If your surroundings are looking a bit lackluster, you might be getting the urge to redecorate. But sprucing up your living space can get expensive. However, plenty of time-tested tricks and strategies can help you achieve your dream home on a budget. From small changes that make a big impact to DIY projects you can do for next to nothing, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite budget-friendly decorating ideas for any room in the house. Here are 20 home decorating hacks that don’t cost much at all. Some of them are even free!
Keep It Simple – $0
Perhaps the biggest hack to decorating your home for cheap is to keep it simple. You don’t need to replace all the furniture in a room or repaint your entire house to decorate it. A few small changes or additions here and there can make a difference. Decorating your home can be as simple as adding a candle to light the room differently or hanging a plant from the ceiling.
Paint an Accent Wall – $20
Again, you don’t need to paint your entire house or even a whole room to change the look of it. Choose one wall as a focal point and paint it any color you like. You can even add texture to make it look luxurious. Go the extra mile and choose a different color for baseboards or moldings.
Paint An End Table – $10
If you’ve got paint left over from your accent wall, paint an end table for the opposite wall or an adjacent room. This will give new life to an old piece of furniture and create color flow. If you are going for a farmhouse aesthetic, scratch the edges or use dark brown paint and lightly run your brush along them for an antique look.
Use a Slipcover – $19
New furniture can certainly make for a beautiful living room, but a new sofa may not be an option when you’re on a budget. An excellent hack to make old furniture new again is with a slipcover. It’s a great low-cost way to completely change the color and feel of your sofa or loveseat. Choose a color to match your new accent wall or a print that makes it stand out.
Minimize Your Stuff – $0
Go ahead and get rid of anything you don’t use or like. Minimizing your stuff can open the room and give it a cleaner feel. And not only is it free, but you could also actually make money! Sell that old couch or coffee online or locally for some extra bucks, and you won’t even have to haul it away. There are lots of sites for selling your stuff online. So pare down, declutter, and boost your wallet at the same time.
Frame Your Art – $15
It’s no secret that wall art is a big part of any aesthetic, but there’s no reason to spend a fortune on it. Instead, frame your own art or your kid’s drawings for the price of some new frames. You can even get some old frames at a second-hand shop and paint them for a unique new look.
Hide the Cords – $0
Let’s face it, those black cables hanging down from your TV make the corner look awful. Hiding cords and cables can really clean up a room. Just hook them to the back of furniture, tape them to the wall, or hide them under a rug or curtain. Zip ties and duct tape can help too.
Hang Tapestries – $10
A great way to cover a bland wall and add a lot of character to your home is by hanging tapestries. There are thousands of designs to choose from, and many of them don’t cost much. Tapestries can take your decor to the next level, from dramatic patterns and brilliant hues to neutral wall hangings.
Rearrange Your Furniture – $0
You would be surprised at what a difference rearranging your furniture can make. Whether you move your dining room table closer to the window or swap the couch out with the TV, changing the perspective of a room is one of the best free hacks we could find.
Add an Area Rug – $20
Adding an area rug can add color and comfort to any room. It also gives you a new spot to sit or lay on. Even if you already have carpeting, adding an area rug can make your home look more cozy or elegant.
Add Three Candles – $12
Candles light a room in a way that no other light does. The soft, warm glow and dancing shadows create a serene and good-smelling environment. Set an odd number of them together (three is good enough) for a pleasing look.
Add a Table Cloth – $10
Your dining room table is the focal point of the room. Adding a tablecloth can spice it up. Choose a color that matches your kitchen for some color flow. Or you can go the extra mile and add placemats, a table runner, and accessories for a bougie home feel.
Change The Look of Your Bed – $25
You don’t have to buy a new bed set to change the way your bedroom looks. Just throw a new plush blanket on it. Remember that the color of your bed defines the room, so choose a hue that you love.
Change Your Shower Curtain – $6
Changing your shower curtain is exceptionally cheap and very easy. Your entire bathroom can look beautiful for as little as six dollars and five minutes of work. Throw in a matching rug and trashcan and refresh the look even more.
Get Some Plants – $10
There’s no better way to liven up the room than with live plants. Plants are pretty cheap. And you can even ask your friends and neighbors for some cuttings to get started. And forget about buying fancy plant pots. You can repurpose just about any container for a houseplant.
Install Removable Wallpaper – $10
Removable wallpaper is a great way to spruce up your walls if you are a renter or if you like to change your aesthetic often. For example, you could do a backsplash in the kitchen or an entire accent wall.
Stove Burner Covers – $5
Stove burners can get ugly. No matter how much you clean them, they can stay stained and burned. By throwing some burner covers on them, you can spruce up your kitchen and make it look cleaner. Choose a color that matches your new tablecloth for some color flow.
Add a Tall Mirror – $7
Adding a mirror to any room can make it look larger and add light. Simply stand a tall mirror in the corner for a sophisticated look. You could also hang mirrors or get mirror wall stickers for cheap.
Remove Cabinet Doors – $0
After you minimize your dishes, remove a cabinet door or two. Displaying your prettier pieces can change the look of your kitchen a lot. Plus, you never have to get upset again when your family or roommate leaves the cupboards open.
Dress Up Your Chairs – $0
Throw a colorful throw blanket or pillow on lounge chairs. It’s a great way to add color to a room and make boring chairs stand out.
Before we head out, here’s one last tip, and it’s a big one. When you are decorating, remember that you are doing this for yourself. It’s common to decorate with visitors in mind, but in reality, you are the one that sees your home every day. So decorate your space just the way you want to. That way, you can feel good being in it. We promise you will enjoy your bright new decor more than house guests ever will.
