Does your home look a little shabby and outdated? If so, then you may be looking for ways to bring it to life and transform it into a stylish sanctuary that you and your family can be proud of, but without breaking the bank. With the cost of living crisis weighing on everyone’s mind, you may be reluctant to spend your hard-earned money on repairing or replacing household items.
Fortunately, there is no need to spend a fortune on updating your property. In fact, there are plenty of ways to give your home a new look while saving those all-important pennies at the same time. Intrigued? Read on to find out some unbeatable ways to save money while decorating your home.
Add instant style to your entrance
Making some simple changes to your entrance hall can make a remarkable difference to the way you and your friends and family feel every time you walk in the door. At the same time, you can also place your distinctive stamp on the space, using elements of décor that resonate with your favourite style. If your entryway is rather cramped, a cheap and easy way to make it look and feel airier and more expansive is to hang a mirror or two on the walls to reflect light and give an illusion of space.
For simple but charming storage for your mail, car keys, and other essentials, you can add a second-hand console table or chest or perhaps some decorative wicker or seagrass baskets. Add a decorative table runner, a few framed family photos, and perhaps a plant in a decorative pot, and you have a gorgeous entranceway that will give a good impression every time someone walks through the door.
Update your old furniture on the cheap
If your furniture is on the old side and beginning to show inevitable signs of wear and tear, there is no need to throw it out and go looking for pricey new replacements. Instead, concentrate on what you can do to repair the damage and give your ageing furnishings a sleek new look.
For example, if you have some wooden furnishings, these can easily be rejuvenated by adding a new finish and perhaps even a coat of paint in your favourite shades. As for old chairs and sofas, they can be reupholstered with new fabrics, and adding pretty patterned slipcovers or throws will provide an instant transformation.
Use colour to your advantage
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. To give your home a new look and feel, a lick of paint can work wonders. Painting is also a very affordable way to transform your property overnight, and there are different ways you can use colour to create specific effects.
For example, painting your doors – or even your ceilings - a different colour to your walls creates instant interest. Similarly, choosing one wall of a room and painting it a rich, vibrant hue to turn it into an accent wall can immediately lift and modernise your living space.
Change the layout
Sometimes all a room needs in order to become a stylish new space is a little alteration. Shifting your furniture into new positions, or even swapping furnishings between rooms, can make a surprising difference to any space.
You may also want to create an attractive focal point, such as the accent wall mentioned above, or perhaps a window that offers a particularly attractive view of the street or garden.
Not only can changing a room’s layout open up more space and add more convenience, but it is also a powerful way to uplift the room without having to spend a single penny.
Save on fuel bills with an EV and charging point
If you are looking for ways to save money long-term, then you may want to consider updating your home’s main source of transportation: your car. If you own a petrol or diesel motor then you’re probably spending hundreds of pounds a year on fuel, not to mention tax, maintenance and repairs.
Trading in your car and opting to buy or lease an electric vehicle (or EV) can save you a significant amount of money, particularly if you also install a home charging point. Not only are EVs much cheaper to run, but they are also very cheap to maintain and tax. You can find out more about these cars and how to lease one – including information on how long they take to charge - with LV ElectriX; not only will you save money, but you will also be benefitting the environment, and you may just find that the impressive performance and handling of these cars makes you an instant EV convert.
Have fun searching for second-hand gems
When it comes to finding new décor, furnishings or accessories for your home while looking to save money at the same time, there are so many low-cost options to choose from. Websites such as Gumtree, Preloved, and Facebook Marketplace provide instant access to a whole host of second-hand items, from soft furnishings to electrical appliances.
You can also have a great deal of fun hunting for preloved gems in antique stores and charity shops, not to mention car boot sales. You never know what attractive items you might stumble across, and the best part is some of those items may just come with an intriguing backstory, which certainly wouldn’t be the case if you bought something brand-new.
While you’re perusing charity shops and sales, you can also take the opportunity to offload some of your own unwanted possessions. Clutter can make a house look and feel neglected, shabby, and dirty, and can even be unhygienic. Getting rid of any items you no longer want or use will add more space and lightness to your home – and will also provide you with extra room for any new second-hand treasures you unearth while bargain-hunting.
Seasonal decorations grow on trees
Our yearly calendar is peppered with holidays, each of which seems to come with its own unique decorations that we feel pressured to buy. Happily, there is no need to spend your hard-earned money on artificial décor; simply head into the great outdoors – or into your garden - and you may be surprised by the various kinds of attractive decorations for your home you will be able to find; all of them free of charge and just perfect for the season.
From pine cones, emerald holly leaves, and jewel-bright red hips and haws in winter-time to pretty seashells and pebbles from the beach and freshly-cut flowers from your garden in the spring and summer months, the natural world provides plenty of beautiful treasures that can uplift your interiors.
Work some low-cost magic with artful lighting
Last but not least, to transform your living spaces quickly and cheaply, you can use strategically placed lighting to your advantage.
From decorative lamp shades – which you can make yourself, if so inclined – to cheap but attractive wall sconces and even a scattering of safe but attractive LED candles, you can add fresh interest to a bland space. As you’ll soon discover, soft and artful lighting effortlessly creates a warm, stylish, and inviting atmosphere that will make your guests feel right at home.
