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Home Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Housing
Published: 4 years ago, Last Updated: 5 months ago
Daniel Brown
Writer: Daniel Brown

Is it time to spruce up your home? Are you looking for some modern ideas for decorating on a budget? Not everyone is looking to spend a significant amount of money on their decor. And if you are renting an apartment or are planning to move, it might not make sense to spend big.

Conversely, if you are looking to sell your home, then some cheap and modern home design ideas can be a great way to make your space look appealing to potential buyers. But you don’t have to splurge to upgrade your property; there are a number of innovative ways to accomplish your desired home-decorating project, that won’t break the bank. We explore some of these below.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind


One of the ways you can instantly elevate your space is to tidy it up. While this first step seems obvious enough, homes can easily get cluttered, which can make them feel “lived in.” While such an aesthetic may be appealing to some, it might not be the best approach if you are trying to sell your home.

When it comes to tidying up, we’re not just talking about cleaning: tidying is about getting rid of the clutter: the games that live on the TV stand, the books sprawled untidily on the shelves, or the kids’ toys that live wherever they were left last. It is important that homeowners give everything its own space and designated place to live. Doing so can drastically transform the look of your home.

A Lick of Paint

Paintwork in your home


Painting can be one of the most affordable ways you can improve your home design without spending lots of cash. It can be especially fun for those who are not afraid of a little DIY. Over the years, the paintwork in your home (or outside your home) can start to get a little bit tired looking; it may fade, get chipped or scratched, or just not look as fresh as it perhaps once did. You can think about the color scheme of your home, and decide what you might want to change about it.

Depending on the supplier, paint can be relatively inexpensive and is not typically difficult to purchase. A room can potentially be painted in a few days and can give a fresh, vibrant look to your home. Plus, painting might even be therapeutic to some.

Upcycling


Upcycling has become a popular trend in the last five to ten years, as people look to repurpose old furniture items that they own or items they have bought, second-hand. Individuals can consider finding items others have thrown away or donated, and fixing them up to use as statement pieces in their home. You can also choose to sell your own used items to make extra money.

There are almost no limits to what can be repurposed: from chairs to planters made out of old cigar boxes, to full feature walls made out of packaging pallets, it is amazing what can be done with a little time and effort. The bottom line is that if you have old and tired furniture within the house, you might want to think about how you can repurpose it for your home interior design, rather than get rid of it. This can be a great way to save some money, and if you are a crafty individual, then you may find the art of repurposing both easy and rewarding,

And if you are renting an apartment, you can take your upcycled furniture with you when you move.

Consider the Smaller Details


When you consider home improvements, it may be tempting to think of implementing extensive changes, drastic home design ideas, and home decor that revolutionizes the look of your home. But oftentimes, it may the smaller details that make all the difference.

Indeed, smaller details within the home can be easily forgotten about but may be all that you need to focus on, in order to improve your space. For example, do you have something in your home that you have been meaning to replace or repair for ages, but it never feels like the right time? These may include:

  • Faucets
  • Door handles that have gone rusty
  • Planters and overgrown areas in the yard
  • Chipped or broken cabinet doors
  • Stains on the furniture
  • Broken or outdated furniture
  • Cabinets that need to be replaced
  • Kitchen or bathroom areas where fittings need to be replaced or cleaned up

The above may require fixes that are relatively simple and affordable by home improvement standards.

Add Some Plant Life

Indoor plants for home decor


Adding greenery to space can be one of the cheapest, easiest, and most fulfilling ways to make your home look more appealing. While some homeowners and renters may assume that indoor plants are a lot of work, you can find options that do not need to be watered regularly and that require minimal upkeep.

Plants can make a home look more beautiful and classy, and can work with both retro and modern home design ideas. Studies have found that there are benefits of having plants within the home, such as their ability to boost moods.

In addition to this, it has been found that buyers and renters are more likely to fall in love with homes that have greenery in them. Thus, if your objective for decorating on a budget is to make your house more appealing to buyers, plants can be a good addition to your space.

Some great plants for home-use that typically require minimal hassle to look after, include:

  • Pothos
  • Spider Plant
  • Rubber Tree
  • Japanese Peace Lillies
  • Philodendron Green

There are numerous home plant options. Decorators can carry out research to find which houseplants they think will look best in their space.

Match…Or Mismatch

Home interior design

While it may seem like we are giving contradictory advice here, modern home design and decor can embrace either of these methods, as long as a home looks cohesive. Either choose furniture, linen, and colors that are mismatching for a shabby chic look, or for more modern home design, go for everything matching, or at least fitting within a similar color scheme.

Over time, homeowners and renters tend to accumulate a substantial amount of items that can end up looking mismatched, whether it was intended or not, i.e. bedding, towels, and even kitchen appliances and storage that do not look like they belong together. But if you embrace such mismatch, it has the potential to look good and intentional. It might even make sense to choose other furniture and design features to complement this style.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a slick and modern design, make sure everything in your home has a color scheme and fits within the intended look. You can also have zones and different rooms in your home that feature colors that work well together.

Make Use of Your Photographs


With new and innovative technology, more high-quality photos are being taken these days, whether it is on a smartphone or on another device. One way to make use of these images is to print them out and hang them up within the home. This can be a great way to spruce up space and see your loved ones every single day, and at little cost.

An average smartphone can typically produce images suitable to be put on canvas or printed in a large format. Plus, prints can also be ordered online. Further, framing can be done for little to no cost, and if you buy the same design of frame throughout your home, it can add a classy and consistent look to all of your pictures.

Summary


Home decor can be attainable without breaking the bank or sacrificing your budget. From upcycling to painting, home improvement projects do not have to be complicated to achieve the desired look.

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