Want to give your home a luxury look without spending a penny? Then try out my cheap tricks that will turn your home into a lush space! And the best bit – some of my ideas will cost you nothing!
Read on to discover more.
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7 cheap tricks that will turn your home into a posh pad
I’m a huge believer that you don’t have to spend a fortune on your home for it to look like a luxury space. In my own home, I have renovated it on a shoestring, updating every room with budget styling ideas and DIY hacks that haven’t cost the earth.
With a bit of imagination, you can turn your home into a space that is magazine-worthy! Today, I’m sharing my top 7 cheap tricks to help you turn your home into your pad of dreams.
All the photos in this blog post are from my home – and I’ve pulled out ideas. If you want to see more of my home and ideas make sure to follow me on instagram @maxinebradystyling
1 TIDY UP YOUR GARDEN
Create a great first impression by improving your home’s kerb appeal. If your home is looking tatty or unattractive, this is a great place to start with your cheap tricks to upscale your pad.
At the front of your home, concentrate your energy on getting rid of weeds, power-clean the paving, sweeping the drive and hiding away the wheelie bins. You could paint your front door in an eye-catching colour like red, yellow or hot pink which will make your entrance stand out. This will cost you a can of paint (see what colours you have lurk in your shed that you can reuse).
Even uPVC doors and windows can be painted with specialist paint so don’t let plastic doors stop you from updating your porch! Finish by polishing your door furniture to make your home’s exterior look super chic. Or you could invest in a fancy knew door knocker or pull for a chic look.
If you have a rear garden, paint planters and fences to smarten up your outdoor space. Again mow the lawn, tidy up the beds and bushes. You don’t have to be the best gardener in the world to have a good-looking outdoor space.
Don’t forget your conservatories and garden rooms which might need a quick spring clean to get rid of cobwebs and clean the glazing.
Cost: Can of paint £12
2. MAKE SURE EVERY AREA HAS A CLEAR PURPOSE
In busy homes, our rooms serve many purposes which can be confusing and cluttered. Reverting rooms back to their main purpose will give your home functionality, making it look intentional and styled.
Do you have a home office in your dining room or a makeshift laundry space in the conservatory? You’re not alone. It’s easy for rooms that serve many purposes to look messy and ad hoc. Turning our rooms into practical spaces will help to give our homes a feeling of flow which will look cohesive.
If you have an open plan design, split the room into zones and make it clear how you use each space using rugs. For inexpensive rugs you can try Rugs Direct – I like this one that costs £36.99. A large sized rug under your sofa or dining table will instantly upgrade your home into a luxury pad.
Cost: New rug £36.99
3 CLEAR CLUTTER AND NICK-NACKS
Clutter can take over a home, devaluing your space. Make space by having a clear out.
You don’t want to strip your home of personality totally but you will want to edit your belongings so that you have more floor and shelf space. Getting rid of broken, unwanted or unsuitable items will make your space feel fresh and new. And you’ll feel better for giving away unwanted items to charity or you could always have a car boot or yard sale to put towards your home.
If toys are taking over you living room, clear them away into baskets at night so that your lounge can be used as an adult space. Messy wires need to be tucked out of sight and magazines and newspapers that can easily take over a space need to be stashed away.
Having a home detox of your belongings, will help your home look it’s best.
Cost: £0
4. USE THROWS AND CUSHIONS TO REVIVE OLD FURNITURE
Battered-looking furniture can make a home look tired and worn. Update them yourself for an expensive look on a budget.
If your home is filled with furniture that has been bashed about, it will make your home look tatty. But you don’t have to go to the extreme of buying new furniture to make your home look stylish. An affordable blanket and colour cushions will give an old sofa an instant update (I love La Redoute who always have great homeware sales). Or you could paint the legs for an injection of colour – or replace handles on cupboards for a fresh new look.
Own Ikea furniture? Take a look at Bemz who make made-to-measure covers in funky patterns and colours. You can see my updated sofa here. You can use a can of paint to vamp up scratched furniture. I wrote a blog post on how to do this when I used a tin of paint to modernise my antique bed.
Or use a tablecloth to hide a scratched dining table top. It’s about coming up with clever ideas to hide or transform furniture you already own which will give your home an elevated style.
Cost: from £8 for a cushion
5. MIRRORS WILL BOUNCE LIGHT
Wall mirrors are an excellent way to make rooms feel bigger, lighter and more open. And the bigger your space looks, the more expensive and luxurious it will appear.
When styling your home, place mirrors in dark corners to bounce natural light into these areas. Key areas to hang a mirror are in small hallways and landings as they will make these dark areas look bigger and brighter. Or you could go for a window mirror like the one in my hallway to cheat the look of an extra room.
Look out for mirrors with decorative frames for a glamorous look. I love this wave mirror from H&M which costs just £19.99. Or you can pick up mirrors in junk shops or charity shops for next to nothing.
Cost: from £19.99
7 ADD LIFE WITH PLANTS AND FLOWERS
As an interior stylist, I would always recommend adding life to your home with houseplants and fresh flowers.
A simple vase on the kitchen table or a potted plant in the lounge can create a feeling of freshness in an instant. Nothing looks more sophisticated than a vase of garden cut blooms. You don’t have to buy new vases either. Try filling jam jars and drinks bottles with your flowers. And with plants, look out for garden plant sales or pick them up from the supermarket for next to nothing. And I love Facebook Market place for cheap terracotta pots that I can paint.
Cost: £0 garden flowers
7 cheap tricks that will turn your House into a Luxury Space
What do you think of these ideas? I’m dying to know! Comment and give me your feedback.
