Here’s a little secret, shhh..my home decor is not that expensive! I might make it look fancy, but most of my furniture is actually 1) bought on sale, 2) from the budget stores (ie IKEA, Target…) and 3) something I thrifted. I’m sharing all of my secrets here! Interior design is not all about spending lots of money. It’s about refining a skill in creating a look that makes you feel at home.
Plan, Plan, Plan
Don’t just head to the store and start grabbing. You’ll end up with a bunch of things you don’t use, or that don’t match. Impulse buys are a surefire way to make you not happy with your space. Make an inspiration board, get a feel for what you see in spaces you like, and then put together the items you want. Pinterest is seriously your best friend!
Keep an Eye Out!
One of the main ways I get great discounts is by choosing the piece I want and then watching it. Once I’m set on something I’ll keep looking at it because I’m envisioning it in the space, and half of the time I refresh that page and voila, it’s on sale. I’ve gotten so many big pieces that way. We even got out sofa for 20% off because we waited for a Black Friday sale. So plan those purchases out and keep an eye out, and look for deals like newsletter sign up discounts and weekly sales. You can usually get 10-20% of off most large items.
Plants Are Your Friends
You know what the cheapest way to decorate is? With lots of plants! Get some smaller plants that are lower cost, and fill your space with them. It’s a more affordable way to make your space feel full and lush.
Make Your Own Art
Get your favorite photos blown up, and then frame them. That way you’ll have a sentimental piece in your space, and A few of my favorites to order your own prints are Parabo Press and Artifact Uprising.
IKEA That Baby!
You can make a seriously chic space if you’re looking for the right thing at IKEA. Sure, the lines are hell and it feels like you spent a lifetime wandering around that maze, but in the end it’s so worth it. The best part about IKEA is that it’s so customizable. Get a storage unit and glam it up with custom legs and fronts, or spray paint a piece to fit the look you want. I’ve added huge shelving units and storage on a seriously tight budget. I get pretty much all of my frames from the RIBBA series because they’re so simple, white, and have that Scandinavian look I love. Pro tip: search for the IKEA pieces you want on Craigslist and you just might find something you won’t even have to put together.
Books
It seems simple, but decorating with books is a super budget-friendly way to add functional decor. Style them on tabletops and bookshelves!
Thrift Your Heart Out
One of the best places to grab unique pieces is to get them used. Look for decor and furniture on Craigslist, estate sales, thrift stores, and flea markets. I’ve found some of the most amazing pieces at estate sales, and you know it’s not a piece everyone will have when it’s vintage. Fair warning: sometimes flea markets and well-curated thrift stores can be expensive, so you’ve got to be willing to dig at the not-so-popular places. You can find some serious gems at the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Use What You Have
It sounds odd, but when you splurge on some gorgeous item for your wardrobe why not show it off in your home? Decor doesn’t always have to be bought as decor. Check your closet for a gorgeous market bag that you can use in your space as decor, or hang your favorite hats on the wall. You would be surprised by how many things you already own that can look pretty on a shelf. I keep my Cult Gaia Ark bag on my shelf at all times, and I hung my hats up on the wall in my bedroom so now I have more space in my closet.
Keep Balance in Mind
One thing to note is that there is always going to be balance. You can absolutely decorate on the cheap, but there will be some times you have to spend a chunk of change. We saved for our first couch for years! You wouldn’t believe the hand-me-down floral couch we had couch covers on for years before we could save enough for a couch we loved. We waited to buy the sofa of our dreams and then waited even longer for that sofa to be 25% off. Hang in there and keep in mind that it’s all about balance!
Any other questions you have? Let me know in the comments! xoxo Erika