By: Nikki Duthie
There is no better feeling than coming home after a long day and collapsing onto the couch.
I find that feeling is so much better when I love the room I’m in! Your home is a place to feel safe, comfortable, at peace, and to share with others. I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting my house to be beautiful, but it can sometimes seem impossible with rising prices. I’ve compiled the best tips and tricks that I’ve found over two years of trying to style my house on a budget!
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
Does anyone else scroll Instagram and marvel at the beautiful homes on display? It’s all fun and games until you look up from your screen and come face to face with toys all over the floor, 18 different styles of furnishing, and at least three items you bought ten years ago that have long since left your style. We all want a cozy ‘Instagram’ home, but I would guess that most of us don’t have thousands of dollars for renovations. All hope seems lost!
An important point to make: comparison is the thief of joy. Those Instagram homes aren’t real. Often these people are paid to create content of their perfect houses. All of our houses would look amazing if we were paid to keep it that way! Most cozy homes are curated over years and years – I’ve been working on my house for two years and only one room has been declared complete!
Now, on to some practical tips!
Find Out What You Like
Wanting a beautiful home is all well and good, but what defines beautiful to you? The first place to start when decorating your house is defining your style. There are millions of style quizzes out there, but the superior quiz (as someone who has taken what feels like most of those aforementioned style quizzes) is by Julie Jones Designs: https://www.juliejonesdesigns.com/design-style-quiz. This quiz (and the accompanying FREE style guide) should give you a starting point if you feel stuck.
As well as the above quiz, compile pictures of homes you love. Pinterest is the best place for this. Over time, you will start understanding the aspects of design that draw you in. Here is an example of my most recent pins:
It is clear from this that I love built-in bookshelves, lots of colour (especially if it is on the darker side), plants, and I’m working on a gallery wall that has different sizes and shapes. There are some pins there that don’t conform to the pattern, but even just these few images helped me figure out what I like. This will help you start imagining how to integrate elements you love into your home. For example, I don’t have the budget to build built-in bookshelves. However, I know that I love the look of books. I can integrate this by putting a stack of books on my entertainment unit. Over time, these little changes will add up (I promise)!
It is important to note that you do not need to stick within the confines of this style! If you find items you adore that don’t ‘fit’ in your general style, it doesn’t matter. It is your home and it should be full of things you love. However, if you know that most of the items in your home are coastal (think blues, tan, and white), a dark green lampshade might look out of place! When you’re working on a budget, it is essential to consider purchases more than you might otherwise.
Learn Design Principles
You can do a lot with a space if you understand some basic design principles. Believe me, a short time spent learning some tips online will go a long way!
Function Over Form
Your room has to function for you and your family. Before you move on to actually buying items, you need to have an idea about what is going to actually be practical.
A pristine, glistening, white home is not going to work if you have pets and young kids. Although as a side-note, if that is what your heart desires, I recommend starting in the primary bedroom, where pets and kids are less likely to be.
Write down the required functions of each room. My list for our primary living room looked something like this: seating for at least four people, peaceful and cozy vibes (yes, the feel of the room can count as a function if it is important to you), dog-friendly, lamp for calm lighting, and room for my husband’s WFH desk.
This list helped me narrow down what I can and can’t do. Instantly a large bookshelf was out of the question to make room for a desk and seating, as these were priorities. I also can’t put a standing lamp in for the aforementioned reasons, as it isn’t a big space. This means I need to find a smaller lamp that can sit on our entertainment unit.
Second Hand Scores
Thrift, Thrift, Thrift!
Op shops are the BEST! Most of my furniture is thrifted. You won’t always find something, but when you do, it is so worth the wait. Second hand warehouses are also secret treasure troves as they specialise in furniture.
Be creative! We are working on a gallery wall, so all of our frames are thrifted. What could you thrift that seems a little out of the ordinary?
Make a list. Write down everything you are looking for before you enter an op shop. This will help you stay focused and help prevent purchases you might regret.
Try and envision the item in your space before you buy it. Where will you put it? Will the colours match? Do you need it?
Other than the bargains, I also love op shops for sustainability. Why buy brand new mass produced furniture when you can find older, sturdy, and still beautiful items that need a new home? This isn’t to say you can’t buy anything new. However, if you’re on a budget, thrifting is a goldmine!
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is an overlooked source of home decor. After all, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’. You can search for specific items, which is a slight advantage over op shops. You also have more freedom to barter for a better bargain. This is great for bigger ticket items, such as rugs, occasional chairs, and pretty much anything else you can dream up!
Also, selling on Facebook Marketplace is a great way to get a little extra cash for your thrifting trips! If there is something in your home that isn’t functioning for you or you simply don’t like it, sell it!
Be Patient
Making a house a home takes time, especially on a budget. Being patient with the process lets you find things you love without compromising. It has taken well over two years to get our house to a place I’m even remotely happy with, and it has been well worth the wait. Keep up searching for inspiration and thinking about how you want a room to think or look. It might feel like nothing is happening, but these basic things will help so much. This brings me to my next point…
A Little Goes a Long Way
Sometimes a small change makes a huge difference! When all else fails, (or in the meantime while you’re collecting items from op shops) add plants! A pop of greenery brings life into any room no matter what your style is. I love Pothos, as it is super easy to grow and keep alive. Generally someone is selling Pothos on Facebook Marketplace. Once you have a plant, it is so simple to propagate and make more!
A nice jug or vase with fresh flowers or greenery (I cut some off a tree in the front yard) on a table can make a world of difference. A rug swapped from one room to another can change the entire feel of the house. A row of books swapped on your bookshelf can make a huge difference (speaking from experience). Play around with these little things that don’t require any spending! You can always change it back, or learn for next time. Plus, little changes can open a whole world of inspiration.
Good luck to you all on your styling journey!
Article supplied with thanks to Life FM in Adelaide.
Feature image: Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash