As banks tighten their lending practices amid new regulations and a bruising royal commission, potential home owners will be facing a decreased lending capacity.

This means many Australian’s will have to settle for a home that’s not quite as nice as they would have liked. 

But never fear, home decorators.

With a few easy hacks, there are some simple ways you can get creative inside your home and do more with less – turning your not-so-nice home into the envy of all your mortgage-stressed friends. 

This trend is a saviour to many home decorators. The idea that you need less to make your home seem more is a great one when you have to pull in the decorating purse strings. 

The key to this look is creating space.

However it’s important to maintain just enough space. Mass expanses of nothing is not the intention here.

The purpose of this trend is to create a space that tells a story with minimal words.

Focus on key pieces of furniture and one or two decor pieces, rather than an eclectic jumble of things. 

This type of decorating is less expensive as less is needed to fill the spaces.

So yes, this article is about spending less to create more.

But this hack is about spending more to create less. 

Confused? 

Let me explain. 

Chain stores are a great way to fill your home with goods that look designer without the price tag.

However, you’ll probably find that over time, these pieces will look dated and perhaps a little rough around the edges.

Investing in one or two key pieces will ensure you’re able to change up those chain store and market finds and still maintain the presence of opulance. 

Go for something prominent – a rug, a lounge or a highly visible, large piece of furniture.

Allow it to be the hero of the space.

Decorate around it with cheaper, on trend pieces with the intention that these pieces won’t last – but the designer piece will.

Check out unique suppliers for pieces that really sing in your space. 

Suppliers such as Manapan Furniture create beautiful pieces that are sure to become conversation starters.

The Northern Territory-based collaboration between Australia’s best furniture designers and the craftspeople of Milingimbi Island, Arnhem Land results in stand-out pieces that don’t need any embellishment.

Go in search of pieces that are superior in quality as well as their ability to out-last the current trends in order to save significantly in the long term. 

Large-scale art is ideal if you’re going after that expensive designer look. 

You can achieve this on a budget with online art outlets, where you can get prints relatively cheap. 

The expense comes in with framing.

So it’s important to try to save here, too.

Large discount stores have a variety of shapes and mounts available. 

Stick to one unifying colour for frames and remember to maintain a minimalist look.

Use plenty of white space surrounding the artwork to stay on the designer trend.