Create your own interior style on a shoestring - part one

Love your home

Why is it that when flicking through a home interiors magazine or browsing in a shop that you find something that you fall in love with, only then to fall out of love with it when you see the price tag? Then the battle of head vs. heart ensues & whichever decision you make something is left empty, be it your wallet or your desire. Here is part one of Home Restyler's how to create your own interior style on a shoestring to help you win:win.

So many of us love the idea of a romantic, vintage style look for the home. If you are naturally drawn to the rustic, 'used' or distressed look, put this to your advantage and achieve it yourself. You don't have to spend a fortune to have a stylish home and it's often the small details that make it unique and personal to you.

Part One of Home Restyler's how to create your own interior style on a shoestring is a gentle nudge to encourage you to get out there and forage around for unloved items that you can bring back to life.

Tat or treasure...

Reuse & Recycle

Get yourself down to markets, car boot sales and charity shops. People are always donating or selling unwanted furniture and accessories in house clearances or just to make space in their homes. Look out for bargains that you can put a stamp on and make your own.  

Ask friends and family if they have unwanted belongings that you can take off their hands. What is one person's tat is another person's treasure!

 

Revive & Revamp

Once you have found items that you want to revamp, you will likely need paint to do so.

Annie Sloan paint has to be THE best chalk paint for painting furniture ever. You don't have to prime or prepare surfaces before painting, you can use it on any surface (interior and exterior), you can dilute it to show wood-grain, you can mix it, you can leave the lid of to thicken it (as an impasto), you don't even have to wash your paint brush as soon as you finish the job... it is truly incredible. Don't just take my word for it, take a look at her website to read more about those who love her paint. She even runs courses so you can  learn how to achieve the look of old French and Swedish painted furniture. 

You may also need fabric to give an item a new lease of life. Look out for old curtains you can chop up, collect small sample pieces of material that you can use for small projects and old blankets and thows can be cleaned and re-used to put on chairs or beds.

If you like the shabby chic look you really can create a beautiful, stylish interior look for your home on a budget. Over the next few weeks and months I will be writing blogs to help you achieve a look that works for you. I will also provide you with links for further ideas and inspiration and if you have any questions of queries please do get in touch as I'd love to help you bring your home to life.

What's more, if you do put in some time and effort to reclaim, revamp and restore, you will love your home even more than if you just buy everything off the shelf. It will take patience though ;)

www.homerestyler.co.uk