The number of Australians taking steps to renovate their homes has decreased recently as the cost of living continues to rise, and the Reserve Bank of Australia put up interest rates by another 0.25 point to 2.6 per cent.
This new rate is the sixth increase this year and brings the base rate to the highest figure in almost a decade. This has had a knock-on effect on property prices, people looking to buy homes, and the number of renovations people are undertaking in their properties as they look to save money. This decline is understandable as with less expendable income, the increased cost of items usually used in expanding or modernising space, such as wood, iron, steel, and concrete, are becoming unaffordable for some.
But that does not mean that all interior beautifying must come to a standstill. There are still several ways you can transform your space on the cheap while saving money for more extensive upgrades in the future.
Trash diving
They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and the saying is definitely true regarding furniture. By scouring the streets, you can find a wealth of treasures, including cabinets, tables, chairs, desks, and wardrobes, just begging for a new lease of life. Antique items, discarded without a second glance, can be easily transformed with a sander, wax, and paint. For next to nothing, you can restore these items into pieces that will transform your space and save you a fortune.
Jazz up your cupboards
A great way to jazz up your kitchen cupboards is to consider removing the doors. By getting rid of tired old facades and opening them up, you can lighten the room and have a new space to play with. A fun way to make the back wall of the cupboards more visually exciting is by adding wallpaper or patterned paper to them.
You can search for wallpaper scraps on local DIY or freebie groups, ask Home Depot stores for leftovers, or even repurpose wrapping paper in a pattern you like. This can be simply stuck to the back of the cupboard and even painted with a shiny or matte varnish to suit your tastes.
While in the kitchen, you may consider changing your backsplash by sourcing old tiles from builders, shops, and online groups to make mosaics. The tiles can be wrapped in a tea towel, smashed gently with a hammer or heavy object, and then glued using a specialist glue to ensure that it stays put and looks good until any future renovations. Coordinating these two hacks allows you to completely transform your kitchen for very little money.
Reupholster your chairs
Another great way to spruce up the kitchen or dining room is by reupholstering your chairs. The task is quite simple if you have wooden framed chairs with an upholstered panel for the seat. All you need to do is pop the board out, remove the attached fabric, then replace it.
A great tip is to source some old curtain fabric from a thrift store. This tends to be in plentiful supply, thick and sturdy, and cheap. You can easily find a range of styles to suit your aesthetic. Place the panel in the centre the fabric, fold the fabric over the sides, and staple it into place for an instant home update.
While these changes may not be a total overhaul, they can make a big difference to your space at little cost. This allows you to save up to make larger renovations at some point in the future, at a time that suits you.
