Photo: Todd Richesin Interiors

Shop for Furniture in Charity Shops, Gumtree & Freecycle

For smaller pieces that are easier to transport back without needing to hire a truck or van, it’s possible to find a table, a bedside table or something else that’ll be equally useful. People regularly sell items of furniture that they no longer need on Gumtree, give it away on Freecycle or donate it to their local charity shop and these are all excellent places to look.

The larger objects aren’t worth bothering with because they’ll be too difficult to transport and move around, but buying a small piece of second-hand furniture cuts out a lot of the cost of buying new. For older tables, consider putting a cloth or another attractive covering over them to hide any damage or blemishes that you don’t wish people to see.

Photo: Greg Natale

Creating an Affordable Guest Bedroom

For families who have regular visitors who stay in the area overnight, it’s great to be able to offer them a comfortable room overnight so they can skip the hotel. It means they don’t have to rush back to the hotel earlier in the evening and can relax in comfortable surroundings.

A small double bed is usually a good size for a spare bedroom because it should easily fit and it won’t make a solo traveller feel like they’re sleeping in a tiny single bed. A full-size double bed or an even larger version would just be too expansive for the size of most spare bedrooms and cost way too much for the bed and the mattress together.

Refine the Banisters on the Stairs

For older homes with wooden banisters and an arm railing that has seen better days, it’s tempting to have someone come in, pull the whole thing out and replace it with a new design. Doing so is overly expensive for something that won’t make a huge different aesthetically.

An interesting option instead is to treat it as a new project to sand down the railing and banisters, treat the wood and give it a professional finish that gives the old wood a new lease of life.

Photo: Robin Gannon Interiors, LLC

Candlelight, Instead of New Light Fixtures

It’s tempting to change the light fixtures in the living room without giving it much thought. Only the cost of doing so gives some pause to the idea when you find out how much it will be for rewiring and fitting the new lighting fixtures.

An affordable alternative is to use a small collection of candles to provide a different kind of calming illumination to the living area. There are many types of candles to choose between and scented candles are another way to bring a new element into the room without needing air freshener scattered everywhere.

Cutting back on redecorating expenses is a sensible thing to do. It’s easily possible to find clever ways to not overspend while still being able to create an oasis from the outside world.

Everyone strives to have the perfect house, stylish décor, and all the necessary furniture and designs to suit our needs. However, this can cost a fortune and finding cheaper ways to make your dream home may be a lot easier than you think. Nowadays it’s not that easy to justify spending hundreds of dollars on a new sofa or that huge new bed. With some of our simple designer-approved tips, you can still fill your house with all the trendy furniture you need without emptying your whole wallet!

Cheap-Out on Bed Frames

Bed frames come in so many different types of styles, although there are tons of ways to save money with a basic cheap bed frame. For example, Bedstar produces high quality bed frames that provide a stylish and sleek look that will enhance the overall appearance of your room. You can pick a super simple design and customize your bed with your own headboard! How about all those amazing velvet tufted and studded bed headboard DIY’s we see on Pinterest? Now we’re talkin’ looking stylish on the cheap!

Photo: Ballard Designs

Bring Your Old Furniture to Life with Accessories

When it comes to your old furniture, if it is still in good shape don’t toss it just yet! If your old furniture doesn’t match your new color scheme or the fabric is looking a little tired, it doesn’t mean you have to purchase a new piece. New furniture can be pricey, especially in beautiful colors. The more flamboyant the colour, the higher the price. Fold a throw blanket over the back part of your sofa to bring some color and life to it, or simply buy a slip cover to give it a whole new look. You can even get it reupholstered to save loads of cash on a new set!

Photo: AmDolceVita.com

Re-arrange Furniture for a Whole New Look

Sometimes it’s not the furniture, it’s the way you arranged it that makes your decorating look like a mess! Simply re-arranging the current furniture you have can work wonders to a room. In your living room, position your furniture to point towards a centerpiece like the fireplace, which makes a great conversation piece. Place a sleek desk like this Carl Hansen desk from Moleta Monro (one of my favorites!) behind the sofa to save place. In your bedroom, put your bench right at the end of your bed for a designer look that saves space, looks trendy, and is functional. Trying to make sense of your furniture arrangement can go a long way!

Photo: HGTV