'Fraction of the price': Interior hacks on a budget - including baking soda paint
AN INTERIOR expert has shared several "simple and affordable" hacks to save money on interior decorating. The interior pro even shared a hack for creating textured paint using bicarbonate of soda.
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Revamping and decorating the interior of a home can be expensive, sometimes costing homeowners thousands of pounds. However, it is possible to revamp a room on a budget using simple but effective design hacks that don’t cost a fortune. Nick Drewe, a trends and money saving expert from voucher code site WeThrift, has provided several design tips and hacks exclusively with Express.co.uk for transforming an interior on a budget.
Upcycle old vases and make artwork
Buying new accessories and decorative items is expensive and unsustainable.
Instead, homeowners can try to paint old vases to fit with their new room style for a “cheaper way” of decorating.
The interior expert added: “Take inspiration from designer pieces or try mixing baking powder into the paint to give your upcycled vase a new texture.
“Using second hand artwork, or framing postcards is an easy way to have a professional looking decor in your home.”
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Give furniture a new lease of life
New furniture is expensive so it may be worth considering refurbishing and refreshing existing furniture instead.
Tables, chairs, sideboards and storage can be given a new lick of paint while other pieces can be reupholstered or given new wood finishes.
Mr Drewe said these hacks can make a room look “completely new”.
He added: “Slipcovers are a quick, easy and affordable way of giving sofas and chairs a new look for different seasons and occasions.”
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Go for an eclectic or minimalistic theme
The interior expert said an eclectic theme is “simple and affordable” to create because it is more about mixing - not matching.
Mr Drewe said: “By avoiding having to purchase matching items you have more freedom to shop around in sales or buy second hand.
“Another design theme that can be created affordably is a modern and minimalist feel, as you don’t have to buy as many soft furnishings!”
Redesign the layout of existing furniture
Rearranging existing furniture to make a space look different is a free way to change-up a room.
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A good way of doing this is by finding a new “focal point” of a room like a window, fireplace or accent wall, simply rearranging furniture around it.
Another tip is to move furniture from room to room to create more space.
Find new ways to refinish hardwood floors
Homeowners can save money by giving existing hardwood floors new life with either paint or a wood stain.
This can change the entire decor of a home and is a “fraction of the price” of a new hardwood floor.
Mr Drewe added: “Specialist products for pre-finished floors are available to buy and can be applied without difficulty to make the room look completely new!
“If new flooring is needed, consider laminate rather than hardwood - you can achieve the same expensive look for a fraction of the price!”
Shop vintage and secondhand
Secondhand and vintage furniture shops are perfect for finding traditional pieces of furniture on a budget.
Often, these pieces of furniture are high quality and look great in a farmhouse or with traditional-style decor.
With a bit of refurbishment, affordable pieces can also look expensive and brand new.