Whether you’ve just jumped onto the property ladder and are keeping a keen eye on your budget, or perhaps you’re simply looking for a fresh take on your long-time home, you can still create an exciting new look without breaking the bank. Does anyone actually have a spare $2,000 laying around for a fancy rug featured in glossy home decor magazines? I know I certainly don’t last time I checked my bank balance.
While these magazines can provide great inspiration, they’re often wildly impractical for everyday budgets, stoking a burning desire for things we don’t need. I’d argue they’re best avoided so as to dodge the impact on your wallet.
And honestly, who yearns to live in spaces that have been styled to the nines by a professional interior designer? Personally, I love strategically placing my own unique touch around my home while keeping my budget in check.
There are countless ways to reinvent a room without splurging a fortune, and here are my top recommendations for affordable redecorating.
COLOR UP YOUR SPACE
Buying a gallon of paint is the quickest and most cost-effective way to transform one or multiple rooms. It can provide amazing character with bold shades or an air of tranquility with softer hues. Your options are limitless.
It’s a good idea to bring home some paint samples first to ensure you make the right color choice before investing in a full gallon. Plan what finish would be most fitting for your room before rolling up your sleeves and bringing a fresh look to your space over the weekend.
You can even stretch your buck even further by utilizing leftover samples to add an unexpected pop of color to smaller areas. I once brought life to the inside of a small closet with just a leftover paint sample! This trick can also be applied to the backside of your cabinets or the backing board of a bookshelf for an instant, budget friendly charm.
HANG THE UNEXPECTED
This is one of my favorite decorating ideas. Unexpected design can not only become focal points in any room but can also create interesting conversations.
Keep an eye out for unusual items that can be repurposed and displayed on your wall while going through flea markets or estate sales. I have utilized vintage wooden cutlery drawers, card catalog drawers and old bottle crates as functional wall shelves, spotlighting other fascinating items.
Old crates or boxes can be creatively used to store bathroom essentials (like towels, soaps, washcloths), or vintage records and trays as hip wall decorations. Once you start thinking outside the box, your options for reusing items can become endless.
Want to refresh your home on a #budget? Try these cost-effective ideas for a productive weekend project!
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SHUFFLE THE FURNITURE
If your wallet is at max stretch, try rearranging your existing furniture. It’s something I do regularly to keep my home feeling fresh and you should too!
Consider taking everything out of a room and bringing back only items that you genuinely love. This can provide an opportunity to move things around and give a fresh perspective.
If the thought of heavy lifting is putting you off, measure the pieces, create scale cutouts, and arrange them on paper. This strategy can save you from a lot of unnecessary heavy lifting and can help visualize what would look best in the room.
This process is pretty straightforward to put together and can be a lifesaver if you’re living alone without any spare helping hands around.
REVIVE ITEMS WITH SPRAY PAINT
Welcome to your new best friend, spray paint. I’ve found that almost anything can be revitalized with a few coats of it. I’ve upcycled old medicine cabinets, wooden caddies, record holders, and even chairs.
For the thrifty DIYer, it’s a dream, especially since most spray paints won’t cost you more than 5 bucks a can. It’s a wonderful tool and is now offered in a huge range of exciting colors at local supply stores thanks to the surge in DIY enthusiasts.
Just take your item outside on a calm day, place it on some newspaper, mask off the essential parts, sand it if required, and start painting. Ensure your safety with a mask and gloves to avoid inhaling any harmful fumes.
TRY REMOVING KITCHEN CABINET DOORS FOR A MODERN LOOK
Open shelving is currently a hot trend in kitchen design, and it’s an easy look to sample in your home. If you’re curious but don’t want to commit fully yet, take off one or two cabinet doors but keep the fittings and door elsewhere.
If you’re a fan, fantastic, if not, you can simply reinstall the doors and continue to dream over the beautiful kitchens in your favorite decors magazines.
It’s key to remember that open shelves require regular organization to maintain a clean look.
HOST A SWAP
My family and I have swapped furniture numerous times to shake up things. Whether it’s beds, nightstands, couches, chairs – you name it, it’s on the swapping list.
Tell people about items you’re in need of and you might get lucky. Hand-me-downs offer a great way to reinvent your space and aren’t only limited to items that are destined for the junkyard.
People frequently get rid of furniture whether due to relocation or simply wanting a change. My younger brother practically furnished his bachelor pad with family hand-me-downs.
So, if the freebie isn’t completely to your taste, scrutinize its shape and lines to see if you could make it fit your style with re-covering, staining, or painting.
CHECK OUT ESTATE SALES
In my experience, estate sales are treasure chests for unique furniture, particularly if you’re a fan of retro styles. The items, being of older styles tend to have robust construction compared to contemporary pieces.
Uncovering an authentic mid-century piece at an estate sale is a more attractive proposition than settling for a newly manufactured imitation.
EMBRACE WALLPAPER
Let’s give wallpaper the appreciation it deserves. Wallpaper has come into its own once more and has some amazingly stylish options.
You don’t need to go all out; subtlety can bring an appealing visual impact. A cleverly placed panel of exciting wallpaper can completely transform the ambience of a space; you could consider papering the back of a bookcase for example.
PICK UP SCAVENGED CURBSIDE FINDS
It might seem out of your comfort zone at first but give it a shot and have a look at discarded furniture in your neighborhood.
People frequently throw out great items, particularly when moving and running out of time to find a new home for their items.
LEARN TO LOVE MINIMALISM
It’s perfectly okay to embrace the less-is-more approach should all these other tips leave you feeling that your space still needs more. Embrace what you do have and don’t fret over a bit of empty wall space. You can always say it’s your minimalist style.
Remember, extra decor leads to extra dusting, maintenance, and cleaning, which may not be your cup of tea.
As you get comfortable with your simplified space, when you eventually do have some discretionary funds for more decor, you might realize you prefer the clarity and sense of space the minimalist approach offers.
And that, indeed, is a delightful place to be at!
And there you have it! What are your preferred methods for decorating your spaces within a budget? Do you shop at second-hand stores or estate sales?
