So as I mentioned in ‘I’m Back!’ (https://bellasbits.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/im-back/), I’ve only gone and got myself a flat! I know, it’s terribly exciting. I feel oh-so domesticated and grownup. It was completely unfurnished so I’ve taken the whole contents of my life from University and from my Mum and Dad’s house (combined with Boyfriend’s bits and bobs) and plonked it into our open plan one bedroom apartment of loveliness. After two weeks, it’s finally feeling homely and I’m loving spending time here. To jazz up the flat and furniture, we felt we needed to go interior shopping, but being fresh from Uni .. we’re pretty broke! The whole place has been decked head to toe in the thriftiest of fashions, and I felt it would be cruel not to share. (N.B.: I’ve made the decision not to photograph my flat in order to maintain privacy, so photos are just interior furnishings etc.)
Say hello to our sofa! We picked up our 2 seater couch as ‘Manager’s Special of the Week’ for £40 at our local Hospice Furniture Shop, and it was Manager’s Special for a reason! On first glance, the cushion covers were stained, the whole thing smelt a bit musty and the brown arms were scratched up. My instant reaction was: ‘No, Bella, you can do so much better at sofa shopping!’ Perhaps I could, but my wallet couldn’t, that was for sure. So two washes for the cushion covers, three hoovers and 132 (or thereabouts) cans of febreeze, the sofa feels brand new! Plus, it feels great having supported a charity.
As our budget shopping meant we didn’t have any choice over the colour of our sofa; throws and pillows had to jazz this up. I was eyeing up purple and leopard print, for my swish new luxury apartment. But, nope, we had to get a fabric/colour/pattern that we both agreed on, and that turned out to be .. well, tartan. If I’m honest, I’m still not over the moon about it. It’s growing on me, but, well ..? Anyway, we picked up the throw for £6 in Primark, and the three cushions came to £9 in Primark also .. so budget central!
This chair has been in my family since before I was born. Literally, my Mum bought it when she was pregnant with me to have something comfortable to sit on just for her and the baby (cheers Ma). 21 years on it’s followed me from bedroom to bedroom and now sits pride of place in the corner of our living area. To match, of course, the tartan throw is again £6 from Primark, and the cushion was £4. Honestly, my first place, who would have thought I would end up with tartan and pugs?! NOT ME, that’s for sure.
Oh my poof, my poof, I’m so desperately in love with my poof! I picked up this gorgeous colourful poof of wonderment at the Ideal Home Show (which you can read about here: https://bellasbits.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-ideal-home-show/) for just £12, I know, £12! Of course, I spent the entire day carrying it around looking like a poof (see what I did there?!) but it was so worth it and I think it is beautiful. It sits on an Argos rug we picked up for just £9 in their mega clearance.
When we moved in the shower curtain was just a bit grotty and stained, so we decided to replace it, again, with a colour we both agreed on. So, this turned out to be monochrome, a fitting look for a bathroom I feel. The shower curtain was £5 in Primark, and the bathmat was just £3 from Primark also.
It’s all so very new and exciting still, having my own place, and because of our current financial circumstances, decorating on a budget was essential. No £500 leather corner sofas or £20 satin pillows here, no sur-ee. Instead, we’ve gone with colours, patterns and fabrics we’ve picked together which feels special and homely to us, because its our home. It all comes down to personal taste (hey, it’s okay if you don’t like it, I’m still not sold on the tartan yet either!!) which as we all know is subjective. Here’s how we’ve done it for our budget, any interiors tips or tricks you fancy sharing?
Bella's Bits 