'All the ways I’m making my apartment feel like a "home" on a tight budget.'

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When my husband and I moved into a new apartment a few weeks ago, I set out with a goal: I was going to be intentional with the interior design.

Ever since I moved out of college in 2018, my sharehouses have been home to a mix of furniture that occupants already owned, whatever was cheap on Facebook marketplace, and perhaps the odd "design" feature which reflected the interior design de jour (okay, it was all scandi and millennial grey).

These houses were high on vibes, don't get me wrong, but the interiors were not intentional.

They were functional: which rug won't show beer stains? Which TV cabinet will fit in the car? You know the drill.

Watch: Would you live in this gen Z sharehouse? Post continues after video.

I have always found it deeply unsettling to be in a space that does not feel like my own. When I was at boarding school, we had to move rooms every term, which meant I would have four different bedrooms across the school year.

I clung to my linen, personal photos, clothes, books and yes… teddy bears, to make my room my own. I would blast The Kooks and host chit-chats until it started to feel like my space.

Due to this rare early psychological predisposition (disorder? kidding), I now get very attached to stuff in my creation of a space as my own. I once read that Florence & The Machine throws colourful scarves around her hotel rooms when she's on tour so that the space feels like her own. This resonates.

Rituals like this allow you imprint your energy into a space and make it well and truly your own. I like to imagine the notes of the music seeping in between the bricks, the laughter of my friends intertwined with the fabric of the carpet.

Given I'm going through what you might call a ~tough time~ with my health, I was determined to make this new apartment feel like it was a home — a space where I can heal.

My husband and I were already leasing out our old apartment furnished, which meant we had no furniture (bummer) but had a fresh slate to work with (yay!).

My mission was to make our new place feel as homely as possible, for as low a price as possible.

My tools: time and a decent Pinterest board.

My connections: a good friend who worked in interior design (with exceptional taste and tips) and a generous and kind energy healer.

Here's what I learnt.

1. Shop second-hand (but not vintage).

The spoils of our second-hand shopping! Image: Supplied.

This was one of the best tips I got from my aforementioned friend in interior design, Julia.

Henry and I were able to find three great lamps (two for bedside tables and a standing lamp) as well as an extendable midcentury dining table — all for under $100 at Salvos. Win.

They are such good quality and add a lived-in homey vibe to the apartment — bringing only the happy memories of their former homes with them. We didn't just stumble across these, though. It took a lot of time. We kissed a lot of frogs.

Another great tip I got from a friend was to trawl the auction houses.

Again, this takes a lot of patience, but occasionally you'll nab a steal. We found a classic cane occasional chair (which I daresay is very Nancy Meyers coded) for $80. BUT I need to learn how to reupholster the cushion. That's the price of vintage.

Facebook Marketplace can also be home to some gems — but be sure to ask for more photos before you arrive to pick it up (I accidentally landed a mouldy mirror — welp).

2. Anything can be art (but not everything).

I love this sunny, art-filled nook. Image: Supplied.

My husband has a quirky aversion to wall art if it is just pretty for pretty's sake. Every print I suggested from Society6 or the like was firmly rejected.

Henry thinks art should evoke an emotion or a memory. At first, I found this low-key annoying. Just let me buy my dopamine art! But unfortunately he has a point.

Despite my initial frustration, I am a convert to this mode of thinking. Each piece of art is personal and evokes a memory, which makes the house feel uniquely ours.

Yes, a lot of ~ art art ~ is expensive. You are 100 per cent correct. BUT luckily, art doesn't need to be by an artist. You can get creative with it. Here's what we did:

Frame! Holiday! Pics!

We chose two pictures from Rome that we were in, but in which the architecture was the focal point, and had them printed in large-scale in black and white (oh, and chucked them in Ikea frames).

These feel like they make a necessary statement in space, but are so us. The size of pieces makes them feel arty.

Frame the souvenir.

This one takes a bit of organisation, but if you have any cute quirky souvenirs from your holidays — you can frame them.

I framed a Dante postcard we picked up from the bar in NYC, as well as photo booth pictures we also took in NYC. They make us both super happy, and remind us of those happy memories.

Find a meaningful print on Etsy.

These do err on the side of being a little bit more expensive than the stock standard print, but in my opinion, it's worth it.

Find a print that shows somewhere you've been, or somewhere you love. We found one we loved of Café de Flore that reminded us of our time in Paris. There's a print of just about everything on Etsy!

Commission a painting.

This is definitely not a budget-friendly tip — be warned. But it's a beautiful way to make a house feel like a home.

When I was undergoing treatment for breast cancer in 2023, I commissioned a piece of nude art from Emma Currie — an incredible artist based out of Melbourne. It is such an emotional and beautiful piece that reminds me of the strength it takes to stay soft despite enduring difficult circumstances. I adore it.

Similarly, for our parents' 60th, my siblings and I commissioned a piece from Emma Pfeiffer, and it's stunning.

3. Be yourself when it comes to decor.

My home office setup sparks joy. Image: Supplied.

When you're scrolling through TikTok it can be easy to think there's just one way to correctly decorate a home — but one person's dream apartment is another person's horror show.

Do not listen to the TikTok police — they are not the ultimate decider of whether or not your interior design choices are acceptable. Be yourself.

If you don't like lying on beaches, don't buy a print that shows waves. If you aren't big on travel, don't buy an Assouline coffee table book. If you hate cooking, don't buy cookbooks.

Lean in to the Marie Kondo method of letting go of anything that doesn't spark joy, and be intentional about buying decor that feels aligned with who you are.

4. Jump into your life-affirming rituals.

I'm convinced the joy from this The Summer I Turned Pretty finale dinner is imprinted in my space. Image: Supplied.

This was something my energy healer suggested when she came to do an energy-clearing session in our new apartment.

We are all familiar with a housewarming, but the little rituals are important as well when you're trying to imprint your energy into a new space.

She highlighted that it's so important to have your people over, laughing on the couch over cheese and wine, or watching a favourite TV show.

Somehow, the laughter and the stories and the joy imprints in the walls and lifts up the spirit of the space so that it aligns with your vibration. In the kitchen, too. Once I made my favourite recipes in the kitchen, the space started to feel like my own.

Our new apartment is slowly starting to feel like home. But I think I need to have some more friends over for pizza. You down?

This article was originally published in Ali's Substack A Little Bit Better and has been republished here with permission. You can also read Ali's updates on Instagram at @ali.ttlebitbetter.

Feature image: Instagram @alimoore_.