7 budget-friendly ways to redesign your dream home

Your dream home is exactly what you have dreamed of for years. You are happy and content with it. Then the pandemic happened. Instead of yearning to go home as early as you can from work, you find yourself working eight to 10 hours at your WFH space. Instead of being excited when seeing your bedroom or kitchen corner that you miss during your pre-pandemic trips abroad, you find yourself “guilty” by being bored at home, yawning even before you hit the bed.

-  JOHANNES L. CHUA

“Because of the pandemic, 90 percent of our time is spent at home. It has made us assess what is missing or what needs to be done,” says interior designer Katherine Anne Correa, chairperson of the interior design program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts.

According to Correa, first on the list is to declutter. Homeowners have to identify which items can be disposed of or can be upcycled and reused. “When you rearrange and fix your space, it feels rejuvenating. Somehow we feel like we enhanced some parts of our lives. This is therapeutic,” she says.

Second, a repainting can be done. According to her, a repainted accent wall gives a new vibe, while wallpapers provide less intensive work. “There are a lot of wallpapers that are less expensive,” she notes. “You can buy sticker options that are affordable and are easy to install.”