Here we will go over ways to decorate your home to your satisfaction, without spending a fortune.
As a former interior decorator, I have a mental filing cabinet overflowing with affordable decorating tips. As a matter of fact, I have used these tips to transform entire homes with budgets as low as $300.
Keep reading to learn the most cost-effective ways to find new decor and bring old items back to life.
Tips for Getting the Most out of your Purchases
There are ways you can ensure that old purchases are used to their full potential and new purchases are bought at the lowest price.
Oops paints
Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes, and other paint stores, have “oops paint.” Oops paint is paint that a customer had mixed, took home, didn’t like, and returned to the store.
Oops paint can be found in any color or size, and a full gallon generally costs around $4 or $5.
Less is more
You can spend your budget sparingly by choosing a theme for each room and adding multiple accent pieces that will stand out. By doing so, you can change the entire look of your home with fewer- nicer items.
Additionally, having less decor cluttering the home can bring feelings of peace and decrease sensory overload.
Refinish old items
If you have old items that are out of style or don’t go with the vision you have for a room, you can make them work by refinishing them.
You can throw a few coats of paint on almost anything to completely change the way it looks. Some items that are commonly refinished are dressers, picture frames, bedroom sets, dining room sets, desks, or tv stands, and even the fabric on upholstered furniture can be painted.
Coupons and Sales
Using coupons or waiting for items to go on sale is a great way to get your hands on high-quality items without using too much of your budget.
Consider which stores are your favorites and sign up on their website; most stores will send welcome coupons, monthly coupons, and other member discounts.
Head over to Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, or other department stores and search through the clearance sections. If you find an item that’s not within your budget, you can ask an employee for the date it will be going on sale.
Where to buy cheap or discounted decor
Finding affordable items is essential when making the most of your budget.
Dollar Tree
Shopping at the dollar store is a cost-effective way to pick up tons of home decor items and supplies.
Dollar Tree has everything from groceries to phone chargers, and it’s all just $1.00 or $1.25 each, depending on where you live.
Dollar Tree DIY is a popular topic on Pinterest, and when browsing the site, you see items like vases being turned into cake stands and baskets being turned into chandeliers.
Some items you will find there are:
- Art supplies
- Vases
- Dinnerware
- Fake plants
- Mirrors
- Fabric table cloths
- Candles
- Pictures and decals
- Lanterns and lights
Second-hand stores
There are tons of second-hand stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill filled with hundreds of home decor items that cost anywhere from pennies to a few dollars.
At a second-hand store, you can find items like:
- Blankets and throw pillows
- Paintings
- Clocks
- Fake plants
- Jewelry boxes
- Dishes and glassware
- Furniture
- Lamps
- Wicker baskets
You never know what you’re going to find at a thrift store; many people come across valuable antiques and items that are still new with tags.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity has over 1,000 locations with new and used furniture and appliances. These items are donated by people that are moving, remodeling, or even demolishing their homes and no longer need the furniture.
At Habitat for Humanity, you can find massive discounts on:
- Bedroom sets
- Dining room sets
- Couches and Chairs
- Cabinets
- Fridges and stoves
- Washers and dryers
- Dishwashers and sinks
- Armoires and desks
- Rugs
- Wallpaper and paint
- Tools and hardware
Online marketplaces for free items
If you head over to Craigslist or Facebook, you can find many free items. All you have to do is go to the free section, choose some items, contact the seller and pick them up.
The most common free items on Craigslist and Facebook are:
- Pianos
- Tables
- Couches and chairs
- Cabinets
- Mirrors
- Dishes
- Dressers
- Plants
Online marketplaces also have cheap items that are new and used. Check out Poshmark, Chairish, eBay, and Letgo to either schedule a pick-up or have them shipped.
Now that you have these tips, you can decorate your home without going over budget or sacrificing the vision you have for your home.
