How to Decorate on a Budget

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By BellaCasa
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Decorating on a budget

Do you have Pottery Barn taste on a Big Lots budget? Yeah, me, too! But don't get discouraged, there are plenty of ways to make your home beautiful, on a budget!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Budget
Patience
Good Eye
Creativity

Step 1

HGTV Rate My Space

Visit Decorating websites, such as HGTV's Rate My Space to get ideas on where to start. Once you know pretty much what you want to do with the room, you are well on your way!
Step 2

Behr Paint

Are you painting a room for this project? Consider buying Behr paint from The Home Depot or Glidden from Lowe's. Paint does not have to be expensive to look good and any color can be matched nowadays, so even if your paint sample is from a higher end brand, chances are you can get the same paint for a fraction of the cost.
Step 3

Assemble It Yourself Laundry Hamper from HomeDecorators.com

Are you buying furniture for this project? Consider the clearance center or floor models at your local furniture stores for the best deals...and don't forget to haggle with the salesperson!

Another great way to save money on furniture, is to buy ready to assemble furniture. Great places to look are Ikea, Target, Walmart and Big Lots. And don't forget to shop online at their websites and also JCPenney.com and HomeDecorators.com for amazing prices on great pieces. It's really not hard to build furniture, it just takes patience and usually 2 people. If shopping online, make sure to search for coupon codes for % off or free shipping and to go through savings websites like ebates or MyPoints for extra savings.
Step 4

Curtain Panels

Next are window treatments. For curtains and drapes, make sure to look at Marshall's and TJMaxx, they have amazing prices on window panels at a fraction of the price that you would pay at even JCPenney! For bamboo blinds, check out Walmart, Lowes & The Home Depot. Try to buy what is on hand and not special order them, to keep costs down. Even if they are a little wider than the window, most of the time you will not even notice and it makes the window look bigger, too!
Step 5

Some of my favorite garage sale finds

Now it's time to accessorize, that's the best part! Are you decorating a bedroom? You can find beautiful comforter sets at affordable prices at places like Target.com, Walmart.com and even ebay. Need decorative items? Look no further than your local thrift shops or garage sales, I can't even begin to tell you how many treasures I have found while thrifting...and don't worry about the color, you can spray paint anything!

Comments

xtraordinary said

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on 2/23/2009 What a great article...I definitely have Pottery Barn taste on a Big Lots budget!!! Thank you for the thorough, well-written article! 5 stars!