New Year, New Look: 10 Bargain Buys That Will Instantly Transform Your Home

Courtesy of Made.com
Courtesy of Made.com

Architecture & Design Editor

Is your home looking a little tired? Now is the perfect time to spruce it up for the New Year, and giving your interiors an instant refresh doesn’t have to cost the earth. Here are 10 of the best buys that will have maximum impact for minimum spend – everything costs under £50.

Jazz up your flooring

A colourful rug can make a real difference to your interiors and it’s such an easy change to make! The right rug can really pull a decorating scheme together and is a good way to introduce a new accent colour into a room. Rugs are also great for zoning areas when you’re working with a modern open-plan layout – it will help define the function of a space such as the dining area. This Brockley rug from Habitat costs just £30 – match it with accessories that share the same accent hue for a cohesive look.

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Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Courtesy of Habitat

Opt for statement lighting

This Halo pendant design from Heal’s is an absolute steal at just £29 a pop – it was originally £99. The black version will add a graphic edge to a scheme or pair three of the copper designs over a kitchen island or rectangular dining table for wow factor.

Courtesy of Heal’s

Smarten up your home office

These pastel-toned stacking suitcases aren’t just gorgeous to look at with their on-trend gold clasps and suede ribbons – they’re a pretty practical way to store your office essentials out of sight. This is essential if your study space is in an area of your home such as the living room or bedroom; items like these will help it blend into the rest of your decor without unsightly folders, cables and pen pots cluttering up your space. The cases from Oliver Bonas start at £40 for a small suitcase.

Courtesy of Oliver Bonas

Choose Instagrammable tableware

Get your flat lay spot-on with some tableware worthy of Instagramming – go for dark designs with pops of colour and pattern to add drama to your table, such as this Asian East Tableware range from John Lewis, starting at £2, and costing up to £25 for a set of four bowls or tea cups. All you have to do is make the dish look pretty…

Courtesy of John Lewis

Makeover your bedroom

This wallet-friendly bedding from online company Made.com is genius – if you fancy a switch up, the Duno duvet cover is reversible, so you can other opt for the more subtle pattern or the bolder look depending on your mood. Again, bedding is a cheap and easy way to give your bedroom a whole new look without much time or money spent.

Courtesy of Made.com

Update a piece of furniture

One easy trick is to take a tired old piece of wooden furniture and give it a lick of paint and update the hardware. A tester pot of paint will probably cover it and should cost less than £5 – make sure it’s still a good-quality paint, however, as this will give you the best coverage; Farrow & Ball’s sample pots cost £4.50 and there are 132 colours to choose from. In addition, some new knobs can really add character to a chest of drawers, wardrobe or sideboard – Anthropologie has a great selection, such as these Riko flower knobs at £6 each.

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Add some greenery

Indoor plants are an amazing way to liven up a small apartment, especially if your lacking outdoor space. Group a range of plants with different textures together for real impact, or create your own mini terrarium in a jam jar or cheap vase to put on a side table. There are plenty of benefits to growing your own herbs too, not only will they add a lovely aroma to a kitchen and brighten up a windowsill, they’ll obviously cost less in the long run than supermarket ones. This three-pot tray is an ideal solution from Annabel James at £12.95.

Courtesy of Annabel James

Sort your bathroom storage

Fed up of being surrounded by bottles on the windowsill or the edge of the bath? Give your bathroom an on-trend makeover with this sleek rose-gold storage rack from Urban Outfitters costing £35. The brand also stocks other rose-gold and copper items in the range, plus it has a good selection of shower curtains and bath mats for a cheap and cheerful update.

Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Create your own gallery wall

You can’t look at Pinterest these days for interior inspiration without coming across gallery walls, and it’s easier to do than you think. King & McGaw is a great place to look for ideas as it splits prints into categories and themes so you can choose an overarching theme and then mix up the frame sizes and composition. It’s best to either stick to one style of frame, one theme or one overarching colour scheme, so there’s something that brings the whole look together. If you’ve already got unframed prints at home, King & McGaw you can also design your own frames to fit from £15.

Courtesy of King & McGaw

Swap your cupboard fronts

One really simple way to give your kitchen an entirely new look is to replace the cupboard fronts – it can turn a dated kitchen into a million dollars in just a weekend. IKEA’s kitchen fronts are very reasonable, so if you’ve already got the basic base units, you can buy new doors – take inspiration from the Scandinavians and keep it classic with the Savedal range from just £12.

Courtesy of IKEA

Looking for other affordable ways to transform your home? Check out how to makeover your bedroom on a budget, or take a look at these 20 design icons that you can invest in for under £100.

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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