Home décor on a tight budget

Sharmila Chand 

Who says you have to spend a ton to give your home a classy makeover? Here are some easy, fun and practical ideas for sprucing up your abode without spending a fortune. 

Ideas that call for a little imagination, and little or no money, add instant style to any decor.

Re-arrange the furniture 

Just change the seating arrangements in your drawing or living room and see the difference. You can move your sofa into a new corner, or change its angle. Get some chairs from your bedroom or guest room and place them with the sofa. It will make a world of difference in how a living room looks and feels. Even a slight shift in a room's furniture configuration can add new life so rotation of furniture is a must. 

Place rugs and stoles  

You don't have to buy expensive throws and carpets to change the look. Rugs are a good option. They are colourful, easy-to-maintain and relatively cheaper. Place these here and there and see how they add warmth and coulor to the barren flooring. 

Don't buy new throws, take out your own colourful stoles and huge shawls and place them as throws on sofas, couches, swings - you are sure to get a very lively feel. 

Be a clever shopper

Be on the lookout for genuine sales. No harm in visiting flea markets. Sometimes you find chic, unique pieces at these markets, tag sales or surplus sales. Try to go early, the best pieces get sold very fast. Carry a measuring tape with you so you know exactly what piece will fit your space. 

Go natural

You can make your rooms come to life by placing some plants here and there. Houseplants not only generate oxygen and remove toxins from the air, they also add life and colour to the space.  

Be creative 

You can create a lot of interesting props with your discarded stuff. For example, don't throw away empty bottles of wine, etc. Collect them, clean their label and start putting small pebbles in water and then place a small plant. You get a beautiful planter at no cost which can be placed anywhere in the house. Bamboo plants look lovely in coloured bottles. 

Quick bathroom redo

For bathrooms, the easiest way for a makeover is to change the shower curtain. If you keep changing the colour and pattern of shower curtain and coordinate it with bathroom accessories, you will be amazed to see a fresh new look of your bathroom regularly without having to spend much from your budget. 

Reflect your style 

Let the centre table in the living room be your creativity canvas. A bare tabletop is the best opportunity waiting to be utilised. 

You can have a piece of glass cut to fit the tabletop's dimensions, then place your chosen snapshots, postcards, or printed fabric underneath. 

Kids can also utilise this space to display their collections of favourite sayings, postcards, stamps or even better their own drawings, sketches, etc. This is the best way to engage everybody in the family to enjoy decorating and create an open album for all to share their favourite collectibles. 

Bring in kitchen utensils 

There is no need to place plants and flowers in the same vases all the time or buy new ones. You just have to look for interesting utensils in your kitchen. If your grandma has left some, even better as the old ones in copper or brass look even more stunning. You can even use pickle containers for the same, they are just ideal and look pretty. Take them out and use them as planters and vases, and see how you create a unique décor statement.

Liven up with candles

These days candles are available in such amazing patterns, colours and fragrance. Whenever you spot one, pick it up and keep collecting the variety. Place your collection in clusters anywhere near the window or in the centre of dining table, they look lovely. You can even place these in glass containers and see how they enhance the overall look and feel.

Remember, decorating is easy and affordable when you build upon what you already have. The trick is to see how you can utilise your existing home stuff and convert it into a personalised décor statement. 

— The writer is a freelance writer and author of "CHEERS - 365 Cocktails & Mocktails"