With so many big brands tempting you with luscious designs, it’s easy to get lured into paying a fat sum for something like a grandiose dining table or a display cabinet when you are setting up your home for the first time. Even if you’re earning a fat sum or adult money, you don’t necessarily have to buy expensive things for your home interiors.
You can do up your home in smart, creative ways, mixing up a few high-value, statement pieces that you covet, with other affordable ones. This, anyway, is the trick that designers use to create a warm home, rather than a showroom like a vibe.
Things like a sofa set, a solid bed, lighting fixtures, or flooring need to be splurged on since they are intended to be long-term buys. But here are 10 expensive things you can clearly live without, which can be substituted with nifty options without compromising on quality, durability and style.
1. Curios Display Cabinets
Display your curios on consoles or shelves that also serve the dual purpose of storage. You won’t need a cabinet solely to showcase your curios unless you have a well-edited collection that means a lot to you. Otherwise, having an empty showcase cabinet will tempt you to buy things just to fill it up
2. A large Dining Table
Seldom do we end up having our meals on the 6- or 8-seater dining table, right? Switch to smarter 4-seaters that expand when needed, it will be a space-saving favour you do for your home. Or get a sleek version of a 6-8 seater if you must, which you can use as a work table when not in use, like the one below.
3. Expensive Decorative Accents
Accessories like wall hangings and curios for table décor are what finish a home and give it personality. But you don’t have to spend a fortune on them. Spend on the more affordable ones which fit into your décor style, and keep adding pieces that you love as you go.
4. Accent Tables
Besides the centre table aside, other accent tables like side tables, corner tables and bedside tables command much lesser attention in a room that the main elements like the sofa set, centre table, or the bed itself. So it makes sense to pick one of the affordable ones which are available in all styles these days, without compromising on the look that you intended.
5. Expensive Carpets
Carpets need to be large in size covering most of the room, especially the ones used in a living room. That’s why this purchase can be quite expensive, particularly if you go for a rare piece like a beautiful Persian one. Moreover, carpets in high-footfall areas tend to get soiled easily.
Get stylish, more inexpensive rugs, so that you can change them up when you feel like. Pick from beautiful handwoven rugs, flatweave ones and dhurries that are available in stores today.
6. Branded Exquisite Cutlery
If you’re not planning to fine-dine every single day, don’t buy expensive, delicate cutlery. Get stylish ceramic and wood ones, which come in gorgeous designs. Buy from independent ceramists, from flea market sales, or visit a home store to buy them. They lend so much character to the kitchen and dining room shelves and are low maintenance as well.
7. Antiques
Score old furniture, barware, manuscripts and artworks, ornate mirrors and ancient wall cabinet from thrift stores, garage sales or flea markets and refurbish them impeccably from a reputed furniture worker. Update with good quality upholstery and fittings like fancy knobs to come up with a totally cool version of the old piece.
8. An Elaborate TV Entertainment Unit
A solid, heavy entertainment unit usually makes the TV the focal point of your living room and is so often filled with clutter and knick-knacks that it doesn’t feel like a necessity anymore. Opt for sleeker versions where you can wall-mount the TV, and tastefully arrange décor accents on the wall, on wall ledges or a small cabinet below.
9. Heavy Furnishing
Why buy heavy, expensive fabric for furnishing your rooms when you can find cheaper options that are of the same quality? A few tricks will help in creating a luxurious look in your space.
Give the illusion of higher, grander ceilings by hanging your curtains way higher than the window or door level. Make sure that the length is enough to touch the floor, and maybe even puddle on the floor.
Use lighter cotton, sheer curtains or blinds in your favourite colours and patterns to let in natural light instead of blocking it with heavy grandiose curtains (unless privacy is a concern).
Use sleek, inexpensive curtain rods and brackets instead of ornate ones, because they are seldom noticed in the room.
10. Expensive Cushion Covers And Other Textiles
Cushion covers, bed sheets, and table linen are items you’d want to refresh often for a change of style. Pick from the multitude of affordable options available in the market today, so that you can switch up your space whenever you feel like, guilt-free.
Choosing the home decor elements are crucial when it comes to home design, but home budgeting matters. Keep this mind that even if you are making adult money and living a lavish life. These expensive things you don’t need to buy for your interior.
