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Home Renovation: 9 Tips to Design a Modern Interior on a Budget

Updated: Feb 2


The simplicity and elegance of modern interior design have given it a timeless, classic, and everlasting relevance. The calm tones, sleek shapes, and adequate lighting keep it a forever favourite for homeowners designing minimal yet classy spaces. The best part? It doesn’t always have to be expensive. Inspiring and planning your remodel around smart, budget-friendly tips will make the process fruitful, exciting, and easy — scroll on to learn more!

Home renovation can be an exciting opportunity to change the style of your space. The simplicity and elegance of modern interior design have given it a timeless, classic, and everlasting relevance. The calm tones, sleek shapes, and adequate lighting keep it a forever favourite for homeowners designing minimal yet classy spaces. The best part? It doesn’t always have to be expensive.


Inspiring and planning your remodel around smart, budget-friendly tips will make the process fruitful, exciting, and easy. Scroll on to learn more or book a chat with one of our Interior Design Gurus to get professional help.


Home Renovation: Choose Your Theme


Sure, you’ve chosen a modern theme, but now what? Your home probably already has a theme you decided on back when you moved in. But since you’re working around a budget, throwing out everything and starting from scratch will be too expensive.  The solution is to pair the elements of a modern interior with your existing design style. For example, rustic interiors can be transformed into modern rustic homes; mid-century interiors into modern mid-century homes; Scandinavian spaces into modern, minimal rooms, and so on.

Credit: Decoist


Sure, you’ve chosen a modern theme, but now what? Your home probably already has a theme you decided on back when you moved in. But since you’re working around a budget, throwing out everything and starting from scratch will be too expensive.


The solution is to pair the elements of a modern interior with your existing design style. For example, rustic interiors can be transformed into modern rustic homes; mid-century interiors into modern mid-century homes; Scandinavian spaces into modern, minimal rooms, and so on.


Use a Neutral Colour Palette


One of the basic elements of modern interior design is a neutral colour palette, with shades like  white, grey, brown, beige, etc., as the dominant colour of the 60-30-10 rule. When working around a budget, upgrading the colour palette can be done through simple ideas like re-painting the walls, changing the upholstery, and upgrading window treatments. Don’t forget to add accessories like pillow covers, throws, lampshades, and rugs in bold and bright hues to design a modern, minimal interior that isn’t boring.

One of the basic elements of modern interior design is a neutral colour palette, with shades like white, grey, brown, beige, etc., as the dominant colour of the 60-30-10 rule. When working around a budget, upgrading the colour palette can be done through simple ideas like re-painting the walls, changing the upholstery, and upgrading window treatments. Don’t forget to add accessories like pillow covers, throws, lampshades, and rugs in bold and bright hues to design a modern, minimal interior that isn’t boring.


Change Up the Flooring


While replacing the entire flooring is not something commonly listed on a budget-friendly remodel, choosing the right area rugs will provide an affordable and quicker alternative. From abstract and shag to minimal berber and solid-coloured rugs, there are tons of options you can choose from depending on your theme and requirements.

Credit: Rug Society


While replacing the entire flooring is not something commonly listed on a budget-friendly remodel, choosing the right area rugs will provide an affordable and quicker alternative. From abstract and shag to minimal berber and solid-coloured rugs, there are tons of options you can choose from depending on your theme and requirements.


Look for Modern Wall Hangings


Cheap, versatile, and interesting: wall hangings are an easy way to modernise your interior. Be it the living room, bedroom, kitchen, or even the laundry room, the right wall hangings will do their magic everywhere. Abstract art, large-format wall calendars, minimal hooks, open floating shelves, and sleek mirrors are all great choices you can pick from.

Cheap, versatile, and interesting: wall hangings are an easy way to modernise your interior. Be it the living room, bedroom, kitchen, or even the laundry room, the right wall hangings will do their magic everywhere. Abstract art, large-format wall calendars, minimal hooks, open floating shelves, and sleek mirrors are all great choices you can pick from.


Declutter Your Space


A decluttered interior is an essential part of a modern home. So after putting together all the other elements of a modern space, the final step is to clean and declutter the entire home, including the countertops, mantel, walls, and any other visible area carrying extra items. Donating the things you don’t need, investing in home organisers, and following a regular cleaning schedule are some ways to declutter.

A decluttered interior is an essential part of a modern home. So after putting together all the other elements of a modern space, the final step is to clean and declutter the entire home, including the countertops, mantel, walls, and any other visible area carrying extra items. Donating the things you don’t need, investing in home organisers, and following a regular cleaning schedule are some ways to declutter.


Upgrade the Lighting


By revamping the lighting, we don’t mean pulling out all the existing features and replacing them with new ones. Budget-friendly lighting ideas for a modern home, like toning down the window treatments to allow in more natural light, installing sleek wall sconces in circular shapes, fitting in string lights, and positing a few modern lamps, will do the trick.

By revamping the lighting, we don’t mean pulling out all the existing features and replacing them with new ones. Budget-friendly lighting ideas for a modern home, like toning down the window treatments to allow in more natural light, installing sleek wall sconces in circular shapes, fitting in string lights, and positing a few modern lamps, will do the trick.


Invest in Streamlined Furniture


Purchasing new furniture will definitely cost a fortune. How about more subtle and affordable changes? For example, you can upgrade the sofa fabric with a solid-coloured option, invest in something cheap like a butterfly chair, and replace a busy coffee table with a sleek, multi-functional one. Remember, anything with clear lines, clean edges, and minimal carvings will work.

Credit: Homary


Purchasing new furniture will definitely cost a fortune. How about more subtle and affordable changes? For example, you can upgrade the sofa fabric with a solid-coloured option, invest in something cheap like a butterfly chair, and replace a busy coffee table with a sleek, multi-functional one. Remember, anything with clear lines, clean edges, and minimal carvings will work.


Incorporate Geometric Patterns


The playfulness of geometric patterns adds life to the muted colour scheme and restrictive decor of a modern interior without overwhelming the space. Clean geometric lines on items like crockery, window treatments, bedspreads, tablecloths, and custom-made cabinet doors are a few interesting ideas you can try. An accent wall with fun patterns is another exciting option.

The playfulness of geometric patterns adds life to the muted colour scheme and restrictive decor of a modern interior without overwhelming the space. Clean geometric lines on items like crockery, window treatments, bedspreads, tablecloths, and custom-made cabinet doors are a few interesting ideas you can try. An accent wall with fun patterns is another exciting option.


Create a Focal Point


Interesting focal points that draw attention to a specific area are the final puzzle piece of a modern interior. Use this opportunity to display your favourite artwork, an exquisite furniture piece, a DIY project you’ve done, or anything you feel will enhance the interior and reflect your personality.

Credit: Tom Roe


Interesting focal points that draw attention to a specific area are the final puzzle piece of a modern interior. Use this opportunity to display your favourite artwork, an exquisite furniture piece, a DIY project you’ve done, or anything you feel will enhance the interior and reflect your personality.


Our Final Thoughts


Giving your home a makeover to create a modern space that is not only inviting but also comfortable and functional sounds super expensive and complicated. But with the tips and tricks discussed above, the process becomes much smoother, simpler, and, most importantly, cost-effective. So get ready to make your dream remodel a reality!


Need some ideas on how to modernise your home? Book one of our Interior Design Gurus for a 30-minute video call. Transforming your home into a space you love shouldn't be a daunting task. With HiiGuru you can save time, avoid costly mistakes and bring your goals to life with experts by your side.

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