Micro style: how to redesign your home on a budget

A complete renovation is not always necessary to beautify your home. In fact, you can transform the feel of your living space by making just a few small changes.

We spoke to Wil Law, home design stylist at John Lewis & Partners, to discover the small and affordable ways to create a fresh new look for your home this fall.

Many people set up their space in the traditional way without giving any thought to whether it really suits their needs. In the open kitchen and dining area of ​​my apartment, for example, I initially had my table right next to the kitchen. But then I realized that as sunlight entered the room at the far end, it hit a bookshelf and blocked the light.

Just by swapping these two pieces of furniture, I can now have my morning coffee in a beautiful sun spot, and the whole space has a lot more flow. So it’s important to think about how you want a certain space to feel. What you have now could be transformed with a few simple layout changes.

When I talk to clients about color, I try to get them to forget they’re decorating a room and focus on the hues that appeal to them on a color chart. People often come up to me and say, “I want a navy blue living room,” but when I show them a palette, they’re instinctively drawn to things like pink or coral.

My advice would always be to choose the color that speaks to you the most. You don’t have to go wild and paint every wall this shade; Instead, you can start assembling small items that contain a hint of that color, like a purple vase or a fig-colored pillow. This is then your base to create a collage of softer colors around your chosen shade for a cohesive look.

Another beautiful way to add a touch of color and energy to a room is with greenery and plants. I like having little green spaces around a room and thinking creatively about symmetry and height. If you have a plant in one corner, do the same in the opposite corner to create a sense of balance.

Seasonal cuttings are a nice touch: you can fill vases or jugs with branches from your garden and place them on a windowsill or mantel.

A gallery wall is a good choice when you’re on a budget because it can make a big impact with relatively few resources. For an organic, boho feel, try mixing different mediums such as screen prints, photography, and paintings. It’s also fun to display sentimental items like children’s artwork or a linen handkerchief that has been passed down from generation to generation.

To complete the effect, try matching frames; This ties everything together and lets the image shine in every frame. Draw the design of your wall on the floor in advance so you can easily swap things out until you get the perfect combination.

If you have the budget I would suggest going for a great rug because of its ability to transform the room. When the pieces of furniture in a room feel a bit out of place, a rug can do wonders by tying them together. It brings cohesion and warmth to a space, as well as the physical comfort it brings underfoot. A large area rug can also cover up any flooring you don’t like, and it can even help make a small space feel bigger – by making an important statement that draws attention.

An overhead light is usually quite intense. A simple way to create a softer, cozier atmosphere is to create small angles of light throughout the room. Play around with the lighting by using a combination of floor lamps, table lamps and something smaller like sconces or lanterns.

It’s also a good idea to think about how to diffuse your lighting in the evening; perhaps by using lamps with a warmer glass tone or dimmable, decorative light bulbs. Fairy lights are another easy way to add a moody glow.

It sounds obvious, but a lot of times people are held back by trends or what their house should look like. If you really want to make a room feel grand, make sure you have the items you love at the top. Whatever it is, it pays to track down forgotten or accidentally packed things and bring them back to light.

Find out more about the John Lewis & Partners home design service here. Don’t forget, every time you shop at John Lewis with Virgin Red you can earn Virgin Points.

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