Decorating a new place or redecorating a place you’ve lived in for a while can be fun and exciting. It’s nice to have a change and it’s always great to get a few new things to add to your repertoire. Decorating, however, can also be very expensive, which can make it stressful. What if you want to spruce up your place but you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg? Are you out of luck? Of course not! Here are some great tips about how to save money when decorating.
Look at what you already have
Before you start getting rid of all your old stuff to make way for the new, take a close look around at what you already have. Is there anything that can be repurposed, repainted, moved or spruced up and brought back to life? Decorating a home doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch and buying everything new, so take stock of what you already have and you’ll be sure to find some unexpected treasures hidden right before your eyes.
Repaint
Sometimes, giving a room a fresh coat of paint is a great way to make you feel like you’re in a completely new place. If your wall is a neutral tone, go for something brighter. If you have solid colored walls, try a pattern. Sometimes just changing up the walls will make you feel like you’ve fully redecorated. Best of all, you won’t have to buy a thing other than a bucket of paint.
Rearrange and accessorize
Just like we mentioned above, little changes can make a big difference. Instead of spending a ton of money to buy new stuff for your home, try rearranging or adding a few new accessories instead. You’ll spend almost nothing and it will still likely make you feel like your home got a makeover.
Get accent pieces and artwork
Accent pieces are great because they can spruce up and add a whole new look to a room. You can also move them around from room to room in your house to change things up a bit. The best part is that these accents don’t have to be expensive. You can also try adding some new artwork to change the look and feel of your place. Check out Etsy for very unique art at great prices, or you can even try making some masterpieces yourself.
Be thrifty
When it comes to decorating your home, be as thrifty as possible. Start hitting up garage sales, thrift stores, vintage shops, and Craigslist. These places are your new best friends! You can even ask your parents or siblings if they have anything in their own homes that they’re looking to get rid of. Never say no to a hand-me-down! Not only will you save a lot of money by being a little thrifty, you’ll also end up with some interesting stories from your new stuff, rather than the same old stuff that everyone else has from this season’s Crate & Barrel catalog.
Buy multifunctional furniture
The best type of furniture is the kind that can function as many different things. Take an ottoman, for example. Not only is it a foot rest, it can also act as a table, extra seating room, and in some cases (if your ottoman has a removable top), extra storage. When you only have to buy one piece of furniture instead of 3-4, you’ll save a lot of money.
Prolong the life of your furniture and carpet
One of the best ways to save money on decorating is to take care of the items that you already have so you don’t have to replace them for a long time. Flip your cushions on a regular basis and use leather cleaner on your couches. Use carpet protectors and have your carpet professionally cleaned once in a while. Taking care of your things in the short term will ensure that you get to enjoy them and not have to spend money on new ones for a long time.