15 of the Best Home Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Livening up the home should never break the bank. If money’s tight this month but you still want to make some changes in home decorating, we have plenty of tips to help out. Try out a new paint job on old items or pick up some unique items secondhand. Whatever your budget is, here’s a few ideas to get you started.

15 quick, easy, and inexpensive home decorating ideas

Hiring decorators is overrated. With a little time and effort, most decorations around the house can be handled yourself. We put together a list of ideas that are fun and affordable for anyone on a budget.

Repainting a room can change everything

If your favorite room is feeling dreary, there’s no need to fret. You can change up the mood with a simple paint job. Some people prefer traditional white or beige walls to lighten things up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with a little out-of-the-box style.

What you’ll need:

• Wall paint
• Paint rollers
• Painter’s tape

Just add plants!

Adding a new plant adds life quite literally to any room you choose. You can try smaller groups of potted plants, or maybe a big leafy plant to open up the room. Bonsai trees are always an interesting bathroom addition, and if you have a ceiling hook, you can add decorative plants without worrying over where they’ll go. Check out your local nursery to see what’s available.

What you’ll need:

• Pots
• Hanging pots
• Ceiling hooks

A good rug always helps

If the furniture in a room is feeling bland, a bright rug can add contrast to everything else. Rugs come in all shapes and sizes, and they can make any room feel more cozy and comfortable on those lazy Sunday afternoons. Estate sales are good places to find nice rugs.

What you’ll need:

• Rug pad
• Corner grips

New pillows for chairs & couches

Transform that old ordinary chair or give your couch a new lease on life with the right, well-placed pillow. A nice patterned pillow might do the trick, or you can always go for different shapes to change things up. You don’t even need a whole new pillow, just buy a cover!

What you’ll need:

• Couch pillows
• Couch pillow covers

Mirrors aren’t just for the bath and bedroom

You can put mirrors in any room you want. It’s a timeless decoration that goes with nearly anything. If there’s a spot on the wall, and you can’t find a good picture to put there, try a mirror out. As a bonus, the mirror will reflect light to make the room brighter. Thrift stores usually have a few good mirrors at a low price.

What you’ll need:

• Wall hooks
• Hanging nails

Change up kitchen cabinets with a fresh paint job

Who says kitchens need to be monochromatic? One of the easiest home decorating ideas on a budget is to slap a new coat of paint on the kitchen cabinets. It’s easier than painting the room, and you don’t even need to paint the whole cabinet. Try out different patterns and techniques to see what fits your taste.

What you’ll need:

• Wall paint
• Paint rollers
• Painter’s tape

A few decorative items go a long way

No one likes clutter, but as far as home decor ideas go, a couple well-placed items can shake things up a little, while personalizing the space to represent things that are important to you. Are you obsessed with your pets? Try some pet-themed decor. Do you love the outdoors? Bring it inside your home with some fun representations. Flea markets and thrift shops are great places to find uncommon decorations.

What you’ll need:

• Wall hooks
• Statue stand

Rearranging the furniture for a new look

One of the best ways to cultivate a new home look is to rethink the things you already have. If it’s been a while since you’ve changed up the bed or living room, it could be one of the best house decor ideas to fit your needs. Plan out a living room setup you’ve never tried before, or switch your bed to a different wall in your room and use it as a starting point for changing things up. Just make sure you don’t throw your back out moving the heavy stuff!

What you’ll need:

• Furniture dolly
• Back brace

Fun baskets & containers are helpful, too

You can reduce clutter and spruce any room with a few decorative containers or baskets. Try out some old-time wicker baskets to make a room feel homey or check out some modern alternatives to keeping things organized and spiffy. If organized in the right way, you can use many containers to clean things up while making things seem artistic rather than just practical.

What you’ll need:

• Wicker basket
• Container

Indirect lighting to change the mood

Instead of using ceiling lights, try hiding a few well-placed lights in the room. You can put lamps and small lights behind bookshelves, couches and other furniture. In the bedroom, hiding lights between the back of the bed and the wall can give your bed a cool back-lit look.

What you’ll need:

• Lamps
• Small lights

Hit up your friends for original art

If you have any creative friends, they’d probably love to help you with some home decoration ideas. Original art always provides a unique vibe in any room, and it’s nice to help your friends out with a few bucks, too. Keep in mind that you may need to frame the art yourself before hanging it.

What you’ll need:

• Picture frame
• Picture hanging wire

Labeled containers are nice kitchen additions

Who says containers can’t be house decor ideas? Sometimes spicing up the kitchen is as simple as tossing out the old cooking containers and picking up some new additions. There’s many to choose from, and it helps you organize your kitchen. You don’t even have to buy new containers if you don’t want to, just use a few labels and you’re set.

What you’ll need:

• Labeled kitchen containers
• Labels for containers

Give salvaged furniture a new life

If the coffee table or kitchen chairs just doesn’t do it for you anymore, there’s no need to shell out a bunch of money to buy new ones, especially if you have some second-hand stores close by. Check out thrift shops in your area to see if there’s anything worthwhile. And remember that it’s easy to paint or varnish old furniture to make it look sleek and new.

What you’ll need:

• Furniture varnish
• Furniture paint
• Paint brushes

Estate sales can be goldmines

You’d be surprised how much cool stuff is sold at estate sales incredibly cheap. You can find excellent antique furniture for a fraction of what it should cost. Estate sales are often held when people are trying to move and need to get rid of old possessions fast, so these sales really are great places to look. Just remember to bring proper moving equipment so you don’t hurt your bank or the furniture.

What you’ll need:

• Back brace
• Moving blankets

Trick out your mailbox

Decoration ideas don’t need to stop in the home. If you’re tired of a boring mailbox, there’s plenty of ways to make it stand out. You can paint your mailbox to make it something else, or replace it with a brand new one.

What you’ll need:

• Paint for metal surfaces
• Paint brushes

The bottom line

We all want a home with a style that’s all our own, but it’d be nice if it didn’t cost so darn much. With some creativity and a little know-how, you can turn your home into a place that suits your personal style without reaching into savings. Always try to make instead of buy, and when you do have to make a purchase, try to compare prices to get the best deal possible.