Redecorate for next to nothing – this is thrifty style at its finest
While it’s easy to get carried away with the latest interior trends, new season homewares and inspiring renovation projects you see on TV, social media and Pinterest, giving your home a fresh new look doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.
If your home is in need of a style overhaul but you don’t have the funds to buy new furniture or renovate the kitchen, there’s plenty of ways to work with what you’ve got.
From restoring or simply rearranging furniture to giving your home a deep clean, here are six clever ways to refresh and redecorate your home for $10 or less.
DETOX YOUR HOME
Cost: Free
First things first: clean out your house. Yes this sounds like a massive, boring job, but if you break it down room-by-room, it’s manageable – not to mention incredibly satisfying!
Clear out drawers, shelves and hidden storage areas, and ask yourself: when was the last time I actually used/displayed this? Do I even like it? The aim is to get rid of clutter.
Large pieces of furniture can be sold on TradeMe, smaller items can be donated to charity and anything else can be thrown at your next council inorganic collection. The process may take a while, but stick with it!
EXPOSE YOUR KITCHEN
Cost: Free
Dare to bare all! This redecorating tip isn’t for every home, but if you’re game, it will open up a cluttered kitchen and force you to keep it organised. All you need to do is unhinge cabinet doors (as many or as few as you like) to create the illusion of more space. Alternatively, you could hang a couple of wall-hung shelves if you have a blank wall.
REARRANGE FURNITURE
Cost: Free
Once your home is clean and decluttered, start moving around some furniture.
When done well, the simple act of rearranging a room maximises floor space and rejuvenates stale areas.
Our advice? Play around with placement by working around a focal point. This could be interesting architectural element, such as an exposed beam in a corridor, or a TV, feature wall, or window overlooking the backyard.
After you’ve settled on a starting point, work out how your furniture arrangement will draw attention to it. Measure large pieces of furniture and draw a plan on paper before you shift things around. And say hello to more space!
REPURPOSED OBJECTS
Cost: Free
Want to refresh a space without spending a cent? Simple reuse jars for vases, tins for succulent gardens, kitchen pots for plant pots and old teacups for candles. They might not change an entire room, but they will give it a personalised touch.
RESTORE EXISTING FURNITURE
Cost: Around $10 (depending on the project)
You’ve had the one treasured piece of furniture for years, but it’s hidden in storage because you just don’t have anywhere to put it. Why not give it a facelift?
Spend a weekend sanding it, giving it a fresh coat of paint (maybe even in a completely new shade) and varnishing it. Don’t be scared of a DIY project – everyone has a creative side waiting to be unleashed.
You could even try transforming vintage furniture into vanities and bathroom storage cabinets or old ladders into decorative storage. The options are endless.
PHOTO FRAME FEATURE WALL
Cost: From $1 per photo frame at thrift shops
Display your favourite photos, postcards and artworks on a picture gallery feature wall. Whether it’s snaps of the kids, pets, or weddings, digging out pictures from storage or photo albums will bring those memories back to life. Mix them with postcards from your favourite trips or prints you’ve collected from art markets. This will transform a bland living room or corridor.
EXPERT PROJECTS
Create the home of your dreams with Shop Your Home and Garden
SHOP NOW
