Decorating on a Budget

Don’t spend a fortune decorating your home. Open your mind and get your creative juices flowing. You’ll be surprised at the dramatic difference you can make in the look and feel of your home. Impress your friends with these simple and inexpensive tips - they’ll be sure to think you’ve got an interior designer on speed dial.

Discover Thrift Store Treasures
Shop for "new" furniture at thrift stores, flea markets and garages sales, and reinvent your style with little cost. There are always treasures to be found, often at a steal, whether you’re looking for mid-century modern or rustic-chic. It’s okay if the piece you find isn’t perfect. Any thrift-store treasure can be easily transformed with just a good sanding, a coat of paint or even new upholstery. As a bonus, when you go vintage, you go "green," so you can feel good about your purchase.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
By positioning a mirror just right, you can add dramatic flair to any room. The right mirror can take a small space and magnify it considerably, while strengthening the light in a shadowy room. You might try leaning a tall mirror against one of your walls. This will create an artistic focal point for the room. Not only are mirror smart, stylish and inexpensive, they are sure to have a bold, eye-catching effect in your home. Watch for them in discount stores, yard sales or on eBay.

Use Decals to Dress Up Those Walls
Don’t have the time or money to wallpaper or paint a room? Those removable peel-and-stick wall decals are the perfect answer, providing a unique and creative way to dress up your walls. With this foolproof decorating solution you can bring a splash of color and high design to any boring white wall, going from drab to fab in minutes flat. With the variety of styles, color and sizes available, wall decals will allow you to let that inner designer loose, unleashing your own personal style in any room of the house.

Display Nature in Your Home
Consider decorating with plants, bringing the simple beauty of nature into your home. This is an affordable way to wake up any space. Coordinate your plants with your décor to create an atmosphere in your home that is harmonious and Zen-like. For a more contemporary look, select plants with long, sleek lines for that modern appeal. Thanks to the variety of stylish planters available today in all sorts of shapes and colors, there’s no need to sacrifice function for style. You can even find ways to put your own personal touch on display. Breathe new life into an old teapot or decorative bowl by using it for a planter.

Let the Light Shine
It’s amazing how much strategically placed good lighting can completely alter the look of a room and considerably improve your mood. Don’t settle for that harsh overhead lighting. Choose more illuminating options, like attractive floor lamps with an ambient glow. Finding the right lighting at the right price is easy. The perfect shape and style to fit your décor is readily available at your local discount stores and secondhand shops. Transform any room in your home with this simple yet powerful decorating solution. Then you can sit back and bask in the warm glow of home-decorating success.

Have Some Fun with Fabric
With a little fabric you can update your home instantly. Try changing the fabric on key decorative pieces such as a sofa or chair, or incorporate new patterned throw pillows and curtains into the room for a unique effect. You’ll be surprised how inexpensive it is to experiment with fun patterns and textures that will wake up your space and give it a finished feel. For all you craftsters looking to try your hand at DIY projects, such as making a bed skirt or headboard, it’s easy to find inexpensive fabrics. Try out the discount table at a fabric store, or use decorative quilts or bed sheets.

Emerge as Your Own Curator
When you become your own curator, fine art doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Put your hands on one of those vintage magazines with gorgeous black-and-white photos or brilliantly illustrated book of botanical prints. All you need is a sharp razor blade, and with some careful planning, you can easily transform these unconventional images into some inexpensive fine art. Photos from the same collection or that are the same size and theme can be grouped together on one wall to create a symmetrical, uniform look. For the perfect finishing touch, find attractive frames that complement your creations.

Strike Up Some Style
Use candles to add style, charm and warmth to your home for very little money. A more glamorous look can be achieved by placing a candle in a decorative beaded holder, or arrange several tea lights on a mirror to create a more illuminating effect. Arrange branches or greens around the candle holder for a more natural, organic look. Budget-friendly candles that suit your particular style can be found just about anywhere. Look in your local dollar store or neighborhood store for fabulous deals.

Oak Furniture
Once you're ready to take your decorating efforts to the next level consider American made solid oak furniture.