Decorating on a Budget
When you move into a new home, especially your first home, getting the place decorated and feeling like your home is usually the first thing on your mind. However, after just making your first major investment, sometimes there isn’t as much money left over as you would like to go on a shopping spree for all new decor. Here at Community Lending of America, we want to help you get into your home and enjoy it. We came up with a list of ways you can make your first home look like Joanna Gaines decorated it herself, without breaking the bank!
Know Where to Shop
While our tastes might scream Pottery Barn, sometimes our wallet does not. Thrift stores, garage sales, and even Facebook Marketplace can have some really great finds for a fraction of the retail store price.
Craft stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc, are great places to find decorations for your home. Not only do they have a surprising amount of in style items, but every major craft store usually has a 40% or 50% off coupon available to use anytime on any item!
Another affordable store to check out is any kind of Dollar Tree, Dollar General, etc. They have many items available to help with any kind of DIY project along with small pieces that could add the perfect touch to your new home.
Last but not least, a great place to find items to decorate your home is your own backyard! Blooming branches, green leaves, moss-covered stones, can all add unique character to your space, making it your own.
“Zero Dollar” Decorating Hacks
In addition to finding great deals by shopping at your local thrift store, coupon clipping, and exploring the outdoors, there are certain ways you can decorate your first home for free, or very close to that!
A fresh coat of paint can transform any piece of furniture. We’ve included some before and after pictures of some of our favorite furniture makeovers. Don’t give up on a piece because it’s chipping or unstable. Secure it by tightening screws, adding nails, sanding it down and painting it. People will think you bought an entirely new piece.
This next tip is one of our personal favorites! It frees up space and creates new wall art for the room of your choosing. Do you have piles of your kid’s art in boxes or old trinkets from your childhood that holds sweet memories? Hang them on the wall and put a frame around them to make a masterpiece on display. With certain pieces, this will add unique dimension and with all of them you can proudly say that no one else has that artwork in their home.
Shop Your Home
We already mentioned exploring your backyard for repurposed artwork and decor but there are some other ways you can “shop your home” and give purpose to old pieces. Old baskets and crates can make great shelves and while, from a practical point of view, they also provide organization, and can create a unique way to display your favorite items. Old wooden ladders also make great blanket holders. They will keep the wrinkles out of your blankets, make them easy to access when you are hosting company and if you choose a blanket with a unique pattern, it will feel like artwork as well.
Lastly, do you have anything that you or a member of your family enjoys collecting? Find ways to display those items! By making your passions a part of your decorating style, people will learn more about you as they walk through your house.
We hope these tips were helpful and inspiring as you get ready to decorate your new home! We would love to see what you did with your new space! Post pictures or comments below on ways that you decorated on a budget. Happy decorating community!