8 Secrets to Decorating Your House on a Budget: Simple Tips for Busy Moms

This post will cover decorating your house on a budget and making it feel like it’s not.

Nothing is more challenging than trying to make your house look like the ones you see on social media while juggling a full-time job and getting the kids where they need to go. I get it- you want your house to feel welcoming and beautiful, but you don’t have the resources to shell out thousands of dollars to achieve that goal. Don’t worry, there are places you can shop to help you achieve your goals while still having money for all of the sports your kids play!

This post will offer different ideas for decorating your house on a budget that you can implement right away.

How to Determine Where to Spend Your Budget 

If you find yourself lost in reels or stuck on LTK looking at people’s homes and longing for the same look, you can do it! Here are a few tips to get you the dream room you desire.

First, find the inspiration on Pinterest or wherever you go to look for ideas. A good idea is to keep the shape and size of your room in mind when trying to find inspiration. 

Figure out what you really like about the space. Is it the layout of the furniture? Is it how the designer has positioned all of the tabletop decor? Is it the color scheme?

Figuring out the specifics of what you like lets you make a plan to achieve the look. 

How to Decorate When You Have Zero Budget 

Before spending any money, see what you can do for free. You’d be surprised by the big impact you can make without paying for new items. Here are three ways to get a new look without spending any cash:

1. One free way to make your room look different is by rearranging furniture. Simply rearranging furniture can change the whole vibe of your room. 

Keep in mind that re-arranging doesn’t only mean the furniture that’s in that room. Think of the entire house’s inventory. Moving furniture or accessories from one room to the next is a brilliant way to refresh.

2. Another idea is to reduce the visual. What I mean by that is to look around and reduce how many things you have in the room. Can you declutter to make the space feel different and more open?
3. Add warmth and dimension by using your blankets as part of the decor by draping one over the couch or adding a blanket ladder. 

Home Decorating DIY 

I know that you’re busy. I do. Between work, keeping the house in shape, yourself in shape, and your kids needing care, this may or may not be in your wheelhouse.

But it can be worth it.

I recently redid my living room, and I couldn’t find a coffee table that I liked at the price point I wanted. The coffee table I have is a great size for the room and made out of quality wood, so I decided I’d give refinishing it a try.

And, it worked!

Thanks to YouTube and some sanding pads, I stripped my table and restained it. I love the color! It’s sturdy, and I’m thrilled I spent only $30 on it.

This upcoming spring, I plan on attempting to refinish another piece of furniture!  

Yes, it takes hours to do, but you will feel pride in being able to create something new from something old.

This is not only limited to furniture. Many people are repurposing old paintings into abstract art for their homes. 

{Related Post: Inexpensive Home Organization Ideas: Budget-Friendly Tips for a Tidy Home}

What to Focus on When Decorating

After rearranging and decluttering, it’s time to determine your style. What colors and materials do you gravitate to? Bright colors? Natural tones? 

Soft elements like pillows (which can also be found for a steal at places like T.J. Maxx and Homesense) can bring new life to your space by including inexpensive pops of color, texture, and dimension.

Include vases, books, candles, and frames in your decor. By adding objects at varying heights, you make your space feel intentional and interesting. 

Places like Ikea, Amazon, and Homesense offer great frames to place throughout your space.

Decorating Your Home on a Budget

If you do have a small budget, spend it wisely. Using the inspiration from some of the sources listed above (Pinterest, LTK, Instagram, Reels), determine what you like and spend time searching for the items. 

Vases and small accessories are easily found at stores like Target, Walmart, and, my favorite, Homegoods.

Before shopping in the main section of any of these stores, go down the clearance aisles. There can be great deals on old inventory.

Each of the vases shown in the image below were under $20 because I found them in the clearance section. Some had small blemishes, but they were located in spots that no one would see.

I also love shopping on Amazon for small decor. 

Create an Amazon list of decor items you’re interested in and keep an eye on the prices. 

Amazon’s Prime Day is a great time to purchase little accessories and rugs. If you check your list, you will see if the price went down on those days, and you’ll know you got a fantastic deal.

{Related Post: Decorating Tips for a Small Entryway}

Easy and Affordable Wall Decor

In addition to repurposing old paintings into new abstract art (as mentioned above), you can fill your wall space with inexpensive frames or mirrors. 

There are so many places to find reasonably priced frames, but what do you fill them with?

Etsy is a great resource for inexpensive, beautiful options. Find images you love and get the download emailed right to you. Then, you can get them printed to your desired size and paper.

 Or, you can fill your walls with images of those you love most: your family. 

Another amazing option is to use mirrors! They give the illusion of a more spacious room, and they don’t have to be expensive.

If you like the idea of a large mirror taking up a wall but don’t have the budget, consider stacking the mirrors to take up the space for a more affordable price.

7 Tips for Decorating on a Budget

1. Make a Plan Before Shopping

• Find inspiration from online sources to get an idea of what you like (create a board on Google Slides to help visualize your vision)
• Measure spaces and know your color scheme.
• Write a list of items you need to avoid impulse buys.

2. Focus on Free

• See what you can find around your house or online for free (or low cost)
• Look for multipurpose pieces, like ottomans with storage or neutral throw pillows you can refresh with seasonal covers.

3. DIY-Friendly Ideas

• Don’t feel limited by what you see. If you like the shape of something, you may be able to paint it to fit your color scheme

4. Plan Your Shopping Because Timing Matters

• Check the clearance sections frequently to see what you can grab for a discounted price
• Shop after holidays for discounted seasonal decor.
• Visit stores early in the week, when shelves are restocked.

5. Look to Bundle Small Purchases

• Buy items like candles, frames, and mirror sets for a discounted price

6. Compare Prices (using Online Searches)

• With so many dupes out there, try reverse searching an images or searching a description of an item you like to see where it’s offered at the best price
• Use apps like Honey or Rakuten to find deals or cashback offers.

7. Prioritize One Room at a Time

• One way to do this is to see which room is closest to what you want already then make minor changes to complete that room
• Or, start with areas that you spend the most time in (like the living room), then move to smaller spaces like the bathroom.

8. Consider the Room’s Purpose

• Is this a place where you want to cozy up with the family? Then make sure it’s really cozy and isn’t made with fabrics that you’re afraid will stain. 
• Is it an area that is more formal and used less frequently (like a formal dining room)? If so, you can glam it up without being as cautious.

Decorating can be a fun experience and an opportunity for you to express your taste while also creating a home. Enjoy the process!

{Related Post: 5 Worth It Patio Decorating Ideas You Will Want to Do Right Now}

If you have any unique tips to share, I’d love to hear them!

This post was all about decorating your house on a budget.