If you want to give your living space a little boost as it gets darker, but you don’t want to spend a fortune doing so then get out your craft supplies.
You can refashion existing house hold items or buy basic and inexpensive items to turn into something that will blend in with your current décor.
De-Clutter
Have a proper sort out of your stuff and deciding what you don’t need can drastically improve the look of your home. It creates more space and can potentially create a bit of extra cash, buy selling on eBay or Gumtree. If you just want rid, then you can post it on Freecycle and some one will more than likely be interested and take it off your hands.
Before you start your deep clean, make sure you’ve de-cluttered as much as you can, it’ll make the cleaning much easier, if you’ve got more space.
Top Tip: Whilst it’s good to get rid of unwanted items, be aware that what you might give away today, you may need the very next day!
Small Home Improvements
Making small, but significant changes to your house can make it feel like new again, and it’s much cheaper than moving house, buying new furniture or costly refurbishments.
Cleaning walls and ceilings using a mixture of ammonia, white vinegar, baking soda and water will keep them looking fresh. Simply apply with a clean sponge. What’s more you can pick up paint cheaply from places like Tesco or from the Wickes, additionally many of the more well known DIY stores sell off paint from the mixer which wasn’t exactly right or to the customers liking. Adding a feature wall will add something new to the room without using much paint, or you could find some cheap off cuts of wall paper. This will make the room feel completely new.
Washing your curtain and drapes is an alternative to buying new ones and can make the room feel cleaner and fresher.
Adding a new coat of paint to your front door is also a way of making things look a bit fresher.
Getting your carpet steamed and cleaned professionally or by hiring a specialised machine is a much cheaper alternative to buying a new carpet, you can also use website RentNotBuy for even cheaper renting options.
Adding new furnishings such as rugs, throws, cushions and accent lighting also adds a new feel to your living spaces. Look charity shops, bric-a-brac and discounts retailers which sell discontinued ranges such as TK Maxx.
If you’re looking to add new furniture to spruce up your living areas, try looking on Freecycle, Gumtree, Preloved, Loot or CraigslistUK for cheap second hand furniture. Alternatively, you could add a new coat of varnish or paint to wooden furniture or look to re-upholster sofas and chairs to give them a new look. Again, there are plenty of places online which can help you accomplish this, even if you’re a complete beginner.
The Kitchen
For many the kitchen is the heart of their home, so making it feel comfortable is important. Instead of spring for a whole new kitchen, try replacing the taps by looking at local antique or bric-a-brac shops. Alternatively give your cabinets new handles, doors or simply a lick of paint adds new life to the kitchen. Ex display units can also be picked up cheaply, either by searching online or going to local auction houses.
If you’re happy with your cabinets, then perhaps adding a new work surface could make a difference. This could be potentially expensive; the cheapest options are laminate, ceramic and granite tiles. Solid material tops such as marble, oak and stainless steel are popular but very expensive, so unless you come across a big piece of oak lying around or cheap from a local yard, it may be difficult on a budget.
Other small changes such as replacing tired looking appliances, dressing the window with a flower or herb box, adding some art to the walls or creating a focal feature such as a second hand butchers block, plants or wall hangings will also create a feeling of new.
Deep cleaning or re-grouting kitchen and bathrooms can create a new, fresh and cleaner look in addition to giving it a good scrub!
You can also find out more info on redecorating your home on a budget right here!
Home Decoration Ideas
Using tiles as a base creates hardy and simple coasters that you can customise.
Mason jars are all the rage for home decoration. They are relatively cheap and versatile around the home.
If you like vintage inspired furniture, this lampshade is perfect and it comes without the price tag!
This is another vintage inspired piece with a slightly more modern feel to it. It will look great in a modern themed home or a more classic décor.
This isn’t to improve your home, but your cat’s life. Buying replacement cat posts can get expensive, so this alternative is better for your wallet and will make your fluffy companion happy.
Keep your pooch snug with a DIY bed made out of old jumpers.
If you are throwing away some old clothes, make sure to take the buttons off them first. They can be used to customise various items around the home. It looks cute and it is inexpensive.
If you have burnt out candles, melt the wax and refashion as containers for your cosmetic table or as dishes for desserts.
Refashion old jumpers into new covers for throw pillows. This is a cosy idea for the cold winter months.
Use and old teapot or metal watering can as a new home for your plants.
If you are out of a woodsy walk, pick up some fallen tree branches and make them into candle holders. They are timeless and free!
Antique Frame Jewellery Holder
Use an old frame to house your jewellery collection. You can find one whilst bargain hunting, or dig around in the loft.
This would look great in a nursery or your home. This DIY definitely requires a sewing machine and some patience.
This isn’t exactly for your home, but it is really cute!
As you know, us Angels love recycling and reusing old items to make cute and quirky additions to your home and we hope you enjoy these few examples of the extensive material out there on the internet. We hope you draw inspiration from this post and get crafty with your own home!
