HOW TO... save money on decor projects

When your home needs an update but you don’t have cash to splash, there are plenty of ways to save and still get a room refresh…

• Where possible, recycle or upcycle old or tired furniture. See if you already have items that could be given a fresh new look or search on Freecycle and Gumtree as well as local Facebook groups. You should be able to source some decent homewares and if you’re handy with a sewing machine and paintbrush, you can give things a new lease of life in no time.

• You can update old furniture with paint, varnish, wallpaper or stencilling and there are plenty of how-to guides online to get you started.

• If you do need new, plan ahead and shop in the sales.

It’s worth waiting as you can save £££s so check when your favourite stores are having their sales. Ask if they sell off discontinued stock, have an outlet or a ‘seconds’ area.

• Save money every time you spend by signing up for loyalty cards in-store. Ask DIY outlets if they offer a reward scheme and check whether you can get cashback on Quidco or TopCashback.

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It’s also worth signing up for newsletters, which will alert you to any discounts or sales and sometimes also give an introductory money-off code or coupon for new customers.

• Use trusted trades when you need a professional. Ask family and friends for recommendations and look online at MyJobQuote to get an idea of roughly how much a job should cost.

• It’s also a good idea to set a budget for any room revamp and be careful not to go over. Make sure you include costs for professional trades and materials. When getting quotes, ask for a total price for the project rather than a day or weekly rate, then there’s no nasty surprises!