Budget Redecorating Ideas from a Wallet-Savvy Decorator

Aside from the word "Love," the word "redecorate" could very possibly be my favorite word in the English language. I am a self-proclaimed redecorating junkie. If there were an AA meeting for decorators, I'd lead the group. With that said, redecorating is typically an expensive process that can eat away at my bank account if I'm not careful. Over time, I've picked up some neat tips and tricks to redecorate your home on the cheap. Read below for some of my cheap decorating ideas.

Furniture Facelift

Do you have bedroom furniture that is just begging to be rolled into the landfill? Instead of trashing your furniture and shelling out thousands for a new bedroom set, take an afternoon to give your furniture a facelift by painting the furniture and changing out the hardware. Start by sanding down the furniture until you can see the natural grain of the wood. Then, brush some primer onto your furniture. Finally, apply two to three coats of paint and let dry. When the furniture is dry (it may take two days or more to fully dry), change out the existing hardware for sleek new knobs or drawer pulls. With less than $50, you've just given yourself a brand new looking bedroom set on the cheap.

Handmade Curtains

A trendy set of curtains can cost well over $75. Personally, I think that's a rip off. One of my favorite cheap decorating ideas is to make your own using sheets or purchasing trendy fabric from a discount fabric shop. If you use a set of sheets that you already own, the total for this ultra cheap redecorating project comes to a grand total of $0. If you opt to purchase fabric to make your curtains, it'll typically cost less than $30 per set of curtains. When purchasing fabric to sew your own curtains, try to shop for sale items because fabric can be pricey ($18+ per yard) at some retailers.

Freecycle

I don't know about you, but I love free furniture. Freecycle.com is a website that allows people with extra furniture, home décor and other items connect with locals who are looking to score some free goods. Granted, many of the items will look run down, but by rehab the furniture (as mentioned above). Other items, such as mattresses, dining room sets, computers and patio furniture are often up for grabs, just be sure to check frequently because the good items practically fly off the shelves.