How To Decorate Your Home On A Budget
Whether you’ve recently purchased a new house or you’re looking to refresh your current space, decorating your house doesn’t have to break the bank. Because your home is where you begin and end your days, it’s important to have an atmosphere that fits your lifestyle and offers you the right kind of comfort. With our 8 simple tips and tricks you can create a well-designed home that brings your home from average to stunning. Learn how to decorate your home on a budget, and how a small loan could help you get started sooner.
Overview:
- Home Design 101
- Gather inspiration
- Set a budget
- Buy second hand
- Borrow furniture from family and friends
- DIY
- Create open space
- Focus on what’s important to you
How to decorate your home on a budget in 8 steps
1. Home Design 101
Interior design can feel intimidating, especially when you’re looking at a blank canvas with no idea where to start. Obviously everyone’s home is unique, and your personal style will play a big part in how you want to design your home. But there are a few simple things you can implement and tricks you can follow to get started:
- Get some lighting: If your home is only lit by bright overhead lighting, bringing in some other sources of light can make a big impact. Table lamps, floor lamps, and pendants can all contribute to a warm, cosy feeling.
- Pick two base colours and one accent colour: Your base colours will work together to make your home feel cohesive, while an accent colour will be the spark that makes it feel truly decorated. A specific colour palette will also keep you from making impulsive purchases you might regret once you bring it home.
- Plants are your friend: It’s easy for homes to start feeling cold with so much metal, plaster, and concrete around. Plants help bring the natural world inside, as well as adding some texture. They’re also fairly cheap, especially if you take cuttings from your friend’s and family’s gardens.
- Mirrors: Mirrors are a cheap way to make your space feel bigger, as well as bounce lighting around the room. If you’ve got a bare patch of wall and no idea how to style it, consider adding a mirror!
- Add levels: Is all your furniture around the same height? Consider adding tall shelves, low coffee tables, or hanging art on the wall to add levels and make your home feel well decorated.
2. Gather inspiration
Saving money when it comes to decorating your home starts with having a plan, and the first step is getting an idea of things you like, and things you don’t like. Pinterest and Google can be your friends here as you put together a mood board of spaces you enjoy. Think about what you like most about them. Is it the way they’ve arranged their furniture? The colour scheme? The art on the walls?
Try not to get hung up on specific items you see in your inspiration pics, since they might cost a lot more than you’re wanting to spend. You don’t need exact replicas to make your space feel like. Think about what it is you’re drawn to, and try to recreate that feeling. Maybe it’s the natural tone of wood, or a texture you can add in with pillows and throw blankets.
3. Set a budget
Now comes the hard part: setting your budget. Think about how much you want to spend decorating your home. And you don’t have to decorate your entire house all at once. Taking it room by room can help spread the cost over months or years as you settle into your new home.
Setting a budget will help you think about everything you purchase. Rather than buying the first thing you see, you might shop around more and find a deal, or something similar for a lower price.
And remember, setting a budget only works if you stick to it. Check back in regularly throughout the process to make sure you’re staying on track.
4. Buy second hand furniture
Ever set foot in a secondhand store or used furniture shop? These places often maintain an inventory of beautiful, unique pieces to match a variety of colour schemes and styles. Couches, tables, chairs, shelving and other units are generally well-maintained or even look brand new. What a perfect way to style your home on a budget!
If you don’t live near any local second hand shops, consider garage sales, estate sales, and websites like Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace to find exceptional used furniture pieces for low prices. Though it may require a bit of extra time to find a high-quality piece, it pays off in the long run. Remember you can always haggle or bargain for a lower price than what’s originally listed online.
So rather than dropping a whole paycheck or online loan on a new couch, you can find one for a fraction of the cost through a secondhand option. As a bonus, many used items have more personality and flair than the furniture found in big box stores.
5. Borrow furniture from family and friends
Phone up grandma, your aunt, cousin, or friend to see if they have any furniture pieces sitting in storage. Many people own furniture they aren’t using and are happy to lend it to someone who can put it to good use.
What are the best pieces for lending? Anything from bookshelves to bed frames to dressers and coffee tables. Chances are the style will be neutral enough to match your home and other decor.
. DIY
Home styling on a budget might take a little creativity, and a little elbow grease, but tackling some tasks yourself can save you plenty! It’s incredible what a fresh coat of paint can do to a room, or how a little wood stain can make cheap secondhand furniture look brand new. One little DIY can transform an entire room without the need for an expensive renovation or an entire makeover.
For example, to brighten your living room, paint one wall with a vibrant colour and leave the remaining walls white. This adds plenty of dimension with minimal cost and effort.
You could also use:
- Washi tape (to create a striped or diagonal wall design)
- Potted plants or flowers
- Mirrors (to add depth and the feel of a larger space)
- Paint and stencils
- Printed photographs (framed and unframed)
- Shelves and ledges
7. Create open space
A well-designed home isn’t one with furniture and decor filling every inch.
Open space and simple decorations often make for a bright and energetic atmosphere. Use a clean layout to create a home that’s practical, stylish, and comfortable.
The best way to achieve this? We recommend limiting the number of furniture pieces and decorations in each room and purchasing only the ones you really love. Not only will this open up your space, but you will also save money.
8. Focus on what’s important to you
Do you feel more energised by statement wall art? Or would you rather have patio furniture to host friends on long summer days? Home styling on a budget doesn’t mean compromising what’s important.
Instead of buying and accumulating items that seem necessary, be selective. Choose the pieces for your home that offer you value and make you most happy. And like we said earlier, you don’t have to decorate the whole house at once. Start with your favourite space, or the one you think you’ll spend the most time in, and keep working your way through the house room by room.
Start decorating your dream home today with Swoosh!
Now that you know how to decorate your house on a budget, it’s the perfect time to get started! Whether you’re looking to spend a few hundred or a few thousand, there are plenty of home decorating ideas to fit within your budget. If you need some cash to kickstart your home styling projects, you can even consider a personal loan with Swoosh. We offer loans for the exact amount you need in order to live the life you want! Complete your loan application online today.
How to decorate your home on a budget: FAQs
How do I decorate my home for free?
If you’re looking to spend minimal money or no money at all, there are plenty of creative ways you can decorate your home for free. Some great ideas include:
- Hunting for free furniture on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace
- Rearranging your furniture
- Borrowing furniture off family and friends
- Upcycling old furniture
- Making your own DIY decor and furniture
How do I make my home cosy on a budget?
Everyone loves cosy and warm spaces. If you’re looking to transform your space to feel more comfortable, there are plenty of cheap and easy cosy home decor ideas to get you started:
- Add pillows and blankets
- Get a soft rug
- Add candles
- Hang up warm-toned wall art
- Add plants
What are the three basics of decorating?
When it comes to decorating your home, there are three basic interior design rules that you should always follow:
- Function: Aesthetics shouldn’t be the only focus when decorating your rooms, you need to make sure they are both functional and beautiful. You can do this by including all the furniture you need and using artwork and unique furniture as a focal point.
- Personality: To make the room feel more cosy and comfortable, decorate it with things that relate to your personality. For example, you can use unique vases, family photos, rugs and tables that are fitting to your space.
- Mood: You will know once you’ve designed the perfect space it will evoke a certain kind of mood. The best way to achieve this is by adding different textures and designs to your room such as different colours and unique furniture. The best way to do this is by gathering room inspiration that can be easily replicated in your space.
