Decorating your home shouldn’t require you to take out a second mortgage on your home! With these budget-friendly decorating ideas, you’ll save money while making your house look like a million bucks (or, in this economy, three million bucks!).
If you love the look of tiles, whether that’s in your bathroom, kitchen, or throughout the house, you know that they can come with a hefty price tag. But did you know that there are adhesives you can stick directly on tiles or other types of flooring that look like the real thing?
You can spend as little as $16 for 20 feet’s worth of flooring, which is much less than you’d spend to knock out existing tile and replace it with new tile. And if you live in a rental house, you can use the adhesives while you live there, then peel them off when you leave.
There’s no reason you need to head to your favorite home furnishing store to find furniture, statues, vases, throws, and more. You can find unique pieces at thrift stores and secondhand shops for pennies on the dollar. And bonus: no one else will have the same items!
Especially if you’re into a particular genre, like Midcentury Modern, you can find authentic decor and furniture at antique stores. They’re built to last, unlike a lot of today’s furniture.
Speaking of thrift stores: you may be overlooking a great decor item that is usually expensive. Picture frames! You might breeze by that stack of ugly landscape art in the corner of the store, but if you take out the art, you’ve got a quality picture frame that you can fill with whatever brings you joy.
If you like the style of the frame but hate the color, you can paint it. Try antiquing it with gold or brass paint to give it a distinguished look.
Sometimes it’s hard to envision the way you want to decorate your house without something tangible to look at. And sometimes, you simply need inspiration. Cue Pinterest. Search for things like “boho living room ideas” to uncover a wealth of inspiration. Pin what you like, and organize your pins by room.
You may even find products to buy since advertisers tune into your searches. This can help you find the perfect items without having to waste hours scouring the internet.
If your kitchen is outdated and your cabinets are an eyesore, think twice before shopping for replacements. A simple coat of paint can refresh the look, and you don’t have to commit to the color forever. Paint it again whenever you want something new.
Wallpaper used to be a nightmare. It was hard to put up, and even harder to take off. But now, there’s a version that just requires you to line it up and stick it to the wall. No messy glue, no complications. And it comes off easily too, so if your landlord wants it gone when you leave your rental, or you’re just ready for a change, easy peasy.
You love art but have no budget to buy any. The solution? Downloadable art. You can find creative designs on Etsy or buy stock photos you love. Stick ‘em in a frame and you instantly enhance a wall without spending much.
Sometimes it’s the smallest details that make the biggest impact. Change your doorknobs, light plates, and cabinet fixtures to create a new vibe. You can go vintage, modern, or somewhere in between.
You can find vintage knobs on Etsy, or knockoffs on Amazon or Temu.
You don’t have the budget for new furniture, but you’re tired of what you’ve got. Consider giving your table, armoire, chair, or bookshelf a new personality with a coat of paint. You’d be surprised what a difference it can make!
Go a step further by adding peel-and-stick wallpaper to the back of your bookshelf or on cabinet doors, or, if you’re artistically inclined, paint fine details on the edges.
A rug can completely change the look of a room, particularly if you have hardwood or tile flooring (not to mention, that it’s warmer for your feet in the winter!). Look for colors that complement the dominant colors in the room, but don’t be afraid to mix and match.
Real Persian rugs can be expensive, but you can buy them used at thrift stores. Or you can find knockoffs that are lighter and easier to move around and clean for less money.
Strings of lights aren’t just for Christmas anymore! Add a string of fairy lights to your living room or bedroom to create a magical mood. You can even connect them to a smart device so that they turn on and off on a timer.
Add heavier outdoor string lights to your patio to create a pleasant ambiance for evening glasses of wine with friends.
Another decoration that doesn’t cost too much: houseplants. Add small succulents to side tables, a large Monstera plant in the corner, and a plant that creates vines in the bathroom.
Just be sure to pay attention to the amount of light each plant needs, and position them accordingly.
Bonus tip to spend less on plants: get cuttings from friends and propagate them without spending a dime. You can also find cute pots at garage sales, thrift stores, and even the dollar store.
When your budget is zero for any kind of decor, you can make do with what you already have. Move furniture from one room to another, or simply swap positions. Switch up your wall art. Stack books with tchotchkes on top of your coffee table. Swap decor with a friend. That way, you get a new look without actually spending any money.
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