You can add colour and flair to your living space for just a quid, says interiors expert Carly Ellis
I’ve decorated my entire home from scratch, documenting my progress on Instagram @makingitmint, so I know first hand that you don’t need to spend lots of money on expensive things for it to look the bees knees. In fact, I’m going to let you into a little secret. I have prints all over my home, but many of them cost me just £1. Why? Because they’re wallpaper samples! Yes, when it comes to wallpaper it pays to get savvy. Instead of wallpapering a whole room, which can add up to be expensive, pick just one wall (perhaps even the smallest) to pop it on. Don’t be afraid to do it yourself, just take your time and watch a YouTube tutorial. When it comes to wallpaper designs, look out for offcuts, remainders and sales too. And don’t forget the power of a wallpaper sample, which you can frame as ‘art’. Most brands do them for as little as £1. Read on for more of my top tips…
DIY
“The key is: do it yourself. Be brave and have a go. Watch YouTube tutorials and Instagram ‘how to’ videos. Start small with achievable simple changes—like painting one wall, swapping textiles, adding hooks or shelves, or rearranging furniture— these can completely refresh a space. Focus on affordable, flexible updates that make your home feel styled without the cost or stress of a full renovation. Most importantly, try to have fun with whatever home update you pick!”
KEEP JARS & POTS
“Some food products, like fancy jams, as well as beauty products, like bath salts, come packaged in beautiful glass pots and jars. Keep these and soak off the labels to reveal a reusable and very useful pot underneath. Buy some battery operated fairy lights and pop them into the jars, then set them in groups of three on bookcases and shelves. It provides delicate low lighting, as well as a point of interest – all for just a few pounds.”
MIRROR MIRROR
“When it comes to making a room look bigger, a mirror is key. Go as big as you can, perhaps sourcing one from a charity shop, car boot sale or Facebook Marketplace. Once you’ve chosen a mirror, place it opposite a window to reflect the light, either mounting it on the wall or leaning it up against it. This will bring the outside in, and make the whole room feel larger.” TRY: Argos Home Essentials Oak Effect Full Length Wall Mirror, £12
TRY UPCYCLING
“Upcycled furniture from charity shops is a great way to save cash. It’s good for the environment too as you’re rehoming something rather than buying new. A little sanding, paint, or even new handles can make secondhand furniture look brand new. Solid wood items are the best investment — they last forever. Set alerts on Facebook Marketplace too, so you get first choice on the things you want.”
PRESS FLOWERS
“Instead of buying prints, press your own flowers instead. The task of finding them can be really lovely too – either by picking them from your own garden, or heading into the countryside to choose a couple of wild ones. You don’t need a dedicated kit to press them either, simply pop them in the middle of a book, close it carefully, then place more heavy books on top of that one. Leave them to flatten and dry for a couple of weeks, before sticking them to a piece of white A4 paper and popping them in a frame.”
TOTALLY HOOKED
“Fix a simple row of hooks on a wall to create storage that doubles as decoration. Hang prints, plants, jewellery, bags, or accessories — and change them up whenever you like. The beauty of a hook is that you can, well, unhook, easily! It’s cheap, flexible, and instantly makes your space feel styled. I love the look of this behind my bed, with hanging dream catchers. You can choose the most basic hooks, which cost just pennies at B&Q, or something a bit more characterful.”
MIRROR MIRROR
“When it comes to making a room look bigger, a mirror is key. Go as big as you can, perhaps sourcing one from a charity shop, car boot sale or Facebook Marketplace. Once you’ve chosen a mirror, place it opposite a window to reflect the light, either mounting it on the wall or leaning it up against it. This will bring the outside in, and make the whole room feel larger.”
DECLUTTER & REARRANGE
“Sometimes a new layout is all you need to make your space feel brand new. So why not have a play around with what you own already, swapping their placings to switch things up? Elsewhere, we tend to hold on to things we no longer need, so why not see what you can jettison to free up some space? I like to live by the William Morris mantra, ‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’
The best bit is that a clear out is totally free to do! It can even MAKE you money, if you snap pics of your unwanted items and upload them to selling platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and Ebay.”
CLEVER PAINT TRICKS
“A fresh coat of paint is the cheapest way to transform a room. Have a look on Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration, searching for ‘painting ideas’. I love two-tone walls, where the top is a different colour to the bottom. A stretch of Frogtape is all you need to achieve a clean straight line between them. However painting your door arches has got to be the cheapest way to create impact without cost. You don’t need much paint for this and in fact you can do it with a tester pot, which starts as little as 25p.”
RECLAIMED WOOD
“Use reclaimed wood to make unique shelving that adds character and warmth. It’s cheap (or free) and eco-friendly. Style with books, plants, or décor for a custom look that costs very little. Have a look online for salvage yards close to your home.”
WHITE OUT
“White paint is often the cheapest you can find, and very easy to use as a beginner, especially if you colour wash the whole room – ceiling too – as you don’t need to worry about messy edges. Paint your bathroom white (or another neutral) and swap in bold, patterned, or colourful towels. The fresh backdrop makes the towels the feature, adding style without renovating. It’s a quick, affordable update that instantly transforms the whole space.”
FLOWER POWER
“Don’t underestimate the impact a bunch of flowers can have. Pick up a vase for a couple of quid at a flea market or charity shop and display them in your hallway to welcome guests into your home, or stand them on your dining table to add a pop of colour. If you don’t have a vase, a jug or washed out olive oil jar looks good too. When it comes to flower types, look for long lasting cut flowers, which give you bang for your buck and stay fresh for weeks, like Chrysanthemums, Alstroemerias and Freesias.”