Inspiring Interiors - A Thrifty Home
Today's Inspiring Interiors comes from Antonia of Today Away Today, home interiors blogger who has an eye for everything interior!
Some of the most inspiring interiors for me are those homes that have been lovingly furnished using thrift and salvage. I really commend anyone who seeks out forgotten treasures and bargain buys, managing to create a unique and stylish home that perfectly reflects their tastes. The popularity of magazine articles, thrift festivals, upcycling workshops and TV programmes, such as Kirsties Handmade Home, just go to show how many people get a buzz through saving money and styling their homes in an original way. Salvaging or re-purposing items makes it possible to create a wonderful, inspiring home whilst keeping costs down.
Use your creative eye to see the potential in objects and try to think outside the box when it comes to interior design. There are lots of great ideas on Pinterest to help inspire you to be thrifty and imaginative in furnishing your home. If some of the essentials a home needs - such as the decorative finishing touches, kitchenware or soft furnishings - are second hand, more budget can be dedicated to the investment pieces like a sofa, dining table or bed. Thats not to say these larger items cant be thrifted, too. It just depends whether you like a little salvage or a lot!
Even if you dont want to deck out your entire home second hand, there are lots of ways to embrace the trend. How about using an antique door as a bedhead? Or paint an old mirror with chalkboard paint to turn it into a useful noticeboard. Likewise, an old chair or sofa can be transformed with some fabric remnants and a staple gun, while curtains can be made longer by sewing a panel to the bottom in a contrasting colour or fabric, such as velvet.
Ive tried a few fun and thrifty projects myself, such as giving this old chest of drawers, rescued from a skip, a facelift with paint and new handles.
Ive also made cosy cushion covers out of old woollen sweaters. It is really satisfying and the great thing is nothing has to be perfect! Homespun pieces are characterful by their nature and the odd dent or flaw simply adds to the charm. Id really like to try embellishing a plain lamp shade next with some fabric paint and a stamp. You can produce some great, contemporary designs using something as simple potato printing to great effect!
With antique and vintage items being so popular, it can be great fun hunting them out. Lots of us enjoy weekend trawls through salvage yards, car boot sales, flea markets, charity shops and even skips to discover hidden gems! Online, sites like ebay and Freecycle can prove fruitful while family, friends and neighbours can also be a great source of cast off items and furniture.
When decorating, often paint and wallpaper can be bought cheaply in the big DIY stores if you look for their clearance aisles (Ive bought pots of paint for as little as 50p!)
Its natural for people to worry that their home may end up looking like a jumble sale, but the very opposite can be the case. Aim to create a timeless, stylish home by being discerning about the second hand things you choose; think reclaimed parquet floor tiles and Art Deco light fittings, or a 50s60s armchair for some cool, mid-century modern style. Stick with design classics and you cant go wrong - they will never date and you will create a very eclectic place to call home.