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Decorating on a budget

After saving up for a new home you may not have a bank of savings for decorating and furnishing but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for subpar decoration. With careful allocation of resources, you can still make the most of your space and maybe even include one or two statement pieces.

Keep it simple

It can be tempting to buy more small things on a small budget and avoid the major purchases, but in truth you only need a few accessories around the apartment to personalise your home. What’s more, if you’re more restrained when it comes to the smaller items, you’ll have more in the bank for that expensive sofa or table you’ve had your eye on.

Multi-purpose purchases

Multi-use furniture can help you save money as well as space. You can find beautiful sofas that double up as guest beds, for example: meaning you can cater for guests without compromising on space or using up crucial budget, as well as providing your visitors with a little extra comfort.

Example of a home office in a Taylor Wimpey home

The virtues of vintage

You can find some absolutely stunning bargains at vintage or second-hand furniture stores if you’re willing to spend a little time hunting for them. From sideboards to Chesterfield sofas, people donate all kinds of things and you can often pick them up for a fraction of the price. As well as scouring the shops, there’s a veritable treasure trove of pre-loved home decor waiting to be bought from eBay, Gumtree and specialist furniture sites.

Upcycling

If you’re of a creative nature - or even if you’re not - upcycling is a wonderful way of giving new life to old or unwanted items. Upcycling can range from reupholstering a chair to completely repurposing something, such as turning bricks into planters - doing this not only saves significant amounts of money, but it’s also a great way to spend some free time.