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I love watching decorating shows, but often get frustrated that many of the designer's tips and ideas do not translate into my real life. Frequently on these shows the designer's first tip is either to get rid of everything in a room and start over fresh or to buy, buy, buy more things. For people like me who are in need of budget friendly decorating tips this advice is very much worthless. Instead, I have found a few ideas that can update my rooms without spending much money.
First I started with a neutral background with furniture, floor covering, and paint. I was fortunate that my landlord had painted my home a soft taupe color, but I have worked with white walls also. I picked up an inexpensive area rug in soft sand at a local home improvement store during a sale for just $40. My sofa and chair I have had for a few years now, but when I purchased these I made sure to find a style that is slip covered so that I can wash them and keep them looking fresh. Personal preference plays a huge part in the furniture color and I chose a white sofa, chair, and coffee table to make it simple to coordinate accessories. I purchased these at IKEA during a sale and later purchased extra slipcovers when I had a coupon. The sofa, chair, and table cost me $620 new and I spent $80 on new slipcovers last year.
Once I had the large pieces in place, it has been very simple to update my rooms for different season or as the mood strikes. I purchased inexpensive frames at a hobby store during a sale for 50% off and was able to score six matching frames for under $20 for all six. For art in the frames I use scrapbooking papers I can buy on sale at the hobby store for 30 cents a sheet. This is a great way to update the artwork for any color scheme for under $2. The lamps I bought at a home improvement store during the store's annual lighting sale and as able to get them both for $35. I chose silver with white shades again to make coordinating simple, but another neutral color would work just as easily. The end tables were in another room and I updated them with black paint I got on discount at a paint store. I use pillow covers that I alternate for the seasons because it is much less expensive than purchasing throw pillows each time I want to update a room. The pillows were $5 a piece also from IKEA and I purchased four. The total cost to furnish and decorate my entire living room was just under $800.
Now with the basics in place I can change the look of my living room whenever the mood strikes for just a few dollars or for nothing at all if I use the pieces I already own. I keep the accessories light, which not only saves money but also means fewer items to clean. I shop around and wait for sales to update the items I need to replace, but always shop my own house first because sometimes the item I am looking for is in another room. Keeping all of the large furniture pieces and lighting in the home within the same color has made switching up the spaces very easy. With these simple strategies I am able to keep my home fresh to the seasons while saving my wallet from decorating drain. I just updated the living room and only spent $10. I bought a book with colorful prints in it for $1 at a used book store. I framed some of the pages for colorful and attractive art. I covered the pillows with scarves purchased from a yard sale that were only $2 for six and spent $4 for colored candles on sale, and $3 for a plant for the coffee table. Waiting for sales and using a little creativity allows me to refresh the look of my living room without spending much money.
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