You don’t need a big budget or the help of a high-end designer to decorate your home beautifully and stylishly. All you need is a smart strategy for how to decorate on a budget to make aesthetically pleasing changes without draining your savings.
Western Shamrock shares tips for how to decorate on a budget for any type or size of home. We’re more than just your local personal loan provider; we’re a trusted financial resource for helping you spend smarter within your budget and live more comfortably.
Create a Plan So You Don’t Overspend
First, distinguish between your must-haves and nice-to-haves. You can start by making a mini mood board featuring your color palette, five textures, and three photos for inspiration.
Next, create a budget for each room in the following categories: free, up to $50, and $50 to $200. Measure all relevant areas of your rooms to understand the size of your spaces before making a purchase. Also, remember to review the products’ return policies so you can easily and cheaply return items that don’t fit.
Free and Nearly-Free Upgrades
One of the best strategies for decorating on a budget is to start with ideas that are free or very low-cost. Simply decluttering and deep cleaning your home can help your home feel more manageable before adding more items.
You can also move pieces of furniture between rooms in your home to give spaces a fresh look. Rearranging your layout may give you the design boost you need without spending a penny.
It may also be possible to style your shelves and storage areas differently with books, travel mementos, and plants you already have. A low-cost design idea is to shop for frames at thrift stores and fill them with family photos and free public-domain artwork.
Under $50 Budget Decorating Ideas
Some of the best ways to decorate at home cost less than $50. For example, you can add paint to your home to create an accent wall, refresh an interior door, or update the trim. It may be quicker and easier to use spray paint to revamp photo frames, wood furniture, hardware, and baskets.
To refresh your textiles, consider thrift stores for curtains and hem them with a sewing machine to the desired length. You can give old pillows a fresh look or change your design scheme by getting new pillow covers for pillows still in good condition.
To make your kitchen and bathroom look new, consider purchasing grout or caulk for a DIY project. Command strips and hooks provide an easy way to hang artwork and light shelves without the need for nails on the walls. For a curb appeal boost, consider adding a new doormat or wreath to your door.
$50 to $200 Cost-Effective Updates
When you’re ready to spend a bit more to decorate at home, you can swap out lighting fixtures in your entryway, dining area, or bedside lamp. For builder-grade bathroom mirrors, consider a mirror frame kit to update your bathroom décor.
Decorating on a budget may also involve peel-and-stick solutions for floor tiles, a kitchen backsplash, and wallpaper in certain rooms. Adding rugs to your rooms can help tie together your color scheme and add coziness to any space. It’s also possible to find budget-friendly curtains or make your own, and then mount them high and wide to make your windows feel taller.
Where to Shop for Budget-Friendly Decorations
Think beyond shopping at the mall or relying on buying everything brand-new online when you’re decorating your house on a budget. Thrift stores and estate sales are excellent sources of budget-friendly furniture and décor, and older pieces are often sturdier and better designed to last than their new counterparts.
Browse Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and Craigslist for specific brands (like Pottery Barn), eras (like Mid-Century Modern), and materials (like solid wood). Keep an eye out for auctions, and personalize IKEA basics with stylish hardware or overlays.
When you sell what no longer fits your style in your home, you can also use that money to make new purchases that you love without the guilt.
DIY Skills That Stretch Your Budget Further
Redecorating on a budget becomes even more affordable when you have a few DIY skills up your sleeve.
Learn how to paint properly using primer and how to sew straight lines with a sewing machine so you can make pillow covers and hem curtains. It’s also helpful to learn how to staple gun upholstery to redo headboards, benches, and chairs. You might even discover a fun new hobby, such as flipping furniture, when you learn the basics of stains and chalk paints.
When updating electrical features, always turn off the power before replacing fixtures, and call a professional when in doubt.
Room-By-Room Redecorating on a Budget
Here are some room-specific suggestions for decorating your home on a budget:
- Living room: Add a large rug, layered (ceiling, floor, task) lighting, and throw pillows
- Kitchen: Swap out cabinet hardware, create a peel-and-stick backsplash, and add a shelf vignette
- Bedroom: DIY a new headboard and add matching lamps and hidden storage
- Bathroom: Add a mirror frame, a new shower curtain, and a towel ladder
- Entryway: Incorporate a slim console, mirror, and catch-all bowl
- Outdoor space: Paint or stain your fence or porch and add string lights and potted plants
Focus on Walls and Art for Visual Impact
Budget decorating ideas can also be artistic, so consider creating a gallery wall with mixed frames – perhaps painted all one color for a cohesive look. You can add oversized art with a DIY approach by printing out public-domain art to put into thrift store frames or making a Mod Podge photo collage. To add architectural interest, consider transforming one wall with picture molding or vertical planks.
Add Soft Touches with Stylish Textiles
It’s easy to get caught up with furniture and hardware when you’re learning how to decorate on a budget. But don’t overlook the soft power of textiles.
For curtains, mount them six to 10 inches above the frame and extend the rod eight to 12 inches wider to create a more spacious illusion. Pillows that are 22 inches and larger look luxurious, but adding a mix of pillow sizes, both large and small, creates visual interest.
It’s also fun to swap out textiles as the seasons change, such as embracing linen in the summer and a chunky weave fabric in the winter.
Lighting to Accentuate Your Home’s Best Features
You can enhance your home’s décor with lighting by replacing outdated fixtures and considering your lighting arrangement in three layers: ambient lighting from the ceiling, task lighting from desk/reading lamps, and accent lighting from sconces. Ensure a consistent color temperature throughout each room.
Storage and Organization That Doubles as Décor
Another tip for how to decorate on a budget is to use baskets to create open shelving units. You can also create a designated space for your calendar, mail, and key hooks to reduce clutter elsewhere.
Boost Outdoor Curb Appeal with Subtle Changes
For your front door, consider a bold and welcoming color when decorating on a budget. Thrifted containers make excellent DIY planters, and you may want to reconsider if your mailbox and house numbers could use a refresh.
How to Decorate on a Budget as a Renter
If you rent your home, consider temporary solutions over permanent ones when decorating on a budget. Fortunately, there are many peel-and-stick options available for various purposes these days, as well as removable curtain rods.
Furniture-mounted shelves and low-profile art ledges will create minimal holes that can be easily patched later. Meanwhile, rugs are an easy and affordable addition to hide outdated flooring.
Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Additions
When redecorating on a budget, it’s also an ideal time to start thinking more sustainably about your lifestyle.
You can choose upcycled solid wood pieces and natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, for home furnishings. Buy items that are built to last so you don’t have to replace them soon or contribute to landfill waste.
Common Decorating Mistakes to Avoid
The key is to start with free and low-cost updates first, and then gradually invest in the pieces that matter the most over time. If you follow budget decorating ideas instead of impulse shopping or buying beyond your means, you’ll create a stunning home you love and feel proud of every day.
Here are common mistakes to avoid:
- Buying furniture before measuring
- Buying rugs that are too small
- Hanging art too high on the wall
- Neglecting to add variety to household textures
- Only having overhead lights
- Rushing to paint without cleaning, sanding, and priming first
FAQ’s About Decorating on a Budget
How do I make a small room feel bigger on a budget?
Use light-colored paint on the walls, high curtain rods, mirrors, and fewer but larger pieces of décor.
Best affordable paint finishes for furniture vs. walls?
Eggshell or satin paint finishes work nicely on walls, and satin and semi-gloss paint with a primer are ideal for furniture.
Can I mix wood tones and metals cheaply but cohesively?
Yes, but choose one warm tone and one cool tone, repeating each theme at least two times.
What’s the fastest budget upgrade before hosting?
The best ways to quickly decorate on a budget before guests arrive are to declutter your spaces, add new throw pillows to seating areas, and arrange fresh flowers on a table.
Consider a Personal Loan to Decorate at Home
It’s essential to establish a game plan so that your decorating doesn’t spiral into redecorating on a budget that exceeds your means. But if you could use a slight financial boost to make your home decorating dreams come true, Western Shamrock can help.
Visit a local branch or complete our online application to apply for a home decorating loan and make the updates you want with an affordable monthly payment plan.
