Your home is a great way to reflect your personality and design preferences. Decorating is the step that takes “just another house” and makes it a home. But decorating can be hard right after a move. Money is often tight, and it can be difficult to find décor that fits your style and your budget.
Fortunately, College Bound Movers understands this struggle! We are here to help you decorate on a budget. You no longer have to break the bank to make your space feel like you.
There are two main ways to decorate a home on a budget. The first is to use items you already have in new and creative ways. This saves you from buying new decorations, and it lets you try a few DIY projects.
The second way is to shop in the right places and make the most of sales and coupons. If you have thrift stores nearby, they often hold exciting finds at a great price.
Decorate With What You Already Have
Decorating your home does not always mean buying new items to improve the look. You would be surprised how many ways you can use the things you already own. You just have to know how to use them. It is common to look for a large statement piece when you start to revamp a room. Many people build the rest of the look around that piece.
But bigger is not always better in home decorating. If you know how to arrange things, you can create a strong visual effect with just a handful of items.
Creating a focal point directs a person’s eye to one area. This focal point is the first thing people notice when they enter a room. Some rooms have a built-in feature, like a fireplace or floor-length windows, that works as a natural focal point. Use it to your advantage. A few objects placed on or around that point can boost the room’s natural look. This helps you work with the room. If you try to create a different focal point with another object, it can fight against the room’s original effect.
Another simple trick is to display items in sets of three. Groupings of odd numbers work because they force the viewer’s eye to move from piece to piece. This creates visual appeal and makes the room more interesting. That forced movement is widely considered the core of an intriguing space.
DIY Ideas: Decorate a Home for Cheap
DIY projects are a great way to use your creativity and turn everyday objects into unique decorations. Taking something ordinary and making it new adds interest by subverting the viewer’s expectations.
One quick and easy way to do this is by playing with color. The most common method is an accent wall. Accent walls are painted a different color than the other walls in a room, and the color should still complement the others. But this is not the only way to use color to your advantage.
A more practical DIY option adds storage and style at the same time. Repurpose items into shelves and cubbies. You can turn almost anything into a shelf if you try hard enough. For example, you can turn an old guitar into a shelf.
If you want more wall décor without paying high prices, make your own from old plates and silverware. Use plates as a blank canvas, paint whatever you like, and hang them for one-of-a-kind wall art. If you have a few picture frames, glue old silverware inside to create a pattern with visual appeal.
Subvert Expectations With Color and Texture
People are used to seeing certain objects in a limited range of colors. Dining room tables and chairs, for example, tend to be white, gray, brown, or another neutral shade. Painting them a less traditional color turns ordinary furniture into part of your décor.
You can go beyond color and add less common patterns and textures. Tiled areas, most often bathrooms, are a great place to experiment. Rather than the usual rectangular or square tiles, you might try triangles or trapezoids. You can even mix and match shapes.
For untraditional textures, you can find many examples online. Websites like Pinterest offer plenty of ideas. The easiest way to add texture to a wall is to play with the paint before it dries. Apply a thicker layer, then dab it with a sponge to create a popcorn texture. You can also buy additives that go into wall paint and add texture after it dries.
Budget Decorating Ideas That Cost Little or Nothing
You do not need a big budget to make a new place feel like home. These ideas add style for little money, and most travel with you to your next home. Many are also safe for renters, so you protect your security deposit.
- Add plants. Low-maintenance greenery like pothos, snake plants, or succulents adds color and life for a few dollars.
- Hang mirrors. A mirror reflects light and makes a small room feel larger and brighter.
- Swap textiles. Throw pillows, blankets, area rugs, and curtains change a room fast. Rugs also cover worn flooring.
- Change the lighting. Floor lamps, table lamps, and warm bulbs set the mood. String lights add a cozy glow with no wiring.
- Try peel-and-stick. Removable wallpaper, wall decals, and stick-on backsplash tiles add pattern and peel off when you leave.
- Use damage-free hangers. Command hooks, adhesive strips, and washi tape let you hang art without nail holes.
- Shop secondhand. Thrift stores, yard sales, and Facebook Marketplace are full of low-cost finds with character.
- Update the hardware. New drawer pulls and cabinet knobs refresh a kitchen or bath for a few dollars. Keep the old ones to reinstall later.
Spend your money on pieces you can reuse. Quality furniture, rugs, and lamps move with you and pay off across several homes.
Is It Cheaper to Move Your Furniture or Buy New?
Before you fill your new home, ask one budget question. Should you move the furniture you own or buy new? For most local moves, moving what you have is cheaper. Movers charge by the hour, and they load bulky pieces fast. For long-distance moves, the math changes. Shipping cost rises with weight, size, and distance, so a heavy, low-value piece can cost more to move than to replace.
Here is a simple way to decide:
- Move it if the piece is high quality, solid wood, antique, custom, or sentimental. These items cost more to replace than to move.
- Replace it if the piece is old, worn, cheaply made, or will not fit your new space. Low-value items are easy to buy again.
- Run the numbers on big pieces. As a rough guide, shipping a couch often runs $575 to $1,000, while a new couch runs $300 to $3,000. Shipping a desk runs about $475 to $1,000, but a new desk can cost $150 to $500. When the new price is lower, replacing usually wins.
The smart move is to get a quote both ways. Ask us for a free moving estimate that includes your large pieces and one that leaves them out. Compare the difference to the cost of buying new, and add delivery, tax, and assembly to the new price. If you need time to decide, our storage options can hold your furniture until you settle in. It also helps to downsize before your move, since fewer items mean a lower moving bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to move furniture or buy new?
For local moves, it is usually cheaper to move your furniture, since movers charge by the hour. For long-distance moves, heavy or low-value pieces can cost more to ship than to replace. Get a moving quote with and without the item, then compare it to the price of buying new.
How can I decorate my new home on a budget?
Start with what you already own. Rearrange it, create a focal point, and group items in odd numbers. Then add cheap upgrades like plants, mirrors, fresh textiles, and better lighting. Shop thrift stores and marketplaces for the rest.
How do I decorate with what I already have?
Use your room’s natural focal point, such as a fireplace or large window, and arrange a few pieces around it. Repurpose items into shelves or wall art, and move furniture between rooms for a fresh look at no cost.
How do I cover a hole in the wall cheaply?
For small nail holes, fill them with spackle, then smooth the surface and touch up with matching paint. In a pinch, a bit of toothpaste or bar soap can fill a tiny hole. For larger holes, a wall patch kit from a hardware store handles the job for a few dollars.
How can college students decorate a dorm or apartment for cheap?
Stick to portable, damage-free décor like peel-and-stick prints, string lights, and removable hooks. Thrift your furniture and textiles, and choose pieces you can pack and reuse. Our guide for college students moving to New Hampshire covers the move itself.
College Bound Movers
College Bound Movers is a trusted moving company in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We have over 30 years of experience, and we know that moving can be stressful. Our professional team works to make the process as hassle-free as possible. We move your items safely and efficiently, from your furniture to your décor. We serve both commercial and residential clients, whether your move is local or long-distance. Need a hand with packing too? We handle that as part of a full-service move.
If you want a moving company that cares about its clients, get in touch with us. We have the skill and experience to get the job done at a great price.
