Interior Design on a Budget: What can you do?

“Oh it’s a temporary set up”,  “this is not our forever home”, “we don’t have a lot of money to spend on interior design”… I’ve heard countless excuses from people who have not been happy within their homes, yet put off doing something about it.

No doubt since the pandemic we all have started to spend more time at home. Our homes gained more purpose, and became the centre of our lives, rather than being a pit-stop. They affect our moods like never before, they can either uplift us, or bring us down when messy and poorly designed.

One of the main points I’ve been advocating since launching Maison F Interiors is that having a better life at home doesn’t require big budgets, or a forever home. No matter where we live, or what our budget is, we all deserve and more importantly CAN have a well designed home.

You can get your spaces a makeover without having to break the bank through the Quick Fix package, check it out! Now let’s talk about some small and affordable changes that can make a big difference!

Waking up to a bedroom that brings you joy

Get additional cushions & pillows

The power of layered cushions in creating an inviting bed is huge. Layering multiple cushions is an easy way of adding some dimension into your bedroom. My recommendation would be to go with 4 regular size rectangular pillows, complemented by 2 additional square pillows in front of them. You can alternatively get a single long one too.

Upgrade your bedding

I would recommend going for plain bedding with small details as that is a lot more timeless. Anything with lots of pattern either tends to bore you over time, or looks messy & chaotic. You need the bedding to be calm & peaceful, and spice it up with your cushions.

Use a throw as bedspread (or two)

Bedspreads that cover the full bed have left their places to multiple layers of thinner throws. This way, you can not only save money because throws are usually less expensive than bed spreads, but you can also add layers into your bedroom. As a result, the feeling you’ll get when entering your bedroom at night will be warm & cozy.

Use wall lights instead of table lamps

This will free up space on your bedside table for perhaps a little candle, or some dried flowers. It will also give a clean & peaceful look to your bedroom. If you don’t want to deal with electricians, you can get one that is easily fixed onto the wall with the hanging cord. Even better!

Bring more light in with a mirror

Whether you need a full length mirror or a round one above your chest of drawers, mirrors are a great an affordable way of spreading the natural light in the bedroom. As an added bonus, mornings will also be easier to wake up to 

Get organised

We have the tendency to let things linger around in our bedrooms…jewellery, coins, perfume, books etc. This can bring a chaotic look & overwhelm us. I would recommend spending 30 mins to look around you & see what things you can put away into a more appropriate place. For ladies, I’d also recommend jewellery boxes rather than stands as this is neater and easier to clean.

Add some greenery

Whether you use an old wine bottle to make a vase for some flowers you dry, or get some green foliage from outside and put it in some glass, this is guaranteed to make you happy! You can of course shop around your home to see which plants you can bring into your bedroom depending on the light situation.

Use a big framed print as headboard

Each space needs a focal point, and there’s no better space in a bedroom than the headboard. You can get a large pop of colour poster that you like with landscape orientation, and frame it for above your bed. One rule of thumb is that it’s slightly smaller than your headboard if you already have one. If you don’t have a headboard, the wider the better!

Paint an accent wall behind the bed

Don’t be scared…it’s not about painting the whole room! You can paint an accent wall behind the bed, in a darker colour to the rest of the walls. This will create a nice contrast with the lighter bedding, and will also make the room feel cosier.  

Print some black & white pictures in the same size

The pictures being black & white and the same size will create a sense of harmony in the room and won’t be tiring for the eye. I would highly recommend hanging them in symmetry for the same reason too. You can opt for inexpensive square frames or bigger rectangular ones.

Inexpensive ways to spruce up your living room

Get those books on the coffee table

The term coffee table book makes a lot of people think they’re big & expensive books that only rich people can afford to display. Well no :) You can either shop your own home for some books that you like (the larger the size the better), have a look online, or go to second hand book markets to get some hard cover books.  

Collect & stack magazines 

If you’ve got a subscription for a specific magazine or you like to get one regularly, instead of throwing them away once you’re done reading, you can stack them up and use them to display ornaments. You can even use them to go underneath pieces of furniture or the TV. 

Create a tray of candles (and light them!) 

All you need is a flat surface, whether it’s a tray, a cake display dish, a piece of wood/marble, doesn’t matter. And you can layer different sized candles on top of them to create a bit of a candle corner. Don’t forget to light them to get the wax running to create a more natural look ;) 

Add a full length mirror 

If your living room is a small space, I’d recommend adding a large full length mirror leaning on the floor. This can also be placed behind a side table. It will not only reflect the natural light, but will also make the room feel bigger and the ceilings taller. 

Collect prints & swap them seasonally

This is such an easy way to create different looks for your living room when you feel like you need a bit of a change. If you’ve got an empty wall, I’d recommend using multiple picture ledges to do this & different size prints. 

Frame an unexpected object 

Whether this is a small vinyl, a piece of fabric that was left in the back of drawers, or a doodle that you once drew while on the phone, once you frame it and put it up on a wall, it will create a surprising design element that wasn’t there before. Have fun with the scale & don’t be afraid of going outside the box with where you put this on a wall!  

Create a focal point with an old vase & some dry branches 

Almost all antique or flea market will have a pre-loved vase with some wrinkles on it, using it will add a lived in & natural element into your living room. I particularly like urn shaped ones with handles. 

Change your cushion covers 

Pick a rough colour scheme and then make sure to get covers with different textures, patterns, sizes & layer on your sofa, preferably with some throws as well! 

Take care of your windows 

Very easy one to neglect, but important one that makes a big difference. The simple act of cleaning them inside & out brings more natural light to start with. 

Review your curtains 

If possible, get full length curtains and hang them from as high as possible. The other important thing to note is that the size is right: not too long, and not too short. Short curtains are a big no – they will make your ceilings feel lower. If you can, I’d recommend layering your curtains with either blinds or sheers. 

Love your kitchen & love cooking  

Make use of fruits

What better looking ornaments than edible fruits? You can stack them in clear vases, or a large oversized fruit bowl on your countertop or the middle of your dining table if there is space.

Clear your counter top as much as possible

Do you have an appliance you haven’t used in months? You probably won’t use it any time soon, so it’s time to put it away!

Add small ornaments

Most kitchens are now open plan, so we need to make sure they tie back with the rest of the house too. Shop around your home to see which ornament you can incorporate into the kitchen. It can be a small painting, or a little candle to bring your mood up while cooking! 

Use decorative kitchen towels

This is again an inexpensive way to make your kitchen feel nicer. Time to replace your stained kitchen towels & refresh them with some fun designs! You can think about getting some that match the overall colour scheme of your house.

Add one or two open shelves

If you’ve got an empty wall, you can use that to marry function & style by adding an invisible shelf to display various items that you use day to day. Make sure these items bring you joy, like your favorite mugs/pots,  a glass jar with the cutlery you like etc.  

Glass bottles & jars for your cooking ingredients

Have a look at what you use the most & then decide on a standard way of storing them. Avoid using plastic bottles that bring a chaotic look. For example, you can use the same clear bottle & refill your olive oil & vinegar as you use them.  

Optimise your sink side  

If you are washing the dishes quite often, make sure your scourer and your washing up liquid has a place to be. You can use a mini stool and a little basket to hold those.

Add a hanging plant

If you’ve got open shelving add a little hanging plant to bring extra dimension & colour into the kitchen. Some particularly do well in the kitchen environment with moisture, you can never go wrong with an ivy!  

Display your chopping boards

An inexpensive way to add some creative design into your kitchen area is to display your chopping boards either by hanging them on the wall or by leaning them on your shelves.

Quick Fix for your bathroom and/or powder room

Coordinated towels with different sizes

This one is easy! Rather than mixing & matching different towels, try to stick with the same range. You can combine one plain & one patterned to display on your towel rail. I’d recommend going for more than one towel for display.  

Little hand towel basket

This is a great idea for your guest powder room. Add 2 baskets on the floor, one for clean hand towels and one for dirty. You can alternatively use 2 large class vases  to do the same.

Mini round rug

We usually neglect decorating the floor in our bathrooms, but they do actually help a lot, not only to soak the drops of water but also make the floors feel warmer on cold winter days.

Half painted wall/wallpaper

If you’re not afraid of slightly bigger changes that still are affordable, I would highly recommend having fun with re-decorating your walls. The powder room is a great place to do that because it’s a small & contained space where you can easily have fun. Try to bring in some contrast with some darker colours on your walls.

Use a caddy to store your items

Clutter is the worse enemy of a home that brings you joy. Get a tiered free standing caddy if you don’t have enough storage space. Ideally you’d use glass jars to store some of your items to it looks neat & tidy.

Coming home to a zen entrance

Add a tall plant

Coming home to a nice and tall plant will no doubt boost your energy. Try to pick something that doesn’t shed leaves and that is rather composed instead of spreading widely.  

Store away your coats & shoes

Entrances are no doubt the most susceptible places for mess to accumulate, so think about some creative ways you can store things away. If there’s no space available for shoe storage, you can try to get some baskets or thin cabinets. With regards to coats, either try to hang them away or put hooks on for the most frequently used coats.  

Add a stool

You’ll need space to put your shoes on, or drop your bag when you enter your home. Add a small inexpensive stool, and perhaps even a stylish cushion on it to add a creative touch to your entrance.  

Console & bowl combo

If you don’t already have one, an easy way to get your entrance hallway look inviting is to add a console table, no matter how wide or narrow. This will bring balance and symmetry into your entrance, and will also give you an opportunity to gather your bits and bobs into a bowl that you place on top of it.

Hopefully reading through this has given you some starting ideas to bring more joy into your everyday life at home. As always, please feel free to get in touch with me to turn your dreams about your home into reality!