Seven designer-approved, money-saving decorating tips

When doing interior decorating, there are times you really should splurge on something that’s going to last for years to come and be a wise investment. But there are also opportunities to stretch your budget. The following money-saving tips are designer-approved to get you a professional looking interior design for less money.

Paint

Few things are as cost effective as a new coat of paint. You can paint your home’s entire interior for a few hundred bucks and that’s including all the materials you’d need to buy. You can do a single room for a lot less. You can also use a coat of paint to make old furnishings like new again for a fraction of what it’d cost to replace it with new furniture.

Found natural objects

The best art is often organic and it’s free. If you’re someone who likes to take walks or go on hikes, keep an eye out for interesting rocks, tree stumps, roots, or other natural elements that can be hung up or displayed somehow in your home.

Thrift store art

Another way to get cheap art is to buy it second-hand. You might be surprised at what people simply give away. You may have to sort through a lot of bad to find the good but you will occasionally find good artwork for much less than it’s worth if you’re patient enough to keep visiting all the local thrift shops.

Child labor

Yet another way to get artwork is to enlist the work of your children. Children’s art doesn’t have to be tacky or inferior. Go online for inspiration. For the cost of a few materials and a little time spent researching crafty art projects for children, you can end up with some surprisingly high quality stuff you’d be proud to put on display in your home.

DIY

While there are certainly home improvement projects that should be left to professionals, there are many things you can do yourself to decorate on a budget. You probably shouldn’t attempt to install hardwood flooring but you could probably tile a backsplash yourself. You probably can’t craft your own custom cabinetry for the kitchen but with a screwdriver and an hour of your time you can install your own cabinet hardware.

Baseboard heater covers

Installing new baseboard heater covers is about as simple as it gets. Use measuring tape to find out how many feet of covers you need and place an order. It simply installs over your existing baseboard heaters by snapping into place. It’s another inexpensive way to give a room an entirely new look.

Holiday sales

Finally, you can take advantage of holiday sales to purchase big ticket items like appliances or furniture. Since these items are likely to take most of your budget, it’s a good idea to be patient and careful in selecting the right items at the right price to get the most out of your budget.

 

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