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Decorating Your Home on a Budget

When you’re trying to save money, it’s hard to justify decor purchases for your home. Here are some expert tips and photo inspiration that explores decorating on a budget. Give your space a fresh look without breaking the bank!

This article is written by Pamela Rineer
For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection

Shop your House – Home decorating on a budget

Many times when you think something new is needed, it’s easy to add it to a list of items to pick up on the next errand day. Instead, search your home and see if what you already have can be used in a new way. 

When a toilet brush holder broke, I was determined to fix the problem without spending any money. By shopping my home, I found what was needed in the kitchen. A pitcher, previously used as a vase, became a new toilet brush holder. It’s opaque, beautiful, and unexpected. It makes a statement while getting the job done, and it allowed me to decorate on my budget!

 

Painting on a Budget

Spray paint or sample paints are easily purchased at your home improvement store for very little and can totally transform an item. While renovating our bathroom I was on a strict budget. The outdated light and leaky faucet needed replaced but I knew I could save money if I painted our black hardware the same color of gold as the fixtures. For less than $5 (decorating on a budget), our towel holder and TP holder look brand new and match the updated space.

 

Finding/Creating Art on a Budget

When looking for a print to put in the bathroom, try something simple and free. Explore your backyard and clip a few different foliage to see what looks best. This fern was easy to place in the frame neatly, and it has great negative space. Use an old picture frame to complete the look – and enjoy the benefits and creativity of decorating on a budget!

 

Simply Tidying

The easiest way to make your home feel fresh on a budget is to keep it clean. Get in the habit of washing the dishes after they are used, vacuum greatest traffic areas daily, and tidy up at the end of the day. To save more, use cleaning products that can be found in your kitchen. Here is my favorite DIY cleaning recipe:

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

All purpose cleaner recipe image

All Purpose Cleaner

Pamela Rineer
here is my favorite DIY cleaning recipe
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment

  • Spray Bottle

Ingredients
  

  • White Vinegar & Water equal amounts of each
  • 1 tbsp Baking Soda
  • Essential Oils use a few drops - try lavender, lemon, or tea tree oil

Instructions
 

  • Add ingredients in spray bottle. Replace the spray nozzle and shake.

 

 

Updating Furniture on a Budget

An inherited bench that had seen better days was transformed by a can of paint and a yard of fabric purchased on sale.

 

Items Needed To Decorate Chair or Bench on a Budget:

  • Paint – we used semi gloss as this bench would be used in a high traffic area and needing to be scrubbed down occasionally. 
  • Paint brush
  • Sandpaper
  • Paint roller 
  • Staple gun and staples
  • Hammer
  • Pliers
  • Fabric

Painting Directions:

Step 1. Give your item a good cleaning.

Step 2. Sand your item so that the paint can adhere properly.

Step 3. After your furniture has been wiped down and free of dust, paint. There are a few options for painting. For this piece a brush provided two thin coats for a good base. Then two coats using a paint roller gave it a nice even coverage. Remember to gently sand between each coat. I used paint and primer in one but still did four total coats. If using a primer you may be able to use less coats. I didn’t have primer on hand and wanted to spend as little as possible for this makeover.  Spray paint or a paint sprayer are also options for nice finishes.

Step 4. Seal it to protect your finish and let it cure for a good 72 hours before handling your piece to prevent damage.

Reupholster Directions:

Step 1. Choose your fabric. I recommend choosing a good quality fabric with a pattern that won’t ‘wave’ when upholstering. A pattern with lines might be hard to keep aligned and appear to wave on your piece.

Step 2. Measure and cut your fabric ensuring that you have 2-3 inches of extra material to stretch the fabric around your batting and plywood base.

Step 3. Staple your fabric, ensure there are no gaps by working in small sections and gently pulling the fabric over the plywood to secure with the staple gun. Secure corners by folding and tucking corners for a smooth finish.

Step 4. Hammer in any loose staples.

After your painted piece of furniture has cured, replace your reupholstered section back onto the chair or bench. 

For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection

Featured Contributor: Pamela Rineer

Pamela Rineer lives in Lititz, PA with her husband, two boys, and very large goldendoodle. With a love of real estate, design, and money management she began renovating their homes on a budget. Now, settling into their fifth house, she shares simple DIY’s for all things home.