On Monday we told you about some great bargain buys we made at Kmart, of all places. You can read all about that here. We were most excited about a great side table we bought for an unbelievable $29.

This got us thinking about how to create a beautiful home on a budget. It can be done! And, it’s easier than you think. Take a look at the two completely different looks below that we’ve created with items we already had at home, along with a few op shop finds.

LOOK 1

In this look we’ve created a colourful and contemporary side table, with a slight nod to the 80s (they’re back, you know). Here’s a secret we’re going to let you in on: Op shops are the BEST place to find little homewares treasures. You’d be very surprised what people donate to charity. The on-trend black and white vase featured in these photos was just $3 from our local Salvos and the electric blue glass candle holder was only $4 from Vinnie’s. The Fiddle Leaf FIg (Frida) we moved from another area of our home for a change of scenery.

Another thing to remember when styling your side table is to leave enough room for your coffee cup!

LOOK 2

This is a much softer look than the first, with antique brass accents, pastels and greenery. You’ll notice our $10 Kmart cushion on the sofa. Like it? Then you should read our pink and brass trend report. The lamp we moved from another room and it’s really soften the look of the wire base on the side table. The brass bowl ($8) and vase ($7) were both Vinnie’s finds and there are a couple of other vintage trinkets featured that we’ve picked up over the years.

 We’ve also included a lovely kikki K. candle that we received as a present. A good quality candle with a delicious scent will add such a nice ambience to your room. Candles are one thing we don’t like to skimp on.