The home is what you make of it. We all want to enjoy cosy and welcoming living spaces, but we don’t want to spend beaucoup of money in order to achieve said look and feel. It can be frustrating to contemplate the time and costs associated with interior design projects that are necessary or inspirational, but this doesn’t have to be the case.

We’ve put together a list of four hip interior design ideas that will add a bit of spice and style to the 21^st century home. Not only are these ideas fun and fresh, but achieving them doesn’t require tons of money or time on your part.

Artificial grass floor-coverings

We’ve seen plenty of trends in which hardwood, tile and stone floor coverings have been promoted and adopted by the latest and greatest celebrities and interior decorators. For those wanting to add a bit of feng shui to one or more rooms in the home, a different approach could be an indoor artificial grass design.

Easier to clean thoroughly than traditional carpet, highly versatile and durable to traffic, artificial grass can be selected in a variety of colours, textures and thickness. Many designs are comparable in feel to carpet, which means that the concept of artificial grass feeling like plastic is very much outdated.

Not only can artificial grass be used inside the home, but a seamless interior to exterior design plan can be incorporated in order to extend the covering outside the home.

Indoor flows of water

Bringing nature into the home doesn’t have to consist solely of children and animals tracking in mud and debris – it can also be a truly clean, organic and invigorating experience! A recent trend of indoor water flows within the home has been occurring, as more and more home-owners seek to get back in touch with Mother Nature in one way or another.

From custom glass water walls to real-life babbling brooks running throughout the home’s floors, these design elements can dramatically improve overall day-to-day mood and ambiance. While a more invasive approach is needed for some of these ideas, you may choose to opt for something as simple as a standalone fountain in the bedroom, bathroom or living areas.

And, if you’re worried this flow of water may make your home colder than you’d like it, worry not! The water can be heated to room temperature within its flow, and there’s no stopping you from installing woodburners in your rooms to help accent the theme of nature you’re planning to introduce!

Abundant storage… everywhere

Most homes are designed in such a way that plenty of usable area goes unused. Walls, closets, staircases and many other areas are left to occupy space that cannot or is not used for storage and display in standard form.

Shelving, recessed areas and hidden spaces are increasingly becoming common in new interior design plans due to the need for many to make the most of smaller living spaces. Each wall presents possibilities for creative shelving situations that can be easily constructed by most, with a variety of recessed shelving kits and tutorials available via the web.

Beneath staircases and elevated floors, even more room for storage can be added with a little bit of ingenious design planning and preparation. There’s no need to be shy about where you can add a bit of storage: the answer is “everywhere”!

[disclosure*]