It’s hard to decorate without spending a fortune -- hard, but definitely not impossible. If you are willing to sniff out good deals and use your imagination, decorating on a budget is not only easy, it’s actually a lot of fun as well. I know that, right now, every penny counts for me, so this is for all of you who want to make your whole house or just certain rooms look new and fresh without totally breaking your bank account.
Photo Credit: karen.tkr
The decorating style you choose is going to make a difference in what you need, what you buy, and how much it is likely to cost. A more contemporary style or a modern style is not hard to furnish, because so many of the textures, fabrics, and materials used in this style are inexpensive. However, if you want something like a traditional French feel, you are definitely going to have to start comparison shopping and bargaining.
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A little paint can take you a long way, it can tie your room together, and it is significantly cheaper than wallpaper. Just changing the paint in a room can change its whole feeling -- and you do not need to spend a lot of money. Take our bedroom: three walls white, for a modern, clean feel, with one accent wall -- hot pink and black. One small can of pink paint, one small can of black paint, painter’s tape, and a roller, y’all. Just remember, your paint needs to complement the style you want, so nothing clashes. White works for anything if you can work the accents and accessories; for a country kind of look, soft blues and yellows work as well.
If you can’t afford new furniture but want a new look, slip covers can be your best friend. I won’t lie, these can be pretty expensive -- unless you know where to look. Fortunately, the Internet makes that incredibly easy. Protip: if you know how to sew, or know someone who does, you can save a lot of money here, plus you can choose the exact fabric you want.
Photo Credit: 'SeraphimC
These are your best friends. I’m not saying you’re going to necessarily want to buy a couch or a mattress from a yard sale, but you can find some really great pieces if you’re patient. End tables, pictures, candle sconces -- you can easily find all the little pieces that really bring a room together, and you know you’re not going to have to pay a fortune, because most folks having a yard or garage sale just want to get rid of their items. Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
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It does not cost a lot of money to buy -- or make -- curtains, and quite often you can find window treatments, like really cute blinds, on sale at places like IKEA, or at retailers like Wal-Mart and Target. Just doing something with the windows can really change the entire feeling of a room. That can even mean ditching your current curtains and just going with blinds can help as well. Technically you can even get an inexpensive stained glass painting kit and get really creative.
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It is expensive to replace your carpet, or to get carpet or other types of flooring installed, and if you’re renting, you might not have the option anyway. My apartment has old, old hardwood floors, for instance, and we’re constantly scared to death about damaging them too much. In such cases, rugs are a great help. They can complement your style choice and really bring all the pieces of your room together, and they don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Photo Credit: Ben Heine
It’s all about the accessories. That’s true for fashion and it’s true when you’re trying to decorate your home -- even on a budget. IKEA, Target, even The Christmas Tree Shoppe are great places to get pictures, paintings, wall sconces, and things like that at incredibly affordable prices. Protip: Just got a huge picture of Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly at the latter for just ten bucks.
Photo Credit: carolinecohenour
You don’t have to replace what you have now. Instead of getting brand new lamps, you can buy lampshades for very little money and just spruce up what you’ve already got. You can give your sofa a makeover by buying new throw pillows. Get new globes for wall sconces. Buy new guest towels for your bathroom. The little things can make a huge difference.
These tips really helped me when I was decorating my new place this year. Plus, sometimes you just want to fix up your space. What ideas do you have for decorating on a budget?
Top Photo Credit: light thru my lens