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Transforming your home doesn’t need to break the bank. Embrace affordable home décor and learn the art of decorating your home on a budget. We’ll guide you through cost-effective strategies, from repurposing existing furniture to finding hidden gems at thrift stores, all designed to enhance your living space. Your wallet will thank you as you discover budget-friendly techniques that make a big impact, bringing style and comfort to your home without a hefty price tag.
Budget-friendly Ways To Decorate Your Home
Second Hand Shopping
Shopping at resale shops, yard sales, facebook marketplace and flea markets can save you a lot of money on decor items. You can find great furnishings and accent pieces that are still in good condition at a fraction of the cost compared to buying them brand new. Garage saling is my most favorite thing to do when it gets warm for this very reason.
Make Your Own Wall Art
Creating your own wall art is a great way to add personality and style to your home on a budget. You can make a collage of family photos, use stencils or create a piece of abstract art with paints and brushes. Large-scale art can be pricey if bought.
My favorite is framing my kids’ artwork. I legit think it looks so cool when you make a gallery wall with all of it framed. And frames are so cheap or most likely already piled somewhere in one of your closets.
Incorporate Natural Elements and Neutral Colors
Natural items like bamboo, driftwood and seashells can bring a tranquil feel to any home and can be collected for free or purchased at a low cost. Place them in glass vases, on shelves or hang them up as wall art to add texture and interest to any room. Wooden furniture, like dining room tables, always look beautiful.
Repurpose Furniture
If you already have some old furniture lying around, don’t be afraid to give it a makeover. A fresh coat of paint and some new knobs and hardware can do wonders for transforming a piece of furniture into something modern and stylish. You can find so many tutorials online for these diy projects.
Use Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a great way to give any room an instant facelift. You can find affordable rolls of wallpaper at most stores in a variety of patterns, colors and textures to choose from. There are some really bold and beautiful options that can be transformative.
Paint
Painting your walls is an easy and cost-effective way to freshen up any room in the house. Choose a color that compliments the furniture and accessories in the room for a cohesive look. You can do a bold accent wall. Or, just giving your whole house a coat of fresh paint, even if the same exact color, can make a huge difference.
Plants
Plants add life to any home, whether they’re real or artificial. Place a few plants in the living room, bedroom and kitchen to create a more inviting atmosphere. I’ll never forget when my mom brought over two plants to put in my living room because I was redecorating and something was just…missing. Two small plants made a world of difference. I was shocked (“I was this many years old when I learned the power of house plants.” LOL).
Update Your Kitchen Cabinets
If you have outdated kitchen cabinets, it can sometimes drag down the whole room. I have seen some awesome before-and-after’s where old cabinets get painted white (or you could use colorful paint- hello blue or emerald green!). Maybe add some new handles and it’ll look like your whole house got a makeover!
Update Light Fixtures
Replacing outdated light fixtures also makes a huge difference brightening up a room and making it look more modern. Look for affordable options at home improvement stores or online retailers. You can get some really cool lamps or lamp shades too. They make great statement pieces!
Hang Mirrors
Mirrors can make a room look bigger and brighter. Look for unique, vintage mirrors or purchase a few inexpensive ones to hang in the living room, bedroom or hallway. You should be able to find some at a thrift store nearby too!
Rugs
To me, rugs can just upgrade an entire room. Just that one piece! I love using big area rugs under my living room sofas or underneath a dining room table. Nowadays, you can get rugs at really low prices too. And, they give your room a whole new look of luxury and gorgeousness. Even new mats in the kitchen or bathrooms can help.
Throw Pillows and Throw Blankets
Our living room was so blah and basic and when I got throw pillows and pillow covers it made a HUGE difference. New pillows are perfect for a pop of color. I had a throw blanket in the same color scheme and threw that on the couch too. Such a low price to make a home look like those fancy ones on Pinterest and IG.
Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel
The fireplace and mantel are typically a focal point in a room. So, place your furniture around it and decorate the mantel. Some people like to even switch the mantel décor for the different holidays or seasons. Just make sure it doesn’t look like clutter. Less is plenty. If your mantel is non-existent or needs updated, you can even buy that too cheap (like a really big floating shelf).
Where Do I Start When Decorating My House?
When decorating your house, it is important to start with the basics and build up from there. Begin by decluttering. Next, establish a clear budget and set a timetable for the project. Then, decide on the overall style, color palette, or theme you would like to achieve before making any major purchases or decisions. Once these decisions have been made, you can start shopping for furniture and accessories that match the style you are trying to achieve. Finally, take time to review your decisions and make sure your design choices complement each other. This will help you not to waste money or overspend!