7 Ways to Update Your Home Décor (on a Budget)

So you just finished your fifth straight episode of Fixer Upper. Now you find yourself day-dreaming of a lavish farmhouse styled home like you always do. Then you remember you’re on a budget and think you couldn’t possibly have a home that looks like Chip and Joanna created it exclusively for your family. Psst, you’re wrong. Anyone under the sun can and should have a beautiful home. Even if you’re pinching pennies, there’s plenty you can do to create a stylish and inviting home for yourself and guests.

• Start simple. A deep clean and organization of your home can make it feel brand new, and drastically improve the quality of your space. Cut the clutter. Find a home for those little trinkets, and photo albums. Remove the rubbish. If you’re still hanging on to those not-so-stylish college posters consider donating them or at least putting them in storage if you aren’t quite ready to fully part ways. Shop your home and think about what you might be able to repurpose into a new storage or decorative piece.
• Painting your walls is one of the most cost-effective decorating updates you can make to your home. A fresh coat of paint can brighten a room and give it a welcoming touch. If you’re on a tight budget, the two cans of $30 paint that it may require to paint the entire room could really put you out. To save, opt for an accent wall. A quart of paint will typically cover 100 square feet and will be just enough to cover a single wall; giving your room a calming focal point.
• Customize your home. Reupholstered sofas and customized curtains are lovely, but not for the decorator on a dime. Instead, up-cycle what you already own. Add some iron-on trim to a solid curtain panel adding some patterned flair. Paint the edges of your end or coffee tables to add a pop of color. Or wallpaper the interior of a bookcase to bring a refreshing view when choosing your next read.
• Your bedroom should be your sanctuary; where you relax at the end of each day in the comfort and protection of your home. Your headboard is the perfect combination of form and function for that sacred place. Headboards can be created out of any material. (An old wood door, fabric panels, wrought-iron or illuminated acrylic) Create a dramatic focal point for your bedroom by creating one yourself. A good headboard grounds the space and sets the tone for the entire room.
• Divide and conquer. Break up big spaces by creating “zones” inexpensively with dividers or artwork. Save money and conquer a small space by having pieces serve a dual purpose. Make or buy ottomans with built-in storage, for example.
• Build extra space. You can make the size of your rooms look drastically larger and ceilings look taller by placing furniture vertically so the eye follows the lines up. Mounting draperies and window treatments higher on the wall gives the illusion of higher ceilings, making your space appear larger and grander.
• Light and bright. A fantastic design is pointless if you can’t see it. Lighting is a cost effective way to transform a dark, cave-like room into a warm and inviting space. Update and old lamp, one you own or from Goodwill, with a new lampshade and a fresh coat of paint.

Updating your home to create the one you day-dream of doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Shop smart and set sale alerts for items you’re dead-set on with www.ShopStyle.com/Deals. Remember to check local garage and estate sales to score cheap home décor and furniture.

Now, stop day-dreaming, get organized and turn your home into a masterpiece exclusively for you! What are some of your favorite ways to decorate on a dime?