Decorating on a Budget
Affordable Furniture and Budget Decor Ideas
It's a common misconception that you have to spend big money to design the home of your dreams. To the contrary, with a little bit of planning and thoughtful shopping, decorating on a budget is easier than ever. Stunning, affordable interior design is achievable when you shop sales for stylish yet inexpensive furniture and take advantage of smart financing options.
Overview
In this post, we'll offer tips on the following topics:
Affordable Interior Design Budgets: Devoting Money to Decorating
The first step in decorating your home on a budget is deciding how much you're willing to spend. Even a large budget requires some boundaries on costs. However, if your furniture fund is small or you have a lot you need and less money than you'd like, you will have to be deliberate with your choices.
Prioritize Your Purchases
As you create your design wish list, focus on the necessities first. Include everything you need for each room you must furnish. Don't worry if your list is rather long. You can always make changes or delete items later.
If you are unsure where you may end up using a particular piece, list it in each room where it might end up. Seeing it in each list will help you weigh the importance of each item as you refine your priorities.
Essential furniture like living room seating, beds, dining tables and mattresses should take up the bulk of your budget.
It's a good idea to stick with chic, neutral furnishings that can serve as backdrops for colorful and decorative accents. As such, sticking to simple, modern pieces that complement just about any design is a great way to ensure that your furniture investment lasts.
Some modern staple items:
Keep in mind that one person's luxuries might be essential to someone else. If you spend a lot of time in front of your computer, you'll likely want to invest in a desk and ergonomic chair. Be sure your list of essentials includes what fits your own lifestyle and habits. This will help you avoid spending your limited funds on pieces that get little use.
Once you allocate funds to the big-ticket items on your shopping list, the rest can go toward accessories like rugs, light fixtures, bedding and wall art that will tie your ensemble together. You're likely to swap these pieces out as fashion trends, the seasons or your color schemes change, so it's okay to spend less money on these items.
Other neutral decor options:
Make a Floor Plan
A common mistake people make is buying too many items or pieces that are the wrong size for their rooms. Take measurements and make a diagram of the areas you're designing to ensure the furniture you choose isn't too large and that everything will fit without looking too crowded or cluttered.
This is also where you can review your list and decide where to put furnishings like desks that could work in several spots in your home. Keep your room plan and measurements handy when you shop so you can make your purchases wisely.
Download our free grid sheet and worksheets for living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas to start planning your own layout.
Inexpensive Furniture Shopping: Finding Affordable Items
Choosing low-cost furniture is the key to staying within your price range. Whether your budget is a few hundred dollars or a couple thousand, shop bargains on living room, dining room, bedroom, home office and patio pieces to save as much money as possible. Take a look at these economical options for decorating your home at a reasonable price.
Affordable Couches
When coming up with living room ideas on a budget, start by choosing your seating arrangement. Selecting small loveseats, sofas and sectionals over larger models is a great way to save a few bucks. If you prefer standard-size seating, you can still find chic and comfy couches that fit your budget. Shop sofas for under $1000 or browse couches for less than $500 to save even more money.
If you can afford to spend a bit more, there are also incredible deals at slightly higher price points. Discover spacious sectionals under $1500 that provide plenty of seating for your family and guests. You can also try an affordable two-piece or three-piece living room set to furnish your den.
Other inexpensive seating options:
Inexpensive Dining Room Sets
There are plenty of options to help you achieve your dining room decorating ideas on a budget. A five-piece dining set for under $500 or a three-piece pub set for less than $300 is a steal. Shop standard, counter and bar height tables that range from $200 to $500 in price. Pair them with inexpensive side chairs to finish off the design.
More low-cost dining room furniture:
Affordable Mattresses and Beds
Depending on their size and style, mattresses can be a major investment. However, there are plenty of comfy mattresses under $1000 that come in every size from crib and twin to California king. You can also find mattress sets under $1000 that help you avoid the extra cost of a foundation.
Bed frames can also be pricey, especially if you need a larger size option like a king. Queen bedroom sets may be a more affordable option if you need to furnish your entire bedroom suite. If you only need the frame, browse beds under $500 to find a wide range of low-cost frames in various sizes. You can browse beautiful metal, light wood, dark wood and upholstered beds at affordable prices. These items are excellent choices for creating the perfect bedroom escape within your budget.
Inexpensive Dressers, Chests and Nightstands
When coming up with bedroom decorating ideas on a budget, remember to leave room in your spending plan for storage items.
Some low-priced bedroom storage choices:
Best Budget Office Chairs and Desks
If you work from home, have a small business or want a dedicated gaming space, you may want to create your own office. You can find office chairs and desks for less than $200, making it easy to decorate a home office on a budget. For added comfort and convenience, choose work tables with built-in shelves and seats with casters, swivel bases and adjustable height features.
Budget-friendly office items:
Inexpensive Patio Furniture
Even your patio can get a gorgeous makeover for an affordable price. For under $1500, you can get a comfy patio sofa. Select a complete outdoor seating set under $2000 for more spacious outdoor layouts. There are also patio dining sets under $1000 for all your backyard barbecues and al fresco dinner parties.
Inexpensive outdoor finds:
Affordable Furniture for Kids and Teens
There are plenty of budget-friendly furnishings to choose from when buying furniture and decor for your kids and teens. Explore kids mattresses and mattress sets for under $500, as well as bed frames and bunks in the same price range. Looking for the ultimate savings? Shop crib sets and kids' bedroom ensembles that let you furnish their entire room for under $1000.
Budget Decor Items
After you price-check all the high-priority pieces, you can do the same for the smaller accents on your design list. Low-cost accent table sets and TV stands under $500 are great budget-friendly finds for living rooms. If you have a little extra cash to spare, you can add a china cabinet, credenza or sideboard to your dining room for extra storage.
Choose other reasonably-priced accents to give your inexpensive design a more luxurious look. Shop low-cost lamp sets and sconces that lend an elegant touch to your layout. Bring color and softness to the space with an affordable area rug. Use decorative mirrors with silver and gold borders to brighten up your ensemble, and pick beautiful wall art and figurines to personalize your space with artistic flair.
Some affordable decor:
Shopping Smart: More Ways to Save
Once you have an itemized list of affordable furnishings, you're ready to go shopping and get your budget-friendly design project underway. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind that will save you a few extra bucks when purchasing furniture and decor.
- Pick Multi-Functional Pieces: Practical sleeper sofas, storage beds and bunk beds with attached desks give you two furnishings for the price of one, helping you save on money and space.
- Buy Full Sets and Collections: Though you can find individual pieces at a low cost, living room, dining room and bedroom sets make decorating easy and affordable.
- Use Price Filters: When shopping online, narrow your searches to show the lowest prices first. This way, you can avoid the temptation of browsing and buying over-budget items.
- Check Out the Clearance Section: By shopping sales pages and outlet stores, you're sure to find great prices on furniture and decor for your entire home.
- Shop During Sales Events: Plan your shopping trip when your store's seasonal sales and holiday deals are in full swing.
- Take Advantage of Financing Opportunities: See if you qualify for a store credit card or other financing programs.
