The money Clinic
If your home needs a serious revamp but you don’t have the funds for a major makeover, the Real Homes team is here to help you achieve a stylish look for less
QDo you have any tips for decorating on a budget?
Decorating on a budget can give results that are just as nice (if not better) than expensive designs. You may get something more unique and personal in the process. But if you’re in doubt about where to look, or what exactly you’re trying to get your hands on, the Real Homes team has some thrifty tips that can save you hundreds…
A‘For small space updates, look to Ebay. For a downstairs toilet, cloakroom or utility, you’ll almost certainly find enough leftover floor tiles for a small area. When I DIYED my bathroom, I found two packs of the same Knight Tile Gluedown Karndean tiles people were selling as leftovers – it was enough to do my floor, plus wastage and only cost me half the price of one pack at full whack! I also got a roll of Woods wallpaper by Cole & Son for less than a third of the price thanks to an Ebay seller who had bought too much,’ shares Lindsey.
A‘My workaround to avoid re-plastering if your walls are a bit iffy but you want to paint them is to cover with good quality lining paper and paint that. Plaster inevitably cracks, so it takes maintenance to fill and repaint. If you’re careful when papering, you can avoid lumps and giveaway joins, and it’s a good way to hone decorating skills,’ says Alison.
A‘Layered lighting is my go-to and I find all manner of cool home additions on Facebook Marketplace usually, or by just going to local thrift shops. Competition for good online marketplace finds is high in cities like London, but thrift stores in cool parts of town will bankrupt you, so it’s still worth sticking to websites and using social media! You just have to be on it. Electrical items given to charity shops should be PAT tested to ensure they are safe to use,’ reveals Cam.
A‘Instead of forking out for expensive artwork or posters to frame, a lot of Etsy sellers have really budgetfriendly and high-res prints that you can download and get printed yourself for way cheaper. And if you’re looking for ideas for a gallery wall, you can collect a few of your favourite prints in the form of postcards to frame reasonably cheaply and hang alongside artwork of various sizes. You can also look for ornate second-hand frames to bring gilded glamour,’ says Jenny.