how to save money How To Save Money Decorating Your Home

Let’s talk about how to save money when it comes to  decorating your home. Boy, I wish I had the resources years ago that I do now, I would have saved so much money then!

(This post contains affiliate links, please read disclosure policy)

I receive many questions via e-mail on how I decorate on a budget, where do I shop, and where do I find the things I do for decorating. Well, today I am going to share with you how to save money while decorating your home. Using what you have or spending very little money.

10 Money Saving Tips For Decorating

1. Update a room with paint
2. Use what you already have
3. Repurpose
4. Shop At Thrift Stores
5. Purchase cheap fabrics and linens
6. Host a yearly sale
7. Furniture swap
8. Use slipcovers
9. Paint that furniture
10. Think outside of the box ( think of how you can update something on the cheap)

I’m going to talk about each of these 10 money saving tips for decorating your home.

Paint

When you’re thinking about how to save money, paint should be at the top of your list. This is on one of my favorite money saving tips because paint can totally transform a room or a piece of furniture.

I have living proof if you look at the before and after photos of my kitchen. My walls were painted a soft yellow white, and after painting my walls I knew I had to paint the cabinets too. The cabinets were really dark.

I painted my cabinets using White Lace, one of my signature paint colors through Heirloom Traditions paint. Then I applied a soft clear wax, also from Heirloom Traditions paint. This really brightened up my kitchen, and added a shabby chic look that I adore. It’s quite a difference isn’t it, and so easy to do!

Here are a few other ways I saved money decorating my kitchen.

Adding beadboard wallpaper a kitchen island, this was simple to do, you can read about that HERE. Beadboard wallpaper is so  much cheaper than real beadboard, and that’s why I’ve added this to my money saving tips for decorating. I’ve also updated furniture using beadboard wallpaper, you can read about that HERE and HERE. The paint color used on my island is called Synergy, also from Heirloom Traditions paint. My kitchen curtains were made from a vintage sheet I found at a thrift store. Always look for cheap linens and fabrics when your at a thrift store. I didn’t sew them, but used heat bind tape to hem them. This was simple cheap and easy to do! You can read that tutorial HERE.

I added a back splash using a stencil from Cutting Edge stencils and Venetian Texture medium. You can read about that tutorial HERE. Again, this was super easy to do and so much cheaper than adding tile.

My chandeliers were purchased at a home improvement store, they were very cheap, but the catch was that I had to fully assemble them. This sort of freaked me out at first, but I saved a ton of money, than if I had purchased a chandelier that was fully assembled. Appliques were added to my cabinets, this isn’t super cheap to do, but if you compare it to the cost of replacing cabinets that have more details, it’s a very cheap way to update.

 

Use What You Already Have

This is probably one of the tips on how to save money ! We can’t always go out and purchase something new just because we want to make changes in our home. Let’s talk about my media center. I don’t like this piece of furniture one bit, but it is what it is. This piece isn’t going anywhere, well at least until we’re ready to move. The color and style wasn’t working for me, but as I said, I can’t afford to go our and purchase a new piece of furniture.

See how this piece sticks out like a sore thumb? I painted this piece using White Lace, then added appliques, just as I did in my kitchen. I could have painted the hardware, but I found hardware at hobby lobby on sale. I also took the glass out of the door panels and added fabric. That was super easy and cheap to do, and it hides all the ugly components in our cabinet. This was a cheap project to do and so much cheaper than purchasing new furniture. It’s still not my favorite piece of furniture but, it looks so much better, and fits in with my decor. You can read the tutorial on this media cabinet HERE.

Repurpose

Sometimes the best way to update something cheaply is to repurpose it. This can be a piece of furniture, accessory or a room. Yes, you heard that , a room can be repurposed. We never use our dining room any longer, so I decided to repurposed our dining room into a office/studio. It cost me nothing to do this. (Desk is painted with Chippy Blue, White Lace and Venetian Texture Medium)

I’m going to admit it doesn’t look like this on a daily basis, but that’s okay. At least I’m using a room that was not being used. If you live in a smaller home or condo/apartment, think of how you can get creative and make a space of your own. And use what you have to decorate. I’m using the china cabinet to store my paints and things. (You can read more on how I created this Desk and how I Transformed this room)

 

Shop At Thrift Stores

If you want to know how to save money in a big way, you need to start shopping at thrift stores. And while were talking thrifty shopping, look for deals in Craigslist and garage sales. Although I’ve never been lucky finding things on Craigslist, I know that many of my friends have scored big! Thrift stores are everywhere now! You can find furniture, lighting, fabrics, linens, and more at a thrift store.

(This piece was painted Vintage Green)

 

Purchase Cheap Linens

We sort of touched base on this when I shared that I added no sew curtains made from a sheet in my kitchen. But, I’ve also found curtain panels for 4.00 each, and yards of fabric for 4.00. These curtains can be used to reupholster a chair, or made into a tablecloth. I love finding vintage sheets, not only because they’re pretty and cheap, but I love using them as a tablecloth. I used a shower curtain to reupholster this stool, you can read about that HERE.

(Cabinet and stool painted Posh Pink)

 

Host A Yearly Sale

Do you want to know how to save money and hold a sale. Well then keep on reading. Holding a sale in your garage or yard is a great way to make a little money, and get rid of some of the pieces you no longer want. Take that money and use it to purchase new to you pieces. But still shop as thrifty as possible, and only shop at a thrift store or garage sale. I bet you’ll have money left over!

(Read how I transformed my garage into a shop)

 

Furniture swap

This is a huge way to save money! Have you ever thought about organizing a  furniture swap with your friends? And while you’re at it, why not make it a party! Everyone can bring photos and measurements of the pieces they no longer want. Then everyone has a chance to swap out pieces of furniture they no longer want. This is a great way to update a room, and pay nothing! You can do this with clothing too!

(Cabinet is painted with French Butter and White Lace)

 

Use Slipcovers

Do you want to know how to save money when you’re updating a room? Well, If you’re like me you can afford to go out and purchase new furniture. So. using slipcovers is one my secrets to saving money as it’s a cheap and easy way to update a sofa.  Here’s a photo of my ugly sofa, and well the whole room is ugly.

Here’s that same sofa, but it now has a slipcover. Purchasing a slipcover is a cheap update for a sofa or chair. Much cheaper than purchasing a new piece of furniture. My slipcover was purchased from Uglysofa.

 

 Paint That Furniture

One of the biggest and best secrets, I know I already have said that but seriously this is huge. If you wnat to know how to save money in a big way especially when it comes to furniture, start to embrace painting furniture. Seriously, this is one of the easiest money saving tips for decorating, and it’s probably the most cost effective way to save money! Here are a few ways I’ve saved money by painting furniture .

If you’re worried about  painting a piece, then don’t do it (see disclosure policy)

Or find a cheap piece to practice on first. Here are a few pieces that I painted, yes, you can paint on fabric.

(Read how I painted this chair below)

A few money saving tips when hunting for newer/used pieces to paint, look at thrift stores and garage sales. Most of my furniture cost under 10.00!

 

Think Outside Of The Box

When thinking about money saving tips for decorating  your kitchen, think about how to do things as cheaply as you can. Several years ago I decided to add hardware to my kitchen cabinets. I have 33 cabinets and drawers in my kitchen. Adding brand new hardware would have cost a fortune! Instead I purchased cheap brass hardware from the thrift shop, then I spray painted them to work with my decor. This saved me a ton of money, and it was super easy to do.

 

 

Instead of replacing counters, you can paint them. This is another cheap and easy way to update kitchen or bathroom counters. I haven’t tried this myself yet, but I’m planning on doing this in my daughter’s bathroom. I hope that I’ve inspired you with these 10 money saving tips for decorating your home.

If you have any money saving tips for decorating your home, I’d love to hear all about it. Leave a comment below.

You can purchase my paints at Heirloom Traditions Paint

Make sure you use the code WHITELACE  at checkout to receive 10% off of your order!

White Lace

Posh Pink

Vintage Green

Chippy Blue

French Butter