Affordable Interior Design Tips for a Gorgeous Home in 2021

Redecorating your home doesn’t have to break the bank. Believe it or not, it’s entirely possible to completely re-do your home without dipping into a huge chunk of your savings. By following a few simple tricks we’ve collected from designers and other home decorating experts, you can make your humble abode a lot more fabulous

Looking to add some color but prefer to keep you walls a pristine white? Jessica Lynn Williams, owner and interior designer at Hendley and Co., has a tip for just that. “Maintain a brightness to your walls while adding an accent color to your ceiling,” she suggests. This can be anything as subtle as a soft sage green or as bold as black. Either way, it’ll open up the room and draw the eyes up.

“Antique rugs can be expensive,” Williams admits. Instead of trying to find a rug that’s big enough for your space without blowing your budget, “use an oversized jute rug for the foundation and layer with a smaller antique rug for pattern.” Natural materials like jute are fairly affordable and easy to find. Not sure about the layered look? Dip your toes into the water by coordinating your rug colors and materials.

If you have a rug with a design on both sides, Erica Riha, interior designer at Marge + Mary, says an easy upgrade is to just flip it over. “Since it’s double-sided, it will have a different texture and muted colors compared to the front of the rug, and can tone down a rug if it is overwhelming a space,” she says. Before you get to flipping, just remember to vacuum the rug or gently spot clean it so you don’t dump a bunch of dirt and debris onto the ground.

Show off your artwork, whether it’s a family heirloom or a thrift-store find. To do so, simply install slim lights above or below the art. “This lighting works best on framed artwork that does not have glass over it,” says Connecticut-based interior designer Holly Holden. “Start with investing with one or two, and continue to add to your collection of picture lights when you can.”

Clean up hardwoods

For a quick refresh, consider a full-on clean of all your hardwoods, says Jack White, vice president of technical services at Rainbow International Restoration. But be sure to do it the right way.

Water can warp the wood, so White suggests that you “mop with a mixture of 1/2 to 1 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon warm water.”