Quick and easy home decorating on a budget

Matthew Cenzon
Friday June 17, 2011



Home decorating and design is simple, right? Just hire a couple of professionals and allow them to do everything for you. They can choose the room layout, furniture, window treatments, wall décor and lighting while you watch your savings account dwindle. Is there an easier, more affordable way to give your home the look you always envisioned.? In a word, yes. Here are some quick and easy decorating tips for your home that can be done on a thrifty budget.

Enhance Old Furniture with Fabrics

Before you throw out the faded sofa that's old enough to register for its own driver's license, consider updating it with new fabrics. A set of decorative pillows is a quick and easy way to give old furniture new life, without having to spend a lot of time and money on replacing or reupholstering. Find a decorative throw that you can place over an old sofa or chair to hide any stains, blemishes or tears in the original fabric. Make your room décor seasonal by selecting pillows and throws made with lighter fabrics, like linen, for the warmer months, and heavier fabrics for when it gets colder.

Update Your Lighting

Old lamps and lighting fixtures can make your room look outdated. Update your room lighting with lamps and fixtures that match your new décor and design. If you want an even easier, more affordable way to update your lighting, just swap out your old lamp shades for new ones. Newer lamp shades can change the amount of light an old lamp provides, which can enhance the look and feel of the room. Choose shades that complement the design and color scheme you've chosen for the room. A lamp shade that is a contrasting color can also be used as an accent. If you haven't already, switch out your old light bulbs for LED bulbs. Not only will they provide better lighting, they will also save you money on your electric bill.

Refresh with Colors

Painting an entire room may not be so quick and easy, but painting one wall in the room and using it as an accent is a snap. Decide on a bold color for your accent wall, and find a lamp shade or some throw pillows to complement the new accent color and further enhance the look of the room. Other areas of the room that can easily be refreshed with new colors include the ceiling, curtains, rugs, furniture, interior columns and wall dividers.

New Window Treatments

New window treatments are a quick, easy and affordable way to make your design and décor changes more noticeable. If you've decided to refresh an old room with a more contemporary look and color scheme, curtains made of sheer fabrics might be the perfect way to soften the straight edges associated with contemporary décor. Consider using old curtains and fabrics paired with a new valance or new window hardware.

Rearrange Furniture

Do a little furniture shifting to give an old room an entirely new look. Try converting the TV area of your living room into a conversation area by facing your sofas and chairs toward each other. You can also reposition furniture at an angle in the corner or by a window to create a new focal point for the room. Just remember to break out a pencil and sketch paper to do some planning before you decide to shift heavy furniture around your home so you aren't wasting any time and effort.

Room Swap

Moving heavy furniture from one room to another may not be as quick and easy as other home decorating techniques, but it sure is a lot cheaper than actually constructing new living space. A typical room swap would be switching your dining room and living room locations. Look at the layout of your home, from the windows to the kitchen location, and determine what rooms could actually be swapped without making your floor plan seem awkward or inconvenient. To help with your planning, picture your home completely void of furniture. Swapping rooms can give your home an entirely new look and feel without having to spend a dime.

Shop in Your Own House

The easiest, most affordable place to start shopping for new items, furniture and décor is in your own home! For example, old floor rugs can be used in other ways to give a room a new look. Think about using smaller rugs as wall art by attaching them to the wall with tacks or construction staples along the outer edges. A Moroccan style rug can easily be used as a new throw for an old sofa.

If you're handy with a needle and thread, you can turn old sheets and other bedding material into new fabric décor for another area of your house. Think about creating a sash curtain with old bed sheets, or using an old comforter as a sofa cover.

Potted plants from your garden, patio or porch can bring in a breath of fresh air to a room with limited windows. Consider having some fresh herbs in your kitchen, or placing plants on top of the refrigerator, cabinets or kitchen counters.

Try moving old wall décor to new areas of your home for an updated look. The old mirror hanging in your bedroom hallway can be used to make your small dining room feel larger; photos hanging on your bedroom walls can be moved to the living room to give it a more personalized touch.

The Bottom Line

You don't need to hire a professional or spend a small fortune when it comes to home decorating. Be creative with what you already have, and find ways to spend as little as possible. By using these decorating methods, you'll soon find that quick and easy home decorating is also very affordable.