Decorating on the Cheap

If for you moving into/renting/buying a new place means finally having the freedom to decorate any way you please, you might be fighting the temptation not to live beyond your means just in order to live surrounded by the kind of beauty you love and have longed for. Fulfilling that dream of making your place home-decorating-reality-show-worthy doesn't have to be expensive.

A little creativity can go a long way and be a huge asset to a tiny bank account. One way to save money is to use every day objects to add an interesting touch in unexpected places. Just adding a bowl of fruit to a living room coffee table can suggest a sort of abundance you may not have in any measurable monetary quantities. Picking flowers from the side of the road on your way home from work and arranging them at home can bring comfort and freshness to a not-so-impressive (or impressive, for that matter) dining area. If you want to coordinate colors, work with what you have. Have an earthy colored hallway or bathroom? Make a mirror or picture frame out of the lids to Starbucks frappuchino bottles. Seriously. Don't spend a fortune for something that doesn't express your personality to your visitors if you can make it for less!

If you do decide to purchase more conventional decorating items, consider whether an item can be displayed in several places or in several ways to change things up a bit without spending more money. Flower vases are a great example. Not only can they be found cheaply at thrift stores (everyone has a dozen lying around from flower arrangements given to them over the years), but can suit just about any decorating taste. If you are going for a touch of elegance, consider buying vases that are or could pass for crystal and dress them up very little. If you're up for a challenge, buy more interesting pieces or paint the simple ones you find to match your theme. Don't limit yourself to flowers when choosing filler for your vases. Pebbles/stones, sea shells, fish, candles, writing utensils, dry cooking supplies like beans rice and noodles, potpourri, craft supplies like beads and buttons, and just about anything else you can imagine could add just the right touch to a room. Consider changing the contents, arrangement, or embelishments (like ribbon) of the vase to match the season. A large vase with pinecones from the yard and $1 candycanes from the store dressed up with a Christmas ribbon could make a beautiful centerpiece and cost you pennies compared to a decorative wreath and candle arrangement from a home design store.

So go ahead and go to the fancy home decorating sales, and look through the catalogs, but then stop and look at what is immediately around you. You just might be able to recreate the feel of that magazine page without any residual shoppers-guilt the next morning!!