Mathilde Favier-Meyer – Architectural Digest

Flipping through so many gorgeous décor magazines really makes us crave some of the pricey furniture pieces, vases, luscious fur rugs, and juicy paintings. You don’t have to drool over these designer decorated homes; you can get the look at home for half the budget. Here are some ingenious décor hacks that will help you get the home of your dreams for a lot, lot, less!

Rent Expensive Furniture

If you need new furniture in your home and can’t afford to buy it – rent it! This is a smart way to save money especially if you aren’t sure if that new velvet sofa trend will work great in your home and want to test-try it first. Places like Furniture rental from Emblem is a great company that offers you many choices of furniture as well as flexible leasing terms.

Swap with Friends

Another unusual way to create a new decorating look at home is to swap some home decor items and furniture with your friends and family. This is also a great way to recycle things that you have bought but do not really like.

Shop at Car Boot sales

You can pick up great soft furnishings and furniture at car boot or yard sales. Over the years, these events have grown in popularity. People have started to sell larger items.

Have Fun with Re-purposing

Transforming some of the pieces you already own is a great idea to save money and add new life to an old piece of furniture or décor accessory. Spray paint an old lamp, reupholster that old armchair, or re-paint your chipped bookcase to create a whole new piece of furniture.

Recycle Furniture from Charities

Visit charity events and you might just spot a goldmine of vintage furniture waiting to for a new home! They will be happily pleased for you to take items off their hands, which would otherwise end up in a landfill. Getting your furniture from recycling charities is a great way to decorate your home on a small budget and also stay eco-friendly!

Don’t limit your home to four walls and a roof, with a bit of creativity and a building permit, virtually any home can be modified into a luxurious retreat. Whether it means having a guest bedroom or a kitchen island, you can incorporate all this into your post-holiday reno.

Here are 10 ways you can go beyond the simple square you call home and add more personality to an otherwise drab living condition:

Adding a Bedroom

One of the most common additions to any home is that of an extra room. This is especially true for those who are expanding their family with children and relatives. Regardless of your need, extra space has potential to make you feel more comfortable.

Photo: Oliver Burns

BDB Tip: Don’t have the funds for a home reno? Some investors, such as Don Burns, will go so far as to put money into a property for the purpose of leasing it out for film and photo shoots.

Outside Decks and Patios

Who said anything about decks and patios had to remain square in dimension? Many homeowners have accepted a more artistic appearance when designing their outer spaces. It offers a unique aesthetic that could be intrinsic to the property. Some have gone so far as to install small ponds within the deck itself to give it a more natural appearance.

Outer-wall Waterfall

An outdoor waterfall can add a great deal of appeal to the property, but have you ever thought of turning the entire wall of your house into the cliff itself? Using stones to decorate the outer wall, and a bit of creative plumbing, you could turn the entire face of the house into an amazing mountain scenery complete with a tall waterfall and pond.

A Sun Room

Although fragile, sun rooms can offer a place where you can enjoy the outside atmosphere without actually being outside. During the winter months when the sun is up, this could wind up being one of the warmest parts of the house. It can also be ideal for those who love the outdoors but have local problems with insects such as mosquitoes.

Photo: Lucy Interior Design

Green House

One of the most common additions to the home is that of the attached green house. This gives you access to gardening year-round depending on your geographic location. It can be a way to grow your own foods or used as a method to relieve stress. Some homeowners have experienced improved air quality of their property as plants in the green house can help reduce airborne particulates while creating oxygen.

More Space in the Kitchen

The size of a kitchen is quite a common complaint, especially for those who love to cook. Like the family room, more space in the kitchen can be both practical and comfortable. A small expansion could give you the room you need for preparing meals or being able to cook without people bumping into you as they walk through the area.

A Private Bathroom

Most homeowners dream of having that perfect private bathroom adjacent to the bedroom. This can offer a great deal of comfort while making it easier to find the facilities in the middle of the night. Building your own allows you to create that perfect bathroom without being restricted to the floor plan. If you want a separate jet-powered tub and multi-head shower, than that is what you should build.

Photo: 2e Architects

Use Short Hung Lighting Fixtures

Every designer’s goal is to make an apartment look bigger than it really it. There are tons of tricks of the trade to achieve this and one way is to opt for lighting fixtures that are hung short, or close to the ceiling. It’s tempting to hang a pretty light fixture, but make sure to hang it close to the ceiling to make it visually look taller than it really is. You can also opt for recessed lighting throughout your apartment and then hang bolder statement pieces like in the middle of a living room, at the entrance, and over a dining table.

Photo: JWS Interiors

All Eyes on the Fireplace

A fireplace makes a fantastic focal point and an ingenious way to make it stand out even more is to stretch it right to the ceiling. Use mirror tiles or a glass mosaic to embellish around your fireplace and then all the way to the ceiling.

Break Up Full-Length Windows

Most modern condos today are graced with full-length windows like the newly built jasper condos in milton. These windows can be intimidating, so a great way to anchor them is with a table and sofa in front. To make your space look more intimate and private, hang full length blackout drapery to frame the window and give you some more privacy.

Photo: Chatelaine

Use Multi-functional Bar Carts

Bar carts were a big hit the past few years and I don’t blame people for liking them so much, they truly ARE handy! Most condos are tiny so you really have to improvise. A bar cart has so many uses and can be used in place of a kitchen island to hold dishes, roll it over to the living room when you have guests to double as a secondary coffee table for drinks and snacks. You can also use it in the bathroom to hold towels, or in the hallway as a stand for your plants or even as a bedside night table.

Mix and Match Textures

Decorating a condo is all about making it feel cozy, comfortable, and homey. You can make your place feel more inviting by mixing and matching different types of textures when it comes to your walls, furniture, flooring, and accessories. This leather couch is warmed up with lambs fur pillows and a fur throw. You can also add texture to the walls with faux stone finishes or textured wallpaper.

Photo: Wesley-Wayne Interiors