Smart furnishings on an easy budget

Smart furnishings on an easy budget

You can give your furniture and furnishings a new look without spending too much.

Furniture and furnishings are among the most prominent accents of home décor. The selection of these two components will definitely reflect on the overall look of the house. When on a stringent budget, it is good to note a few points. Firstly, a few good quality pieces are better than a large number of fragile items. Secondly, workmanship must be given prime importance. Lastly, buy them according to an overall idea like style, colour, or theme.
Furniture
Buying furniture for the house is usually a one-time investment. It can also eat up a considerable chunk of the budget. To get quality furniture on a budget is a matter of preference and need. Generally, the living room and the dining area are allotted a larger share of the budget. Choose stylish pieces after deciding on the essentials that you will need here. Instead of buying an entire sofa set within the budget that you may have allotted for it, buying a quality three-seater and a pair of armchairs will render a designer look. Look at discount sales for display pieces which are usually priced reasonably. Extra seating can be incorporated in the form of handy foldable kind of furniture. For instance, painted wooden chairs (the kind available in handicraft shops), low floor modas or wooden stools with jute seats are attractive options. Varnishing well-cut logs as extra seating is a good inexpensive idea, provided you find the logs. In materials, cane and wrought iron are reasonably priced and look good. Wrought iron beds are extremely stylish and bring down the budget considerably as compared to solid wood. Glass-topped tables, including the dining table, are reasonable when compared to solid wood tops. For the 'wood' look, veneered or laminated furniture are cheaper options. In such cases, buy furniture that can withstand the wear and tear like shoe cabinets or a chest of drawers. Strengthen these pieces further with reinforcements for the back and the base for extended use.
Refurbish
Refurbishing existing furniture is practical and extremely satisfying. The gist of this concept is to turn all unwanted furniture pieces into usable ones. An old bed can be converted into a chest of drawers, a sofa or table. Apart from this, painting or decoupage can also generate interesting pieces. Old sofas or dining chairs can be given a change of upholstery or new slipcovers. Damaged tabletops can be repaired with new laminated, veneered, glass or tile tops. Note that solid furniture can take refurbishing unlike cheap particleboard ones.
Furnishings
Furnishings generally attract the eye with their colour, design, and style. Usually, they are bought with the idea of 'tying up' the decor. Different colours in the decor are blended together with furnishings that usually contain these random colours. For instance, a multicoloured carpet may blend an eclectic mix of hues within the room. But on a budget, remember to use inexpensive materials liberally and expensive materials sparingly in details. In furnishings itself, curtains take up considerable amount of the budget. You may want to choose simple readymade cotton curtains for the bedrooms and something grand for the living and dining areas. Opt for customised bamboo blinds rather than fancy drapes. A mix of bamboo blinds and sheers is a nice way to combine style with budget. Carpets and area rugs are best chosen with budget in mind as the range is limitless. Dhurries, jute and coir carpets are reasonable and offer a sufficient range of varieties. Choose runners and small area rugs to dot the floor. Acrylic fibre carpets are also good and viable options. Upholstery in bright, bold colours adds vitality to a contemporary decor although neutral colours go with any kind of theme. Natural materials like cotton are cheap and beautiful to look at. Accents (like cushion covers, table runners and so on) in expensive materials like silk or brocade bring in elegance. As far as possible, choose versatile furnishings with minimal or no designs.