One thing I truly believe is you don't have to have oodles of money to create a stylish home. Whether you’ve bought your first home, or you’re renting, there are plenty of ways to add style to your place without breaking the bank.
Reuse, recycle and repurpose
If you want to give your apartment an eclectic but unexpected injection of style, then look at how you can reuse, recycle and repurpose objects in your home. From orange crates used for storage to industrial spools or treadle sewing machine bases repurposed as tables, you’re bound to find quirky objects that get your creative juices racing. The industrial look is a key trend in interior design at the moment, and you can get the look cheaply by cleverly repurposing and reusing objects. From looking at your possessions anew to repurposing donations from friends and family or visiting your local architectural salvage yard, you are bound to find stylish finds to add to your home. Look too at website www.freecycle.org to find objects in good condition that need a new home.
Upcycle
Don’t just repurpose objects but upcycle them too. Hardly a day goes by without a programme on the television about how to make something out of nothing, and if you look online, there is lots of advice to help you too. Check out blogs such as Cassie Fairy for inspiration and advice about upcycling and repurposing items. From a fresh paint job to a simple upholstery project, the world is your oyster when it comes to affordable style for your apartment. So get your paint brush and fabric stapler out and get to work.
Vintage pieces
Look at vintage pieces to add style and practicality to your home, with antique furniture prices low it’s a good time to invest in these pieces. Whether it’s an old dresser, sideboard or blanket box, you’ll find a whole host of beautiful and practical items to add to your home that will give you lots of storage space too. Check out your local car boot sales, charity shops and auction houses to find good value items for your home. Dark furniture might not be in vogue just now, but remember you can easily give it a fresh new look if it is not to your liking. However, the warm glow and grain of a natural wood finish could add an interesting focal point to your apartment.
Don’t discount new
Don’t discount new and shop around online to find the best value new furniture. First, make a note of the dimensions of the spaces that you want to fill with a piece of furniture so that you don’t have the hassle of buying the wrong item and having to return it. Then have a look online to find pieces that fit the spaces in your apartment. By buying online, you can purchase furniture directly from factories, cutting out the middleman and saving you money – meaning you’ll get better quality, well-made pieces on a budget. Look to the oak wine cabinet for a idea for a entertainment area, crafted and finished by hand, in a rustic oak with a light lacquer finish, stocked with drinks and cocktail glasses galore.
Get creative with fabric
Get creative with fabric and make a stylish addition to your home. Have a go at making a rug as a colourful centrepiece for your apartment. Look online or pop down to your local library to find literature that will give you hints and tips on how to approach traditional rug making techniques, from braiding to hooking.
Get out your paintbrush
Get out your paintbrush and get to work decorating your apartment. Try out special paint effects to give your place a new look. Rag rolling, sponging, stippling and stencilling could make a unique style statement in your home. Alternatively, if you don’t want to try out these paint effects consider how else you could use paint and colour to give your apartment a new look. Think about employing different shades of the same colour in one room to give it a new style, alternatively pick out a feature wall or paint the ceiling a contrasting colour. There are plenty of DIY blogs and websites to give you a helping hand on how to get started.
Bring the outdoors indoors
Bring the outdoors indoors and introduce the natural world into your apartment. However small the space, you can incorporate plants into your home, from fresh herbs in your kitchen to window boxes or houseplants, there are lots of options open to you. A little scent and colour can do a lot to enhance your home. If you don’t want the hassle of looking after plants, then consider introducing botanical prints into your home. Oversized floral prints are a big trend in interiors at the moment, and you can introduce these on a budget using off cuts of material or by wallpapering a single feature wall, rather than a whole room.
Mirror image
Add a statement mirror into your apartment to enhance light levels and make a striking style statement too. There are plenty of affordable examples available on the high street, many of which mimic vintage style such as angular Art deco inspired designs and sunburst and atom designs that echo mid-century chic. Alternatively, look for a mirror in a frame rather like that of a window to create a clever trompe l'oeil effect. Place it opposite an existing window in your apartment, and you’ll create a light, bright space and reflect the outdoors indoors at the same time.
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