If you’re like me, you love looking at the latest home décor magazines, shop displays and Pinterest uploads and imagining how great some of these concepts and items would look at home – until you see the price! Luckily, there are ways to decorate your home even on a small budget. It’s more about changing your mindset and developing a good strategy before you start buying. You’ll be amazed at just how much you can save – and how great your home can look – without breaking the bank.
Change the Way That You Approach Home Decorating
It’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends and the desire to update your home, but that’s a pretty expensive route to go. It also means that when the new trends come around, your space might start looking dated. Instead of focusing on what’s new, savvy home decorators start by looking at what they already love about their home’s current décor.
Start by shopping your home with a minimalist approach. This means taking a look at your space and picking out the things you love the most. Then, empty the space you want to decorate and start adding in these favorite items, placing them exactly where you think they are best suited. This is a fantastic way to highlight your treasures, and excess goods can be sold off to help add to your budget for new pieces. Sometimes, getting rid of clutter and unattractive items that you’ve been hanging on to can make a significant and immediate difference to your room!
Another good idea is to start by shopping for quality statement pieces rather than lots of smaller, cheaper items. This is the best way to get a good focal point for your room, as your eye gets immediately caught by these items rather than diluted by a clutter of little objects. It’s better to spend more of your budget on a great piece that you love that will last you many years rather than trend items that will wear badly and need replacing next season.
Don’t Be Afraid to Become a Bargain Hunter!
We live in an age of consumerism and that means that everyone is constantly buying and throwing out huge volumes of home goods. Rather than going to the mall and buying new, you can go a little Green by becoming a bargain hunter. Estate sales, charity shops, vintage shops and thrift stores as well as Facebook marketplace are all fantastic resources for finding quality décor items at a fraction of the price. You won’t just be impressed by the cost either – often, older pieces of furniture are of much higher quality workmanship than new, store-bought items.
It also means that your décor options aren’t limited to what’s in fashion this season. You can hunt down items that give your space a unique character and charm, from art deco lamps and genuine paintings to classic movie posters, antique furniture and much more. It’s also a great opportunity for anyone who likes a little DIY, as many pieces of thrift store or secondhand furniture can be brought to life with a bit of sanding and a new coat of paint.
Consider Your Space as Well as What’s in it
When we think a room is looking a little tired or boring, it’s natural to think about the furniture, art and other items inside it before we think of the room itself. Simple touches can transform a space without costing a lot, including:
- Painting an accent wall – This can take as little as a gallon of paint, making it a very affordable way to add a pop of color, create a focal point, and freshen up your space.
- Crown molding – It’s beautiful, classy, elegant and it’s surprisingly affordable. Made of compressed polystyrene, these strips of molding can be fitted to almost any room in your home, quickly and with minimal mess. They’ll need a coat of paint as well, but the end result is worth it!
- Wall trim – Another classic, wall trim is affordable, easily available and can be designed to create plenty of visual interest. It requires minimal installation and can even be a DIY job as long as you have a great eye for levels. Once installed, you can paint the trim an eye-catching color or use it to divide a space horizontally (for example, painting a dramatic color below the molding) or to frame a focal point (for example, book shelves).
- A new light – Lighting has a big impact on a space, from how it looks to how we use it. Swapping out an old or unattractive light with a pretty or arty hanging pendant makes for a bold focal point in a dining or entertainment space. It’s also a great way to get your décor to tie together properly, for example, adding a Moroccan-style light fitting to highlight your Boho design, or an art deco lamp to add that elegant 1920s flavor.
Decorating your home on a budget can be a challenge but I firmly believe that having to be a little more creative and different actually leads to far more beautiful results – and the personal effort creates a real sense of pride! I hope these tips help you on your journey to transform your home.
The Shiny Key Properties team is a leading property agency in the Dallas and Fort Worth Area. If you’re interested in selling your home quickly, contact us today for a no obligation cash offer for your property.