7 Times Designers Turned a Budget Item Into Something Special
Take a look at these clever design tricks that keep costs down without compromising on style
A good designer can make as much of a style statement with an affordable item as they can with something more expensive – the trick is to know where to spend and where to save. These Houzz professionals have done just that by mixing a few budget ideas into their projects and giving them a distinctly designer look.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Champion a favourite piece
Sometimes it takes an objective eye to see our items as special, which is what happened in this home renovation. The owner had kept her granny’s old chair for sentimental reasons, but had tucked it away in a corner.
Interior designer Kate Lovejoy spotted the piece and decided to turn it into a feature. She had it reupholstered in a beautiful fabric and used the colours as the starting point for the room’s scheme.
Find out how bold decoration transformed a tired terrace.
Sometimes it takes an objective eye to see our items as special, which is what happened in this home renovation. The owner had kept her granny’s old chair for sentimental reasons, but had tucked it away in a corner.
Interior designer Kate Lovejoy spotted the piece and decided to turn it into a feature. She had it reupholstered in a beautiful fabric and used the colours as the starting point for the room’s scheme.
Find out how bold decoration transformed a tired terrace.
Turn your tiles around
If your budget is tight, it can make sense to save on tiles and go for a metro design. However, a standard brickbond pattern might not cut the mustard.
Emma Merry upgraded these basic white rectangular tiles by laying them in a herringbone pattern. To give the bathroom even more of a designer look, she used a brass trim around the edges. The simple metallic frame adds a luxurious finish and complements the other brass fittings in the room.
Tour this airy bathroom with simple hues and pattern.
Find interior designers near you and read customer reviews in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
If your budget is tight, it can make sense to save on tiles and go for a metro design. However, a standard brickbond pattern might not cut the mustard.
Emma Merry upgraded these basic white rectangular tiles by laying them in a herringbone pattern. To give the bathroom even more of a designer look, she used a brass trim around the edges. The simple metallic frame adds a luxurious finish and complements the other brass fittings in the room.
Tour this airy bathroom with simple hues and pattern.
Find interior designers near you and read customer reviews in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Big up a small space
By paying attention to details, you can ensure a small, unassuming space isn’t overlooked. For example, Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors had big ideas for her client’s wee kitchen: the units aren’t high end, but the finishes are.
Sacha added brass handles to the units and complemented these with matching sockets and switches. She also painted the cabinets in two shades, which adds another stylish element to the room.
Take a peek around this tiny basement boosted with colour.
By paying attention to details, you can ensure a small, unassuming space isn’t overlooked. For example, Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors had big ideas for her client’s wee kitchen: the units aren’t high end, but the finishes are.
Sacha added brass handles to the units and complemented these with matching sockets and switches. She also painted the cabinets in two shades, which adds another stylish element to the room.
Take a peek around this tiny basement boosted with colour.
Hang out
How’s this for a super budget option? Interior designer Mel Massey has used her son’s old skateboards to create fun shelves for his room.
The shapes of the boards lend themselves perfectly to storage surfaces, and they look so much more special than standard shelves.
Discover how Mel brought a family feel to her Victorian home.
How’s this for a super budget option? Interior designer Mel Massey has used her son’s old skateboards to create fun shelves for his room.
The shapes of the boards lend themselves perfectly to storage surfaces, and they look so much more special than standard shelves.
Discover how Mel brought a family feel to her Victorian home.
Mind your fingers
In this kitchen, designed by Jon Howes of Contour, attention has been given to how surfaces complement each other in the room.
The soft black cabinets and bright white worktops are offset by some warm wood – but Jon went for a cost-effective option. He chose an oak-effect laminate, which is cheaper than solid timber and takes knocks well.
Designers often recommend using more expensive materials on the areas we touch more, and saving on those we don’t. Here, for example, the main worktop is made of quartz, while the laminate covers the surfaces that will suffer less wear and tear.
Take a tour of this country cottage given a contemporary update.
In this kitchen, designed by Jon Howes of Contour, attention has been given to how surfaces complement each other in the room.
The soft black cabinets and bright white worktops are offset by some warm wood – but Jon went for a cost-effective option. He chose an oak-effect laminate, which is cheaper than solid timber and takes knocks well.
Designers often recommend using more expensive materials on the areas we touch more, and saving on those we don’t. Here, for example, the main worktop is made of quartz, while the laminate covers the surfaces that will suffer less wear and tear.
Take a tour of this country cottage given a contemporary update.
Enhance your arrangement
It’s possible to get creative with the simplest of objects. Take these basic box shelves, for instance. Victoria Hopkins included them not just for storage, but as a decorative feature in the room.
The cubes are fitted to the wall in a fun layout and are used to display bright fabrics.
Visit this bright workspace that’s an office and craft room in one.
Tell us…
How have you upgraded a budget item in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
It’s possible to get creative with the simplest of objects. Take these basic box shelves, for instance. Victoria Hopkins included them not just for storage, but as a decorative feature in the room.
The cubes are fitted to the wall in a fun layout and are used to display bright fabrics.
Visit this bright workspace that’s an office and craft room in one.
Tell us…
How have you upgraded a budget item in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
The design details in this kitchen help to elevate the space from standard to special, but the team at Cathy Dean Interior Design were careful about costs.
They fitted out the kitchen with purse-friendly carcasses from Ikea, and allocated more of the budget to the doors. These drawer fronts on the left were made bespoke, with a diamond pattern routed into the wood to complement the geometric pattern on the floor tiles.
See more of this petite terrace, which gained space without being extended.