You could easily spend an arm and a leg purchasing all of the designer home accessories and decor for your apartment. Of course, most of us are on a pretty tight budget these days and purchasing all-new home accessories simply isn’t in the cards. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to purchase home decor for your apartment, no matter how tight your budget.
Add Color
The quickest way to decorate an apartment on a budget is to throw some color onto the walls. Though this is not necessarily an option for every apartment dweller, it is something to speak to the landlord about. Many apartments will allow you to paint the entire space, others will allow you to paint an accent wall, while others may simply not allow you to paint at all. Whatever the case may be, even if your landlord says “no paint,” you may be able to negotiate. It never hurts to ask!
Paint is extremely inexpensive and you could easily repaint a small bedroom using a single gallon of paint.
Of course, as noted earlier, paint isn’t always an option. Other ways to add color on a budget include through your large furniture pieces, which can be slipcovered using colorful slip covers to add a splash of color to the space. If you’re willing, you may want to consider repainting your furniture, as there are paints and spray paints that cover wood, metal, wicker and other materials for relatively little cash. It’s a great way to decorate your apartment on a budget. Other options include adding throw pillows, throw blankets and other home accessories to the space.
Thrift Store Finds
If you’re just starting out and don’t have any furniture or other home accessories to work with, you should consider stopping by your local thrift stores. Check out your local thrift stores, second-hand stores, antique stores and flea markets for various finds that you can use as-is or make improvements as you see fit.
You’d be surprised at what you can find at a thrift store. In fact, don’t be surprised if you end up decorating your entire apartment for less than $1000, or even $500 if you’re really thrifty.
When taking this route, you’ll need to have an open mind. Remember that damaged furniture can be repaired, reupholstered or slipcovered. Ugly frames can be repainted, wall art can be reframed and so forth.
Do It Yourself
Sometimes a simple home decor item can be made easily but is seriously overpriced in the store. Items like throw pillows, blankets and so forth can all be handmade if you’re willing to put in a little effort. Purchasing fabric and sewing your own pillows can save you quite a bit of cash.
It’s in the Little Details
Even on a budget, it’s okay to splurge on certain home accessories. For example, you can splurge on a set of beautiful new charger plates to compliment your freshly painted dining table thrift-store find. Even a small splurge like that beautiful vase you saw at the department store can help you feel as if your space has really been pulled together.
Decorating can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! Adding color or making a small splurge purchase can really make all the difference when decorating an apartment on a budget.