Buying your first Shared Ownership home in London brings with it one of the most exciting aspects of getting on the property ladder: decorating your place to make it your own. You may have more space than at your last rental, and there are several ways to make the most of what’s available. Painting, decorating and furnishing can seem daunting (not to mention costly) at first, but decorating inside your budget is easily doable.
Affordable Design Tips for Your New Home
Whether you’re a couple moving in together or living solo, your beautifully designed London home is just a few décor decisions away. Explore our top interior design tips for putting your stamp on your home and maximising the space without breaking the bank.
Upcycle Pre-Loved Furniture
As well as being sustainable, furnishing your Shared Ownership property with second-hand items creates a unique look that’s hard to replicate. Scour online marketplaces or rummage around London’s vintage markets, charity shops and car boot sales for distinctive pieces – all are great places to discover timeless, well-crafted items – you might even find a gem from an iconic designer. You can upcycle furniture like wooden drawers and tables with a fresh lick of paint or varnish, while chairs and sofas can be reupholstered to give them a new lease of life. This will create a more bespoke look and add a touch of individuality to your new home.
DIY Decorating
Shared Ownership homes often come with a neutral colour palette. This makes a great blank canvas for getting creative with paint, wallpaper or panelling. If you want to go down this route, you can save on labour costs by doing it yourself. Put on some overalls, grab your tools, and you’ll have a room that matches your dream interior design in no time.
Zoning Areas
Zoning is a clever design trick to create a sense of separation in smaller or open-plan interiors. Using items like rugs and runners on floors creates an invisible barrier between areas. This is especially useful in areas like hallways, kitchen-living areas and dining spaces. All it takes is one or two pieces of décor to add some personality and break up the space.
Reflective Surfaces
Another smart interior design trick is to incorporate reflective surfaces in your interiors. Enhance light in smaller rooms by placing mirrors opposite windows. This will bounce light around, introducing it to shadowy corners and creating a more open feel. Again, this is another budget-friendly option that requires minimal effort to create maximum impact, as it takes just one item to make a room feel bigger.
Clever Storage Solutions
When working with smaller areas, maximising their efficiency is of the utmost importance. From built-in wardrobes to high-up shelving, using the entire length of your walls will help you make full use of your available space. Additionally, keeping cupboards organised with compartments is a cost-effective way to keep your home clutter-free, ensuring it feels open and airy.
Shop the Sales
Whether you’ve got your eye on a hero piece of furniture or want to stock up on kitchen essentials, shopping reduced-price homeware is a no-brainer for designing your home affordably. Bag a bargain in seasonal sales or sign up for newsletters from your favourite brands and take advantage of those welcome discounts. Either way, you’ll make savings that add up over time, meaning you’ll get the most bang for your buck.
Ready to find a Shared Ownership home you can decorate affordably? Explore our listings to start planning your design scheme.
