Moved into a new house and need some home decorating ideas? Want to refresh your current home and not sure where to start? Decorating is a chance to personalize your space to suit your needs and your taste. Read on for tips on how to do it on a budget.
If you’re not sure where to start, but know you want to do it yourself, consider your budget first. How much you have to spend on décor will determine how much you can tackle.
Next, decide which room is the highest priority. Try not to bite off more than you can chew. You may want to start in the space you spend the most time in such as the bedroom or living room. Here are a few DIY home decorating ideas that will fit into any budget.
Change up the paint
This is possibly the easiest and often most impactful change you can make for your home décor. Before heading to the hardware store to pick paint, take a measurement of the area you want to cover so you’ll know how much paint you need to buy. (The store clerk will help you calculate this.)
If you’re having trouble deciding on a colour, bring a few sample paint strips home to consider against the walls. You can also buy a small can of custom colour paint to test. Keep in mind that most paint darkens slightly as it dries. You may require more than one coat, so consider that when purchasing your paint. If you have kids who are old enough to help, this can be a fun family project.
Choose different textiles
Rugs, curtains and throw pillows offer warmth and can help make a room feel complete. Use textiles to add a splash of colour. There are hundreds of fabrics used in home textiles and finished soft products, offering you a wide variety of price points.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Textiles can be easily replaced, so this is a safe place to play with the latest home décor colour trends. If you have access to a sewing machine, even better! Use it to create window treatments or new pillow covers for existing throws.
Decorate the walls with small accents
The walls of your home are a great place to showcase your passions. This can include photos of family, friends, places you’ve visited, artwork by your kids or just pictures that inspire you.
Framing can easily cost hundreds of dollars with a professional framer. But you can achieve a similar look with less expensive, store-bought versions. Search home décor magazines or websites for ideas on framing and hanging, including family photographs hung in varying size and style frames look great in stairwells. For a larger impact, have your favourite photograph professionally blown up to poster size and hang it on a feature wall.
Shadow boxes are deep frames that can display three-dimensional objects, instead of a flat image. Use shadow boxes to display personal mementos like baby’s first shoes, collections or medals.
Making your house a home through these home decor ideas can be fun. You – and your wallet – will feel the positive effects of doing it yourself.