Home Decorating, On a Budget

Thom and I moved out of my mother's basement and into a third floor walk-up two bedroom apartment exactly one week before our wedding. We could fit the majority of our belongings at the time in the back of our four door sedan and used a small moving truck to carry the little furniture that we did have. Needless to say, our apartment was rather empty at first and less than functional. Over the course of the last year and a half we have slowly transformed our apartment into a home.

We still have a bit to go, but as you can see from the above picture of my dining room, we have come a long way. Our crowning achievement is going to be a furniture delivery that should be taking place this summer. That delivery will include our bedroom set, a new entertainment unit for the living room, and a new dining room set, more on that later. What I have learned over the last year and a half is how to furnish a two bedroom apartment without breaking the bank. Surprisingly, many of these lessons were learned during wedding planning.

Without further ado, tried and true tips on cost effective home decor:

• Work with what you already have, it is a lot more affordable to alter an existing piece than to buy something brand new. A couple of cans of black spray paint have done wonders in my kitchen.
  
• Make a budget, and stick to it. The concept of a budget for home decor is a bit looser for home decor. For example, when planning a wedding, there is a specific time frame in which everything needs to be paid for so you need to plan a budget according to that time frame. The joy of home decor is that there is no due date, it is an ongoing process. When it comes to a budget, have a general idea of how much you want to spend for a specific aspect, such as furniture, or a rug, or how much you want to spend in a month or a season, then just work within those parameters.
  
• DIY everything that you can. Curtains are easy to make, and can save you hundreds. Throw pillows can be equally easy to make. For the less crafty inclined, a can of spray paint or a little elbow grease can update and otherwise outdated piece.
  
• Do not be afraid of off-price outlets and discount stores. The area rugs in my living room and dining room cost me $30 each. My curtain rods with fancy finials cost me less than $7 each. Stay away from malls and full price, name brand stores. You can often get the same things at a fraction of the cost elsewhere.
  
• Seek out your available resources. Do you have a sister that likes to paint? Ask her to paint you a mural. How about a friend that likes wood working? Inquire if they would be willing to help you with some handmade furniture. Thom and I acquired several pieces from older relatives cleaning out their attics. You would be surprised at what you can find for little to no cost.
  
• Before you buy anything choose a color palette, and stick to it. I have burgundy, olive green, and gold throughout the living room, dining room, and kitchen of my apartment. All of the furniture is an ebony wood. This is not so much of a cost-effective tip as it is an overall decor tip. Keeping the same color palette gives the feeling of flow throughout the house. You can stray from the color palette in rooms that have a door that separates them from the remainder of your home, such as a bedroom or a bathroom. 

That is my list for now, if I think of anything else, I will update. Do you have any tips for decorating on a budget?