A student budget is not always enough to buy luxurious furnishings. It’s especially important if, for example, the flat is rented or you’ve invested all your money in your first home.
- Don’t be afraid of minimalism
You don’t have to save money by buying cheap furniture. You can look for stylish, minimalist pieces. For instance, a bed and wardrobe (or sometimes just an open coat rack) in the bedroom may be enough. But, of course, a classic interior cannot be created with such an approach. Therefore, when setting up your flat on a budget, start by choosing a style.
- Use expensive wallpaper, but keep it to a minimum
A designer wallpaper can add an air of nobility to an interior. Don’t be intimidated by the price, because you won’t need a lot of it. Choose a base colour and paint the walls, then accentuate one of the walls, cabinet fronts, or even a console with a brightly coloured wallpaper.
- Paint the bathroom instead of using tiles
If your bathroom hasn’t been tiled at all or if it’s in a terrible condition, you can’t avoid renovating it. Remember that tiling is a long-lasting story, so there’s no point in spending money on a cheap, low-quality material that you plan on replacing in a couple of years anyway. Instead, plaster the walls and paint with waterproof bathroom paint.
- Consider multifunctionality
If you’re on a tight budget and you can’t buy everything you need separately, try to combine functions. For example, choose sofas, beds, and even pouffes with a storage system. You can also get transformer tables, like coffee tables and dining tables. And a cabinet with a bathroom mirror can do the job of storing and decorating your space.
- Buy factory-made furniture
Furniture made to order is definitely a better fit, but factory-made will cost a lot less. Also, many manufacturers give you the opportunity to make up your own options. For example, the same bed can be available in different sizes, with drawers or a lifting mechanism.
- Pay attention to the kit
Not everyone can afford a designer, especially in a budget renovation. To successfully combine furniture, consider ready-made kits, which are often made by manufacturers and shops. It’s cheaper than buying the furniture separately.
Typically, for the living room at once you can buy a sofa and a couple of chairs, a coffee table, and a wall, for bedroom – bed, a pair of tables, wardrobe, chest of drawers or a dressing table, for children – bed, wardrobe, and desk. The options are endless, just choose the right one.
- Don’t buy everything at once
If you buy all your furniture in one place, you can get a big discount and save a lot of money. But we are only talking about the necessities: bed, sofa, wardrobe, kitchen set, table, and chairs. Everything else is better to buy as you need it – that way you won’t spend too much on an extra pouffe.
- Avoid expensive heavy curtains
If you go for minimalist interior styles, you can refuse curtains completely. Another option is to use translucent, weightless tulle. If your flat is located on a lower floor, or if living with open windows is just not comfortable for you, then prefer blinds and Roman blinds. They are almost invisible during the day, but at night they shut the windows tightly against outside views.
- Replace lighting with LED lighting
LED bulbs and LED downlights are usually more expensive than conventional bulbs. However, the cost is quickly recouped. You would need to replace such lighting nearly every ten years. In addition, LEDs are brighter than conventional bulbs, which means that fewer luminaires are needed.
- Flowers instead of decorations
Any interior becomes cosier with lively plants. Especially if you have opted for a modern, minimalist, or Scandinavian style. The main thing is to keep a sense of proportion and remember that it’s not always beautiful to have a window sill full of grandma’s old aloe pots. Buy the same or match in design and colour pots and tubs. They are much less expensive than decorations anyway.
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