Apartment Decorating How To: 7 Ways to Spend $50 or Less
If you want your apartment to look spectacular, but your budget is tighter than a pair of Spandex jeans, don’t despair. Here are
7 great ways to design without breaking the bank!!
1. Artwork – Think you can’t afford great pieces of art? Think again! If you know where to shop, you can get original pieces that look great and fit your style for $50 or less. Look online, go to art schools and even visit thrift stores for excellent finds. Checkout Allposters.com to get great deals on posters and art prints. They usually have a weekly special of 20% to 25% off your total order or free shipping. They also have a sale section with a variety of prints and posters.
2. Potted plants – Believe it or not, very inexpensive plants can really jazz up an apartment. If you find the right pots, they can fit in to just about any design. Or, if you don’t want to spend a lot on pots, those orange terracotta pots are only a few bucks, so you can spend more money on more colorful exotic looking plants. Shop around at thrift stores, garage sales and bargain
basements for the right pots and just hit discount nurseries for the plants. Check out iVillage’s Top 10 Indoor plant list for ideas.
3. Pottery – Unique pottery pieces can look fantastic without costing a fortune. Look in the same places you would for framed artwork to find great deals on decorator pieces. Or, if you’re looking to learn a new craft or skill, check out pottery or art classes and create your own art while taking up a new pastime.
4. Dishes and cutlery – These items are generally utilitarian, but you can make them fit into a decorating scheme. If you want your dining table to pop, shop thrift and antique stores for excellent buys.
5. Extra touches – Candles, knick knacks, decorative blankets and more can all cost very little and really lend a decorator’s touch to a room. Have a little fun on this end and you’ll find even the smallest pieces can go a very long way. These accents are a great way to add a pop of color to plain rooms and furniture
6. Window treatments – Drapes and curtains can cost a fortune when you buy them new, but who says you have to? Visit thrift stores, look for close out sales and even hit garage sales for great buys under $50. They are out there! And, if you have a sewing machine covered in dust just sitting in the back of the closet, pull that baby out and make your own drapes or sheers with fabric from a large discount warehouse. And, if sewing isn’t your thing, you can also buy iron on tape to adhere the frayed edges rather than hemming them with needle and thread.
7. Furniture – If you are decorating on a budget, furniture can be a real challenge. Look for unfinished pieces or those that need refinishing to save a bundle. You can find tables, chairs, shelves and more for $50 or less if you shop around and put in a little elbow grease to fix imperfections. When moving to an apartment, decorating on a budget is not an impossible task. With a little imagination and determination, a room can look spectacular with very little monetary investment.