Decorating an apartment sounds like a lot of fun but it can also be expensive most especially if you are very particular about style. Whether it’s decorating a place you’ve been staying in for many years now or just moving into your first living space, budget is always a very important factor to think about. Believe it or not, there are ways to cut down the cost of getting that comfy stylish living space you so much deserve. Let’s get to it!
1. Paint that old furniture, get new hardware
One way you can amp up the look of your living space without having to spend so much is working with what you have. It may be from your old apartment or a hand me down from friends or family. Look around and for sure you’d find old furniture laying around. So, before you give in to the urge of buying new stuff, arm yourself with a paintbrush, some paint, and get to work!
The first thing you have to do is to remove all hardware, wipe it with a cloth, use sandpaper to take away that glossy finish, and go crazy with spray paint or two coats of regular paint. Paint your old dresser maybe or put in a bit of color to that accent table. Now all you need to do is buy new hardware like drawer handles or even new door handles. You’d be surprised to see how much a bit of new paint and some creativity can do for the whole look of your apartment.
2. Go crazy with pillows, easy on the sofa
The dream is to have that leather or mustard yellow sofa you’ve seen in a magazine. But right now, you’re on a budget. Don’t be disappointed just yet. This trick might just take your mind off of it at least for a few months or it might actually make you think twice in buying that expensive furniture you’re so crazy about.
If you’re just moving in, what you can do to save more cash is to buy yourself an inexpensive neutral-colored sofa that goes with any color and any style. That way you can buy turquoise or mustard yellow pillows and change them anytime you want without having to spend much. Plus, that sofa can stay for a very long time. That saves you money, time, and energy while still getting that style and colors you want!
3. DIY artworks
When you hear “decor,” you think about items you could buy to make your home look better. The options are endless. When deciding on what to buy, you find yourself going over budget. What you don’t realize is that some of these items can actually be made at home with some materials you already have.
You don’t have to be full-on DIY with this most especially if you aren’t the type to do so. You could stick with printing some designs you’ve seen online and put them on frames for a gallery wall in the living room for example. If you want to level it up a bit, watch a few DIY videos and do only what you think you can. The good thing about this is that you get to extend your personality and design to every part of your home. That will make it extra special.
4. Live Plants
One of the best ways to make your home cozy without having to spend so much is to put in a few live plants. They never go out of style so it’s a really good and cheap investment. A lot of people are intimidated thinking that these plants won’t survive a week with them. The thing is, you don’t have to be a green thumb to have plants at home. All it takes is for you to know which ones require little maintenance.
If you do not have so much decor, live plants would instantly make the space alive at super low cost.
5. Go for convertible or multi-use furniture
Painting old furniture is the way to go when it comes to saving a few bucks in decorating your apartment. But if you really are forced to buy some of it, make sure they are multi-use or convertible furniture. Buy storage that can also be a side table, for example. That way, you save money, space, and can rely on the fact that you are getting your money’s worth.
Give your apartment that much-needed makeover while having room for more savings and creativity with these five workable tips on decorating your apartment on a budget. All it takes is some motivation. Good luck!