You might not have the $500,000 home renovation budget that Martin Lawrence-Bullard is accustomed to working with, but the interior designer to the stars wants you to know that you can still infuse style and glamour into your pad on a budget. Here, he shares his tips.
Spruce up that white-tiled bathroom
“If you’re in an apartment or a rental where you don’t like bathroom, you can really put your own flavor into that space by the towels,” the designer says. And if your shower doesn’t come equipped with a sleek glass door, don’t fret: An eye-popping shower curtain can exude good taste. “Put [a] beautiful tropical, leaf-printed shower curtain, [add] emerald-green towels with a couple of white crisp towels folded over the top, [and] you’ve suddenly created this fabulous tropical feeling in what was once a very plain bathroom.”
Create a standout sofa
Lawrence-Bullard recommends switching up your couch’s accessories as the seasons change, opting for cheery, fun pillows in the summer and chic velvet ones come winter. And don’t forget a simple blanket: “In the summer have a bright pink throw, and in the winter buy a beautiful, olive-green cashmere throw,” he says.
Make your pad look ginormous
“Mirrors bring light and space into an apartment, and the bigger size you can get, the better,” the designer says. “Another trick is [to] get foil wallpaper and wallpaper the ceiling. That silver shimmer foil on ceiling reflects light and makes everything feel bigger. It’s an amazing trick.”
Jazz up your floor
“If you’re in an apartment and it’s got some horrible oatmeal carpet, it’s so easy to layer an inexpensive flat weave rug over the top of it just to give some impact,” Lawrence-Bullard says.
Let your decor speak volumes
The stylist suggests laying out three or four coffee-table books, or stacking 10-12 next to a chair for a hip take on a side table. “Don’t be afraid to decorate with your books,” he says. “It lets people know your interests.”
Add your own personal luxury
Lawrence-Bullard recommends keeping fragrance candles — in scents like fig or orange blossom — on hand for some instant ambiance. “Decorating isn’t just about the visual — it’s about all of the senses,” he says.
