How to Decorate Your New Home on a Budget

How to Decorate Your New Home on a Budget

Moving home can be expensive and there’s often not much left in the kitty afterwards for professional decorating. Fortunately doing your own decorating can be both cost-effective and a great way to form a connection with your new home. Over the years, we’ve picked up a few tricks and tips about DIY decorating which we are happy to share.

Painting

The secret to a good paint job is preparation. Start by washing down walls, ceilings, skirting boards etc. with sugar soap to remove any build-up of grease, dirt and debris. You should then sand any bumps or lumps and fill any holes to get all your surfaces as smooth as possible. Use low tack masking tape and old newspapers to protect anywhere you don’t want paint to go, such as carpets and window frames.

Buy the best quality paint you can afford and new rollers and brushes if necessary. It is also a good idea to buy plenty of white spirit so you can clean your decorating equipment at the end of the day and keep it in good condition for the future. Start by painting edges, corners and other tight spaces with a paint brush, then fill in larger spaces such as walls with a roller to give a smooth finish.

Make sure to keep the areas you are painting well ventilated to prevent fumes from affecting you and to increase the speed at which the smell of fresh paint will dissipate.

Furniture

If you need new furniture, you don’t have to spend a fortune as there are loads of places where you can pick up some really great bargains. Many charities have larger shops dedicated to second-hand furniture and you can also try reclamation yards. It’s also worth speaking to family and friends to see if they have anything they don’t need.

The internet is also a great place to source cheap furniture, with places like Gumtree and Freecycle often offering good quality items for absolutely nothing. eBay is a great place to pick up bargains, although it is important to always check how much postage will be before getting too auction happy.

When choosing second hand furniture, you may not always be able to get matching sets of everything that you need. However, if you try to have a colour theme for each room and pick pieces to match you can still end up with well-furnished rooms that work stylistically. And don’t worry if not everything matches perfectly, you can always tell people it’s “eclectic”.

Soft furnishings

Soft furnishing offer the vital finishing touches that make a house or flat feel homely. One way to save money here is to buy fabric and make your own (or draft in someone with a sewing machine and the necessary skills if needs be). One way to really unify a room is by using the same fabric to make curtains and re-cover cushions. This can help bring together pieces of furniture that don’t quite match and give a high-end feel to your humble home.

Another great way to add to the cosiness of your home is with some good rugs that match the colour schemes of the rooms you put them in. Rugs can also be a good choice if your carpets are looking tired and worn, but you can’t afford to replace them just yet. Finally, don’t overlook smaller features, such as lampshades as getting these to match the rest of your design for each room can give a real sense of cohesion and opulence.

With over 18 years in the business, Intransit are one of the most trusted removals companies in Bath and the surrounding area. No matter how big or small your move, we can ensure a smooth transition into your new home, so if you need a firm of movers you can rely on, please get in touch.