Dream home style on a real-life budget

Styling your new home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We’ve teamed up with Villa World to bring you secret tips from the home styling professionals.

Plentiful food and drink will help your party sing.

Styling your new home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We’ve teamed up with Villa World to bring you secret tips from the home styling professionals.

Styling your new home doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We’ve teamed up with Villa World to bring you secret tips from the home styling professionals

One of the best things about building a new home is the ability to truly put your stamp on it. You’ve chosen the home, you’ve chosen the finishes, now you want to make it look like the house of your dreams.

Chances are you’ve been flicking through the pages of magazines and pinning images of beautiful rooms on the web wondering how on earth you’re going to turn your home into the sanctuary you’ve always hoped for on your limited budget. Thankfully, there are lots of affordable ways to give your home that magazine-styled look without the hefty price tag.

Peter Faccio, interior design consultant with Guest Group, works closely with Villa World on developing modern interior design concepts for its homes. According to Faccio, one of the most important things to remember when giving your new home that personal touch is to be true to yourself.

“Trends aren’t meant to be followed, they are meant to inspire. Buy what you love, keep what you cherish,” he says.

Rather than styling your home and buying all your furniture at once, Faccio recommends taking your time with the process. “The rush to buy all new, all at once can create a sterile space. I always think it should be a gradual exercise,” he says.

And just because you’ve purchased a new home doesn’t mean you should avoid buying furniture or décor items second hand. A mix of old and new pieces is one of the keys to making a home feel warm and personal.

“Even if you are starting from scratch, a curated mix of old and new will make your house a home,” Faccio says.

To create an up-to-date look, colour trends that are popular right now include navy and cream, ochres and mustards and natural neutrals.

“There are so many styles coming through at the moment. Tropical resort inspired interiors and furniture are great for our relaxed lifestyle and sub-tropical climate,” Faccio says.

One of the best ways to avoid wasting money in both the short and long term when it comes to home styling is to get to know which items you can get away with spending less on and which ones are worth saving up to buy.

“Resist the urge to buy cheap, trendy homewares that you will throw out in a season or two. Investing in a quality rug, such as wool or silk, will last you a lifetime,” Faccio says. “Never skimp on bed linen. We spend so much time in bed so be comfortable. The same goes for your sofa – a quality piece should last you decades.”

Stylist and designer Anastasia Dinos of Mood Design shares her top 10 tricks to give your home a magazine-styled look on a budget:

1. Have a plan

The most important tip! Before doing any shopping or thinking about styling, you should be armed with a plan. Create a collection of inspiration from magazines or on a Pinterest board and start writing up your shopping list.

2. Repurpose

Before buying new, check out eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace – you can save dollars and reduce landfill.

3. Buy on sale

You can find sales almost any time of year these days but you can also find some goodies in your $2 discount stores like glass jars, pretty plates and coloured candles.

4. DIY

In the age of the ‘maker’ there’s really nothing you can’t learn on YouTube and it’s a great rainy day activity. I’m about to learn how to make a macrame for my wall.

5. Create book stacks

Instead of books collecting dust on bookshelves, create a book stack. Use them on coffee tables, on book shelves, or even on the floor topped with decor to create height and points of interest.

6. Style with practicality

Create an inviting lived-in look by styling items where you would normally use them. Books on bedside tables styled with a candle and a picture frame, magazines on coffee tables and cook books on stands add colour to a room.

7. Add layers

Start with a blank canvas, then add things in layers such as cushions, throws and accessories. If you’re not sure whether it works, walk away, do something else then walk back in a few minutes later and take a fresh look.

8. Cluster with height

When grouping items together, cluster them in different heights to create a sense of balance and harmony.

9. Make your bed

For a more luxurious bedroom look, use doona sizes one size bigger than the bed. The extra length gives you more to play with so you can either drape it to the ground or fold it back at the top to create more space for cushions.

10. Lots of light

Natural light never goes out of fashion plus it’s good for our health! I always encourage light or white window coloured treatments to bring more light into a space and accentuate your great decorating work!

Find your nearest Villa World display home here, and drop in to see some of the Guest Group’s latest looks

Originally published as Dream home style on a real-life budget