Insider secrets: budget interior design

Creating an interior design that everyone will envy can be a nightmare of spiralling costs and wrong-footed colour choices. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Emma Blomfield of Sydney’s Nest Designs lets us in on the trade secrets that professional interior designers use to make a home into a work of art without busting the bank.

Think big

Blomfield recommends making your largest investments in quality key pieces to get the biggest bang for your buck. These are:

•   the sofa (leather or fabric)
•   the dining table
•   your bed
•   the bedside tables
•   a quality rug.

For sofa cushions, Blomfield favours foam inserts with a feather wrap. “You get the structure of the foam with the comfort of feathers. If you just go for feather inserts you get that ‘squished pancake’ look after a while.”

She also recommends going for the largest rug you can afford, ideally in natural fibres (allergies permitting). “You’ll never regret a large rug but you will regret a small rug,” she says. “The front feet of furniture should be on the rug, if not the entirety of the furniture, to make the room look bigger.”

In living colour

Choosing a colour scheme can cause major anxiety, but Blomfield has some reassuring advice. “There aren’t any strict rules about colour,” she says. “However, it’s worth sticking to a palette of three to five colours per room – up to three key tones and two neutral colours – used in equal amounts.” Repeating one of these colours in adjacent rooms will create continuity throughout the house while still establishing a different character for each space.

Lighting is equally important, especially in lounge rooms or open-plan spaces. The humble dimmer switch is an invaluable tool. “It’s a common mistake to install the brightest lights possible, whereas a dimmer switch allows you to precisely control the light levels,” adds Blomfield. “I also add a table lamp and a floor lamp to enhance mood lighting.”

Cheap tricks

Scatter cushions are many designers’ favourite budget trick, but Blomfield reveals an insider tip to make them look extra special. “Always go for feather inserts in scatter cushions,” she says. “They cost more than polyester inserts but last longer. Also, select the insert that’s the next size up from the cushion to keep it plump. So, if you’ve got a 45×45 cm scatter cushion, buy the 50×50 cm insert.”

Another quick and easy update is switching up your lampshades and/or spray-painting your lamp bases. Stores like IKEA and Freedom are great places to find affordable lampshades.

Use what you’ve got

If that’s still too much for your wallet, you can transform your home without spending a cent by simply shopping around your own house. “If you’ve been hiding a candle or ornament in your bedroom for years, move it to the mantelpiece,” says Blomfield. She also suggests giving family heirlooms a new lease of life with a bit of elbow grease.

“If you’ve inherited an antique piece that doesn’t work in your home, try sanding it back, then painting or staining it. That will instantly modernise it and it’ll be a piece that means something to you too.”

The most important design choice you make needn’t cost you a cent – and that’s taking the time before you start work to properly research your design. Check out other design ideas, such as industrial chic, to get inspiration before you even lift a paintbrush. After all, establishing a clear vision means you’re more likely to create a cohesive and attractive home – and avoid expensive and ugly mistakes.

Images courtesy of Nest Designs.