You want your home to look nice. After all, it’s your home. But, you don’t have an unlimited budget for artwork, furniture and custom decor. You’ve got limits. How can you make your home look stylish while maintaining a budget?
#1: Shop at Yard Sales. Yard sales offer some seriously reduced items that are perfect to decorate your home. Take your local newspaper, look for neighborhood signs or scour Craigslist postings to find the best Saturday morning yard sales in your area. Its fun and you save money!
#2: Declutter. Get your home organized. Clear out the clutter and donate it to thrift stores. De-cluttering your home is the first step in making your space look nice, despite your tight budget.
#3: Do-It-Yourself. DIY projects are extremely popular and span the gamut from creating your own wall art to building your own benches or furniture. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that will teach you great DIY projects you can easily do at home. Pick out a project you would like to see in your home, gather your supplies, and get to work.
#4: Add Color. Buy accent pillows for your sofa. This is a subtle, small improvement that can change the whole feel of your living room. The improvement will stretch even further if you add a “pop” of color — try red, green, or purple-colored pillows. This will spice up your home without forcing you to spend tons of money on a makeover.
#5: Use Accents. Focus on your other home accents, such as lamps, chairs and light fixtures. You can paint a thrift store chair, re-upholster an old sofa, or string Christmas lights to an empty jar to create a really cool desk lamp.
#6: Scour Craigslist. Craigslist can help you score some serious deals if you look hard enough (and if you act quickly!). Try to buy big items like couches, chairs, and ottomans from these listings.
#7: Go to Estate Sales. Estate sales create a fantastic opportunity to score major deals on high-end furniture and decorative items. Oftentimes, a family will sell an entire living room, dining room or family room “set” at an estate sale, so you may be able to decorate an entire room at a steep discount if you buy from an estate sale.
#8: Shop at Flea Markets. If you like the “vintage” look, head to your local flea market. Deals are everywhere, so keep your eyes open, but shop with a list. Otherwise, you might spend too much money on cheap “impulse” buys.
Kennedi writes about frugal fashion, fitness and food.