How can you create a beautiful home when money is tight? Designer furniture and high-end stores may not be in the budget, but fortunately there are many ways to create a home interior that is both welcoming and practical, without breaking the bank.
Redecorating Ideas for Every Budget
Whether a person has $50, $100, $500 or nothing at all, with the right attitude and ideas they can create a home that's an attractive and cozy retreat from the world-at-large. A new plant, a fresh coat of paint or an organizational overhaul are just a few ways to revamp a tired decor.
Redecorate Your Home with What You Already Own
The cheapest decorating trick is to work with what you have. Existing artwork, furniture and accessories can be moved from one room to another, or pulled from over-stuffed attics and garages, to add a fresh perspective to your space.
Nate Berkus provides examples of such thrifty decorating in his book Home Rules - Transform the Place You Live into a Place You'll Love. In it he explains how to display personal memorabilia – such as collecting beach sand in glass vases, or framing a feather – to add a personal touch to your home décor without spending a lot of money.
Slip covering existing furniture can update tired pieces for much less money than buying new and if you are handy with a sewing machine you can even make new cushions or reupholster a small chair from existing bed covers, table cloths or fabric remnants that inspire you.
Redecorate Your Space with Paint
Paint is by far one of the cheapest and most impactful decorating tricks of the trade. Nate Berkus explained on an April 2009 episode of Oprah that using rich colors make the most of a tight decorating budget.
Color inspiration can be found in artwork, accessories or even your wardrobe. If a person is hesitant to use strong colors, creating a feature wall is a great way to add color without the commitment; or a smart way to determine if the color works well in the space before painting the whole room.
Transforming a space with paint can apply to more than the walls. Painting old kitchen cabinets glossy white is a great way to update and refresh the space. Using a bright red or shocking teal paint on a small table or wooden chair is another easy way to add trendy impact without the designer price tag.
Organize and Declutter Your Home
Living with too much ‘stuff’ can be stressful. Piles of laundry and paperwork can ruin the look of the best decorated homes. Striving for a minimalist look can be equally frustrating as there may be no place for essential items and papers. It is important to find a balance; get rid of what is not needed, and find space for what stays.
When you tackle an organizing project, focus on one area at a time. Get rid of items you don't need and assess what is left. Make use of inexpensive baskets and hooks as well as semi-custom closet organizers found in home improvement stores, to create the right combination for your needs.
Reducing the visual clutter will refresh a room without costing a cent. Cleaning carpets and furniture can also revitalize a tired space. When work spaces, like kitchens and home offices, are well organized they make a home seem more spacious and comfortable.
Buy What You Really Need or Love
In Domino – the Book of Decorating, the editors of the popular decorating magazine of the same name offer valuable insights for creating a personal decorating style. Identifying a personal style can help homeowners analyze tempting purchases before they buy them and avoid spending money on items that won’t work in the space.
By consciously considering what style you want in your home and having a plan for organizing it, less money will be wasted on hasty, impulse purchases. Not only is decorating on a budget an economical choice – it also encompasses the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. That makes budget decorating just as good for the environment as it is for the pocketbook.
Read more about redecorating: 'Nate Berkus Redecorates on a Budget'
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