Many of us go out on a limb when we buy a new home; so much so that we are left with less money than we would like for our home interiors. We bring you some essential tips for affordable home design— here’s how you can make your interiors look gorgeous, even on a budget.
Buy the basics first and add on later
If you try to furnish your home one room at a time, you may end up running out of funds before you’ve done up all the rooms. Chalk out a plan where you’ve listed all the essential items that are must-haves, and see how much of your budget is used up on those. The non-essential items can wait for a bit until you are more comfortably placed.
Have an overall theme, colour palette and design style in mind
Even if you are planning to do your interiors piecemeal, you should have a master plan in place so that you know what you’re looking for.
For instance, if you love traditional décor in your living room, you can pick up essential items like a wickerwork sofa and armchairs first, and later on, you can pick up individual items that enhance your interiors like a pretty handloom dhurrie, ethnic wall art or bamboo lampshades.
Keep adding pieces that fall within your colour schemes as well, so that everything ties up well and does not look like an afterthought. Your home can keep evolving around you, and that’s what makes your décor all the more interesting and unique.
Without a master plan in mind, though, this can quickly turn into a disaster with a mishmash of styles and décor ideas.
Keep an eye on quality
Make sure that you never compromise on quality to cut costs, as doing that will cost you dearly in the long run. Get the best quality that your money can buy, especially for core materials like plywood and laminate. If your furniture starts chipping or warping after a short while, you will have to shell out money for repairs which can be very expensive.
Look for bargains at sales and discount shops
All shops have sales during the off-season, and that’s where you can pick up the best deals at affordable prices. Think along the lines of picking up air conditioning units in the winter, heaters in the summer and so on, and you can’t go wrong!
You can also look at the last pieces of fabric for upholstery and curtains, which would be offered at discounted prices. Whenever a new style or range comes out, the older varieties quickly go out of fashion but will still be available at great prices. Keep your eyes peeled.
Home décor items at online shops
Many online stores have lovely home décor that is very easy on the pocket. Brick-and-mortar stores usually have higher overheads and establishment costs than their online counterparts. The same or similar items could be available at lower prices on flash sales online, sometimes at a fraction of the cost. The online options available for home design enthusiasts are endless.
Consider buying ‘sparingly used’ items
In today’s fast-paced world, many young people get transferred out of state or to a new country and decide to sell their sparingly used furniture at bargain prices. Look out for such items online, and you could get some good furniture at throw-away prices. Garage sales are also a great place to get furniture that’s almost as good as new and can be refurbished with a dab of paint or polish.
Be cautious when you buy electrical or electronic items second-hand, though, as imperfections may not be immediately visible; and the items are likely to be out of warranty.
Do it yourself!
Why don’t you try your hand at refurbishing a wall with some stencils and acrylic paint, or stitching your curtains and cushions yourself? Instead of buying expensive curtain material, you can stitch up your discarded cotton saris into unique ethnic window drapes, or create a patchwork quilt out of old skirts. Plain cotton fabric that is bought in bulk at wholesale rates can be transformed into lovely bed linen and tablecloths. Once you get started, the sky is the limit to your creativity.
There are many how-to videos readily available on YouTube, and you could have a lot of fun while you are at it as well. Tap into the talent you never knew you had, and the results may surprise even you.
Keep your home affordable through sustainable living
Living green is not only great for the environment, but it is a much more affordable way of life as well. Responsibly design your home interior, and you will cut down on home running costs while reducing your carbon footprint.
Energy efficient lighting and water saving products will help to reduce your utility costs month on month. Any elements that will have to withstand a lot of wear and tear, like flooring, should be designed for longevity. Choose natural materials like jute, hemp, and bamboo over synthetic materials. Get into the practices of recycling and upcycling that will help to save our planet’s resources and reduce or eliminate waste.
More affordable ideas
Flexible interior designs are also very sustainable and cost-effective; such as partition walls which can be moved to create more space when children grow up, or modular furniture that can be reinvented when the need arises.
Indoor plants can keep your inside air fresh and cool, and reduce the need for air-conditioning, again lowering utility costs. Keeping the breeze flowing through open windows will also restore the connection with nature outside and balance out the energy in your home.
A little thinking can go a long way toward making every penny count; both when you are doing up your home interior in an affordable manner —and in the long run as well. We’re sure that you will have fun doing up your home interiors on a budget, and if you need any help the HomeLane team is always at hand!
This article is contributed by Basob Majumdar, VP Designs, HomeLane.com
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of RoofandFloor.
I am planning to redesign my house and these tips were really useful. Loved the idea of sustainability. Thanks for sharing these tips. Keep updating with more such helpful posts.