New | Built-in storage and good sofas are must-haves in a decorating budget
Experts say built-in storage should not be overlooked, especially in small flats, and neither should one skimp on sofas, lighting or mattresses
Household budgets are almost always finite - the line-up of brands and vendors vying for our decorating dollar is not. When to spend, and when to save: that is the question.
Alex Sheldon, a home stylist, is routinely called in to "rescue" flats that are usually rented, often for short-term postings, and almost always considerably smaller than the occupants would like.
Her first piece of advice is: don't skimp on storage. "A cluttered home is a cluttered mind, as well as making your space appear smaller than it is," says Sheldon, the founder of The Home Stylist.
Even if renting, don't overlook built-in storage, she suggests - with the landlord's permission, of course - because custom-built cabinetry is cheap in Hong Kong, and can turn an otherwise useless nook or corner into something functional.
Think storage, too, when buying furniture - an ottoman with a lift-up lid, for instance, or a child's bed with a large trundle drawer. In her home office, Sheldon uses a retro Danish sideboard as a filing cabinet - it looks good, whilst keeping paperwork neatly tucked away.
She would also invest in lighting - layers of general, task and accent lighting - which is "incredibly important" to create the right atmosphere in a home.