Home sales in the US boomed last year, with 6.12 million units sold in 2021 – up 8.5% from 2020. New home buyers tend to spend nearly $10,000 on furniture, appliances, DIY repairs and renovations within the first year of home ownership, According to the National Association of Home Builders. This is on top of all the other expenses that come with buying a new home, like the down payment, closing costs and moving in.
Decorating and designing your new space can be especially costly. So how do you customize it to feel right at home without spending a fortune?
Here are 11 easy, budget-friendly ways to transform your home without exhausting your budget.
Add a new layer of paint
“To start, the best place to create a custom blank slate is with paint,” says Olivia Mariani, Curbio’s Head of Marketing. “Painting walls is an easy and obvious way to give a home a new look and feel, but painting cabinets is another great way to freshen up a home’s look.”
To decide on a color scheme, brush up on the psychology of color to create the right ambiance for each room. Red tends to increase energy, orange enhance activity, and greens have been shown to relieve stress. If the walls in your home are painted in basic neutral colors, consider adding some color to spice things up.
Read more: How to choose the best exterior paint for your home
Drawing is an easy way to customize your space.
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Hang your favorite pieces of art
Blank walls can seem boring and uninspiring, so decorating your home with interesting pieces of art that reflect your personal style is an easy way to transform every room. You can find affordable artwork (originals and imitations) online through sites like Society 6And etsy and Artfinder.
Don’t forget the frame. Choose a frame that complements the piece, but doesn’t distract from the main photo. You can also use picture lights to add comfort and charm, says Alexis Peters, a strategic interior design consultant at Real Estate Bees.
Decorate with plants
“Enter the outdoors! Adding greenery and fresh flowers will make your home feel fresh and comfortable,” says Angela Denniston, who also serves as an interior design strategy consultant at Real Estate Bees. Adding plants to your space has been shown to improve mood, increase energy, reduce stress, and improve creativity. Plants also help purify the air in your home, keeping your immune system happy.
If you want to add plants to your home, it’s a good idea to do some research or visit your local nursery to see what plants will thrive in your environment, based on light, space, and the amount of attention you need. Some plants are harmful to pets, so be sure to put them out of reach or invest in pet-friendly or fake plants.
Bring the outdoors in with a group of houseplants.
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Used furniture and decoration store
If you are decorating your home on a budget, one of the best places to get affordable decor and furniture is from friends and family. You may be surprised to discover that people you know are getting rid of unwanted items in such good condition that they might fit perfectly in your space.
You can also visit yard sales and estate sales in your area, which often have inexpensive furniture and decor. Just keep in mind that while you can get great deals at yard sales, some items may need a little TLC or at least a fresh coat of paint.
Upgrade rooms with new textiles
“When designing your home, don’t be afraid to stack textiles. Pillows, blankets, rugs, and curtains make a room more inviting and cozy,” says Denniston. Not only is textiles an easy way to style every room in your home, but you can find unique and affordable pieces online at places like Weaverand Amazon and global market. Textiles can also help breathe new life into worn-out pieces of furniture that you might not have the budget to upgrade right away.
When buying textiles for your home, experts recommend sticking to one color palette, mixing patterns, and layering different textures. Peters recommends, “Choose five colors you want to decorate your home with and don’t stray away from you.” To keep things budget-friendly, mix vintage pieces with new ones that will give your home the look and feel you’re looking for.
Replace the light fixture
If your home has old light fixtures that don’t fit your new aesthetic, consider replacing it. Depending on the mood you want to create in each room, light It should either be a focal point or as an accent to the existing space.
As with art, it is important to consider the size and location of your lighting fixtures when remodeling your home. A 4-foot-high chandelier, for example, will likely look better in a large foyer than above your dining room table. You can also add dimmers to contribute to the overall mood and balance out the natural light.
Although you can switch lighting fixtures on your own, lamps can offer a simpler solution. “Go big or go home,” Peters says. “Giant lamps can transform a room. Plus, the soft light they give off adds a warm glow to a space and makes any room look nice and cozy.”
Lighting should act either as a focal point or as an accent to the existing space.
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Don’t forget other devices and dialects
Sometimes, replacing the smallest accents can have a big effect. Upgrading your cabinet hardware, changing outlet switch covers, adding interesting door knobs, and even replacing crown molding can instantly change the look and feel of your home.
While you can find small accents like hardware and knobs at reasonable prices, if you have a dozen pieces to update, the price can add up. Repainting your hardware may be an affordable option in this case – you can even use metallic spray paints to make cheap plastic knobs look expensive. Search Pinterest, Instagram, and Home Improvement magazines to get some inspiration for your home. Work room by room to keep things manageable and start tackling one type of accent at a time.
Don’t rule out invisible accents when you enter the room, either. Adding contact paper to shelves or using drawer organizers can improve the atmosphere in your home. “There’s nothing better than opening a kitchen drawer and finding color-coordinated cooking utensils in a designated place,” Peters says.
Add warm scents to every room
Making your new home smell inviting and relaxing is a simple and affordable way to upgrade your space on a budget. Candles, diffusers, and room sprays can help increase your space, and different scents can evoke different feelings, moods, and feelings.
For example, you might consider spreading lavender in your bedroom to promote relaxation before bed. Seasonal scents can also make your home more welcoming, and it’s easy to switch up when you want something new.
Clean and tidy up your space regularly
While you may not consider this as home decor advice, one of the easiest ways to feel satisfied in your new home is to clean and de-clutter on a regular basis. A clean home can positively affect your mood, too — 80% of people who live in a clean place are more relaxed and 60% less stressed than their non-dumb counterparts, according to a Clorox study.
Cleaning your home regularly is also very cost-effective. If you have an extra hour or two a week, you don’t need to spend money on a professional cleaning crew. If you usually avoid cleaning until the last minute, you may be surprised at how comfortable you feel at home when everything is clean and tidy.
One of the easiest ways to feel comfortable in your new home is to clean and de-clutter on a regular basis.
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Make room for your favorite hobbies
One of the biggest advantages of owning a home is designing a space that fits your specific needs. To make your new home feel like home, create spaces for hobbies that you and your family enjoy.
If you love to draw, set up a small art studio in an unused corner, somewhere to permanently live your easel and art supplies. If puzzles are more your speed, find a cheap table to use exclusively for puzzles, while keeping the dining room table clutter-free. Yoga enthusiasts can create a quiet space with soothing elements such as candles and greenery for meditation and exercise.
