Giving your home unique character doesn’t have to cost a fortune, try some of these savvy ideas.

ROLLING ON UP

Bamboo blinds are practical and reasonably priced, but they can lack the flair of their expensive custom-made counterparts. To give this store-bought blind a distinctive edge, a piece of patterned fabric was attached to the front with self-adhesive Velcro.

UIY (Upcycle it yourself)

The upcycling trend is proving that one man’s trash is indeed another’s treasure – it’s also a sure-fire way to create a made-to-measure piece of furniture. Repurposed timber from old pallets was used to make this nifty headboard, complete with built-in storage and bedside tables.

FRONT ROW SEAT

A lick of paint is an easy, cost-effective way to put your personal stamp on a piece of wooden furniture. For an on-trend look, paint parts of a piece, leaving others with their original timber finish before adding a one-off detail like the mint and strawberry stripes on the seat of this revamped chair.

EDGY ADDITION

To give a set of ordinary curtains a bespoke look, sew a strip of contrasting fabric along the bottom or leading edge.

TIP: This is a clever way to give tired curtains a fresh look, lengthen those that are too short or incorporate an expensive statement fabric into your window treatments without blowing your budget.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

A stylish embellishment can make a store-bought cushion stand out from the crowd. While there are some gorgeous trims on offer at fabric shops and haberdasheries, this striped scatter is embellished with wooden necklaces.