Are you looking for ways to achieve a unique style in your home without spending a fortune? Over the years, my love of home decor and my personal cottage style have evolved, but my desire to decorate on a budget hasn’t.
Anything I’ve done to improve my home has always been done with very limited funds, and as a result, I’ve become more patient in my purchases and more creative in my repurposing.
Here are the best ways I’ve learned to decorate on a budget, whether it’s buying secondhand or (occasionally) new.
Buy your house. Is it possible that you already have something that works for the space you’re decorating? Walk not only through your rooms, but also through your attic, basement, and garage. Maybe there is something you already have that you have forgotten! For example, I recently needed a piece of furniture to use as a printer stand in my office. Due to limited space, it had to be a certain size and have an open area below for another item of a certain size. It turned out that a piece I was using in the kitchen fit the bill perfectly!
Buy the house of a friend or family member. Someone you know might have just the item you’re looking for, so ask! Maybe you can acquire it for a great price, or even trade/trade it for something of your own.
Second hand store. Thrift stores, yard sales, online marketplaces, and other thrift places are great places to find gently used furniture and other decor items. I’ve even found some pretty amazing items on the sidewalk – I’m always amazed at what other people throw away, and I’m not ashamed to put things in my trunk if I think I can use them!
Re-use. Look at an item you have (or are considering buying) and determine if it can be reused or recycled to solve a new problem. Can you turn that low wooden coffee table into an activity table for the kids’ playroom? Turn a pretty flat sheet into cafe shades for the kitchen? Make an entrance tree with an old door?
Do your thing. Recently, in an online decorating group, someone asked for help locating a sign for their kitchen that read “Pantry.” She told the group that she had already looked at two of the popular big box stores and couldn’t find any. My thought was, why not just make one? A handmade sign would be simple to make and would have much more character and personality than something mass produced. On a larger scale, I had wanted a primitive style cabin for a long time, but never had any luck finding one at a price I was willing to pay. I mentioned this to a friend one day and he offered to build one, which he did, in exchange for a home-cooked dinner.
Shop for deals, coupons and deals when you buy something new. With every outlet advertising massive sales on a regular basis, there’s simply no reason to pay full price. Shopping late in the season, or right after the season for things like Christmas decorations, is also a great strategy when shopping for new items. Bonus tip: check to see if your favorite store has an app for your smartphone; there will likely be recurring coupons built into the app, such as 40 percent off a regular-priced item. Forty percent is almost always enough to get you in the door!
There are so many ways to decorate on a budget. My style is all about time-worn, well-loved vintage items with character and history, and that means I very rarely buy new. It also means that I almost always pay very affordable prices!