Furniture trends change every season, and for most of us who don’t buy new furnishings every few years or so, it can get hard to keep up. Fortunately, it is possible to redecorate your house and keep up with the new trends without splurging on décor.

Nadya Farhad, interior designer and founder of Aydan-redefining wood by Nadya, emphasises on personal creativity. “Some of us can’t afford to pay an interior designer, and that’s okay,” she says. “You can take help from magazines, the internet, even the surroundings around you. There are so many options. Become your own designer, and be proud of it.”

Afsheen Teli Dada, an architect and founder of Kearo.pk, says, trends come and go, but what one must focus on is the personality of a room. “Furniture pieces don’t need to be changed constantly, she says. “One can build up on existing furniture, or tweak little areas with new art or accessories. Remember what you like or dislike, because that’s what makes a room timeless and beautiful. If you travel, you can bring back a little part of the world with you to create a subtle change,” she adds.

Small decoration projects can give your home a fresh look without putting a dent in your wallet

Farhad says that when bringing a change to the house, start at the start — the front door, literally is a good place to start when redecorating. “Your entrance is the first thing that people notice,” she says. “If the door looks old, changing the polish or adding some plants outside will give a fresh, new look,” she says. “In fact, wall hanging plants, or even a nice painting on a wall next to your entrance is cost-effective, and will look aesthetically pleasing.”

After the entrance, the bedroom is the most important area to draw your focus to. “Light is a crucial element in any room,” Dada says. “If natural light is already present, or can be increased in a room, the quality of the room changes dramatically.”

Farhad adds that one can change the headboard of a bed instead of changing the whole set to create a dramatic new look. “Any leather or fabric headboard tufted with thumb tags can be added to give a traditional look, for example.”

Marium Talha, an interior designer who specialises in children’s room designs, and is the founder of ‘TinyTots.pk’, says that children’s rooms, too, can be redecorated on a budget. “Changing the colour of the walls can enhance room décor easily. If you don’t want to repaint the walls, simply adding a feature wall can add a focal point. Adding a mural or wallpaper can also do the trick. Framed artworks add a super cute look to the room.”

“These days,” she adds, “while theme-based rooms are more popular, parents are at the same time becoming more particular about creating neutral rooms which, of course, is the more practical and cost-effective thing to do. Secondly, decluttering goes a long way towards making a room look better. Organising toys and books into an orderly fashion automatically opens up space and makes a room more inviting.”

These days, while theme-based rooms are more popular,” says interior designer Marium Talha, “parents are at the same time becoming more particular about creating neutral rooms which is the more practical and cost-effective thing to do.”

Both Talha and Dada agree that adding plants makes a room more pleasant. “Indoor plants are another essential tool,” Dada says. “They soften up dead corners and brighten up rooms with colour.” Real plants can be difficult to take care of and, “artificial plants are the best solution for a toddler or baby’s room,” Talha adds. “They provide greenery without the messiness of soil and watering plants, not to mention the insects that plants sometimes attract.”

For both bedrooms and living rooms, a change in the colour palette might be the only thing needed to result in a complete change. Talha emphasises the usage of neutral tones that can be complemented with vibrant accessories to add a pop of colour. “I always encourage my clients to have rooms that have neutral white, off-white or grey tones,” she says. “So if they ever want a change in the feel or look of the room, different pops of colour can be added through cushions, bed covers or rugs.

“These, of course, are easy to change, especially if one is on a budget.” Farhad says, “Furniture pieces, like sofas, are expensive, but redoing the designs of existing sofas, changing the upholstery, or throwing in some different-coloured cushions creates a change in the room appearance. Paint is the most affordable tool one can use for change. You can create an accent wall that complements your furniture or use a different-coloured wallpaper. Even if you don’t want to change the paint, putting new curtains without changing your furniture can enhance your room’s look. It’s not always necessary to go all out or buy something expensive.”

When it comes to the parts of the house that guests don’t usually get to see, for instance the kitchen or bathrooms, people rarely try to change their existing looks. Nevertheless, if you are interested in revamping these spaces on a limited budget, Farhad offers some tips: “For bathrooms, one can go for affordable decoration accessories,” she says. “You can get matching towels, shower curtains, bath mats, tissue boxes and dustbins. Follow a colour theme to create an exquisite look. It’s even aesthetically pleasing to put burners with a nice aroma in your bathroom, or scented soaps or gels. It makes your personal space comfy and relaxing. Likewise, for the kitchen, if changing cabinets costs too much, do some refacing. You can apply veneer to the cabinet exteriors, change knobs, polish the kitchen door — anything works to create a long-lasting change in your house.”

It is easy to revamp your house on a tight budget, and still be able to keep up with current décor trends. “Anything is possible, if you’re open and willing to change,” Farhad remarks.

Published in Dawn, EOS, September 16th, 2018