Today, I've broken down the 'redecorating process' into three important parts - all you need is a bit of clutter removal, a little up-cycling or recycling and some smart shopping to create a whole new stylish apartment on a shoestring budget!
Step 1: Clearing Clutter
When it comes to decorating on a budget, clearing clutter is an effective tool to start with. However, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to begin. My tip, start with the floor. It is the largest surface and once that is clear of all unnecessary items, it will make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home. Once the floor is clear, move upwards to flat surfaces like tables, sideboards, vanity counters, kitchen benchtops and then to storage cabinets and cupboards. Flat surfaces are often clutter catchers and can be difficult to declutter, so start with just one room at a time to keep yourself motivated.
Once all rooms are free of unnecessary items, sort through it. Sell any old furniture, unused homewares and accessories and drop off used clothes and other furniture at a local op shop. In case you've missed the council's hard rubbish collection dates and find it difficult to dispose off broken items and rubbish overflow, it is a good idea to call a rubbish removal company. In case you have any old renovation material and building waste cluttering up your garage and shed, rubbish removal companies can dispose of that as well.
Clutter removal helps in creating a blank canvas to refresh and decorate and the process can be cathartic and detoxing not only for your home but also for yourself.
[source]Step 2: Luxury Upcycling
In recent years, in the world of interiors, luxury upcycling is definitely having a moment. With trends constantly circling back, upcycling is a great way to get creative, keep abreast of the latest interior design trends and decorate on a tight budget. However, luxury recycling or rather upcycling does not mean slapping on some paint on broken items, fixing them and reusing them. Rather, reimagine and upgrade items such as reupholstering old yet useful furniture with luxe details and furnishings like velvet or linen, adding value to them and giving them a new and stylish lease of life.
Changing our mindsets from the usual out with the old and in with the new can have positive effects on our home and lifestyle. And apart from reducing waste, using less and reusing more can have a favourable effect on our wallets as well.
[source]Step 3: Smart Shopping
Smart shopping is not about purchasing the cheapest option available, but buying the best option to make the most of your space and also add heaps of timeless style in the process. When buying furniture for a small space, consider space-efficient, multi-functional pieces that add value to your interior design, home décor and lifestyle.
My tip, is to invest in furniture pieces, often the biggest ones in a room, that you love since you will be living with them for a long time rather than cheap ones that you will need to replace often. For example, when redecorating your living room, invest in a good quality, comfortable and stylish sofa and decorate the rest of the room on a budget. Just remember to mix and match quality pieces with less expensive finds to create an eclectic and unforgettable space. In the bedroom, apart from your bed, invest in good quality bed linen, again the rest of the accessories and furniture can be bought on a budget. Never underestimate the power of beautiful and quality bed linen!
To help stick to a set budget, consider creating a design inspiration board, researching prices and sales, making a shopping list and overall shopping smart!
[source]Refreshing or redecorating your apartment on a budget can be challenging but also a lot of fun. There are affordable ways to dress up a small space and take your apartment from drab to fab on a budget! The decluttering process will help you sort through what you own, things you need and items that you can let go of. Just a tip, designing and styling a space or home takes time, so don't rush out to buy everything at once.
So what do you think? What money-saving decorating tips have worked for you? Share with us in the comments below.
Till next time... start with the decluttering!
This post has been written in collaboration with Mr Cheap Rubbish Removal. As always all thoughts and opinions are all mine and genuine and I only ever work with brands that I love or think could benefit my readers.
Excellent article. I was looking for advice on fixing up the apartment. We are renting so we can't really do much, but clearing clutter is the hardest part. How do we separate from all those "thinks" we've held onto all those years.
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