Ask any anyone who likes nice things and you’ll quickly find out that the ‘B’ word is a particularly nasty one. That’s right, sometimes at some point in our lives we have to work to a BUDGET! In the grand scheme of things it really doesn’t matter what your budget is, a great look is about preparation and how you put things together.
If you are decorating your home on a budget, it’s important to make the distinction that low cost doesn’t automatically equal a ‘cheap’ result – in fact the opposite can be true. Embracing your budget is actually a fantastic opportunity to exercise your creativity and ingenuity and create a result that’s all about you. The key is to take your time, buy pieces that you love and always get the best quality that you can afford.
Whether you are working on a single room or a whole house, the first step you should take is to make a written decorating plan which outlines a list of items that you need to furnish each area properly – this will keep you focused and then become your buying guide. You can choose to do this yourself or even bring in a decorating professional to give you a little guidance. Make sure that you cover the basics first, once you have somewhere to sit, to eat and to sleep let the rest fall into place as you can afford it.
These days we have discount furniture stores popping up all over the place and they are a great resource. It’s important though to understand that much of what they offer is engineered towards a price and the compromise will usually [not in all cases] be the quality. Your bargain ceases to be such good value if it wears badly or falls apart, so avoid the instinct just to buy just based on price and make sure you actually look to see how things are constructed.
If you want extra bang for your decorating buck and prefer not to sacrifice on quality, then consider introducing some pre-loved items into the mix. Second Hand Stores and Auction Rooms are home to some fantastic pieces, half the fun is finding them. If you choose carefully, these stores will offer up a whole new world of interesting design possibilities at a fraction of the cost of buying new. We have seen their popularity decrease in the past few years which is a little unfortunate but the facts are they still remain a smart place to shop and another valid way to play your part in recycling.
The trade off is that you do need to set aside time to look around and find the pieces that will work for you. It’s a good idea to visit a few stores on the same day to make your trip worthwhile – the Yellow Pages and the internet are a great place to do some research before you leave home. Keep an open mind because you never know what you will find on any given day. Secondhand shopping is all about the adventure, having fun and finding new uses for old pieces.
Sometimes the most rewarding projects are the ones that require a little physical effort. To get what you want at the right price you may find yourself having to do some staining and refinishing, changing handles, minor re-upholstery or adding different legs. Your local hardware store is a great place to get some DIY advice and to access the resources that you will need. Remember to be objective though, extra work adds to the overall cost and you don’t want to take on more than you can handle. If it’s special enough, take on the project, otherwise walk away because you will always find something else on another day.
To get you started, here are a few of my favorite second hand haunts – Happy Hunting!
SIMPLY SECONDHAND
7 Spring Park Road
Midland WA 6056
Phone 9250 5656
www.simplysecondhand.com.au
TURNSTYLE COLLECTABLES
155 Stirling Highway
Nedlands WA 6009
Phone 9386 7088
www.turnstylecollectables.com.au
ROSS’S AUCTIONS
241 Railway Parade
Maylands WA 6051
Phone 9272 4644
www.auctions.com.au
WELLS AUCTIONS
65 Gordon Road [East]
Osborne Park WA 6017
Phone 9201 0957
www.wellsauctions.com.au
CASH CONVERTERS FURNITURE
331 Selby Street [North]
Osborne Park
Phone: 9446 4411
Matt Tucker
