Think decorating your home will cost a fortune? Think again!

I’ll show you how, with my thrifty tips for decorating on a small budget.

So you’ve just moved in, now for the fun part – decorating! Only now you come to think of it, you’ve just spent a crap ton of money buying your place. How on earth are you going to realise your dream of a Pinterest-perfect palace you envisaged when you signed on the dotted line?  

Maybe you’ve lived in your home for some time. Years in fact. When you first moved in you had all these grand plans, but after the honeymoon period it all seemed like too much work. Besides you’re used to that spot on the wall where your toddler scribbled with the red pen and that threadbare patch on the carpet. It would cost far too much to decorate anyway, wouldn’t it?

What if I told you that a Pinterest perfect palace is a still possibility?

Maybe you can dust off those grand plans and put them into action after all?

Here’s the thing. Decorating your home doesn’t actually need to cost a fortune! It’s perfectly possible to transform your home on a minimal budget.

So are you ready to create the home you’ve always wanted, but thought you couldn’t afford?

Wahoo! Let’s do it!

10 tips for decorating on a budget

1# Ditch the decorator and have a painting party

Painting yourself, instead of hiring a decorator can save you heaps. But if you have a lot to paint and you want to get it done quickly, rope your friends and family in. Lure them in with something delicious and the promise of a glass of wine. Although wine is strictly for after the painting, otherwise you might need a decorator after all.

2# Find out when the sales are on at your favourite shops

If you’ve found something that’s absolutely perfect for your room, but it’s too expensive, wait for the end of season sale. You may be able to get a huge discount, just by being patient. Sign up to their mailing list, so that you stay informed about any sales coming up.

3# Fake it until you make it

Shop around for cheaper alternatives to the things you love. It can be time consuming, but so worthwhile and it’s made a heck of a lot easier thanks to the internet. I had my heart set on this beautiful bed from The White Company. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a  £2250 budget. I hunted around until I found this very similar one for just £335 and I love it just as much.  

4# Bargain hunt

Scour ebay, charity shops, freecycle, facebook selling sites for low cost furniture to upcyle. It’s amazing what you can achieve with a coat of chalk paint or two. Plus, you can create some one-of-a-kind pieces that are unique to you. Old chairs can be updated easily by reupholstering with new fabrics.  

5# Paint

Painting is by far the cheapest option when it comes to decorating your walls. You can still add pattern using stencils and there are some super cool wall stickers too, to bring some originality. If you do want to use wallpaper, consider a feature wall instead of wallpapering the whole room to save money. It also gives the room a fantastic focal point.

6# Revamp rather than replace

If your kitchen is looking outdated, you may not need to rip it out. If the carcass of the cupboard is still in reasonable condition, you can easily paint the doors and replace the handles for a completely different look. You can also paint the tiles. Another cost effective option would be to have open shelves,  instead of cupboards, if you like a modern Scandi look.   

7# Get your DIY on

Pimp up your walls with your own paintings and photography. Even if you’re allergic to arts and craft there are some amazingly simple DIY ideas out there. Hit Pinterest hard and find some simple projects to decorate your walls.  

8# Clean up those carpets

Instead of replacing carpet, get it professionally cleaned or consider treating the floorboards underneath if they are in reasonably good condition.

9# Colour pops

Add colour with things you already own. Have a pretty scarf hanging in on a coat hook in your entryway, fill a vase with lemons or green apples for a pop of colour in your kitchen, display colourful jewellery in your bedroom and  books on a coffee table.

10# Supermarket sweep your accessories

Homeware is the icing on cake, if you will. It’s what takes your room to from meh to yeah and stamps your personality all over it. I think that homeware in supermarkets these days is amazing, at such affordable prices. I also love Matalan, Wilko, Primark and Homesense for stretching your budget that little bit further. Clever styling can make give your room a more expensive feel, check out my styling tips here.

If you’ve read all of this and you’re still thinking you can’t afford it, fear not. I have a plan!

By far the easiest  and quickest way to earn extra cash is to sell things you own. You can easily boost your budget by having a big clear out and selling any items you no longer want or need on ebay, facebook selling groups or a car boot sale. If you have lots of CDs and DVDs to sell I recommend music magpie.

It’s also worth checking out personal finance blogs for ways to make some extra cash.

You see, it can be done! No more excuses. I hope this will help kick start your next decorating project into action.

What room is next on your list? Let me know in the comments below.     

Why not pin this for later?