Replacing the furniture in your home for new can be quite expensive, so it is sometimes best to settle on a particular style you like and then buy a few items each month or so until you get the look you want. The furniture alone however does not have to define how the room looks.

Home accessories

With so many home accessories available we thought we would just mention a few of the better ways you can add that shabby chic look to your home without spending a fortune.

Replacement furniture knobs

Changing the knobs on your furniture can really make a difference to how your furniture looks. Adding ceramic knobs or glass or metal knobs can really spruce up that old dresser and tie the piece in with your other furniture items.

Vintage and reclaimed coat hooks

Instead of hanging your coat in a wardrobe or at the end of the staircase, why not buy a vintage styled set of coat hooks or even a reclaimed wood coat hook to tie your hallway design in with the rest of your house? Small design statements can have a big impact on your overall design.

Outdoor design and ornaments

Bring the inside of your home to the outdoors with a range of garden design elements that keep the flow of your design through your living and outdoor space. Adding French reproduction garden chairs or even aged ceramic garden tables can achieve the look you want in a really cost effective way.

If you are considering a new look for your garden, or even if you just want to enhance the space you’ve already got, you’ll be surprised to find that a few well-chosen touches can go a long way in creating the atmosphere and style you were after. You don’t need to hire a landscaper or stick a great big pond in the middle; you just need to add a few key pieces of furniture and pay attention to detail.

When it comes to choosing garden furniture, you first need to decide on an overall style or theme for your garden. Not sure what to go for? Well, one of the best and customisable options is the shabby chic look. It is a casual and relaxed look, channelling the effortless elegance of English Country living.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Vintage ceramics – You can choose matching birdbaths, wall baskets, planters and other decorative pieces in matching aged ceramic patterns, or pick up individual pieces to create an eclectic, unique look.
• Benches, chairs and tables – There is a wide selection of furniture available, including small, romantic loveseat benches and practical yet unusual wooden benches. However, an essential choice is an elegant patio table and matching chairs.
• Lighting – Choose lanterns in a variety of shapes and colours, or candles for a more intimate feel.
• Practical gardening solutions – You can even buy rows of hooks for your gardening tools and attire, or a delicate basket for gathering flowers or fruit.

Whilst furnishing the interior of your home is important to make it a comfortable yet practical home to live in. It is equally as important to think about furnishing your garden and breathing some new life into what is normally a long strip of grass with a bit of a patio.

You don’t have to spend a fortune and hire yourself a garden designer to transform your outdoor space. All you need is a little imagination. Transforming a garden in regards of new planting schemes and adding some decking can take time but there are small things that you can do which make a big difference.

Why not encourage some wildlife into your garden using a birdfeeder or bird bath. Items such as a heart shaped ceramic bird bath would look stunning near to your rust hanging heart bird feeder. To tempt the birds to want to stay in your garden and raise their chicks why not install a bird box on a fence (high enough so the cat can’t get at it), or on the side of your house. Bird boxes come in all shapes and sizes from a typically white wood bird house to a little more extravagant coconut nest bird box.