Decorating your home doesn’t have to put a strain on your budget. Try these fun, creative ways to spruce up any room without breaking the bank.
1) Shop Smart
Someone else’s old decor could be the perfect new accent for your home. Shop thrift stores, garage sales, consignment shops and even the classifieds to find discounts on everything from furniture to table settings.
2) Minimize
Clutter makes your home look cramped and uncomfortable. Sort through your collection of knickknacks, setting aside the ones you like best. Rearrange these in a more open pattern and put the others away to switch out later.
3) Clean It Up
Take the time to uncover the beauty that’s already in your home by thoroughly cleaning each room. Vacuum and dust every surface and corner, wash the curtains and clean the windows. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.
4) Change the Paint
Painting takes a bit of time, but it’s a fairly inexpensive way to change the look of a room. Brighten up a dark bedroom with a combination of sunny pastels or give your living room a bold makeover with a deep shade and light trim.
5) Make New Curtains
Put your sewing machine back in action and make some curtains. This is not only a great way to refresh your sewing skills; it also improves the look of any room in your home. Choose coordinating or contrasting colors as the mood strikes you.
6) Use Your Photos
Take the collection of family photos that you’ve been meaning to organize into albums and make them part of your home decor. Pick up some inexpensive frames at a craft store and turn your favorite pictures into a unique piece of wall art.
7) Fill Some Jars
Grab some of the empty jars that have been cluttering your pantry shelves and fill them with buttons, seashells, sequins and crystals to create beautiful custom decorations.
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| Photo courtesy of flickr |
8) Add Books
A quick look around any book sale always turns up old-style hardback books. These make great decor items when arranged on bookshelves or the shelves beneath end tables. Choose different colors and heights to create one-of-a-kind displays worthy of a bibliophile.
9) Hang Plants
Bringing a bit of the outdoors to your decor adds a spark of life to the living room or den. Choose plants that will thrive year-round to ensure that you’ll always have a touch of green.
10) Make It Yours
Get in on the “upcycling” trend by taking a piece of furniture you already have and giving it a creative makeover. Try fresh paint, replace knobs and drawer pulls or glue on accessories such as seashells and stones for a unique finish.
About the Author
Allison Cooper is an editor and writer for the Beyond Stores blog. When not writing, scouring Pintrest for more DIY ideas, or planning her own home decorating projects – Allison loves relaxing with her family … while dreaming of more DIY projects to do with them.