How to Decorate your Home on a Budget

One of the best parts about owning a home is the freedom to decorate as you want. There are many different styles and decorating techniques, but for many homeowners, the deciding factor is budget. This is especially true if you recently purchased your home and are still financially recovering from the initial costs.

Even if you only have a few hundred dollars to spend on decorating, there are plenty of ways you can spruce up and personalize your home.

Painting

If you are on a tight budget but want to leave your mark on your house, painting is an excellent option. Hiring a professional painting service is expensive, but if you do not mind a DIY project, painting becomes relatively cheap.

In most cases, you can purchase all the paint and supplies you need for around $30 to $50, depending on how many colors you want to use. Painting is easiest when you newly purchase a home, since there are typically fewer items to move around to prepare the room for painting. 

Furniture Counts

Many homeowners focus on art and colors when decorating, but this is not the only option. A great way to express style in your home is with your furniture. While color matters, the type of furniture is important as well. 

For example, if you want your house to have a rustic feel, focus on items like wooden side tables for your living room, or a repurposed antique dresser for your bedroom. Many wooden items are sold at a reduced price if they need restoration, but it only requires a minimal investment to bring them back to their former glory.

Long Term Project

A common mistake homeowners make is thinking all the decorating needs to take place over a short period of time. While this may be ideal, it is the most expensive option. It also does not give you enough time to reflect on how the style actually looks. Instead of tackling all your decorating at once, treat it as multiple projects.

A good area to start with is identifying what kind of color schemes you want in your house. This allows you to purchase a few items and get a feel for what the colors look like. In some cases, a color you thought matches a room does not actually capture the feel you want.

Starting with larger furniture is a good idea because you typically build your room around the largest pieces. There are also practical considerations as well. You do not want to go without a bed in your room, or a couch in your living room. 

Once you place the big items, you also have a better idea of how much space you are working with. If your couch is larger than expected, there is no reason to select an end table.

Look for Sales

Another great tip for decorating on a budget is choosing where to shop. Thrift stores are excellent stores for finding furniture on a budget. While thrift stores are often associated with restoration, not all items require work. In many cases, the items ended up at the store because there were no other options, not because they were damaged.

You can also look on online marketplaces. When households are moving out of state, they commonly sell otherwise expensive decoration items for cheap because they need to quickly make a sale before moving.