In the world of pinterest, instagram, and credit it can be really easy to feel like we need to have a huge spending account for decorating and furnishing our homes. Today I wanted to share a few budget friendly solutions for adding personality to your home, that won’t break the bank!
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Pull Out a Paintbrush
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again- paint is one of my favorite ways to update a room! In our first home we painted the 80’s honey oak trim and doors white- and it made everything feel instantly updated. For our dark, overly wooded kitchen in the cottage I painted the upper cabinets with $17 of paint. The color is Marina Isle (Behr) and it totally transformed the room.
When it comes to paint, the possibilities are endless! Apparently I like brightly colored cabinetry, but painting a wall, a piece of furniture, or even the floor, can make your home a little more you.
2. Start up the Sewing Machine
When I glance at the price tag of a throw pillow, I see how I could quickly spend way too much on a decorative item that often ends up tossed on the floor … so what about sewing a simple square or rectangle? It doesn’t have to be fancy. I have very little experience with sewing, and I am here to tell you that curtain panels are about as simple as they come. Once you get your feet wet, you can try slip covers, bedding… well you can see how the list goes on. Drop cloth makes a great starter material that isn’t too expensive, and has a neutral linen look.
Those pin stripe pillows are half drop cloth half dish towels. The bargain bin of the fabric store often has cute remnants, and becoming a sewing club member is often worth it for the discount if you are planning to buy a good amount of fabric.
3. Thrift Furniture and Refinish It
If you have been reading here for any amount of time, then you know that I love a good furniture makeover. Purchasing a piece of furniture from a kijiji, or a thrift shop has definitely helped me furnish our home very cheaply. There are many days when it would be so nice to just purchase something new, but we really don’t have a lot of extra budget for furniture and decor. Our 6 dining chairs were $100 from kijiji. Our hutch was $80, and I repainted it. Our wing back chairs were free… the list goes on!
You might be thinking- “There are never those types of deals in my area” but I will be the first to tell you that I rarely spot great deals here. It takes patience and a little creativity, but sometimes the perfect piece comes along… at least it will be once you put your own spin on it.
4. Just Add Flowers
Adding fresh flowers is probably my favorite way to make a room feel pretty! I used to always want a rooted plant- but there is truly something so soothing about an artfully arranged bunch of fresh stems. Either from the grocery store, the garden or sticks from the yard… it doesn’t take much!
5. Build It
This sounds more intimidating than it has to be. You could make a frame for your bathroom mirror, or build a bed for your kids. There are SO many free plans available for building just about anything. Here are just a few projects we’ve built to help us get the look for less.
Bunks for our boys.
A frame for this custom print.
This “old” coffee table crate.
And recently a new, larger coffee table for our living room.
So there you have it-my top 5 Budget Friendly Design Solutions for adding personality to your home. How do you creatively make your space feel more like “you?” I love hearing about how the story of home unfolds for each of us.
Enjoy the weekend!
-Miss Ash
These are all such ideas! You have a beautiful home. I’m especially impressed with how great the thrifted furniture looks! Thanks for sharing your tips with us!