Budget Decorating

You can decorate your home without it costing a fortune. With an open mind and a little creative thinking, you’ll be surprised at the dramatic difference you can make in the look and feel of your home. Follow these simple and budget-friendly tips—your friends will be sure you’ve got an interior designer on speed dial.

Revamp Boring Walls with Decals

Are you looking for a creative way to revamp your walls but don’t have the time or money to wallpaper or paint? Removable peel-and-stick wall decals are just the answer for a unique and artistic wall makeover. Go from drab to fab in minutes flat! With this foolproof decorating solution, you can bring a splash of color and high design to your boring white walls. So unleash your inner decorator! Wall decals are available in a variety of styles, colors and sizes so you can let loose your own personal style in any room of the house.

Unearth Those Thrift Store Treasures
You can reinvent your style rather inexpensively by shopping for furniture at thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales. Whether you’re hunting for that mid-century modern piece or something more rustic-chic, there are always treasures to uncover, often for a steal. If the piece you find isn’t just right, don’t worry. You can transform your thrift-store treasure into a work of art simply with a good sanding, a coat of paint or even some new upholstery. Plus, you can feel good about your purchase. After all, “going vintage” is “going green.”

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
You can add dramatic flair to any room in your house with a perfectly positioned mirror. Adding a mirror to a small space can make it seem significantly larger, and mirrors can really intensify the light in a dim or shadowy room. A mirror can be helpful in creating an artistic focal point for any room. Try leaning a tall mirror against a wall and see what happens. A mirror can be an inexpensive investment that is smart and stylish, and is sure to have a bold, eye-catching effect in your home. Look for these fabulous accessories in places like discount stores, yard sales and on eBay.

Let the Light Shine
With good lighting that is strategically placed, you can completely transform the look of a room and considerably improve your mood. There’s no need to settle for harsh overhead lighting. Instead choose from a variety of more illuminating options, such as an attractive floor lamp with an ambient glow. Finding the right lighting doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Check out discount stores and secondhand shops to find the perfect shape and style to fit your décor. Use this simple yet powerful decorating solution to transform any room into an artistic showpiece. Then you can happily bask in the warm glow of home-decorating success.

Use Nature to Spruce Up Your Home
Why not decorate with plants? This is an affordable way to wake up any space by bringing the simple beauty of nature into your home. By coordinating your plants with your décor, you can create a harmonious and Zen-like atmosphere in your home. If you’re going for a more modern appeal, choose contemporary-looking plants with long, sleek lines. With the wide variety of planters available today in stylish shapes and colors, there’s no need to sacrifice function for style. Breathe new life into that old teapot or decorative bowl. Use it for a planter and put your own personal touch on display.

Get Creative with FabricFabric can provide an instant update to any home. Try changing the fabric on key decorative pieces, such as a chair or sofa, or add new patterned throw pillows and curtains to the room for a distinctive effect. You can experiment with fun new patterns and textures for very little money, waking up your space and giving your home a finished feel. For you craftsters looking to try your hand at DIY projects, such as making your own bed skirt or headboard, check out the discount table at your local fabric store or dig up some decorative quilts or bed sheets for inexpensive sources of fabric.

Develop into Your Own CuratorBy becoming your own curator, you ensure that fine art doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Do you have one of those vintage magazines with stunning black-and-white photos lying around? What about a beautifully illustrated book of botanical prints? Grab a sharp razor blade. Now you’re ready to transform these unconventional images into fine art for very little money. Choose photos from the same source or with the same size and theme, and group them together on the same wall for a symmetrical, uniform look. As a finishing touch, complement your creations with attractive frames.

Strike Up Some Style
Candles are not only inexpensive, but they add style, charm and warmth to your home. Try placing a candle in a decorative beaded holder for a more glamorous look. Or if you’re looking for a more illuminating effect, arrange several tea lights on a mirror. For a more natural, organic look, try arranging branches or greens around the candleholder. Candles that both meet your budget and suit your style can be found just about anywhere. Fabulous deals can be easily found at your local dollar store or neighborhood drugstore.

Redecorate Your Bedroom on a Budget

Making a change to your bedroom doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. A little creative thinking and planning can make a difference whether your working on a full project or just making a couple of changes.

Here's how to get started:

Pillows, pillows, pillows. Get a few of them, the $10 kind, in whole new color palette. You can easily make a beautiful monochromatic look simply by using pillows of the same color but mixing up several textures like chenille or elegant raw silk. You can get a romantic feel by creating a layer of pillows with larger pillows in the back and smaller ones in the front.

Want to make a big impact? Then a fresh coat of paint is one the most inexpensive way to go. Don’t forget, you can easily break down process by paint only one wall and focusing on a single area in your bedroom. Want to create some texture with your older more detailed closet doors? Then paint the closet’s frame in a neutral color and the inset in a dark one. Giving a room a new life can be as simple as painting the furniture. Experiment by giving an old mule chest dressers a faux antique finish or sponge paint the bland looking armoire.

A new headboard can be rather expensive. Try something new and creative like getting an inexpensive wrought iron or picket fence at a flea market. Bed skirts are a great way to make your bed look soft and sophisticated. They’re available in several color, textures and patterns. By using a soft and neutral color you can get the most in both beauty and versatility. You do not want it to be the center of attention, but you do want it to accent your bed.

Window treatments are easier than people think. Depending on the material used, swag curtains can be inexpensive and not too dramatic. It’s an easy way to add a touch of femininity. You can do this by simply placing plant or bicycle hooks in the ceiling. Or opt for just a blind and an inexpensive garland or floral accent at the top of the window. We also adore the simple look of pre-made drapes and a basic rod with funky finials. For a large selection of all these items you can try out Target, Walmart, Pottery Barn or Kmart.

Do you have a four-poster or canopy bed that needs a little life? Adorn the poles with fabric to achieve that "pond" affect, where the fabric appears to create a "pond" at the base. Getting this effect is easy, all you need is to add about an extra 20 inches before it’s cut. Candles are a perfect decorative item that many people tend to forget. If you want a little sophistication and romance use white ones, but if you want to pull focus to dresser or night stand consider a group of colored candles. Group candles in odd numbers -- even amounts tend to be boring. Try gathering an alter of different candle heights and place them on a wall or bookshelf.

Hanging framed artwork and posters or mirrors is inexpensive and can go a long way in changing the look of room, but make sure it doesn’t clash with your current décor. Keep it simple with a neutral colored frame - black, gold, brown or white. Add shelves for another quick decorating spruce-up. Collections are perfect for displaying on a wall shelf, but try to stay away from small items. Placing a lot of tiny accessories will leave the shelf looking cramped and cluttered. Want to try something simple yet elegant? Fresh flowers in glass bottles offer a minimalist touch. Or prop up your framed pictures or paintings on the shelves.