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Decorating on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing style! You can easily do a lot of decorating by yourself and not hire a decorator, and it feels great to accomplish it on your own and know you saved a ton of money doing it! Here are some great ideas to upgrade your décor without breaking the bank.
Declutter and clean
If your space is very cluttered and/or disorganized and/or grungy, it’s hard to see the potential of the room. Everything is easier when you start with a clean slate. First, go through and remove anything in the room that does not need to live there. You want your décor pieces to stand out, and in a cluttered mess, you can’t even see them!
If your whole house is a mess, this may be a challenge, and I will get to that sort of situation another time. For now, start with a quick run through, throwing out trash, then see what you can stand to part with. Pack that stuff up and get it out of the house ASAP! Whatever is left over after taking care of the trash and getting rid of things you want to give away, sell, or donate, you have to decide where in the house it should live.
Now, you can do this in one of two ways: shove it all into boxes and set it aside, or run each item to the room it will live in. In an ideal world, you would want to put it in its proper spot right away. However, most of us don’t live in an ideal world, so if you suffer from SOS (Shiny Object Syndrome) like I do, it may work best to just toss it all in boxes and deal with it later, to avoid getting sidetracked by all the other projects you need or want to do in the other rooms.
However, you also need to make sure these things don’t just sit in boxes forever. You will have to deal with them sometime, so put it on your calendar, and make it non-negotiable! On the day/weekend you decide to go through it, think, “do I even know what is in this box?” If the answer is no, it may be safe to get rid of the whole box without opening it! That’s your call, of course, but it’s something to consider.
Now clean everything, top to bottom. Get those cobwebs out of the corners and clean the ceiling fans and overhead lights. (Tip: Swiffers truly are great for this!) Clean the surfaces and scrub/vacuum the floor. Vacuum the dog and cat hair off the furniture. Take down the curtains and throw them in the wash. And wash those windows to let the light in! While you’re at it, open the windows and let some fresh air in. Fresh air and sunlight are invigorating and may give you the energy to plow ahead. (Okay, skip that last part if you live in the frozen tundra and it’s the middle of winter.)
This simple step will go a long way towards giving your living room a fresh look. It will also allow you to see the space better so you can see what decorating you need to do in the room. Maybe you don’t need to do as much work as you thought!
Embrace minimalism
The very word “minimalism” scares a lot of people. Don’t let it scare you, because YOU, and nobody else, get to define what minimalism means for you. It does not have to mean pare down to the bare essentials, but consider that, often, less is more when it comes to stylish interiors. After you declutter as discussed above (you DID declutter, right?), you should start to notice this. You can probably breathe easier and feel like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.
Instead of lots of STUFF, focus on decor that brings character to your home and makes you happy. This not only saves money but also creates a clean and sophisticated look. Invest in things you really love and that fit your style and personality.
Decorating requires a plan!
If you do decide you need new furniture or accessories, you need a plan so that you keep your costs reasonable. Before you start buying any new pieces for the room, take time to plan. Identify the most important areas that need an upgrade and set a realistic budget. Prioritizing essential pieces ensures you invest in what truly matters while avoiding impulse buys. What items does your room really need? It’s nice to have one focal point, a statement piece. A rug gives the room a cozy feel, and different types of curtains/drapes can alter the feel of the room as well.
Consider how the room will be used. For example, a living room may serve as a spot to chill and watch TV and listen to music, host friends, or double as an office space. Do the kids need a spot for toys? Is this where the dog kennels need to be? Or the cat towers…
Rearrange
Sometimes simply rearranging the furniture and moving things around can really give a fresh new look and feel to a space. Draw out your room on grid paper and cut out pieces of paper to represent all the pieces you currently have. Move your pieces around on the floor plan to get an idea of what different arrangements may look like. Alternatively, if you are tech-savvy, and want a 3D view, give the free Homestyler a try. You may realize you need less decorating than you originally thought!
Consider what items need to live in the room
You want to create “zones” for each type of activity, if you can. Decide that is where you are going to keep items related to that activity, and nowhere else! Consider all the things for each activity that need to live permanently in the living room. If it’s not frequently used, maybe it could go somewhere else in the house, like a nearby closet, if you have one.
Maybe the kids need a basket for toys they are done with for the night. Choose something with a cover that hides the cluttered look and also doubles as seating or a coffee table. Old trunks and suitcases can be fun accessories to add to your decor to act as both furniture and storage! If you need to keep the dog kennels in this space, did you know that you can find some that are like furniture and can serve as storage as well? Best. Invention. Ever! Seriously, if you have pets, check out Amazon for some awesome ideas.
If you have lots of CDs, DVDs, cassettes, and VHS tapes from a former life like I do, consider weeding some of them out. I know, this is HARD and is even harder when you live with a packrat! Keep in mind that just about anything you want to watch or listen to again is easily accessible online.
If you feel you need to, keep a list of the ones you purge. That way you relieve the stress of “but I might want it again!” because you have your list to refer back to at any time. FOMO – it’s a real thing! Fear of missing out has caused me to save far more books and magazines and tapes, etc. than any rational human should need. (I’ve never been accused of being rational when it comes to books!) However, chances are pretty darn good that once it’s out of the house, you will never need or want it again. You may even forget you ever had it in the first place!
Great décor at a discount: thrift and DIY
I always recommend looking for options other than retail stores for any project. Thrift stores like Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity Restore, flea markets, and online marketplaces are treasure troves for budget-conscious decorators. Look for furniture with good bones that can be easily refreshed with a coat of paint or new upholstery. Just don’t bring home more treasures than you need! You’re trying to save money, remember?
DIY projects like repurposing old furniture, making your own art, or upcycling household items can add a personal touch to your space without costing much. A good DIY project can feel so satisfying! If your project doesn’t have a set deadline (like the in-laws coming to visit, or your upcoming holiday party), be patient and take your time scouring thrift stores and the like.
I especially love DIY projects, thrift store shopping, and repurposing items because it’s more sustainable than buying new. If, like me, you are concerned about your impact on the environment, please check out my post on sustainability for some easy beginner tips.
My absolute favorite resource for decorating is HGTV. Their DIY projects are fun and inspiring. Not only do they have those awesome shows, they also have a magazine and great website!
Paint is an easy decorating solution
A fresh coat of paint can completely change the look and feel of a room, and it’s relatively inexpensive. Choose neutral colors for a timeless look or go bold with an accent wall. Think about how you want your room to feel: warm and cozy, light and airy, or luxurious and upscale? Paint is an affordable way to refresh your home while allowing for creative expression.
Check out the local paint or home improvement store to see what “oops” paint they have. Sometimes customers don’t like the way the color turned out, so rather than waste it, the store sells it super-cheap. It’s always fun to see what’s there. (Careful: more than once I’ve ended up buying something I didn’t need just because I liked the color and it was cheap!) Another option for cheap paint is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Check to see if there is one in your area. They have all sorts of home improvement goods, including paint that people had leftover from projects.
If you can, get paint samples to try out on the walls to find the perfect shade. You want to look at them in different lighting and at various times of the day to get a good feel for them. Once you have decided on the colors, invest in good quality tools. You will need a roller and paintbrushes (obviously!) and don’t forget a dropcloth or tarp to protect floors and furniture.
Don’t forget a stepladder, which, if you don’t have one, can easily be borrowed from friends or neighbors. Don’t go buy a stepladder unless you know you are going to need it for other projects, too.
Decorate with plants and freshen your air too!
Indoor plants are a beautiful and relatively inexpensive accessory when it comes to décor. Not only do they look beautiful and uplift your spirt, some plants are especially well known for their air filtering properties. A few of the best ones are spider plants, peace lilies, and philodendrons. I asked AI and got a list of 14 plants that remove harmful pollutants so you can breathe easier! Fourteen! Why do we all not have rooms full of plants!? Oh, yeah, you gotta keep them alive.
I asked AI again (I think I’m starting to like AI) and got a list of 12 indoor plants that are low-maintenance and have great air filtering properties. Look specifically for plants that are low-light tolerant and require minimal watering. Keep the poor things out where they are easy to see and enjoy, and also easy to get to for watering!
But if you absolutely have a completely black thumb, even fake plants can be beautiful and provide a refresh of your space. Just make sure to splurge on good quality. Of course, with fake plants, you lose the air filtering effect, so it’s a toss-up to me.
Conclusion
Well, y’all, what do you think? Did you get any inspiration for your next decorating project? There are so many ways you can decorate on a budget, and these were just a few. I hope this little guide has been helpful! Comment down below and let me know what you think!