How to Decorate When Money is Tight

Yes, it is possible to redecorate your space without spending a dime!  Often people have great pieces in their home already, but they are not used to their best advantage.  Maybe the furniture placement is off, or a mirror is on the wrong wall.  Here are my tips for redecorating for those times when you have no money to spend:

Decorating On A Budget1. One of my favorite ways of rethinking a space is to start by moving the furniture–it gets your brain moving and opens your eyes to new possibilities.  Is your living room arrangement conducive to guests and conversation? Are there places to put food and drink? Are mirrors placed opposite windows, to let in the most light?  If anything feels off, just move it. You can always change it back!

2. What’s even more fun is to pull pieces from your other rooms to create something fresh.  I like switching around my pillows and artwork every few months–sometimes great combinations can be made that you’ve never even thought of.

3. Sell what you don’t like, and use that money to buy something you do.  Craigslist and eBay are great for this.

4. Tackle a DIY project!  You can make so many beautiful things using only the stuff you have lying around your house.

5. Take some books off the bookshelf.  Using books to decorate, whether it be on a coffee table, side table, or in a bedroom, is an easy & free way to add color to any room.

And now for an example of how I reworked our coffee station for free! Here’s what it looked like before:

IMG_3378

Not horrible, but not great either.  The bar cart was from Target and I loved it, but my dining room chairs are gold as well and it was too matchy-matchy.  The brown mirror, brown wood of the cart, and brown details in the objects (plus the wooden floor) was just too much.

So, I sold the cart on Craigslist and put the mirror in another room.  Here’s what I ended up with:

Img 3912

The shelf came from Clinton’s room–I had listed it on Craigslist after I began redecorating the nursery, but then I realized I could use it here.  The artwork is from my living room, and I replanted one of my succulents into the cream pitcher (because heaven knows I’m not throwing a tea party anytime soon).

I edited the number of objects I needed for this space to be functional, and I think the new look is bright, colorful, and uncluttered.  Plus it was free!

IMG_3911

The other great thing about this transformation is that eliminating the bar cart made our dining room seem so much bigger.  (I call it a dining room, but it’s more like a small open space between the kitchen and living room that we’ve squeezed a table into.)

IMG_3924

To catch any coffee drips from our Chemex, I put this charming little silver dish under it.  It’s actually from my dad’s baby set from 1948, and I love how the slightly tarnished silver contrasts with the glass and wood.

IMG_3915

I kept the three cookbooks that I use the most out on the shelf where they are in easy reach, but the rest I decided to put in my kitchen.  You can’t tell from the photo, but our puppy actually had a ball the other day chewing on my Joy of Cooking.  (Sigh).

IMG_3914

How do you decorate when money is tight? I’d love to hear it! Leave a comment by clicking the link at the top of the article or in the comment box below.

Product Guide: Six Cup Coffee Maker, Chemex // Cozy Sugar and Creamer, Crate & Barrel // Reclaimed Wood Shelf, West Elm // Whiskey Bottle, West Elm //

Related Posts

  • Annabode Interior Design Slow LivingWhat Does Slow Living Mean?
    An Interview with the Annabode Team Sometimes I wish I could return to my childhood—before the internet, cell phones, and endless channels and ...
  • Annabode Sustainable Interior Design ColoradoA Complete Guide to Sustainable Design in 2022
    Sustainable design aims to reduce waste, conserve resources, and encourage human and ecological health. In other words – it’s the way we ...
  • Annabode Interior Design KitchenShould I Hire An Interior Designer?
    One of the most frequently asked questions we get is “Should I hire an interior designer?” People often think that interior designers ...
Comments (8 )
  • cassie
    | 15 September 2014

    fabulous tips, anna! love he new shelf and artwork in that space!

    • annabode
      | 16 September 2014

      Thanks Cassie!

  • funky Junk INteriors
    | 23 October 2014

    Lovely tour, I really love your style! I’m a repurposer fanatic and if I can’t find it for nearly free, I generally pass it up. So I guess being cheap is my method. LOL

    • annabode
      | 2 November 2014

      Thanks Donna! That’s the BEST method 🙂

  • Abigail
    | 4 February 2015

    I love your creative approach to decorating your space! Way to mix it up!! Virtually my entire apartment is a collection of free things I inherited from people who were moving and needed to get rid of stuff (my dining set, for lamp, IKEA futon chairs, my coffee table, etc) or I found them for ridiculously cheap on Craigslist (desk in office, my dresser, and more).

    A quick tip for how I upcycle what I already have is to look at an item and ask how I can change its function or its appearance to use it in a different way in my space. I found a vintage stainless steel blender recently that I only kept the pitcher to do I can reuse it to hold kitchen spoons or use it as a vase. I love this post. Great ideas Anna! I’m going to have to look you up on Pinterest! (I’m @Abseli if you’d like to find me)

    • annabode
      | 19 February 2015

      Thanks Abigail! Craigslist is the BEST. I wish more people would use it — even if they aren’t buying, using it to sell your old stuff just puts more money towards the pieces you really want. That’s such a great tip, thanks for sharing! Finding you on Pinterest now 🙂

  • CaRon
    | 3 June 2016

    Hi Anna
    I love the rocking chair in the picture. Do you know where its from or its manufacturer/designer ? Thanks !

Leave a Reply to CaRon Cancel

BOOK YOUR DISCOVERY CALL

Interested in learning more about our services?
Book a complimentary 20-minute call with us. We look forward to hearing about your project.
close-link

Pin It on Pinterest