Tips for Cheap Decorating

I'm down to my last few dollars in the $100 Room Challenge, and time is running out.

Where do I go from here? I have a few pieces of furniture to paint before I can start decorating. I'd like to put in the effort to decorate it so that it's actually inviting and full of character.

However, since I am currently decorating on a tight budget, I thought I would share some of the tips and tricks I have learned along the way.

Oh, how I wish there were some things that could be had without cost. In contrast, you can implement any of these concepts for less than the price of a cup of coffee, or with items already lying around the average person's house (like a printer or hot glue gun).

Observing what already exists and thinking outside the box are the real keys. Similar to the next person, I enjoy browsing home furnishings shops. I could get lost in here for hours and find so many wonderful things. But I can't afford it (for this space or the rest of the house).

Being frugal is a way of life for me, so I'm happy to share these no-cost DIY decorating ideas with you.

Printables

I know it's no secret that printables have my undivided attention. I get such joy from making them and giving them to you. These free printable vintage seed packets I offered were the inspiration for my entire spring mantel.

I framed them in Ikea frames that cost total, but there are plenty available for only a dollar or less. Use a $3 can of spray paint to completely transform 50 thrift store frames.

Wonderful printables for any space and design aesthetic can be found online. Many are free, and those that cost can be found on sites like Etsy or other print-at-home retailers. For my workspace and art studio, I've got my eye on this print. Worrying that I won't have any money left over in my budget

Decorational Paper Use

Almost nobody has heard of this, but I am completely hooked.

Amazingly, paper can be used to make beautiful things for the home. My journey began when I made a paper replica of an Anthropologie mirror and affixed it with hot glue to a cheap mirror.

In the end, I spent a total of ten dollars on the first mirror due to the twelve-inch mirror and paint that I needed. Nonetheless, I made a miniature version of it to fit a mirror I bought at the dollar store for use in my workplace.

Only one sheet of 12-by-12-inch paper, one stick of hot glue, and two or three spray cans of paint were required. Since I was able to repurpose paint from another endeavor, the entire project for this mirror cost me less than a dollar.

I even wrote up a guide for Silhouette School on how to scale 3D files down without losing quality. Make any pattern work for your interior design goals now.

Because I was so taken with my miniature navy Anthropologie–inspired mirror, I fashioned a second one to hang next to the first. Designed to look like a piece of whip wood, this mirror is hexagonal in shape.  

Once again, the entire structure is paper. This time I gave it a weathered, rustic look by dry brushing it with leftover white paint. Here you will find a comprehensive guide.

Paper can be used for more than just mirror frames. I have made fake snowflakes, lanterns, signs, and more out of wood, metal, and other materials.

Visitors will be fooled into thinking these items are more substantial than they actually are because they are made of paper. It's hilarious to watch their expressions as they pick up a piece and discover my tricks.

Purchases from the Dollar Store

To be honest, I don't spend nearly enough time in the dollar store. However, a wide variety of ornamental possibilities exist there.

Wreaths and centerpieces can be easily made with their selection of artificial flowers and succulents. There are also seasonal decorations, mirrors, picture frames, and glass vases and votives.

As part of my spring tablescape (which also included a bunny from Target's Dollar Spot and paper teacups), I used one of their vases.

In addition, let's not overlook their trash cans. Purchase storage containers from the dollar store.

I put these bins in our entryway to help keep things neat and to give the area a little bit of a decorative touch, and the colors worked perfectly for the job. However, with some paint or ingenuity, you can make those low-cost bins look much more upscale.

Pictures

The allure of a high-quality camera on your phone gives you the freedom to be an artist anywhere you go.

The places we visited as a family are some of my most treasured photographs. Visualize beautiful scenery, unique architecture, exotic animals, and tactile surfaces.

Among the photos of tulips from the annual Tulip Festival and me and my husband picking peaches at his grandparents' house that adorn our living room gallery wall, we also have a few of our two dogs. And there's a picture of a seahorse from the aquarium down in our cellar.

Photos printed at your neighborhood superstore will cost you less than two dollars (depending on the size). Next, put it in a frame from a secondhand store, one you already own, or just glue it to a piece of scrap wood. There is no limit to what could happen.

Reusing Garbage

Let me assure you that I am not completely insane: The simple fact that something is no longer functional does not necessarily mean it cannot be repurposed for aesthetic purposes.

Consider these dusty jars of peanut butter. They're now hanging in your kitchen as a stunning piece of decor Like my friend Jenny did, you can reuse old glass jars as attractive containers.

Another thing to think about is how many cardboard boxes you throw away each month.

I'm aware that we have the potential for a large group size Last year I made some boxes into shelves for our coffee station (though the fabric cost more than the latte), and this month I'm going to try to make shelves out of all these coffee boxes for a very low price (stay tuned!).

Fill your home with random treasures.

Today's popular interior design trend is to bring the outdoors in.

Obviously, you could go to home improvement stores and buy bags of pinecones, driftwood, or sticks for a hefty price. In contrast, you can spend a lovely day outside gathering it by hand.

Then craft it into a beautiful piece of home decoration. Pinecones can be used to adorn vases, displays can be made out of sticks (or faux cotton stems, as my friend Rachel did), and driftwood can be fashioned into a sailboat. The possibilities for repurposing trash are endless, and these are just a few examples.

DIY Decor

One of my favorite pastimes is making lovely decorations for the house. Aesthetically pleasing objects are often made from seemingly useless materials, such as wood or fabric scraps, which I enjoy using.  

Making a cover for a pillow is simple and requires only a small amount of fabric. It's possible that you have enough materials lying around to whip up a new cushion. Consider visiting secondhand stores for fabric as well. You can get some really nice stuff for under a dollar.

You probably have a fair amount of scrap wood lying around if you do any woodworking. I am not one to discard items.

This creative fruit and vegetable basket was crafted by me using only discarded materials. It's the centerpiece of our eating and cooking space. Look at what you have and imagine what it could become.

Household Shopping

One of the best ways to make a spectacular show is to use this method. Check to see if there's anything useful stashed away in another space.

Some people may interpret this to mean that you can only have one aesthetically pleasing space if you do this. However, you can take stock of your current setup and see if rearranging vignettes or rooms improves the overall flow. If not, reattaching it is a breeze.

If nothing else, I'd like to encourage you to use your imagination when decorating. It's true that you can accomplish a lot even with a limited budget. I need to plan out how to complete the office and craft room renovation now.