Money is tight after you buy a home. Many people forget that travel expenses, down payments, and insurance can quickly eat into their budgets. One of the expenses most people forget about when moving is the cost of redecorating. Unless you like bare walls and minimal furniture, you’ll likely need to figure out a style that matches your wallet. Knowing how to decorate your new home on a budget can make homeownership a breeze. Check out these tips and tricks.

Redecorate Your Furniture

Instead of buying new furniture, you can save money by sprucing up the items you already own. For instance, a fresh coat of paint on a cocktail table can make it look brand new. Further, you can reupholster sofas and chairs with new fabrics and make your own decorative pillows from old clothing.

Visit an Estate Sale

Sales are excellent for finding decor that’s within your budget. Check out yard sales in wealthy neighborhoods or scout an estate sale to find boutique furniture for a bargain. You never know what you’ll find at a yard sale. You may even want to peruse through multiple ones.

Pro-Tip: Look out for yard sales in the summer. You can also save by looking at used items for sale online.

Decorate With Necessities

You can avoid adding clutter to your home when you only keep the items you need. Your home doesn’t require excessive décor to look welcoming and homey. Consider using functional pieces like laundry baskets, lamps, and drawers to style your place. Layer throw blankets and pillows over armrests and chairs to create a pleasant contrast.

Embrace Natural Light

You won’t need so many lamps if you find alternative light sources. Save money on your energy bill and decor by embracing natural light. Open the blinds and enjoy the sun. Consider using reflective pieces, such as mirrors, in your décor to enhance the light.

Open Things Up With a Mirror

That brings us to the topic of mirrors in general. These are excellent home decor pieces for several reasons. They’re functional, gorgeous, and timeless, especially if you keep them clean. Mirrors make your space look bigger and provide multiple views of your home. Place one near your entrance so that you can use it to check your appearance before heading out the door.

Make Your Own Artwork

Unless you prefer bare walls, you’ll probably want to hang some art in your new space. Even walls with patterned wallpaper and gorgeous paint tones look more welcoming with something on them. Whether you like to paint, carve wood, or take pictures, you can display your own pieces in your home as well.

Display Personal Photos

There’s no better way to decorate on a budget than with your own photos. Blow up images of special occasions to place in picture frames. Include a family tree that goes back to your great grandparents or put out images of your kids with their own children. Get creative about the way you display images and include all your favorites.

Store Items on Shelves

You can use bookcases for more than books. Shelves are excellent for multi-purpose storage. They allow you to display your items while keeping them organized. You can buy or build wide shelves that can hold photos, pillows, blankets, and other decorations.

Keep Plants

While some plants may be expensive, you’ll only buy them once if you have a green thumb. Choose hardy plants that look great all year, such as succulents and ferns. Incorporating plants is a great way to freshen up your space. Greenery looks marvelous in any decor style, and it’s easy to maintain with water and nutrient-rich soil.

Pro-Tip: Mind which plants you buy if you have pets. Your cat or dog may try to eat your greenery, so make sure your plants won’t poison them.

Use Candles

The way your space looks isn’t the only thing that matters in home décor. You can improve your home with the right scents too. Use candles, diffusers, and other room sprays to liven up your space and cover bad odors.

The Power of Scent

The right aroma can change how you feel. One of the best things about paying attention to the fragrance of your room is that you can change it at will. Switch between calming and energizing scents depending on the vibe you desire.

Paint

You don’t have to love the paint on the walls of the house you buy. Paint is cheap, and you can do so much with it. A fresh coat can spruce up a space and make it look new. Even repainting trim can give your home the boost it needs to look amazing.

You can also use paint for more than just coating. For instance, you can create your own patterns with paint and a stencil. It’s cheaper and easier than using brand-new patterned wallpaper.

Choose a Few Quality Items

When furnishing a new home, you should invest in a few quality pieces of furniture that you won’t need to repurchase. Sofas, dining tables, and beds are worth spending a little extra on, so you should get what you want with them. You also want to ensure these items have a long lifespan so that you don’t have to replace them in a couple of years.

Accent With Functional Accessories

Your home doesn’t need excessive amounts of furniture to look amazing. In fact, you may enjoy a functional space that looks good while helping you live your life. Place shelves in your larger rooms to cover empty wall space. Consider mounting your TV on the wall to save space on the ground and visually elevate your ceilings. Other functional pieces that may save you money due to their dual purposes include:

• Storage ottomans
• TV stands
• Bookcases
• Racks

Knowing how to decorate your new home on a budget can make owning one easier. Since you can easily change your decor whenever you want, don’t assume that what you put on your walls today must stay indefinitely. Some budget-friendly decor ideas are better than expensive options because they’re personal. Adding such touches to your home makes it a comforting reflection of your life and style. When you must choose one or two durable pieces that you love, check out Decor Market’s online store for the best brands in furniture.