How to Decorate a Room Without Breaking the Bank: Low Cost Design Reminders

Lately, we have turned our attention toward resources and ideas for low cost decorating to keep wallets happy and fat. This story with frugal French farmhouse finds further proves you can shop in your pajamas for dozens of relatively inexpensive French inspired design essentials on Amazon! How to Decorate a Room Without Breaking the Bank Low Cost Design Reminders will not reinvent the wheel, yet highlights smart reminders and provides the nudge you need to address that space you have been meaning to enhance.

How to Decorate a Room Without Breaking the Bank: Low Cost Design Reminders

1. Pillows Talk

Never underestimate the power of changing out a throw pillow or two. Whether you sort through your collection of existing decorative pillows or pick up something new, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. However, the patterns, prints, and texture you easily add to the mix can make all the difference.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Be decidedly adventurous with color combinations if you feel saucy enough. My preferred color palette is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. I never tire of tone on tone pillows made from linen, nubby vintage French sheets and reclaimed canvas as well as grainsacks from Europe (find a selection HERE), and velvet.

2. Low Cost Design Reminders: Clear the Deck & Carefully Edit

When you live in a not-so-new house, there are always these little surprises that crop up. Windows, for example, are bound to fail after decades of torture from the elements. When I noticed little pesty ants in the kitchen (below) earlier in the season, I freaked out and began investigating since we live so sparely and don’t leave food lying about.

3. Clean Like Company’s Coming!

I removed everything from counters and did a thorough cleaning of the kitchen. Turns out a window needed a little attention, and we resolved the issue easily. The bonus was I had cleared the decks and could view the empty kitchen with fresh eyes. Then I could carefully choose what essentials to return to counters and what felt tired or unneeded. Another bonus? A deep clean which may not seem to align with decorating ideas yet is always where I start!

In case you’re considering white quartz for your kitchen…see this.

4. Inexpensive Decor Reminders: Spark Romance

Not every space is going to be enhanced by adding a candle-style chandelier, but if there is any chance at all this lighting option will work in your room, I’m all for trying one! Hence, I put candle style chandeliers in my pantries, closets, bathrooms, and everywhere it makes sense to add a pretty one. Rewired vintage chandeliers are awesome as well, but new ones are safe and beautiful.

The antiqued silver chandelier (with crystals and acanthus leaves) in our breakfast area (above) years ago. Below, find another option that is strikingly similar, and keep in mind it is easy to add a more dramatic antiqued finish by buffing on products like THIS (I have used this stuff a million times and love it) to add age.

5. Dim All the Lights, Sweet Darlin

DIMMER SWITCHES (find here) ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE DESIGN WORLD! Don’t live without them!

Here are a few low-cost chandeliers I love as well:

6. Low Cost Design Reminders: Grace the Walls With a New Hue

What gives us more bang for the buck than a fresh coat of paint on the walls? You’ll be hard pressed to find anything that can change the mood, enliven the decor, and breathe new life into an interior like paint certainly can!

7. Snag a Tool the Pros Use!

8. Smart Cheap Decor Tips: Consider the Rainbow of Whites

But don’t choose a random white! First, read this ditty to choose the right white paint to understand it’s a process to arrive at the proper white for your room’s unique exposure and mood.

9. DIY Decor Always Saves a Bundle

It definitely goes without saying, but sometimes I forget I am not blogging to an audience of strictly designers and seasoned DIYers. Hence, even if you have not tackled home decor projects on your own before, it is never too late to go for it. Watch youTubes like this one which walks you through the steps of painting…get ready for it…fabric. You probably have a castoff lying around on which you could practice as well!

However, sometimes paint alone is not going to be enough.

For example, in the case of transforming a lumpy bumpy wall in our bedroom (above), there was no chance paint alone could solve the ugly issues.

While it costs more than a couple hundred dollars for this statement wall decor option (covering a wall this size with Stikwood Hamptons will set you back around $1,200), it packs a big bang for the buck.

10. Low Cost Decor Inspiration: Treasures Hidden in Storage

It’s a tip included in every story about decorating on a budget, yet it always bears repeating: shop your house, your basement, your garage, your garden shed, your closets, and your attic with fresh eyes.

Then, if what you see does not please you, donate it to someone who will appreciate it!

You can also rotate the existing furniture and decor in your home. I am constantly swapping out chairs, tables, and pillows to suit our changing needs and moods.

11. Low Cost Design Reminders: Add Dual-Performing Decor

Scented candles can soothe and create a tranquil mood with their olfactory appeal, but they are even more effective when they visually enhance the decor.

12. Start With a Simple Decor Update

You don’t always have to turn your attention to the whole room when you’re in the mood for decorating or re-decorating. Start small with just one corner of the space. For example, think about your bedside table.

I’m sure there’s a corner of your home you could refresh with a simple vignette. Maybe an accent table upon which you can add a book, candle, or everlasting florals?

Like our knotty alder interior doors? They transformed this fixer upper!

Or a coffee table or cocktail table?

Another ‘small change, big payoff’ decor idea? If you have one, update or upgrade the bedskirt or coverlet on your bed.

13. Set the Table

I’m totally guilty of forgetting time and time again (because I’m so often a minimalist) the power of tablescapes. Beautiful tablescapes need not be reserved for insta-famous bloggers or for those occasions guests will arrive. Go ahead and set the table just for you in a way that pleases you.

14. Try a New Vanity Mirror & Towels in the Bath

Shop my home

15. Add Something Organic to An Area Where You Spend Lots of Time

Since I spend a ton of time at the kitchen sink, it makes sense to put fresh flowers, a pretty branch, or even a little heart-shaped stone near it to enhance the experience of everyday chores.

Here’s my favorite source for heart shaped stones collected from the Mediterranean Sea.

16. Corral Anything on a Rustic Board or Tray

If you study images from beautifully styled, rustic elegant farmhouse or country style rooms, you’ll often see objects arranged upon a rustic board or tray. The texture and order that results from this simple gesture is often just what your eye desires!

17. 1-2-3 & Absolutely FREE

Whether you are just getting started narrowing down your desired interior design style or are collecting ideas for your well established signature style…pretty please:

1. Follow this blog!

2. Peruse decor inspiration and interior design from the archives here on Hello Lovely.

3. LIBERALLY PIN images in my POSTS (start by clicking HERE to pin this one!) and click over to my Pinterest to repin and save for future reference all the inspiration that moves you and helps you discover the decorating style right for you. (Your pinning spreads the word and supports this blog’s free content!)

18. Scour Thrift Stores

Most of the time, I go away empty handed, but would you believe I found a French prayer chair just like the ones I collect (below) at a local thrift store the other day? I tossed that $6 find in my shopping cart faster than grass through a goose.

My crucifixes were affordably collected from THIS SOURCE.

19. Create Your Own Art

It’s so easy to find inexpensive materials to create your own art. You don’t even have to start with a brand new high quality canvas unless you’re overly concerned about archival issues and an heirloom-quality piece. Find ugly art at the thrift store and paint or collage right over it!

I painted the huge abstract with acrylics and gold leaf in our great room called ‘Five Figures’ on a simple sheet of poplar plywood.

Ever seen or tried acrylic pour painting? I have been watching instructional tutorials like this:

20. Critique Your Work With Photos

As a blogger, I’m always snapping photos, and this fact has certainly influenced and sharpened my decorating skills. When you can study the image of a vignette or space with a critical eye, ideas will naturally occur to you as to how to improve the look and styling.

21. Window Coverings Are Optional

Am I a broken record on this? I used to think I was Swedish (you know those Scandinavians love a bare window), but it is more likely I just crave as much daylight as possible!

I’m still thinking I’ll add some linen softness to this sink window, but our kitchen doesn’t get the amount of natural light I crave so I won’t cover the glass.

Thanks for entertaining these 21 low cost design reminders!

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.