How to love your home again when there's no money to renovate

I know the frustration of feeling like every home around you is undergoing a breathtaking transformation while your own home sits stagnant as you wait for a windfall so you can begin your own build or renovation.

The current economic climate means many of us are having to delay a makeover that seemed within reach only a moment ago.

We were in our own house for over six years before we had the capacity to do anything meaningful with it, but I’m a home lover and I wasn’t willing to wait for payday so I made small changes and improvements along the way to tide me over. 

The truth is, our home is still far from complete and I still become overwhelmed by how much there is to do, but there are a few things I can knock over in a weekend that brings me a feeling of satisfaction and renews my love for where we live.

Cull and clean

I know it seems dull and maybe a little obvious, but everyone has those areas in their homes that, for whatever reason, collect the comings and goings of living, and I’ve learned that we become immune to junk piles in our house once we’ve been looking at them long enough.

Look at your house with fresh eyes, like you’re about to put it on the market, and clear the clutter. 

Organisation guru Marie Kondo’s theory is not without merit: If it doesn’t serve a purpose or bring you joy, get rid of it. Once you’ve cleared out the things that are adding visual chaos, you’ll not only feel lighter but you’ll have a home that functions better.

Tend to the exterior

I don’t think I’m alone in the level of satisfaction I feel in pressure-hosing my house exterior. 

I’m an old hand at it. It’s a good day’s work and it’s tedious but watching the mould, algae and dirt lift from my concrete pavers is oddly rewarding.

The same can be said of pulling the weeds and mowing the lawn. It costs nothing but time. 

I’ve always referred to lawn mowing as one of those bang-for-your-buck jobs. And ladies, I promise it’s easier to do it yourself than to nag your husband to do it (it’s such a drain). Put him on dinner duties instead.

Hit ‘go’ on an exciting paint colour

Do you have a room that has always just felt a little lacklustre? Paint it.

It’s another of those bang-for-your-buck projects. I finally feel like the greater population is coming on board the colour train and there is so much good inspiration out there. 

Punch a general colour you like into Pinterest search engine and you’ll be blown away with inspiration and a range of shades. 

No colour is off limits – just make sure you paint all walls in a space. Painting a feature wall will not give you the effect you want. Instead, you’ll end up with a room that feels half-hearted and non-committal and, frankly, dated. 

And maybe it’s not the walls you paint, but rather a piece of furniture that doesn’t spark joy anymore. Just make sure you tell the paint shop what you’re painting so that they give you the right type of paint.

Dress the walls

The cost of professional framing is often more expensive than the art itself so I’m not suggesting you go out and drop a few grand on framing, but you probably have a bunch of photos in your iPhone that would look beautiful up on the wall – and the chances are you also have plenty of undressed walls screaming for some love. 

Pop down to your local department store, print them and pop a couple of ready-made frames in the trolley while you’re at it. 

West Elm also offers some more unique ready-made frames to mix things up. I typically suggest hanging photo-gallery walls in more intimate areas of the home, like the hallway or stairs, rather than in your common living areas. 

If you have some other walls that also need dressing, op shops are excellent suppliers of inexpensive original art. They don’t need to be in perfect condition; a bit of wear and tear adds character that many homes are lacking these days, if I’m honest.

Dress your dated windows

I’m not going to say this is a cheap option (custom curtains by a curtain manufacturer certainly aren’t cheap) but dressing dated windows is definitely more accessible than it used to be with retailers such as Ikea, West Elm and Pottery Barn offering excellent options in off-the-shelf curtains and accessories. 

You might even engage a local sewer or have a mum (or dad) who’s handy on the sewing machine to whip you up some curtains from scratch.

Replacing dated windows is costly, but covering a window with a beautiful draping sheer linen fabric will add softness and elegance and it might be just the ticket to reinvigorate a room and help restore some affection for your home to scratch that home-design itch.

Interior design, styling and renovation expert Carlene Duffy first appeared on our TV screens in 2014 with husband Michael as part of Channel 9’s The Block Glasshouse and Reno Rumble.

Since then, she has been a constant on Australian screens as host of 9 Life’s Ready Set Reno, Open Homes Australia and Renovate or Rebuild.

Led by a passion for interior design, Carlene runs Cedar and Suede, a full-service interior design studio based on the Gold Coast.