The Insider: How to decorate on a budget

 

Kate Burt
Saturday 17 November 2012 20:00 EST
Comments
Turn things you already have - books, magazines, vintage cutlery - into something decorative with some thought to their arrangement
Turn things you already have - books, magazines, vintage cutlery - into something decorative with some thought to their arrangement

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Holly Becker is the queen of interiors blogs. Her hugely popular website, Decor8 (decor8blog.com), has already spawned one bestselling book. Now she has a second out: Decorate Workshop (£25, Jacqui Small), a step-by-step guide to grappling with your own interiors project, beautifully illustrated with inspiring pictures. I asked Ms Becker to share her best tips for small budgets…

Look around you

"Shop around your own home before heading to the high street. Go from room to room and list what may work better in another space. Often, swapping round curtains, throws, a lamp, some pillows and a few decorative objects can make a huge difference. You may not need to buy anything new at all."

Spruce almighty

"If you are bored, embellish: stitch some trim to your plain linen curtains or paint your curtain rod a fun colour – hot pink, say. If your bathroom doesn't excite you, create a focal point through a beautifully patterned shower curtain, rugs and towels."

Don't pay, display

"Turn things you already have – books, magazines, vintage cutlery – into something decorative with some thought to their arrangement. Perhaps your teas could go into glass jars arranged on a shelf above your counter. Maybe those bath products would look nicer poured into dispensers or see-through bottles to create a spa-at-home vibe. Perhaps your linens are too pretty to keep in a closet – stack them in a cabinet with glass doors instead."

Another fine mess

"Embrace happy accidents… maybe you'll hang the wallpaper upside-down (I did this once). Stepping back, you may prefer the pattern upside-down and even find it a great conversation piece. Often the wonky bits bring personality and charm into a home.

Find Kate's blog on affordable interiors at yourhomeislovely.com

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in