23 Statement Home Design Ideas for Homeowners on a Budget, Brought to You By the Experts
We’re always on the lookout for the latest interior design ideas for homeowners who are strapped for cash. Whether we’re building Pinterest boards or scouring hashtags across Instagram, we love finding an interesting DIY project to take on. We thought it was about time to share the love with you all, so, in this post, we’re taking you through a host of our favourite statement home features you can enjoy on a shoestring.
What’s more, we’ve got exclusive hacks and insights from a curated community of industry experts – bringing you a selection of unique ideas to take your home’s interior and exterior from bland to beautiful.
Furniture is the backbone of your home’s aesthetic – and with this selection of DIY furniture design ideas, you’ll be sure to make a bold impression on guests:
1. An upcycled vintage suitcase
Vintage suitcases are aplenty at antique auctions and car boot sales, and in online marketplaces like eBay – and we love these nifty ways to transform one into a functional piece of furniture. Whether you’re creating a statement coffee table or even a shelf, they’ll be sure to get guests talking.
2. Reclaim wood for a coffee table centrepiece
How’s this for creative use of natural materials? Reclaimed wood is both cost-effective and beautiful, and this table can effortlessly fit into a contemporary setting or a rustic one. This table was actually created using salvaged structural beams from centuries-old properties, but there’s no reason you can’t create your own if you put in some elbow grease. Just make sure you treat the wood so it doesn’t deteriorate.
3. Drum side table
Old drum kits aren’t hard to come by – and for this statement side table, there’s little to no DIY expertise required. For a bold but brilliant indoor planter, take off the drumhead (that’s the white skin that you actually hit) and fill with potting soil and your favourite plants – think a glorious green fern or a delicate arrangement of succulents.
4. Mosaic table top from leftover tiles
Leftover tiles? Don’t let them gather dust! Any basic table can be upgraded with a little handiwork, creativity and an assortment of tiles. Whether you have a spectrum of colourful tiles remaining from a kids’ bedroom renovation or maybe some from an older kitchen island project, you can easily create your own unique table top in a stress-free afternoon.
5. EXPERT INSIGHT: Wooden Furniture Store
“We live in a world with limited natural resources – and their scarcity is a hot topic here at The Wooden Furniture Store. As a result, we’re very enthusiastic about the use of reclaimed wood. So much so that we’ve sourced a number of collections that are made from recycled timber, taken from a range of sources such as old barns, warehouses, railway sleepers and even storage containers like wine barrels and beer casks.
Aside from its recycled and resource-friendly nature, an additional benefit of using reclaimed wood in furniture is that each piece boasts unique character from different grain patterns, knots and burrows, nail holes, discolouration and uneven edges. We think that furniture that uses recycled wood is more interesting than mass-produced furniture – as each piece, particularly in our Urban Chic and Coastal Chic ranges, is completely unique.
Exclusive to Tiles Direct customers, we’d like to offer 10% saving on a spend of £500 or more until the 25th December 2018 on all furniture in the Urban Chic and Coastal Chic recycled collections. Each piece of furniture is crafted from colourful reclaimed wood and finished with a striking steel frame to make a real statement in any modern room decorating scheme. Just use the code: TILES10 for your discount.”
Thanks to The Wooden Furniture Store for contributing.
Illuminating your home doesn’t have to be boring. With these impressive ideas for fixtures, you can make lighting your interior both impactful and interesting:
6. A natural alternative to a standard pendant arrangement
Pendant lights are seeing a revival in recent times, and can be spotted in spaces ranging from high-end restaurants and penthouse suites to student accommodation and cosy local cafés. We loved this simple idea of combining them with a piece of nature. Use budget or secondhand lights to save a bundle without compromising the end result.
7. The avid traveller’s lighting choice
Keen travellers, geography students or avid upcycling enthusiasts, this one’s for you. This take on a chandelier will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression – and is without doubt one of the more unique items on our list. We loved the holes made around the continents, allowing light to pierce through, which can be achieved quite easily using a drill. Check out more of these globe pendant ideas here.
8. Next-level rustic chic
Who knew nails could make a lampshade? Well, you do now. This incredible light made from rusty nails is super unique – and not out of reach for somebody with a chunk of time and the right skills and equipment. We imagine the shadows projected through the gaps will look stunning – so do send us a snap if you give this one a go.
9. Mason jars + wood + bulbs = illumination perfection
Mason jars are a staple of innumerable DIY projects, and this one is no exception. With a board of reclaimed wood, a handful of bulbs and some electrical knowledge, you can put together a lighting centrepiece that makes guests say ‘wow’. Hang above the dining room table or in your hallway to enjoy the full effect.
10. EXPERT INSIGHT: Cotterell & Co
“Nothing makes more of an impact on a room’s décor than the lighting – as it draws attention to itself at the flick of a switch. Ban the beige and toss the taupe for lampshades that make a real statement. A large pendant lampshade in a fabulous coloured or patterned fabric with a contrasting fabric or shimmering metallic lining reflecting a beautiful decorative vintage light bulb is an easy and quick way to make the ultimate design statement in any room.
Go for a large lampshade at least 60cm in diameter for dramatic impact – don’t worry, it won’t look too big. It’s the only thing on that big expanse of ceiling, so the empty space around it will swallow it up! And if you have a low ceiling, no problem. We can make the pendant shade as shallow as you need for your ceiling height. After that, simply coordinate your ceiling pendant with table lamps around the room to bring it all together.”
Thanks to Cotterell & Co for contributing.
11. EXPERT INSIGHT: Astro Lighting
“Show your home in its best light by illuminating the space effectively.
When illuminating the kitchen, the typical ‘go to’ light source options are usually downlights and spotlights, and although they can be effective, they are not the only option.
Treat the kitchen with an element of creativity as well as practicality and consider how the space will be used; i.e. bright and light for full “bake off” mode or low and moody for a dinner party. Look at creating areas of interest using light, such as dropping pendants over a sink area or an island. This is a great way to create a sense of drama and achieve brighter pools of illumination.
Task lighting on a wall or undercabinet lighting which will put light directly on your working surface. Be aware that ceiling mounted spotlights or downlights can mean that you create a shadow when standing at the work surface.
And finally, when you are considering the lighting for your kitchen, always plan ahead – adding lights later is difficult, costly and may not be possible when other elements have been fitted.
By bringing the best out of your space using strategically placed lights, you can improve your interior’s aesthetic without having to invest in unnecessarily costly renovations or features.”
Thanks to Astro Lighting for contributing.
By their very nature, all of the ideas in this list are bursting with creativity. But, when it comes to art and decoration specifically, these are our favourites:
12. Simplistic penny tiles
An affordable option for homeowners looking to spruce up their kitchen, small hexagon or penny tiles can be installed painlessly to create the above look. We love how the tiles complement the wall colour, but you could easily choose a contrasting colour instead if you wanted a more dramatic result. Check out our range of penny tiles perfect for this project.
13. Bold wallpaper can definitely pay off
Wallpaper is inexpensive and can be used to great effect in the proper place. Above, you can see that, in this space, the owner has injected a splash of tropical cool with these exotic palm leaves. If leafy-green goodness doesn’t quite fit in with with your aesthetic, why not try nautical-themed, wood-effect or geometrically patterned wallpaper to make an instant impact without the hefty price tag?
14. Reach out to friends and family
If you’re tight on cash but like bespoke art, why not reach out to artistic friends and family to ask if they’re interested in making you something? This way, you get to be more selective with the art you put up (hello cute pet dog portrait!) and hopefully benefit from a special friends and family discount.
15. EXPERT INSIGHT: Wayfair
“The easiest way to quickly make a new flat feel like home is by making the most of your trinkets and treasures.
Display your favourite photos, make a memory board of concert ticket stubs and old postcards, and repurpose old movie posters. Adding these personal touches will make all the difference between a boring, blank canvas and a home that represents you!”
Thanks to Wayfair for contributing.
16. You don’t have to ollie to install this incredible shelf
This skateboard shelf offers an incredibly fun and easy way to display possessions in a kids’ room, or in your own if you’re a keen skater. Find a step-by-step guide to making your own at 100 Layer Cakelet.
Gardening is one of the nation’s favourite pastimes. Whether we’re caring for a collection of herbs inside or making sure our outdoor areas are pristine, we love spending time amongst nature. Here are some of our favourite garden-orientated ideas for sprucing up your space:
17. Hanging planters have never been more affordable
With plants playing a pivotal role in many Brits’ homes – both inside and out – this innovative idea for hanging planters is perfect for anyone with colanders to spare. Simply tie up with string and voilà, you have a beautiful plant displayed proudly in your home – and at little to no cost. We’d recommend choosing a plant well-suited to hanging, such as ivies or vines, for best results.
18. Add instant ambience into your outdoor area with ease
Mason jars are a firm favourite of ours when it comes to DIY, so, when we spotted this stunningly simple lighting idea for a garden, we couldn’t help but fall in love. Either use a genuine wax candle (just make sure you either leave the lid off or make a hole in it) or pack them with fairy lights.
19. Make your own stepping stones
If you’d like to put a personal stamp on your garden design, these gorgeous DIY stepping stones are ideal. By using leftover floor or wall tiles, some of our mosaic tiles or some sea glass, you can create a custom walkway to take your garden to the next level. Full step-by-step instructions can be found here.
20. EXPERT INSIGHT: WoodBlocX
“Whether you’re looking to transform your entire garden or just make a quick update to a certain area, WoodBlocX’s unique wooden kits can help. Build raised beds, retaining walls, seating, steps or a combination of all four – the design potential is limitless. The modular system, which is similar to Lego, uses lightweight wooden blocks that fuse together using dowels, making each structure strong and long-lasting.
Many of our structures can be built and planted out in as little as a day or over a weekend. Simply prepare the ground and lay out the base layer. Once this is in place and you’re happy with the positioning, build up according to the step-by-step instructions provided – or check out the how to build videos over on the WoodBlocX website. No heavy lifting or power tools are needed and everything is already cut to size, so there’s no waste.
WoodBlocX raised beds kits are the perfect DIY solution for your garden, as building them yourself will save you money and the professional finish will leave friends and family in awe of your building skills!
To work out what you need for your next garden project, use our online calculator tool, or, if you need some extra help, use our free design service.”
Thanks to WoodBlocX for contributing.
Storage is as essential to any home as its front door – without it, what would our homes look like? We know ours wouldn’t look nearly as tidy. There aren’t many of us who would say storage is exciting, but, with this selection of budget-friendly hacks, you can keep your space spick and span in style:
21. Keep your records in check
If you’re an avid vinyl collector, you know how much space your records can take up. To keep them in order and accessible, it makes sense to have a snazzy storage solution that’s both practical and pleasing to the eye. Full step-by-step instructions can be found over at Premeditated Leftovers.
22. Store utensils oh-so stylishly
If your kitchen utensils are sat in drawers in an unorganised heap, you’re not the only one. We thought this was a clever idea for those wanting to show off their spoons, scissors, pots and pans. Step-by-step instructions can be found over at Grillo Designs.
23. A concrete design feature for a contemporary space
Furniture is often the most expensive aspect of a home’s interior, so we loved this bedside table made from concrete blocks. You’re sure to impress with one of these in the room – and for next to nothing. Just make sure you buy blocks with sufficiently sized holes so that you can store plants, books or even small lights in there. From Drummond House Plans.
For more interior inspiration to help you transform your spaces, explore the rest of the Tiles Direct blog, where you’ll find helpful tips, clever hacks and unique ideas to fuel your imagination.
Comments are closed here.