The idea of having to buy a lot of furniture when decorating your home can be overwhelming. It’s even harder when trying to do it all on a limited budget. It seems insurmountable, right? Here are a few secrets on decorating your home on a tight budget.
Paint. A lick of paint is a quick and inexpensive way to give your home an instant lift. Whether you make a statement with a feature wall, or go all out and decorate an entire room in an intense shade.
Color. Color is cheap. In contrast to other interior design elements, paint costs just cents on the dollar. Accessories like throws, pillows cost even less. Infuse a high-end look into your space by introducing accessories with color.
Move Furniture. Even a slight shift in a room’s furniture position can add new life to familiar spaces. Why not move a few pieces around? Sometimes a fresh approach encourages you to get rid of tired pieces that only clutter up your space. Move existing before buying new!
Revamp. Instead of splashing out on new armchair, why not give your existing piece a makeover by recovering it a new pattern? Be a little daring and see how a simple chair can be completely transformed into a statement piece
Paint furniture. Invest time and a little bit of elbow grease to what you already have. This can be just as exciting as waiting for delivery for your new furniture to arrive. It will allow you to save money for must-have purchases later on. I love the idea of being able to upgrade a piece of furniture from blah to WOW using Paint! I use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for painting furniture. Paint your old chest of drawers to make them in keeping with your new color scheme. Paint your dressing table, dining room chairs and table… PAINT everything!
Buying second hand. Visit your local thrift shops, garage sales and auctions. However, when shopping for second hand items, quality is more important than style, which can always be altered. Inspect the piece for structural quality. You can always cover a sofa with a slip cover, give a rusted mirror a new coat of paint, or buy a different lamp shade that will fit better with your interior design. Or DIY a new cover for an old grubby lampshades.
Repurpose. I hardly ever spend a fortune when decorating a home. There are a lot of furniture pieces you can make yourself by re-purposing used furniture. This will not only save you tons of money, but you also can customize your furniture as much as you like to have that stunning home you’ve always imagined. Make a blanket holder using an old ladder. Or a TV stand from crates – super cute! Are you tired and need a place to rest your weary feet? How about a cute little ottoman or stool to rest them on. Make a foot rest from an old drawer with just upholstery and maybe a lick of paint. DIY a coffee table. Nothing complicated. Simply preparing the pallet with a good finish and adding a few feet and you will have an amazing coffee table.
Lighting. The right lighting can transform the mood of your scheme at very little cost. Why not buy a fresh shade for your lamp? Try replacing mismatched table lamps, with stylish matching ones. Place one on either side of your sofa or bed, and see how the room suddenly has cohesive style.
Mirrors. Tight spaces expand and rooms seem roomier when you prop up a large mirror (at least three-fourths as tall as the wall). It’s a classic interior decorator’s trick to create instant―if not real space. Mirrors can be a cost-friendly alternative to expensive art work. Use them to add light and shimmer to your walls or mix and match different styles to bring elegance and personality. Use mirrors to define spaces like hallways. Save money by painting a hand-me-down mirror with one coat or two of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
Cushions. I love scatter cushion! Finding the right cushions for your room can add to the levels of comfort and style without spending too much money.
Wall Gallery . Picture wall gallery is an instant decor trick to create a feature wall without breaking the bank. Look through your albums for your best shots (pick a theme: weddings, birthday parties, vacations) and put them in frames. Mix family photos with some art to create a wall gallery.
Use your talents!
Decor is incredibly open to personal interpretation, so use skills that you already have to create your own items rather than buying them. If you are always behind a camera, frame a few of your favorite pictures and proudly put them on display.
Decorating tip
The best advice I can give is to live in a space before making any massive changes to the interior. As you begin to use the room, you will get a better feel of it. This is all about prioritizing. Pick the room in your home that needs the most help and start there. In the meantime, make the others livable, even if they’re not picture-perfect. Then, when you’ve had a little time to let your budget recuperate, move onto next big project.
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