How To Use New Interior Trends To Transform Your Home Without Breaking The Bank
A new year prompts many of us to think about updating, upgrading or renovating our homes. 2026 design trends are all about creating homes that celebrate lifestyle choices and enable us to set up bases that make us feel great. If you’re eager to embrace new trends and transform your home, you don’t have to spend a fortune. In this guide, we’ll outline some effective ways to revamp your nest without breaking the bank.
Hone your DIY skills
Honing your DIY skills is one of the best ways to enhance the look and functionality of your home without blowing the budget. If you’re willing to learn, you have basic skills and you’ve got tools to hand, you can use resources like video tutorials and interactive step-by-step guides to develop new skills and tackle building projects. Depending on your level of experience, how confident you feel and your budget and schedule, you could consider projects ranging from creating a storage wall with feature shelving and transforming your kitchen with new units to building a gazebo or covered patio in the garden.
If you are toying with the idea of giving an ambitious DIY task a go, it’s crucial to ensure you have all the kit you need before you get started. Check your toolbox, consult guides, manuals, and videos and explore products for hire and sale. It’s worth replacing old or damaged tools if you’ll use them frequently and adding new tools if you plan to do more jobs around the house. Essentials include a high-quality cordless drill, a hammer, a range of spanners and screwdrivers, a collection of nails, screws, and bolts, a saw, a spirit measure, and a versatile knife for cutting and trimming. You’ll also need safety equipment, such as goggles and gloves. If you need specialist tools, you could also look into hiring, as this may be a cheaper option.
When you take on any DIY project, it’s beneficial to prioritise safety and make sure you don’t cut corners or take risks. It’s great to be ambitious, but it’s also important to know your limits. Avoid any tasks that involve electrics and working at height without the relevant safety equipment. 
Embrace new colour palettes
Changing the colour palette in your living spaces is one of the simplest but most impactful ways to create a fresh new aesthetic and feel. Colour doesn’t just affect the look of a space. It also alters the tone and vibe. Embracing new colours in your home can help you celebrate trends you love or adapt the feel of different rooms. Soft, soothing tones of blue, purple and green and neutral shades are ideal for tranquil spaces, while vibrant shades of yellow and orange are perfect for social areas and creative zones.
The hottest colours for 2026 include earthy tones such as terracotta, olive, sage, mocha and mushroom, rich shades like burgundy and teal and elevated neutrals, including buttermilk, pale gold, honey and caramel.
The beauty of modifying your colour palette is that you can be as subtle or as bold as you like. You may want to go all-out and colour-drench your living room, or you might want to keep things simple and muted with a neutral feature wall in the bedroom or a pop of teal in the bathroom. It’s worth taking your time to compare paint shades, read magazines and blogs and look for inspiration, put a mood board together, and think about the aesthetic and vibe you want to channel.
Painting is a relatively simple DIY job. If you have the time, you can save a substantial amount of money by taking this task on yourself. To get the best results, choose high-quality paint and take your time to prepare the surface. Clean and sand your walls, remove dirt and debris and use a primer. You may need multiple coats depending on the type of paint you choose and the colour. If you’re covering dark shades, you’ll need a few coats. Always ensure you leave time for the paint to dry before adding the next layer. It’s best to use a roller or large brush for big areas and a small brush for small spaces and intricate painting. You can use tape to protect against splashes when painting cornices, picture rails, sockets and switches.
Master the art of accessorising
Accessorising is an ingenious, budget-friendly way to make your home look incredible. From vases, planters, wall art and lighting to storage jars, baskets, ornaments, coffee table books and umbrella stands, you can use all kinds of details and finishing touches. Accessorising enables you to channel different trends, mix and match looks, personalise your space and add character and personality.
Wellness is a big trend for 2026. Many of us are keen to create living spaces that enhance our moods and boost well-being. Straightforward ways to do this include adding greenery to your home and maximising natural light. Plants, flowers and trees add instant interest and vibrancy to any room, but studies also show that they make you feel more relaxed. If you work from home, surrounding yourself with plants and flowers can also increase productivity and reduce stress. There are many ways to add plants and foliage to your home. You can buy houseplants and containers in all shapes and sizes. Scattering vases and planters around your home is a quick and easy way to bring the outside in. If you’re looking for more creative and unique ideas, why not make a feature wall out of racks and rails of plants or design an internal living wall?
At the other end of the scale, vintage styles and maximalism are making a comeback in 2026. If you love the idea of adding a treasure trove of accessories, these are the trends for you. From shelves packed with trinkets, clocks and collections of old shells, bottles or jars to opulent, bold cushion covers, eye-catching lamps and show-stopping mirrors, you can tailor your shopping list to suit your preferences and the room you’re decorating. 
The start of a new year encourages many of us to think about making changes to our homes. If you’re eager to revamp your nest, you may be exploring new trends. Embracing interior design trends is a brilliant way to freshen up your house, but it doesn’t always come cheap. Thankfully, there are several ways to save money on a home makeover. Simple, effective steps include honing your DIY skills, adding on-trend colours and accessorising.