DIY More, Spend Less: The Centrepoint Edit

It always begins in the same way: you should replenish the bedsheets, give the children a new backpack, and perhaps get a couple of candles to make your living room smell at least a little as though you remember to clean it occasionally. So, do you drag yourself to the mall or open your laptop in pajamas?

Location these days is as important as the product. And amid parking wars, weekend throngs, and uncontrollable impulse purchases, a simple detour can consume an afternoon, not to mention an entire paycheck.

But if you’re smart about it, Centrepoint can save you more than you might imagine—not only through surprise bargains but also through genuine tricks to stagger your dirhams. And when you decide to bring it all home, why not make it twice as pretty with painless upgrades that will make your neighbours think you shopped at Pinterest?

Time vs. Money Showdown—Mall vs. Centrepoint Online 

And now, let us debunk this myth once and for all— does the mall really cost you more?

Here is a real-life side-by-side, along with 7 practical takeaways:\

1. Commute Burn: A shopper in the UAE spends at least 2-3 hours in each mall visit. Parking. Queuing. Window-shopping detours.
2. The Hidden costs: Petrol, parking, and a snack stop “while you’re there”—easily add AED 50–100 to a single run.
3. Impulse Trap: Buying in-store results in including more in a shopping cart than online shoppers spend, often 30 percent, according to research.
4. Click & Collect: Want it today? Go online and collect it. No wandering. No buyer heartbreak due to out-of-stock.
5. Exclusive Online-Only: Not all Centrepoint online drops end up in a store! Particularly when it comes to bundles or seasonal flash sales.
6. Easy Returns: Returning in-store means another trip. Online often means free pickup or easy drop at partner points.
7. Stack: Online is the place to stack (Smart Stack: Online). eg: Use your Shukran points, find the latest Centrepoint coupons, and align it to a flash sale. Can save triple the dips, and you never have to leave your couch.

Where Mall Shops Triumph

Online reigns supreme at the basic end, but hapless trips to the Centrepoint are worth it to pick up some select purchases. This is how you know when to turn the car on:

• Fabric Feel: Textured curtains, rugs, or bedding—something you want to feel. Wrapping or gentleness will never be displayed in photos.
• The Perfect Fit: Children's shoes or your Eid dresses? Go give it a shot if you are choosy about the cuts.
• Fragile Stuff: Anything heavy, like an Italian vase or glass art, or something that can break; in general, it is worth checking in person.
• Immediate Gifting: Got a last-minute birthday invite? In-store inventory is your greatest hope.
• Hybrid Fix: Whenever you check out, you go online first. Order your essentials online with Click & Collect—and just make a quick visit to touch and feel on your way out.

The DIY Flip—7 Hacks to Make Cheap Look Chic

1) Canopy Hack on Bedsheet

Buy: Bedsheets from Home Centre or Lifestyle—they stock affordable cotton sheets in solid colors (white, pastel) or subtle prints.

Why: A Light and airy bedsheets are more convenient to cover than heavy material.

DIY: Use small ceiling hooks and suspend the sheet over a corner bed or reading nook; add battery-powered fairy lights.

Pro tip: Choose bedsheets with adorable patterns for kids in Babyshop, and they can make cute canopies or play tents out of them.

2️)  Old Tees → Memory Quilt

Buy: Plain cotton tees, good quality, or graphic tees for younger kids at Splash.

Why: Soft cotton mixes well, and Splash basics are affordable.

DIY: Cut old T-shirts into squares and sew them into a memory blanket. In case you are not able to sew, get iron-on strips of hem tape to fuse the pieces.

Pro tip: Get kids involved—let them pick the tees they’ve outgrown!

3) Mason Jar Upcycle

Buy: Lifestyle home accessories include storage jars, small spice jars, and candle jars.

Why: Budget sets of lifestyles are usually less than AED 50.

Ways to DIY: Wrap the neck with twine, label with chalk signs, or use oil paint to cover half of the jar, creating a fashionable colour block effect.

Flip tip: Put them in the bathroom as cotton swabs or makeup pads.

4) Cushion Cover Remix

Buy: 1-2 statement cushion covers and 2-3 plain basics from the home centre.

Why: It follows seasonal trends like geometrical, boho, and neutral.

How to DIY: Combine textures like velvet, linen, and faux fur. Use odd numbers (3 or 5) on a sofa to fake a designer look.

Flip tip: Tie a plain scarf or Splash shawl (from Splash) around a cushion for a new pattern—no sewing!

5) Baby Bedding → Wall Art

Shop: Buy cute cot sheets or baby bedding sets at Babyshop.

Why: Children wear out prints quickly—transform old linen into fabric wall decorations.

DIY tip: Stretch fabric with canvas frames or hoops.

Hack: Put pom-poms or punched felt shapes to make a 3D effect—a quick weekend project.

6) Scarf → Boho Wall Hanging

Buy: Printed scarves or stoles from Splash (they’re under AED 50).

Why: Less expensive than yard goods of cloth—and prettier.

DIY: Tie the scarf on a wooden dowel using rope or macramé cord. Add some beads or tassels.

Flip tip: Looks fabulous behind beds or in a corner to read.

7️) T-Shirt Yarn Basket

Buy: A Multipack of cotton tees from Splash or a pack of kids at Babyshop.

Why: Old or simple tees are the best “yarn.”

How to DIY: Use strips of cut tee and stretch a bit in order to make yarn. Curl into small baskets to store keys, toys, or stuff on the desk.

Pro tip: Use pastel or neutral colours to ensure a clean, minimalistic appearance.

8️) Luxe Candle Upgrade

Buy: Simple jar candles at Lifestyle or Home Centre; they carry seasonal scents and simple glass jars all the time.

Why: Low-cost candles have a luxurious appearance with minor modifications.

How to DIY: Drape your candle in lace or twine, add a little label, or put it into a bigger glass vase packed with decorative pebbles or sand. To have a designer flair, cluster three.

Pro tip: Put the candles together in odd numbers to give it that Pinterest-styled tray feel.

9️) Rug Layering trick

Buy: Neutral woven rugs or little area rugs over at Home Centre.

Why: Possibly, any living room looks curated and cozy when it is layered with rugs.

DIY: Put a plain jute or a flat weave on the bottom and a smaller patterned or faux fur on top.

Pro tip: Stick to similar tones to keep it cohesive, and mix textures (like jute under wool).

10) Photo Frame Wall Grid 

Buy: Inexpensive basic photo frames at Lifestyle—they sell them in multi-packs or individually in black, white, or metallic.

Why: Assembled matching frames appear to be more valuable at first glance.

How to DIY: Spray paint each frame one colour to match, place a picture or print into each frame, and hammer onto the wall tightly grouped in a grid so it creates a gallery-like wall.

Pro tip: Use painter’s tape to pre-plan the grid on your wall first!

Saving Smarter—Stack Shukran + Your Card

This is what clever shoppers do to ensure they have the best final price and they do not look cheap:

1. Double-Dip Shukran: Get points on sale items as well: People don't think about it.

2. Wishlist Smart: Add your faves.The app alarms you when it decreases the price; you do not fear the loss, no FOMO.

3. Card Promos: UAE cards come with cashback, points, or no-interest installments. Where possible, combine.

4. Timing: Go shopping during payday or on Eid or DSf where sitewide markdowns are offered.

5. Multi-Store Combo: Grab a point multiplier when you shop at several Landmark brands—and use the stacked points on Centrepoint.

What NOT to Purchase Online and When to Shop IRL

Even the laziest shopper shouldn’t buy everything online:

• Super fragile décor? Risky in shipping.
• Tricky garments or fittings? Try first.
• Fancy curtains or rugs that are textured? Touch the cloth; look at the curtain.
• Candles with perfumes? Sniff first, then buy.
• Eleventh-hour gifts? Mall to the rescue.

Hidden Features You Aren't Using

Don’t miss a dime. Make sure you look into these hidden benefits:

Price Alerts: Wishlist your favourites, and the app will alert you when they go down.

Bundle: Centrepoint online occasionally packages towels, cushions, or home sets at a lower price than when purchased individually in-store.

Flash Stacks: During big sales (Eid,DSF), stack the latest Centrepoint coupons on flash deals and points.

Bonus: Lazy Shopper Cheat Sheet

Not a lot of time to read the entire blog? Your cheat code is here:

Mall: Select sizes, last-minute shopping, shop by touch.

Virtual: Replenishment of fundamentals, Line-up major home updates, no temptation of food court purchases.

Hybrid win: Click & Collect + stack Shukran

Remember this on your fridge, and your wallet will blow you a kiss

Final Note: More Savvy Shopping, More Flip It

Centrepoint’s shelves (or digital aisles) are stocked with everyday upgrades—if you know how to shop them right.

Protect your weekends, save with Shukran occasionally, mix and match a shortcut of a Barakatalan’s Centrepoint Coupons, and transform the easiest purchases into a home experience that is worth pinning.

Your wallet and living room will appreciate you.