I’m no expert on how to decorate a home, it’s something I have never done before. When MoneySupermarket asked me to take part in the latest project, Home Improvement Hero and I wanted to take up the challenge. We were given £50 to spend on things that would improve a room. As expressed in my beauty storage post, I live in a rented property so I can’t do anything to my room apart from add accessories to it, so this is exactly what I did.
Usually when I want new things for my room, my first stop would be IKEA or Primark and if I’m feeling a little flush, I’ll check out Debenhams! I didn’t want to go to any of these places for this challenge because IKEA and Primark seemed to obvious, and Debenhams is out of my price range for this challenge. I made a beeline for Home Sense (/TK Maxx) where I know that everything is discounted. I manage to spend a good hour in there picking things out and calculating the prices to make sure I stuck to the budget. In total, I spent £46.93 and here’s how I got on:
To brighten up my room, I got two pink candles. The small one is a Yankee Candle and smells of guava, and I don’t know what the scent of the large square one is but it smells like chinese medicine/streets of Hong Kong. Not a pleasant smell and I won’t be lighting it, but it’s a very pretty candle, I really like the pattern on it. The photo frame cost £7.99, something that goes with my shabby chic drawers. The picture inside is from a notecard with robots on it, I cut it up and placed it inside the frame and I quite like the contrast between elegant frame and quirky image. The glass bottle is a reed diffuser oil, I thought the bottle made a nice accessory, it is something I can keep afterwards.
I got a “treasure chest” which has a nice Parisian print on it – this cost £7.99 and will be used to store more beauty products. Finally, the most expensive thing I bought was the cushion (£9.99) which sits nicely on my bed, it has a cat on it and it’s floral – two of my favourite things! It couldn’t be more perfect!
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Such gorgeous pictures – £50 well spent! xo
well done on getting all these lovely things for under £50!! 🙂 I love Home Sense, its such a treasure trove of beautiful goodies 😉 xx
So much prettiness in one post. I absolutely love the candle. You picked up some really lovely stuff and did well to stay within the budget! 🙂
Everything looks lovely! 🙂
xoxo,
http://simplicity-in-pink.blogspot.pt/
So many lovely things! TK Maxx is one of my favourites for buying home stuff, you can find so many great one-offs.
Love the frame and print together it looks really good xx
These are such good picks! I love the candles and the little treasure chest is beutiful 🙂 xxx
You got some lovely items – the little chest is gorgeous, and I love the reed diffuser bottle too! Great buys 🙂
Jess xo
Aw how cute is the cat cushion! It's sits perfectly with your little cushion collection!
L x
beautiful! I love that you found unique pieces rather than the typical uniform IKEA bits and bobs (I do love IKEA but a room entirely kitted out in their stuff tends to lack personality) I live in rented accommodation as well and it's so frustrating to not be able to really get my room the way I want it!
Bella | BELLAETC
Looks like you had a good spend 🙂 it must have been a lot of fun! I love TK Maxx for home stuff. Their frames are always gorgeous and I like the different printed storage boxes
Abi xx
alittleabstract.blogspot.co.uk
Wow, you did well with your budget! Love the pretty candle. I have a huge Parisian style chest from Homesense which I also use to store lots of beauty bits.
Tara xo
Aww this looks so lovely !!
Sara,
http://thecrimeofashion.blogspot.fr
Your room is so cute and perfect, jealous!
Love the idea of this challenge. Especially if you have just moved into a new place, it really makes you think about what your spending and what your buying. I will have to try this soon.
MELISSA LOVES THIS
Everything looks lovely! The large square candle is my fave, isn't Home Sense just the best? I could honestly furnish my whole house with that store! x
The Little Things
In love with your blog, everything is just so pretty! ^^
new follower!
come and check out mine if you'd like to
http://zaras-bowsandpearls.blogspot.co.uk
Zara (Bows and Pearls)
very pretty! everything 🙂
I love every single thing you bought, seriously! So amazing! By the way I just wanted to say that I really love your blog! xx
Justine | BRIGHTON DREAM
Oh wow, I love all the accessories that you purchased. It's surprising what £50 can do to a room (:
ohkalukalay.blogspot.co.uk
xx
Oh this is just wonderful. I'm in rented accommodation too, and it just goes to show exactly what you can do with little bits and bobs to decorate. The treasure chest is absolutely gorgeous! xx
LittleGlitter.org
Lovely, I really liked this competition and seeing all the homely blog posts xx
Stephanie
There's nothing quite like buying some pretty scented candles to do up a room. It was probably the first thing I did!
This room looks so fresh too Sarah! Hope you're well pretty lady xx
Your photos are beautiful and i fall in love with your jacket 🙂
I love your picks! Love the treasure chest so much
Emma x
emandthem.blogspot.com
Love your take on this challenge 🙂 your home must be so pretty if these snaps are anything to go by! The cat cushion is so sweet!! Love the treasure chest too, it's amazing what bargains you can pick up in TK Maxx 🙂 (I don't know if we have Home Sense!) xx
That cat pillow is FANTASTIC. I need it in my life…right now!
http://vivalafashiongirl.blogspot.com/
I would say that everythinbg in this room is lovely! I particularly love the frame! Lots of girly stuff! <3!
–http://buzzwichita.com/
I love all the bits u have added to room but specially the cushion
http://joannavictoria.co.uk/
This stuff is so cute!!!! I had no idea there was a "TK Maxx!" You probably know we have "TJ Maxx in the US. I always buy my housewares at TJ Maxx and this TJ Maxx-esque store called Ross. It's wayyyy cheaper than Ikea. It' so fun to decorate one's home 🙂
Mabel
Life of Mabel
I want all off this so cute! 🙂
http://ppril.blogspot.co.uk/
TK Maxx is one of my favourite places to shop for homeware!
http://www.helloterrilowe.com
Such lovely accessories here, I love that treasure chest!
Maria xxx
I love your home improvement buys! Yankee Candles are always a good purchase 🙂 xx
its beautiful and gorgeous pictures. Room is really love;y.
Huskatalog and snekker sarpsborg
Very nostalgic idea. They look pretty and more cute.
Porta Potty San Francisco
Very cute and girly!