Great Decor on a Budget!

By Chirag Sharma

Photography: World Wide Web

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Décor is an inevitable part of one’s home! With lifestyle accessory choices a trifle confusing and quite expensive, we list some smart solutions to inexpensive and individualistic decor ideas...

 

The money spent on decorating a home is based on a host of personal preferences and hence tends to vary from individual to individual. It is also based on the style that you would want your home to reflect. However, decorating need not be limited to only the finest that money can buy. It can also be the outcome of a creative mind and then it adds a personal touch – exclusive and inexpensive too!!

Here are some creative ideas that will help you decorate without breaking your back and bank!

Old steam iron makes an eye-catching door-stopper

§  Be innovative: Are you a lover of antiques? Look for ways to add to your home besides the usual mantelpieces and coffee table decorating ideas. Use individual pieces of art like an old steam iron as a doorstopper or an old trinket box as a tissue box etc.

§    Buy a lot of similar sized curly ribbons – the kinds that you would use for a fancy gift-wrap – group the ribbons together in a twisted form and tie a group of gungroos (bells) at both ends. Use these as curtain tiebacks!

Intricately carved antique box as a tissue case

§   Penchant for traditional ruffles? Pick up some well used but small brackets – they could be broken pieces from any large item – have a hole drilled through the middle and suspend your light fitting with the antique piece as a holder on the wall or ceiling. The overall effect satisfies both – your artistic urge as well as the functional element. Use this instead of a normal light fitting.  

Old hats as ceiling-suspended lampshades

§  Use your Collectibles: Have a collection of postcards, invitation cards, perfume bottles? Use cut-outs of motifs, Ganesha, Aum etc. and combine them with bright coloured ribbons, beads and bells to create a wind chime that is unique and pretty!

Work of art by student artist

§   Frame prints instead of bending your budget trying to look for original paintings. But if you’re the ‘originals or nothing’ types, then try purchasing work by students of art. The work sells very reasonably and shows a freshness of thought and technique!

unused jars as votives

§  Go for bargain sales:Crockery stores sometimes dump single pieces like a saltshaker or a pretty glass jug or dish without its cover that can be used as a tabletop plant holder, etc. You might just get lucky with a brilliant bargain!! Similarly you could purchase different kinds of isolated glasses and use them to float candles. They make an exclusive statement.

Assorted knick-knacks woven together

Home-grown cut-worked table cloth

§  Exploit your creative genius: If you are good at papier-mâché, embroidery, crochet, knitting, fabric painting, drawing, etc., make the most of your talent and accessorise your home in your unique style!!