How to Decorate a Room With a Low Budget

We all want our homes to be beautiful, but sometimes making them that way feels out of reach because of budget constraints. The good news is that decorating with a small budget is easy and fun and will give you a chance to get your creative juices flowing. The end result will be something that looks like a million bucks.

Instructions

1. The cheapest thing you can do to totally transform a room is to change the color. For under $50, you can get paint, brushes and a tarp cloth and do the work yourself. Choose a bold color to make a dramatic statement, or opt for something more subtle, like a soothing neutral.

2. Choose your furniture, rugs, curtains and accessories. For larger pieces, like a table or sofa, consider repurposing what you already have. A sofa with a new slipcover or a table with a new coat of paint will take on a totally different look. Shop at yard sales, thrift stores or in your own home--the basement or garage could hold treasures you completely forgot you had.

3. Go online. Bargains can be found on eBay, Craigslist and other online shopping sites are.

4. Make your own curtains and throw pillow covers to save a ton of money and really tie a room together with some personal flair. Enlist the help of someone who can sew if you aren't a seamstress yourself.

5. Think outside the box. A side table doesn't have to be a side table--with a piece of glass on top it can be a gorgeous planter. Your extra seating can also provide storage or a place to rest your weary feet, if you build your own storage ottoman. Paint stripes on the wall to add a faux architectural detail.

References

• 10 Inexpensive Decorating Ideas
• Decorate on the Cheap With Everyday Items
• Build Your Own Storage Ottoman