To ask your (affordable) interior design loves?

Yes zombie thread but still

Treesnbirds

Warm lighting - I love a salt lamp for its light

This!! Plus we got a lamp whose shade was stained glass effect and it gives the room the most beautiful yellow glow!

oh no, it's a zombie! oh well... interesting thread anyway.

Agree with all of this, I have a mix of antiques, MCM pieces (some original, some repro) and quite a few things from Ikea—their Sanela velvet curtains are excellent, and I have a Kallax floating shelf as a TV table, as well as a couple of lamps. They often have limited edition pieces by interesting designers too. Love Ikea, and I like to think my house is pretty stylish!

My tip would be studio pottery. I love ceramics as art, and you can buy original, one-off pieces for much, much less than e.g. a painting. Never buy mass-produced vases or decorative bowls—find a local ceramic artist.

Argh! Just realised it’s a zombie thread.

Artwork, for me. I like lots of different styles. We’ve previously bought lots of original pieces, but more recently have bought some prints. I’ve bought mounts and frames on eframe and they’ve been such good value, and really elevate a print. For our house, I’ve learnt to buy thick mounts and frames.

Original vintage artwork ditto - cheaper than mass produced prints sometimes.

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I think you may be right with painting the alcoves instead of the chimney breast!

I love balance.
I love to mix up elegance and comfort - think crystal candlesticks and formal lamps with slubby comfortable cushions in disarray. Or art and nature - think oil paintings with a bowl of natural finds like shells or pine cones.
I absolutely cannot resist original artwork, luxury vintage cushions/ bedcovers, and sculpture. All, of course, acquired affordably and second hand.
I cannot imagine picking one design style and rigidly sticking within its definitions and rules. I'd find that soulless.
I also cannot enjoy an overly staged and overly matched home. I want a sanctuary and that means being surrounded by that which I find beautiful, inspiring and calming whilst still being comfortable.

Some colour drenching examples in
modern houses:

Study
Sitting room
Music room
Bathroom
Bedroom

We have F&B school house white in our N facing living room, it's a lovely soft off white that works in cool and warm light. If your room is small, how about adding colour to the recesses near the fireplaces rather than the fireplace itself, it should widen the room. If you're feeling bold, I love F&B oval room blue as a coloured wall which is a nice teal shade.

I paint as a hobby, mostly portraits but some landscapes too, so my house is covered in (almost) free art!

I buy a lot of furniture second hand and have a lot of eBay searches saved for specific items. I have a complete mix of furniture from different eras.

Recently bought an IKEA piece but painted it so it looks more interesting. You'll need both primer and decorator's varnish over the top for that.

Choosing more interesting paint schemes doesn't add cost.

@londonmummy1966 very helpful, thank you. And that would help ease the headache of finding a complementary colour for chimney breast wall!

I really like the very modern “acoustic” style panelling that is currently in vogue: prices vary, but doing one feature wall would look great in a modern house.

I'm still a sucker for an up-cycled item. I get alot of furniture from the too good to throw shop at our local recycling centre for a couple of quid, then just chalk paint it. I don't do anything fancy and usually stick to one colour in each room, but I like the variety of shapes you get-often more elegant legs or whatever, and the quality of the furniture is usually much better than new bought and definitely better than flat pack.
I recently got a big side board from the tip for £8. Beautiful bevelled doors, inlaid velvet lined cutlery drawer, gorgeous carved legs-but in a horrible orangey pine wood. Slapped a bit of dark teal chalk paint on it and it looks banging!

@HouseWoe north light tends to bring out any grey undertones so you probably want to go with a yellow/orange/salmon toned neutral. SO F&B Skimmed Milk Bombazine Fawn, Orange white, Dimity or COrd. Little Green Mushroom etc. I like the architectural range from Paint and Paper Library as you can get stronger and paler graduations of the same shade which would work well with a feature without being OTT - I love their Powder range which is pinky but Cashmere, Canvas and Sand would also work. It has the same lovely texture as F&B

Will take a look at that thanks. It's the light that causes me issues - very dull/ flat during most of the day but then a few hours of intense late afternoon sunlight which casts a strong, golden glow.

@HouseWoe how about 'Archive' from F&B? It's a taupe and seems to work in our NW living room. We contrast it with white and black in the rest of the living room...it seems to work.

One thing I really struggle with, is choosing paint colour. Dressing the room, knowing my personal style, sourcing furniture etc I'm fine with but with paint, I freeze! If anyone has suggestions for a warm, neutral colour for a NW facing small living room, along with colour for the ubiquitous feature chimney breast, I'd be grateful ! I love strong , deep colours but have tried them and they suck up the very little light.

Neutrals with some bright colour.
Solid wood tables.
Plants, real and fake.
Lamps.
Soft furnishings; fluffy rugs, thick curtains, soft cushions.
Eclectic art and a very small selection of items on display.

Colour drenching looks fab. If you think about how cohesive an all white room looks, it's the same effect but with colour.

Yes, it's called colour drenching and it looks great! You can also take the colour up over the ceiling.