Top tips for decorating your home on a budget

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Even when times are tight and we want to spend a little less, it’s still nice to change our spaces and make them feel rejuvenated. With a few little tips and tricks, you can find ways to decorate rooms in your house for a much smaller budget than you might expect. From switching the type of flooring that you opt for, to trying new ways of finding furniture, we’ve got a few different top tips for decorating on a budget that you can try out for yourself.

Cheap decorating ideas

Having a budget to work to can sometimes feel a little daunting, especially if you’re making over an entire space, but luckily, we’ve got plenty of ideas you can use to make decorating a little bit cheaper and a lot simpler. Starting with one of the cheapest changes you can make, you can always grab some paint and give your walls a new and exciting colour.

You could opt for a neutral colour like beige or grey to let some standout furniture pieces take the stage, you could opt for a moody dark green or blue to create a cosy and inviting space, or you could go bright and light with a cream or sorbet pastel colour. There are lots of different possibilities you can try when it comes to the colour of your walls.

However, when it comes to your flooring, this is where you can make one of the biggest changes for not as much money as you might think.

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Laminate

Laminate flooring is a cheaper alternative to solid wood flooring, and it has also some excellent features to make it a great choice for family homes. Laminate flooring is scratch-resistant thanks to its durable top layer, and we also sell laminate flooring that’s water-resistant too, meaning you can use it in almost any area of your home, including the kitchen and bathrooms.

Our laminate completely recreates the look of wood, and with some embossed finishes, you can also get the feel of wood under your feet too. We always recommend you have your laminate flooring fitted by one of our professionals using our fitting service, but if you’re sticking to a tight budget, it’s also possible to fit laminate yourself using our handy how to fit laminate guide.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is another great option when you want to redecorate but don’t want to splash out on expensive materials. Sheet vinyl can mimic the look of wood, tile and stone, which means you can have that sophisticated look you want without breaking the bank! It’s made from flexible materials, comes in one large sheet that rolls out and under cabinets or skirting boards, and is less expensive to manufacture and fit than real stone or tiles.

Vinyl is also a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens because it has great water-resistant properties and it has thick felt underneath it. You can also use it with underfloor heating which can also be another great cost saver. You can read more about why underfloor heating is cost-efficient and keeps the heat in with our underfloor heating flooring guide.

Luxury Vinyl Tiles

Luxury vinyl tiles come in single tiles and planks that often click together, making the fitting process quicker and cheaper. The biggest difference between luxury vinyl tiles and sheet vinyl aside from cost, is luxury vinyl tiles can much more effectively replicate the effect of stone or solid wood because they’re individual pieces. This is a great choice for the more detail-oriented, who are still trying to avoid emptying their savings account for new flooring.

There are so many different looks you can go for with luxury vinyl tiles, from shiny tile effects in your bathroom to aged oak flooring in your living room or dining room. The possibilities are endless, and you can cover your whole house in it. It’s a practical choice because its scratch-resistant top coat makes it so durable.

Engineered wood

Engineered wood flooring is a great alternative to solid hardwood flooring. It’s created with a top layer of thin real wood, with layers of plywood underneath to give it strength and durability. This way, you get the genuine look and feel of solid wood with added stability.

Engineered wood can come in lots of different finishes and effects, from modern grey to classic herringbone patterns. So, you don’t even need to worry about having minimal options to choose from, because here at Tapi, we offer an amazing range of products. Why not come down to your local Tapi store and check them out for yourself?

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Home décor ideas on a budget

Once you’ve picked your flooring, you’ll be thinking about all the decorating you get to do now! When you’re working with a small budget, it may seem a little daunting to try to get everything you need, but we’ve got some tricks up our sleeve that could help you find the items you need for less:

Check out charity shops and used furniture shops – there’s often the chance you can stumble across pieces you wouldn’t otherwise have considered, and it’s normally half the price
Opt for the store model rather than having a brand-new piece of furniture made for you – often these pieces are still in good condition, and you can patch them up if any small marks need covering.
Ask around friends and family to see if they have any unloved furniture or décor that you could take home with you to give it another lease of life
Make your own décor – from making your own curtains to your own pillowcases and even uncycling old furniture, there are plenty of ways to get thrifty with what you already have and learn new skills along the way. It also means you can tailor your new items to whatever your favourite trend is - whether it's loud and proud '70s interior design, or pared back Japandi decor.

Why not check out our lookbooks if you want some inspiration for different furniture you could try to salvage, or even for different flooring that could go with your existing colour scheme? Alternatively, finding your perfect home fragrance could leave you feeling like your home is refreshed and new. Or you can take a look through our flooring ideas page to see the ways our flooring can look in different rooms around your house. There’s beauty to be found in every corner of your home with a little inspiration from the Tapi website!

Visit Tapi's Ideas Hub to get more guidance and inspiration, and if you're ready to order that flooring that you love, speak to a friendly floorologist at your local Tapi store today.

Post author

Claire Murphy Copywriter Former lifestyle journalist, keen amateur upcycler, full of value for money ideas

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Published: 01-12-2022