Keeping your home up to date with the latest trends is a tricky concept. Not only is it expensive, but the second you begin to like a trend, it’s gone in an instant, only to be replaced with another twice as fast. There are, however, a few ways you can keep your home looking stylish and on trend, without falling into the trap of looking “trendy”. We have a few tips that will help you upgrade your home, without having to hire a professional, or break the bank!
Do Your Homework!
Before you begin your new interior design journey, you should do your homework. It’s easy to dream about a walk-in-wardrobe or a slide down the middle of your living room, but if your home doesn’t allow the space, you may get a bit stuck. Check out spaces that look similar to yours, note down your favourite trends and think about how you can incorporate them into your home! This is the best way to start your renovation, otherwise, you may not be able to make your mind up halfway through!
Breathe New Life Into Your Old Furniture
If you’re desperate for an update in your home, but you can’t afford to drop your savings on a new piece of furniture, you can instead consider refurbishing a piece that you already have at home. If you’re sick of your old coffee table, grab some power tools and a fresh new paint colour, and within a few hours, you’ve updated your living room! It’s the small things that make a difference, after all.
A Lick of Paint Is Worth Its Weight In Gold
Sometimes all you need to spice up your home is with a lick of paint. The tricky part is deciding which colours to go for. Cherie, from Renovating For Profit, suggests that a new colour can be the best way to create new life in your home. “On a modest renovation budget, your best friend is paint. You don’t need to hire tradies, as long as you have the time, skill and patience to do it yourself.” She says, “A fresh coat of paint throughout (pay particular attention to the woodwork and trims) in a modern colour palette can give you a three- or fourfold return on investment." Paint is a great way to update your home, and it’s super fun to pick out new colours for your home. Check out all of Cherie's updates on her Facebook page.
Invest In Insulation
“Having appropriate levels of insulation in your walls and good levels of North facing glazing will contribute greatly to your home being thermally comfortable all year round, as well as providing on-going energy savings in years to come,” says Tori Walker from Bera, an online building energy rating & advice service. Even though it sounds like a tricky job, you can easily put a day aside out of your weekend and prepare your home for the colder months. Grab some tools and equipment and get going! This trick is the perfect way to keep your home at the perfect temperature all year round. You can keep up with all of the latest ideas from Bera on their Facebook page.
The 60-30-10 Rule
When it comes to finding a new colour scheme, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Sally from Milray Park, an online decorating company, suggests that you follow the 60-03-10 rules; a simple technique that will help you get the perfect colour combinations every time. “The 60% is your dominant colour, this acts as a base colour for the room. Then comes the secondary colour which takes up 30%, this colour should act as a support to your dominant colour, this colour should be different enough to create depth and interest. Finally, the 10% is where you can have fun with colourful soft furnishings, art and decorations, “ she says. You can follow Milray Park on Instagram here.
There are heaps of ways that you can update your home without breaking the bank, it just takes some time and research. Whether you’re hoping to add value to your home, or just update its aesthetic, you can find ways to make your home reach its full potential, all by yourself!
