Redecorating is an exciting time for everyone in the house. The air is alive with ideas and visions of a cozier and more cutting-edge look for every room. However, plans of this sort take money—sometimes a lot! However, there’s no reason you can’t find great decorating ideas for tight budgets. There are many ways homes can be improved—and even completely overhauled—using DIY skills, smart purchases, and creative workarounds. I’ve outlined a few ideas below.
Sourcing Affordable Furnishing
Is your couch looking a little rag-tag and your counters a bit banged up? After years of even the most careful care, every piece of furniture starts to show its age. While in some pieces this can be a desirable look, for others it cheapens everything around it. If your larger decorations can’t be DIYed back to life, the only recourse is to replace them. However, cabinets, shelves, and other furnishings are often absurdly expensive if bought new. Instead, I suggest investigating local alternatives.
Check out options from resources such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Often, others that can afford more extravagant choices are happy to rehome unwanted furniture for great prices. Resale shops also typically have a constant flow of incoming and outgoing furniture. There’s likely also a construction reclamation store near you that sells cabinets and other hardware. Much of the stock is either pulled in good condition from homes undergoing renovation or kicked back by construction stores that need room for new models and stock.
Focus on Small Changes
Waiting for the perfect furniture to show up on resale markets takes time and patience. In the meanwhile, there are a lot of small things you can do around your home without breaking the bank. Try focusing on areas that seem to be lacking. Changes like a fresh coat of paint, shuffling knickknacks around, and playing with textures and patterns can really spice up a room.
Scented drawer liners are also great decorating ideas for tight budgets as they let you improve everyday items in subtle yet effective ways. These attractive items are cheap, help fight the musty smell of old furniture, and protect the interior of your furniture. Utilizing candles and laundry sprays can also make even the most dissonant room just a little more soothing by introducing lowkey smells and ambient lighting.
Cut Costs With Upcycling
Besides replacing decorations with new purchases, upcycling is also a popular way to cut back on costs. The idea is to reimagine whatever is already in the house. This can take any form, and often half the fun is planning and turning walls, old possessions, and furniture into a craft project. Try your hand at repainting, staining, upholstering, and other crafty techniques. For the experimental type, I recommend fun techniques like texture painting, murals, and weathering. These are a great challenge that turns redecorating into an affordable hobby.
