform a few metres of fabric into a unique slipcover for your living room.
5. DECORATE WITH CUSHIONS AND THROWS
Updating your cushions and throws is another easy and inexpensive way to decorate or revamp your interior. This idea works wonders in the living room as well as in the bedroom. If you can’t afford new cushions, buy or make cases for the cushions you have. As for the throws, you can knit, crochet, or sew your own.
6. HANG PRINTS INSTEAD OF EXPENSIVE WALL ART
Smartly chosen wall art can turn even the dullest interior into a picture-perfect one. But that doesn’t mean that you have to invest in expensive artwork. Prints can easily replace original works of art. If you have some artistic talent, you can also decorate your walls with unique art you’ve made yourself. Alternative wall art made from fabrics, crochet appliques, or macramé can add an eclectic touch and personality to an otherwise anonymous room.
7. DIY PALLET HEADBOARD
The bedroom can be revamped as easily as the rest of your house. The simplest changes to make in this room are your headboard and bedside tables. Pallets come in handy in both instances. Two pallets arranged vertically against the wall can become a lovely DIY headboard. For a rustic feel, leave the natural colour of the pallets. If you aim to achieve a shabby chic or eclectic style, paint the boards in your favourite shade of chalk paint.
8. ADD NEW DIMENSIONS WITH MIRRORS
Do you have a small and dark room or a narrow entryway? Add new dimension to your home with mirrors. Arrange them randomly on a wall and enjoy the feeling of ampleness provided by the reflected light.
9. UPGRADE YOUR WINDOW TREATMENTS
No, you don’t have to buy new curtains and shades. You can simply add a trim to your curtains with an iron. Or transform a pair of cheap painters’ drop cloths into ceiling-to-floor drapes.
10. DIY GALLERY WALL
Do you have an album of photos tucked somewhere into a drawer or cabinet? It’s a shame to keep all those precious memories hidden. Instead, bring them into the spotlight and transform them into a focal point in any room in your house. You can use a variety of frame styles and can arrange the pictures on the wall in any way you want. A wall gallery looks beyond cool on the staircase wall, but also in a home office or living room.
11. SALVAGE YOUR KITCHEN CHAIRS
Repairing damaged chairs and giving them a new lease of life with a fresh coat of paint is cheaper than buying new chairs. To keep messes to a minimum whilst painting, smartly use the Starlyf Paint Magnet.
12. UNCLUTTER YOUR BEDROOM WITH A CLOTHES RACK
Do you have a small wardrobe, or no wardrobe at all? Instead of piling up your clothes in a corner of the room, invest in a clothes rack. There are plenty of cheap options available on the market, and you’ll be able to get rid of the clutter.
13. SHABBY CHIC DINING AREA
If you live in a tiny home or just moved into a new flat and don’t have a dining table and chairs, you can set up a cheap shabby chic dining area. All you need is a small bar table and a couple of chic chairs. For a finishing touch, decorate with upcycled crockery and placemats.
14. TURN A WARDROBE INTO A HOME OFFICE
Working from home is often unproductive, mainly because it is hard to find a quiet place where you can concentrate. If you don’t have enough space to turn an entire room into a home office, you could repurpose a wardrobe. Turn a long, low shelf into a desk and use additional shelves and drawers to keep all essentials organised and within easy reach.
15. DIY FRUIT CRATE BOOKCASE
Fruit crates are easy to source at most farmers’ markets and can become an invaluable asset once you have them. Stashed one on top of the other, they can make a lovely bookcase. Or you could use them to replace a cabinet in your kitchen.
16. DIY KITCHEN CONTAINER LABELS
Sometimes, a small detail can turn into an eye-catchy focal point. Such as the sugar or coffee jars you keep in the kitchen. Instead of using simple jars or containers, create stylish DIY labels for each of them. A few labelling ideas include painting the words on them or decorating with stickers.
17. INDOOR HERB GARDEN
If you don’t have a garden or would like to revamp your kitchen without making major changes, set up an indoor herb garden. You can either use small pots or transform used cans into flower pots. Hang them on the wall, arrange them on the window sill, or simply transform an old ladder into a DIY shelf for your edibles.
18. LIGHT-UP JARS
Fairy lights and a mason jar can become a beautiful lamp for your side table, bedroom, or porch. Battery-operated lights are a good choice if you don’t want floating cables around your house or if you want to use the lamp far away from a wall outlet.
19. CREATE AN OUTDOOR READING NOOK
Your outdoors can look as cosy and stylish as your indoors without spending heaps of money. To set up a reading nook, you only need a distressed bench that you can repaint – if you don’t have a bench, make one from old furniture or set an old sofa under a gazebo. Finish with some cushions, a throw blanket, and the fairy jar we mentioned above.
20. REPURPOSED LADDER TOWEL HOLDER
The bathroom is also easy to decorate when you’re on a budget. One of the simplest and cheapest ideas is to transform a ladder into a towel holder. If it is a step ladder, you can also use it instead of shelves, to hold your toiletries or other bathroom essentials.
21. MAKE CANDLE LAMPS
You can also decorate all rooms in your wall with candle lampshades. This simple DIY idea requires few materials if you use the Mood Magic candles. Containing LED lights, they pose no fire hazard and fit beautifully into glass bowls. Fill the bowls with dry flower petals or pot-pourri and place the candle in the middle. These lamps can add a romantic touch to your living room or bedroom, and set the mood whilst soaking in the tub.
With these tricks treating your home to a fresh new look is achievable and need not cost the earth. How will you decorate yours?
Photo by Jonny Caspari on Unsplash