Decorating Interior on a Budget: Tips from Professionals

Nadja Kuzina shared some life hacks that help you easily, quickly and without major expenses update your interior — and it will look high-quality and expensive.

Nadja Kuzina is an expert in interior design and decoration.

Transform IKEA furniture

Replace handles and other visible hardware — and affordable furniture will look completely new.

In one of my projects, I took a PAX cabinet and added handles and decorative brushes from Zara Home. Although this is a relatively expensive pleasure, a cabinet of the same size in another company would cost even more.

Some designers buy IKEA furniture without finishing and paint it themselves. However, doing this well at home is hard, so I won't recommend this approach.

Design: Nadja Kuzina. Decorate walls with paintings

If you have built your interior from simple furniture, allocate some money for buying one or two real paintings or good reproductions.

There are many artists who sell very decent works online at very affordable prices.

The key thing is not to forget about the style of the interior — the painting must suit it. For modern style, posters, reproductions and reprints. For classic style, there are fewer options but they exist.

Pay attention to frames — even a simple child's drawing in a well-chosen frame can look like a real work of art.

Design: Nadja Kuzina. Make the interior visually more expensive

What adds «expensiveness» to the setting? Metal or crystal details. This can be gold-plated legs of a coffee table, bronze accents on a vase or crystal pendants on a chandelier. Just don't buy cheap fake items — they only ruin the impression.

Recommendations from Nadja Kuzina. Add stylish antiques

Adding a vintage item to a simple interior can significantly transform it — adding an interesting point.

Think about how to update it: paint it, reupholster the upholstery, change handles, replace glass. And only then place it in the interior.

Use textiles

This is the most accessible and simple way to improve interior design. Don't skimp on textiles — it's worth it.

You can put a beautiful tablecloth on an old table, cover plain soft furniture with throws and add decorative cushions. Quality curtains also refresh the interior nicely.

Place living plants

An unexpected but profitable solution for improving interior design — indoor plants.

Remember that a plant in the interior is primarily an art object. Therefore, it's important to correctly choose its variety and shape, and most importantly — select a beautiful pot or planter.

Also read:

• Small budget: how to create an eco-friendly interior and save money
• Updating the interior with textiles: 7 tips + new products
• How to budget-friendly decorate an apartment: 10 ideas