6 affordable styling hacks for first home buyers
Despite what your favourite Instagram influencer mighthave you believe, styling your home doesn’tneed to break the bank.
Believe it or not, there are tons of simple, budget-friendly tricks to give your place that display–home vibe. You just need to understand where to spend your hard-earned coin – and where to save it.
‘I always say to invest in a really good dining table and couch, as these make the world of difference to the aesthetics of your space. They are also used daily, so need to withstand the wear and tear,’ says Interior Designer, Nadija Saluwadana.
‘Anything that you can customise relatively easy at a later date, keep as standard. For example, handles, tapware and cabinetry.’
Below, Nadija walks you through her top tips for designing your dream interiors on a budget:
1. Grab some cool poster artworks or digital prints
Don’t stress about visiting an art gallery and spending hundreds of dollars on a fancy custom canvas. Instead, jazz up your interiors with some budget-friendly cheaper poster artworks. These digitally created pieces are made in bulk, which means they’re way easier on your wallet.
‘You can then find frames to suit your interior design from places such as IKEA and Kmart,’ suggests Nadia.
‘You can even think outside the box by framing a puzzle, paint-by-numbers, textile or postcard from your travels. These have the bonus of bringing a personal touch to your space and creating a talking point with visitors.’
2. DIY your bed head
Skip the super expensive bedroom ensembles, says Nadija. Getting quality shut-eye is important, so spend your coin on a comfy mattress. After that, roll up your sleeves and get crafty with your bed head and bedside tables.
‘For example, hang a soft tapestry behind your bed to create a bohemian feel. For a more minimalist design, paint the wall behind your bed in one of your home’s accent colours,’ says Nadija.
‘Floating bedside tables are also a hot trend. Pick one up from your local homewares store and then paint it to suit your specific scheme.’
3. Purchase flatpack furniture
One of the biggest costs for first home buyers is furniture. Thankfully, places like IKEA, Freedom and Adairs have your back with their budget-friendly flatpack furniture.
‘There’s no need to invest in built-in cabinetry or custom joinery for your first home. Flat pack furniture is perfect for your study cabinetry or for fitting out your walk-in-robe,’ says Nadija.
‘You can even customise your flat packs by selecting the layout and colours that suit your lifestyle and aesthetics.’
4. Use paint to create a room highlight
Guess what? Paint isn’t just for your walls anymore! Use paint to makeover a second-hand furniture find or to bring character and interest to your space.
‘Paint a piece of furniture in your accent colour or paint your architraves or mouldings a different colour to the walls,’ suggests Nadija. Don’t be scared to let your creative juices flow!
5. Personalise cheaper pieces of furniture
Found an Ikea bed, sofa, armchair or storage piece that you love, but not sure how to make it your own? Time to give it some personality and hide that tag. Companies such as Bemz provide slipcovers, bed skirts and pillow covers for every Ikea piece out there.
‘Ren Studio and Superfront provide custom fronts for Ikea cabinets. This helps you personalise your IKEA furniture without the help (and expense) of a cabinet maker,’ adds Nadija.
‘Also take a look at Pretty Pegs for custom legs and handles.’
6.Visit vintage stores and online marketplaces
Don’t turn your nose up at pre-loved furniture or styling items, says Nadija. Op shops, thrift stores and digital communities such as Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are brimming with affordable pieces.
‘I often find beautiful accessories and vintage art from op shops or markets. You can always paint the frames to make them more contemporary or to match an accent colour of your choice,’ says Nadija.
‘With a little bit of sanding or painting, you’ll quickly create some very unique pieces for your home.’
Nadija’s favourite op shops in Victoria? Chapel Street Bazaar in Melbourne and The Amazing Mill Markets in Geelong.
Check out more affordable styling tips for your first home on the Welcome to Homebuyers Centre blog.
At Homebuyers Centre, we make first homes happen. Building your dream home may be more affordable than you think!