There are a lot of cool ways to decorate when you’re on a tight budget. Some of it involves DIY projects, and some of it involves making compromises and finding inexpensive look-a-likes for high end products you love. Either way, you can do some amazing things and achieve some high end looks on a low budget!

Decorating tricks

• Odd numbered items – 3 or 5 items grouped together on a shelf look better than 2 or 4;

• Target the ugliest object in a room and paint it, cover it or replace it;
• If you like something but it just doesn’t go with your existing room, store it and enjoy it again in the future;
• Move your furniture around – it can often unveil items you no longer like, and sometimes less is more;
• Make a small window look bigger by hanging drapes wider and higher than the window – if you can sew, all the better;

Low budget ideas

• Multi-purpose items like pull-out couches or ottomans/entry way benches with storage can be really useful in small spaces, and using your space more efficiently can delay the need to move;

• Don’t keep displaying items you’ve had for years just out of habit – have a garage sale and use the money you earn to replace them with a few new trendy items;
• Paint your cabinets and/or counter tops;
• Replace those old fashioned handles on the kitchen and bathroom cabinets with economical multi-pack modern handles, just measure the space between screw holes to get the right size;

• If you can’t afford to replace the couch, update the pillows for a fresh look;

• Paint one room, or even one wall – if you paint one room in your home every six months or so, it keeps the whole place relatively up to date;
• Repaint, recover or re-purpose things you already own – if you like it but its a bit outdated, update it;
• If you leave your dish towels on display between uses, its worth spending a bit of money for pretty (but functional!) ones;

• Shop smarter – find what you want, and then look for it cheaper online, or find a similar but less expensive version of it;

Easy DIY Projects

Shower Curtains

If you’ve got a pretty patterned sheet you love, make a shower curtain out of a queen or king sized sheet, or even get extra drapery panels and make one out of that. Simply get a new curtain liner and pin your fabric to the liner, leaving a hemmed edge loose to cover the grommet holes, then cut a couple inches around the liner, folding and hemming all around. Or , just use the liner as a guide to trim for sizing, allowing room for hems, and attach your shower curtain with 12-14 drapery clip rings. If you’re really handy, you can even do grommets! In any event, here are a few nice homemade shower curtains done by a variety of fellow bloggers. Click pictures for detailed instructions.

Headboards

There are several easy ways to make a headboard:

• cut an old door to the right width, paint and mount;
• cut plywood in desired shape, cover with thin upholstery foam, then upholster with the fabric of your choice;
• adhere wallpaper or fabric to the wall, or paint a rectangular area in a contrasting paint color, then frame;
• apply a row of pictures or mirrors in a row above the bed;
• use a panel of wainscoting topped with crown molding;
• apply oversized stencils over the bed for a romantic headboard effect;

See also:

• Stand-Out Wall Treatments
• Small Budget Do It Yourself Kitchen Renovations
• Easy Do It Yourself Backsplashes
• Small Budget Do It Yourself Bathroom Renovations