LIMITED FURNISHING BUDGET: no limit to good taste

If you are on a limited budget, whether furnishing a first time buyer's flat or a rental investment, the golden rule has to be "keep it simple". The lower the quality the more important it is to keep detail to a minimum. Where tables and worktops are concerned thicker depths often make items look more expensive. In an earlier post you saw a small kitchen designed for a rental flat. The following are some of the furnishing suggestions made for the same property. These should give an idea of how a limit on budget does not have to result in a limit on good taste. Stick to your "simplicity" rule across the board. When it comes to fabrics make plainess and budget inversely proportional: the smaller the first the plainer the second! See the board below: plain fabrics can be of a lesser quality and the difference will hardly be noticeable while patterned fabrics need to be better quality.

Compare this to a more complicated design. Take for instance one plublished months ago which included laquered side tables and a mother of pearl chest. Given the quality of those items the design was a success. On a smaller budget the lime green would probably have to be dropped and the overall number of colours decreased. The risk is that the room would otherwise look slightly amateurish.
(furniture and fabrics above, among others, from Dwell and Andrew Martin)