Small flat, tiny terrace? Well you don’t need a lot of money to make your home feel more palatial...
Even on the tightest of budgets, a little interior trickery and know-how means you can surround yourself in loveliness, not Lego.
And it is always uplifting to give your home a refresh. So stop procrastinating, clear the clutter and make some little changes that will make a big difference.
Here are the brands to know:
Add Some Faux Flowers
As well as creating the most beautiful organic faux floral arrangements, (I have had so many compliments on mine), Wyld Home are also a brilliant brand to know for all kinds of little instant home updates. We love their vases and planters, kooky cushions and cool art. They also do unusual lighting, unique accessories, wonderful frames and rugs – lots of talking point pieces. It’s a great source to give a designer feel to a room and it doesn’t cost the earth.
Hunt Out High Street Furniture Hits
You will have seen the La Redoute Berber rug – it’s in practically every Instagram feed – but when it comes to homeware the high street favourite is much more than this one-hit wonder.
The furniture is reasonable, great quality and (as Instagram will attest) filled with stylish ideas to make your home look photo-worthy. There are great faux plants, lights and cushions. And if you are looking for a way to luxe-up your lounge, a glass coffee table styled with books and trinket boxes and trays is a great way to endlessly mix things up so the room doesn’t get tired. You should definitely take a look.
SHOP: La Redoute rugs
Rugs To Sink Your Feet (Not Cash) Into
So when it comes to flooring, I am obsessed with Dunelm (don’t be put off by the unglamorous out-of-town superstore experience). It is a little treasure trove of affordable textiles, rugs, bedding and towels. I have their ivory Sienna rug in countless rooms, it gives a luxurious touch for £150. And you can give it a good scrub when the little ones drop jammy toast on it – as they invariably will.
Throw The Right Shade
A beautiful new shade, swapped onto an existing stand is such an easy, inexpensive interiors win. There are a lot of new high street lighting brands out there that you expect to be cheap but in fact work out to be pretty expensive. My advice is to head to Copper & Silk. Created by Daniel Fosbery, in his beautiful studio in Folkestone overlooking the sea, the traditional, handmade shades in colours that adapt easily into your scheme are surprisingly affordable. We’re obsessed with his beautiful Ikat prints.
Pile The Cushions High
Any interior designer worth their weight will have sofa artfully adorned with contrasting plain and pattern cushions – invariably the more the better. Sumptuous, rich textiles make a room look instantly more inviting and expensive. Designers Guild has fabric sales where you can buy off-cuts for a fraction of the price and have made into cushions for as little as £10. I mean, why wouldn’t you?
Give A Little Front
If you are bored of your kitchen but don’t have the budget to rip it out, fear not. Custom Fronts is a brilliant way to update tired doors. The fronts are specifically designed for Ikea furniture and kitchens (as well as other budget brands) and come in birch plywood, hardwood or glamorous brass. They are a smart way to give a bespoke look for a fraction of the cost.