Decorating on a budget
Moving into a new home is like walking into a blank canvas. It’s incredibly exciting, but it can also be overwhleming. Buying a new house comes with costs, from the down payment to the lender fees, realtor fees, and the cost of moving. By the time you are ready to move in, you might not have much left for decorating.
But furnishing a new home doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. There are plenty of ways to spruce up your new digs if you’re willing to be patient, search the right places, and put in a little elbow grease.
LiveLoveDIY has some great tips in their article 50 budget decorating tips you should know. A few things you could consider:
- Making your own art – it’s a great way to save, plus it’s fun!
- Go vintage – Search your local thrift stores and flea markets for pieces with character. And don’t be afraid to get creative, Virginia from LiveLoveDIY repurposed a vintage champagne bucket to make a fabulously chic vase.
- Paint goes a long way – Sometimes replacing big ticket items isn’t an option. For expensive projects, like kitchen cabinets for example, a coat of paint can go a long way. Try a few colors out before you paint everything, and if you still aren’t thrilled, you can always save up and replace them later.
But remember, decorating on a budget isn’t always about taking the cheap way out. It’s about spending your money in the right places. From Rita Konig:
“When you have a budget, it’s easy to buy things for the price, rather than buy good things. But if you buy good things, they will always be with you. If you buy the bad couch, for instance, you will always want to replace it as soon as you can.”
Sometimes it’s worth it to buy quality items if you think they’ll be with you for the long haul. This is especially true for large, everyday items like couches or dining room sets. That $2,000 leopard chase lounge that would look oh so good in your entry way? Not so much.
Read more advice from Rita and other professional interior decorators at Apartment Therapy.