Right, so I’m sitting in my living room last month, looking around at the absolute state of the place, when my mum rings.”How’s the decorating going, love?” she asks. And I’m thinking, “What decorating? I can hardly afford my rent, let alone posh cushions from John Lewis.”
But then I remembered something my nan would always say: “It’s not about how much cash you splash; it’s about how clever you are. And she was right.
Three weeks later, my mate Isla waltzed in and quite literally said, “Did you hire an interior designer?” Not at all. just got crafty with some simple home decor DIYs on a budget and a lot of YouTube tutorials.
Here’s exactly what I did, and trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.
The £2 Paint Job That Changed Everything
The first up were my grotty white walls. They seemed like they hadn’t been touched since the Blair era. Instead of painting the entire room (who’s got time for that?), I put up an accent wall behind my sofa.
A tin of paint from B&Q – £18. Painter’s tape – £3. Rollers and brushes, which I nicked from my dad’s garage, were free.
Accent walls are still all the rage in 2025, as they offer a great way to add bold colours or subtle tones that complement your existing décor. I opted for this gorgeous sage green colour called “Woodland Walk” (yes, paint names are insane, but it’s lush).
The difference was mental. An afternoon’s work and my living room had personality. My neighbour even came to knock on my door and ask me what I’d done because it looks so different from the hallway.
The Charity Shop Goldmine Discovery
Now here’s where it starts to get interesting. I had a mission and I began hitting up charity shops. Not just passively browsing, as I usually do, but searching for specific things I could transform.
I also discovered this knackered old wooden tray for £1.50. It looked like it had been through the wars. But I remembered seeing something about chalk paint on Pinterest, so I picked up a small pot of Frenchic paint for £8.
Whether you want to redecorate a chest of drawers or a dining room table, all you need is a lick of chalk paint to give it an upcycled upgrade. Two hours later, I had this gorgeous vintage-looking serving tray that honestly looked like something from The White Company.
My sister came round and immediately asked where I’d bought it. When I told her I’d made it from a charity shop find, she nearly spilled her tea. “You crafty cow,” she said. I’ll take that as a compliment.
The Free Gallery Wall That Cost Nothing
This is where I got really clever. Instead of buying expensive prints, I created a gallery wall using stuff I already had plus some freebies.
Downloaded some gorgeous botanical prints from free online sources. Printed them at work (shh, don’t tell my boss). Used old frames I had kicking about from previous flats, plus a couple I found at car boot sales for 50p each.
The trick was mixing different frame sizes and colours. I painted two of the frames black with leftover paint from another project, kept some gold ones, and even used a couple of wooden ones I found at the back of my wardrobe.
Total cost: about £3 for printing. Impact: massive. It looks like I spent hundreds on bespoke artwork.
The Cushion Hack That Saved Me a Fortune
You know how new cushions cost about £25 each at decent shops? Mental, isn’t it? Instead, I bought cushion covers from Primark (£3 each) and stuffed them with old pillows I was about to chuck out.
But here’s the really clever bit: I made some of my covers using fabric from the remnant bin at Hobbycraft. £2 per metre, and I got enough to make three cushions. No sewing machine needed; I just turned the edges and used fabric glue. It looks professional, and it cost me practically nothing.
My mum was so impressed she asked me to do the same for her conservatory. Suddenly I’m the family’s interior design expert!
Easy DIY Home Decor Ideas on a Budget That Actually Work
The key to all this is thinking like a magpie – seeing potential in things other people might ignore. That wonky side table from Facebook Marketplace for £10? Perfect candidate for a makeover. Those old curtains from your bedroom? Cut them up and make table runners.
You can find woven baskets for just a few dollars each, and they double as storage! I picked up three wicker baskets from a car boot sale for £5 total. Now they hold everything from magazines to spare throws, and they look dead stylish scattered around the room.
The best part about this whole journey has been realising how much potential is hiding in plain sight. My flat went from looking like a student digs to something you’d see in a home magazine, and I spent less than £50 total.
The Lighting Trick That Fooled Everyone
Here’s something that really made a difference: I swapped out all my harsh overhead bulbs for warm LED ones. Cost about £12 for the whole flat, but suddenly everything looked cosier and more expensive.
Rather than rewiring your room for stylish wall sconces above your bar, use battery-operated rechargeable light bulbs inside the sconces. I even bought some battery-operated fairy lights from Poundland and strung them behind my headboard. Sounds naff, but it actually looks really romantic and grown-up.
Also read: Transform Your Plain Pots: Creative DIY Plant Pot Decoration Ideas at Home
My boyfriend was so chuffed with how nice the bedroom looked, he offered to cook dinner. Result!
The Plant Game-Changer
Nothing makes a space look more expensive than plants, but good ones cost a bomb. So I got sneaky. Bought tiny plants from the supermarket for £2-3 each and repotted them in nice containers I found around the house or bought cheaply.
Old mason jars, pretty mugs with chips in them, even a nice tin that used to have biscuits in it – they all became plant pots. The plants grew, looked lush, and suddenly my flat felt alive.
Pro tip: spider plants are basically indestructible and grow babies constantly. I’ve now got about eight plants from one original £3 purchase. It’s like having a plant nursery in my living room.
The Reality Check Nobody Talks About
Look, I’m not going to pretend this was all Pinterest-perfect. Some stuff didn’t work. That macrame wall hanging I attempted? Looked like a bird’s nest having a bad day. The “rustic” wooden sign I painted? More like “disaster” than “rustic.”
But that’s the beauty of easy DIY home decor ideas on a budget – when something costs £3 to make, you’re not devastated if it goes wrong. You just chuck it and try something else.
My advice? Start small. Pick one thing that’s annoying you about your space and fix it for under a tenner. Once you see what a difference small changes make, you’ll get addicted to the process.
Three months on, people constantly compliment my flat. They assume I’ve spent loads or hired professionals. Nope – just got creative, watched a lot of YouTube, and refused to accept that having no money means having no style.
And honestly? I’m quite proud of that.
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