It would be great if we could design and furnish our homes with a bottomless budget like the rich and famous. However, if you haven’t quite got the millions of dollars just wasting away in your bank account waiting to be used, there are some top industry secrets that you can use to get your home looking like it’s from a Vogue Living spread.
According to Kellie Richardson, highly respected interior designer, creator of the term ‘Botox for your home’ and founder of Melbourne-based home design company Kurved by Design, there are simple ways to achieve a high-end look on a budget. Richardson won the global CEO Excellence award in 2020 for ‘Best Property Styling and Interior Design Business’.
Richardson has earned herself a solid reputation over the years as one of Australia’s most creative and talented interior designers and decorators. She shares her six top industry techniques that could make your house look like a million bucks—without the price tag.
1. Choose your style
“Interior designers can always tell when somebody is undecided about how to style their home because their home just looks confused. If you want to revamp a room or two but don’t know where to start, keep in mind that when it comes to home décor style, sticking to one style will create cohesiveness and flow to the house rather than if you dabbled in different styles all over the place,” Richardson said.
If you’re uncertain about defining your interior design style, consider your lifestyle and gather inspiration from various sources. Kellie Richardson suggests booking a consultation with a professional who can help clarify your vision and provide useful suggestions to take your ideas to the next level. This can be done either in person or virtually, allowing for flexibility and convenience.
Richardson also advised that planning and decorating a home can be difficult and overwhelming because you literally have to live with the decisions you make. Many people choose interior design companies like Kurved by Design to help them streamline the design process. Your interior designer should work closely with you to define your style and then present you with inspiration to help you decide the design direction for a room before you go any further. It’s well worth the money because it takes the stress out of designing a home and ensures that the end result is beautiful and stylish yet comfortable and relaxing.
2. Shop on Facebook and Gumtree
“You will be utterly amazed at the absolute bargains you can find by shopping second hand. Source quality and designer pieces through Facebook, Gumtree and even Op Shops. People let go of their items for a range of reasons and you can easily negotiate a very good deal and get an amazing statement piece to add to your home,” Richardson suggested.
3. Shop at Kmart and Big W
“We all love the big chain stores for bringing down prices, and stores like Kmart and Big W have really stepped it up in recent years, bringing us trendy looks for a fraction of the designer price. They’re also constantly changing and updating their range of furnishings so make sure you check back often and see whether something new grabs your eye,” Richardson continued.
According to Richardson, very often, these designs and trends are replicas of high-end designer items but at a drastically reduced price which makes them irresistible to buy and have in your home. When mixed with other items, no one would realise that they are not the real designer deal.
4. Upcycle: from lousy to luxe
“If you’ve got a knack for DIY then by all means, put those handy skills to good use. Pinterest can give you endless design ideas or flip through interior design magazines to get inspiration and breathe new life into old pieces and make them look high-end and customised. I’ve seen some really amazing furniture revamps that are unbelievable. Even a fresh coat of paint can change the look of an item from drab to fab,” Richardson said.
She added that Facebook groups and TikTok are also another great place to find extraordinary ideas for upcycling. Some of the tips are so easy and so cheap, you’ll wonder why you never got into upcycling before.
5. Buy a few main pieces and then accessorise
“There are certain things that people shouldn’t compromise on, so if you’re on a budget, make a list of items you want to prioritise,” Richardson said.
“You wouldn’t want to skimp on a bed because there’s nothing worse than a lumpy bed that’ll have you tossing and turning all night long! But if you love the look of throw pillows lined up on a bed, then you can easily accessorise the bed with Kmart throw pillows to get a trendy look more affordably.
“Spending a bit more on a large piece like a quality sofa is always a good idea. This becomes a hero piece central to the room which you can then accessorise with other less expensive items. Key statement pieces are always a good idea as they exude quality and longevity.”
6. Stay with neutrals then add seasonal colours
“Neutrals will never go out of style; however seasonal trendy colours do come and go, so there’s no point spending a lot on accents and colours only for them to look dated after a few years. Colours are a great way to update the look of any room quickly and cheaply,” Richardson said.
Stick to your budget
“Some people think that revamping the look of a home will be costly but if you draw up a budget that’s realistic and stick to it, then you won’t end up spending heaps more than you intended to. By shopping around and going the DIY route, and keeping these tips in mind, there are plenty of cheap fixes that you can make within a room that’ll change the way your home looks and feels,” Richardson said.
She further advises that vases, pillows, throws and ornaments are a great way to accessorise cheaply and easily. They also enable you to ensure you are staying up with the latest trends without breaking the bank.