If I had a dollar for every time I wanted to make a big change in my apartment…well, let’s just say I’d have enough money to comfortably renovate the entire place.
Most of the time, making big changes in your home (think: knocking down walls, refurnishing, or redoing the kitchen) isn’t really feasible. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do a few small things to change the look and feel of your home. And the best part is, none of these things will be breaking the bank – so you can still save up for that big renovation!
Home makeover tactic #1: make your house smell fresh and new
Sometimes the simplest solution is always the best. Adding fragrances to different rooms of your home can lighten the atmosphere and make you feel like you’re in a brand new place.
For general home freshness, try spraying a room mist every so often. Crabtree & Evelyn Lily Home Fragrance spray has a beautiful floral scent that will add a light scent to any space. For a spray that also has disinfectant qualities too, try Dettol Glen 20 Spray Disinfectant. Each spray in the range is perfumed to leave your room smelling fresh and will kill 99.9 per cent of germs and viruses.
If you’re after something that will keep a room – like a bathroom, bedroom, or living room – scented all day, every day, a diffuser will do the trick. Glasshouse Fragrances Monet’s Garden Tuberose Triple Strength Fragrance Diffuser features a gorgeous mix of floral notes that will leave your room smelling like a garden for up to six months.
And for shorter bursts of more intense fragrance, try a scented candle. Circa Home 1977 Pear & Lime Classic Candle has an invigorating and zesty blend that’s bound to pick up any room. And with up to 45 hours of burn time, you won’t have to worry about restocking for a long time.
Home makeover tactic #2: use products that look a little fancy
Let’s face it: things like soap, hand wash, and hand cream aren’t the most glamorous of products. BUT! If you buy products that have packaging that’s a little different and decorative, you can easily add a little luxury to an otherwise boring room – like your bathroom.
When it comes to soap bars, opt for a bar that’s got beautiful outer packaging (for display when you have guests over) and looks just as good when opened (for when said guests actually need to use the soaps). The Aromatherapy Company soaps, like the Naturals Lavender & Rosemary Soap Bar, fit the bill in both respects.
If you like a bit of pump-action when it comes to hand washing, MOR has certainly got you covered with a bottle that looks utterly luxurious. And Emporium Black Hand & Body Wash in Candied Vanilla Almond isn’t just a pretty face either – the combination of almond milk, argan oil, and vitamin E will leave your hands feeling silky smooth and smelling fabulous.
A hand cream isn’t usually on most people’s list for bathroom vanity must-haves, but having one there will not only make your bathroom feel more shcmick, but you’ll be doing your hands a huge favour too. Urban Rituelle Tea Ceremony White Peony & Rose Buds Hand Therapy will add that needed va-va-voom to your bathroom counter. Place it next to a colour-coordinated candle and you’ve basically hit the beautiful bathroom jackpot.
Home makeover tactic #3: small, inexpensive items can make a big difference
While you may not be able to afford a new couch or coffee table, you can definitely pick up a few things to refresh any space in your home. Prints and pictures for the walls, small decorating trinkets or even new pillows are easy ways to make a change that won’t have you forking over all of your hard-earned cash.
Add some oomph to bare white walls with a cute, fun canvas or print. Typo (http://shop.cottonon.com) offers enough sizes and patterns of them to make sure you won’t leave without one – and for under $30 each, too! And don’t think that canvases and pictures need to stick to walls – smaller ones can be used to decorate empty shelves, sideboards, and tables.
Accents to your couch can also add a bit of life to a tired-looking room. Try a colourful throw (which will be quite handy when those cold winter nights set in), like IKEA’s GURLI Throw ($19.99, http://www.ikea.com/au/). It comes in an array of colours, so you’ll be sure to find one to fit your room’s colour scheme. Couple that with a bright or interesting pillow (you can get them at BIG W for as cheap as $10!) and you almost won’t recognise your couch as your own. The same method can be used in the bedroom, where a bed can be brought back to life with a affordable quilt covers and some new cushions.
There’s no denying flowers can pick up the atmosphere of any room, but constantly buying fresh flowers can be quite hard on your bank account. So why not go faux? Fake flowers look just as good as the real thing and you don’t have to worry about watering them, throwing them out when they start smelling a bit manky, or repurchasing. Win! Try IKEA for some floral inspiration – their range of artificial flowers is huge and hip-pocket friendly!
What small things do you do to perk up your home? If you could make-over one thing in your home, what would it be?
