Have you ever stopped for a while to think about how much unnecessary money you spend on trying to make your home look beautiful for Christmas? Each year, you outdo yourself, purchasing new curtains, ornaments, carpets, appliances and furniture. Some people even go as far as taking brand new items from interior stores to display in their homes for Christmas, only to return them after the season is over. Why go through all that trouble when you can make your home look just as beautiful on a reasonable budget? Using glue, a hammer, fabric, paint and other useful low-budget household items you can find in almost any department store, you can make your home look brand new without having to spend a lot of money. To get a professional view on this topic, I spoke with local interior designer, John Thomas, director of Unique Designs and this is what he had to say.

Upholster your furniture
Thomas said there is no need to purchase brand new furniture sets that can cost more than $5000. He said people can visit any fabric store where upholstery material can be found for as low as $12.95 per yard to cover their sofas. According to Thomas, it’s like killing two birds with one stone: you save money—and choosing to upholster your furniture gives you more options to work with.

Living room
“Don’t go crazy over decorating your living room—no need to by expensive picture frames or oversized ornaments. Try rearranging your living room and this can make so much of a difference at no cost.” He also suggested that changing the location of your furniture can give your living room an almost brand new finish. He said a simple tin of “bomb spray” in your favourite colours can be very useful in decorating your artificial flowers, vases, picture frames and even your rugs.

Mix and match your curtains
So you purchase curtains every year for Christmas and you are about to purchase some more this year. Hold your horses and put that money away. According to Thomas, mixing and matching your old curtains can turn your living room into an inviting, cosy Christmas spot with an unconventional decor that will make your neighbour maco.

Switch around your ornaments
Thomas also said switching around your ornaments can give your rooms a brand new feeling. He said taking a lamp from your bedroom and perhaps placing it in your living room or dining room can immediately change the appearance of the place.

Save more this Christmas
Thomas advised that the we should never allow holidays of any kind to break our pockets. He stated that because every penny counts nowadays, we ought to be wise and think about saving more than spending. “Learn to make do with what you have; you don’t always need to go spending money wildly. We Trinidadians have a way of always doing that for every occasion,” Thomas said. He added: “This Christmas, keep your pennies in your pocket and try redecorating your home on a small budget.”

By Bobie Lee-Dixon