When my husband and I finally scraped up the money for a down payment on our first condo, I was so proud of our home. I had a specific vision for how I wanted our home to look, and my fantasy was to make the place look like it came straight out of an HGTV television show. Unfortunately, we did not have an HGTV budget. Here are some ways I was able to decorate our home on a budget while avoiding a "cheap" look.
1.) Avoid Hanging Mass-Produced Wall Art
When you are on a budget, it may not be possible to commission art that is unique to your home, and mass-produced canvas art can give your home a cheap aesthetic. So what do you do? You can find budget-friendly wall art that reflects your personal style is by hanging personalized wall art, vintage maps, or your favorite photographs. Etsy can be a great place to find these types of items.
Another budget-friendly approach to finding artwork is purchasing digital files rather than physical prints. Many artists sell digital files that you can print on your own at places like CVS or Wal-Mart.
2.) Create Your Own Gallery Walls
Larger canvas pieces or frames can be expensive. Gallery walls are a budget-friendly way to fill up wall space with your favorite photographs while avoiding the cost of large wall art pieces.
3.) Learn How To Propagate Houseplants
Houseplants and greenery are trending right now. Unfortunately, houseplants can be expensive. This is especially true when you are a new plant parent who is prone to killing plants. If you are looking to expand your plant collection, consider propagating plants you already own. Plant propagation is simply the process of creating new plants from your existing plants by using stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, or seeds. While this may seem like highly technical process, it is actually pretty easy. Some plants are easier to propagate than others. For example, succulents tend to be extremely easy to propagate.
Taking the time to watch a few YouTube videos or read a few blog posts about plant propagation will give you the skills to grow (in theory) infinite new plants from the plants you already own. Learning how to propagate your plants also gives you the opportunity to swap plants with friends in order to expand your collection.
3.) Consider Hanging Maps As Wall Art
As I previously mentioned, maps are an inexpensive way to adorn the walls of your home. They also serve as reminders of specials places or events in our lives. In this way, they tell a story. Vintage maps give us a glimpse into how certain places looked in the past.
4.) Use Plant Baskets Instead of Expensive Pots
Houseplants are not the only expensive aspect of adding greenery to your home. Pots and containers can also be quite expensive. Fortunately, plant baskets are a stylish, budget-friendly alternative to expensive pots/containers. Not only are plant baskets practical, they have that bohemian aesthetic that is trending right now. Plant baskets are my favorite way to store my plants for a couple of reasons: 1) they are cheap, 2) they are easy to move, and 3) they give the room a bit of warmth. Another great thing about plant baskets is that you do not even need to transfer your plant to another pot (unless it needs to be repotted). Simply put the plastic pot inside of a plant basket.
5.) Repurpose Common Household Items
You do not need to know how to refinish furniture to effectively repurpose items as home decor! For example, reuse old teacups or other glassware as containers for air plants or other knick knacks.
6.) Take Your Time
Decorating your home in a style that reflects your personality and taste takes a while - often longer than we would like. It takes a while to find the perfect pieces, and you may need to rearrange some rooms before you get everything the way you would like. When you are in a rush to "finish" your home decorating, you may purchase items that are not a good fit in the long run. On the other hand, when you take the time to add layers over time, you will end up with a home that you enjoy more.
7.) Baskets As Wall Art
Using baskets as wall art can be a budget-friendly way to add a bit of texture to a bare wall. Basket wall fits in well with a variety of trending styles such as Scandinavian or minimalist aesthetics, boho, or farmhouse. This decorating method is budget friendly because you can use baskets that you already own or find baskets at your local thrift stores.
8.) Add Some Macramé Hangings
Another budget-friendly way to add some warmth and texture to your walls is to add some macramé hangings. In addition to being affordable, macramé hangings are quite versatile. They can serve as large showstoppers or accent pieces.