Today’s flatsharers don’t hang around for long, jumping from property to property in an endless quest for the perfect combination of flatmates, location and price. If you move house this often, it doesn’t really make sense to spend a lot on decorating. By the time you’ve got everything just how you like it, you’ll be packing it all up as you move into your next flatshare…
Still – everyone needs to make their own space personal. So here are five shops where you can pick up some swanky new bits and bobs that won’t break the bank. Happy decorating, everyone!
1. Coirmats
Good decoration is about making an impression – and impressions start at the front door. So make sure you are sure you have a doormat to set the mood of your whole house.
Coirmats have a big selection of affordable mats that range from the classic, through to funny and the innovative.
2. Hema
Hema are full of great interior design pieces at low prices. Think Ikea Lite. How lite? £12 for a cool analogue wall clock, that’s how lite. There’s lots to get excited about here, but make sure you stock up on washi tape – the low-adhesive, colourful tape that can transform your room’s aesthetic for mere pennies!
3. H&M Home
Everyone knows that H&M offer current fashion trends on a budget. But their home department often gets ignored! Usually only available in the bigger stores, their homeware collection is full of gems just waiting to breathe new life into your flat. You can find it all on their website.
4. London Print Club
Art. Beautiful, intellectual and… expensive. But not always! Buy some prints to add colour and personality to your dull white houseshare walls. There are hundreds of independent printmakers out there selling cheap prints and frames. Start off your journey into art-ownership with a print from London Print Club.
5. Your Local Market!
If you have never looked at the stuff constantly available in major cities’ furniture markets and jumble sales, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. People lucky enough to own their own homes have the opposite problem you do – they have waaay too much stuff – stuff they spent money on and so don’t just wanna throw away.
The well-off homeowners of <insert-your-town’s-name> probably bought your ideal antique lamp/dresser/stuffed peacock years ago, got bored of it and are selling it this Sunday at the market.
Make sure you get down there before going to Ikea to buy the same table 10,000 people already have. If you can’t be bothered to leave the house, look here instead.
