How to Develop a Decorating Budget on Less Money

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How to Develop a Decorating Budget on Less Money

The first step to developing a home decorating budget is to determine the maximum amount of money that you are willing to spend and how many rooms this will apply to. Everyone is different and everyone expects a different level of decor. You can range from early dumpster rescue to fine home furnishings and everywhere in between.

First you will need to purchase your essential decor. If you do not have window treatments, privacy is really essential. The least expensive way to gain privacy with regards to windows is mini blinds and they come in many colors and they are very easy to install. You can measure the windows and have the sizes custom cut at any big box hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot. If you have more money or better taste, blinds come in solid wood, bamboo and any number of other materials. More expensive would be curtains and draperies. Some handy people can actually sew curtains to fit the decor you need.

Your next concern would be a place to sleep comfortably. Again, you can just purchase a decent mattress and lay it on the floor. For more money, you can purchase a metal bed frame and a box spring and be off the floor and away from the spiders and such. Add more money to this and a headboard and bedroom set can be added. I am in the mattress business and I can sadly report that some people actually purchase lousy mattress sets and pour most of their money into the headboard and other bedroom furniture. While it is true that most visitors will see the fancy bedroom furniture and not know that your mattress set is cheap junk, your restless nights will eventually affect your overall health. Try to purchase a good mattress set.

You will need at lease a sofa for your living room. Again, if you can afford to buy new, pick something comfortable. Keep in mind that a sofa will degrade over time because the foam that adds the cushioning will compress and lose support. If you have to buy a used one, again look for comfort. You might ask around your family and friends to see if anyone is in the market for new living room furniture because many stores charge to take back old furniture and you could be doing someone a favor. Besides, most people will not want to sell their used furniture and have people who they do not know coming into their home to look it over.

Your next furniture buy should be a table and chair set. You should have a chair for every member of the immediate family plus one or two for guests if possible. The family table and chairs can double as a desk and hobby workspace in off hours. A table and chair set will lend itself to creative decor treatment. The chairs can get colored cushions and the tabletop can be covered with an inexpensive tablecloth and bowl of fruit or figurine.

Your clothes storage will be important. If you are really on a budget, you might be able to choose a dresser or chest of drawers that can make double use as a living room piece of furniture. If you do not have a closet, most big box discounters sell cheap ready to assemble free standing clothes racks. Plastic boxes with lids can even work. They can be stacked up.

Lighting will be important. You will need to pick up some inexpensive but decor worthy lights. If you shop at a second hand store, be every careful that the electrical part of the light is sound. Some people donate lights because they are shorted out, which can pose a fire hazard. It is always best to buy inexpensive lighting new at a big box discounter.

Floor coverings can be purchased inexpensively. Big box retailers have a good selection of cheap area rugs with nice designs. Try to stay away from used area rugs unless you find something eye popping. Some people have pets and fleas could emerge from your second hand rugs weeks after you brought them into your house. The fleas will feast on your blood if they can not find a house pet to dine on.

Round out your inexpensive home decor project with posters, second hand art, photographs and cheap plants. A couple of inexpensive ivy plants look great and if watered, they grow larger fast. You might check your recycler for old magazines. Many magazine pictures are nice enough to frame. Picture frames can be had cheaply and the combination of nice picture framed looks like it cost much more. Have fun decorating on a budget!