Instagrammable Interior Design on a Budget

Let’s face it – we’ve all been there, scrolling through our Instagram feed with a touch of jealousy over those chic, luxury-looking interiors, thinking … if only we had the budget. The good news is, it is possible to make your home stylish without splashing too much cash.

Below, we reveal some of our top interior tips along with a selection of our favourite affordable Instagram brands so that you can get the luxury look for less.

Define statement rooms and plan changes

When it comes to decorating your place on a budget, focus on one or two rooms instead of the entire house. Start off with the living room which often acts as the hub of the home, and begin by taking a good look around at what looks tired and in need of replacing.

If it’s your couch that’s looking worse for wear, instead of splurging hundreds on a new one, why not try giving it a new lease of life with a chunky knitted throw (£20.79 from eBay.co.uk) and a pair of fur cushions (£9.99/each, eBay.co.uk). If these aren’t your cup of tea, find a style you like and scour eBay for some fantastic affordable dupes.

Talk art

Hanging some statement art in a living room instantly adds a touch of luxury and can change the entire look and feel of the room. Fear not, you don’t have to splash out on a Rembrandt. There are some fantastic brands out there creating high quality posters and prints for a fraction of the price.

Wallet-friendly photography prints are available from Desenio.co.uk, (much loved by influencers) or Junique.co.uk, while Etsy and Society6 are two other fantastic sites for unique and affordable wall-art.

Play with accessories

Accessories are the finishing touch that every room needs. This is especially important if you are looking to jazz up a room on a limited budget. Cleverly chosen additions can make a dramatic impact.

To give your place the wow factor, go for bold pieces that add texture and interest such as a gold fruit bowl (£5, Wilko.com), animal-print rug (£19.99, Wayfair.co.uk) or statement gold planter (£15 Matalan). Again, if you’re prepared to shop around online you’ll likely find some fantastic options which won’t break the bank. H&M home, Homesense/T.K. Maxx and The Range are great places to hunt for pieces.

Flower power

Flowers are a simple and subtle way to add charm and warmth to a room and infuse it with colour and vitality. They can also be a great and affordable way of adding a luxury feel to any space, especially if we think about elegant, fresh flowers such as roses or peonies. If you can’t afford to keep up the fresh flower habit every week, fake it. T.K Maxx and Homesense have some great artificial flowers available, as do Matalan and The Range.

Investing in some houseplants will also mean you can bring the outside in, without having to spend out on fresh cut flowers each week.

Plants are also much more rather than a decorative touch to the indoor environment. According to many sources, plants and fresh flowers will help with de-stressing your home and can even contribute to your creativity.

Add a piece with history

Mixing furniture from different eras can help with creating a vibrant, trendy look and is an affordable solution too – especially if you’re hunting the unique pieces on online auctions or local car boots.

Think beyond what you see initially and try to visualise the furniture sanded down and with a lick of paint. Upcycling is a great way to put your own personal spin on a piece of furniture.

Less is more

Fewer elements, neutral colours and straight lines result in a charming and elegant décor style perfect for any space.

To simplify your house décor, start by decluttering. If you’ve been cramming various bits under the bed for far too long, now is the time to pack them in boxes and place them in your local storage unit.

To make your space look fresher, give your walls a fresh lick of paint. Think pastel colours (£19.50, Littlegreene.com) and light shades of grey.

Need more space? Get rid of “extra” furniture that takes up valuable space and replace it with multi-purpose pieces just like a storage coffee table (£79, Groupon.co.uk).

Use illusion tips

Decorating is all about mastering the art of perception. Large, bright spaces in general look more attractive and more expensive.

Things like colours, lighting, interior element placement, integrated lines and even mirrors can have a huge impact on the size, proportion and mood of a space. To succeed, start with repainting the walls, as colour is one of the main tools for visual extension that provide light all over the room. Again, consider bright and natural colours such as white, ivory or light grey to give your house the perception of a clean and organised space.

To add a depth and maximise the space, invest in multiple mirrors (£79, Barkerandstonehouse.co.uk) and transparent furniture (£45.00, Bossliving.co.uk) to create a WOW factor.