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How to decorate your home for almost nothing

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When you live with the same furniture, wallpaper or décor for a long time, you eventually stop seeing it, and the space around you begins to feel dull and boring.

To fall in love with your home (or office) again you can easily and inexpensively maximise everything you already have.

We found the coolest and simplest ways to turn your house into a sanctuary again.

•    Design your own gallery.

You probably already have a wall full of family photos or certificates, but have you ever thought about sprucing it up by creating your own gallery or filling an entire wall with some of your favourite quotes, mirrors, statement or sentimental t-shirts or anything that makes you feel good? Create a “novelty wall” with various kinds of wall sconces- no matter how random they are.  Just keep the rest of the room toned down.

Extra tip: If you’ve travelled a lot or have lots of souvenirs, use them to create a memory wall with photos and knick knacks. It will be attractive to guests and it makes for a great conversation starter.

•    Reuse holiday décor. Strings lights are a holiday favourite, but they can be used for a lot more. So if you have string lights tucked away in a box of Christmas decorations, take them out immediately. Fairy lights/ string lights are great for creating a soft and magical space.

Around your bed

In your garden or front porch

On tables and shelves

Wall #makeover with #joker #acrylic #painting #plants and #stringlights

A photo posted by Tracey (@itsnannasplace) on

So put those lights up.

•    Add symmetry

It’s amazing how adding symmetry can rescue a room. According to Houzz, our vision is always drawn to things with mirror-like images or lay-outs. Whether the space you’re working with is big or small, symmetrically arranging furniture or framed images can make any room look a whole lot fancier.  

Extra tip: Houzz contributor, Laura Gaskill, suggests that the more objects repeated on each side of the room, the more formal the space will feel.

•    Repurpose items.

Do you have a large platter you rarely use? Well, rescue it from storage. You can either hang it on the wall as a beautiful ornament or use it as a centrepiece.

I'm here again ... drooling over this incredible tray at @potterybarnbrisbane ??????

A photo posted by Hayley (@mumlittleloves) on

Do you need a new bedside table or table for a new lamp that you just bought? Stack a pile of books, turn it into a table, and place ornaments or lamps onto it.



•    Aspiring to be close to nature?

Salvage wood to make an awesome headboard. You can salvage wood from an old building or ask a hardware warehouse for the old bits they no longer use.

LOVING our new headboard I made for our new place ???? #DIY #woodenheadboard #prideandjoy

A photo posted by whitg8 (@whitg8) on

Extra tip: You can also use old fabric or wallpaper.

•    Can pictures of paint be the new paint?

Now this is rather unusual, but when creatively displayed, covering a wall with paint chips looks pretty amazing. If you’re wondering, paint swatches are usually free.

Image: Flickr

•    Need a new carpet?

The possibilities of creating custom patterns out of carpet squares are endless. Search online for used carpet squares.


•    Put your style on the shelf. Literally.

An untidy bookshelf can make an entire room look disorganised. Here’s a fool-proof plan: You can rearrange the books from biggest to smallest or even add ornaments or a frame that will also prevent your books from falling.

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