Creating a Stylish Home on a Budget

Here’s 6 affordable ways to style your home when you’re decorating on a budget.

To support a healthy mind and soul, it’s crucial to have somewhere you can retreat.

Somewhere to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life, unwind and feel truly relaxed.

And the best place to start is with your home.

Creating a stylish space you feel comfortable in is the first step to feeling more rested, refreshed and able to face whatever life throws at you.

But if the thought of restyling your home feels like a daunting - and expensive - task, you’re not alone.

As an interior design expert, how to decorate your home on a budget is a question I get asked a lot.

The good news is, there are plenty of affordable ways to style your home that won’t break the bank, and with a little creativity and imagination, you’ll be surprised what’s possible!

So if you’re looking for cheap and easy ways to style your home, read on for my best budget home styling ideas.

1. Make it light, bright and just right.

Apart from making it feel instantly fresh, filling your home with natural light can lift your mood, improve your health AND lower your energy bill.

And the best part? Natural light is free - so when it comes to affordable home styling, make the most of windows!

Switch out heavy curtains for sheer fabrics, or install adjustable blinds. Even washing your windows can make a huge difference.

Mirrors placed opposite windows reflect light in, making smaller spaces seem larger, and even if you’ve got few windows to work with, you can still invoke ambiance.

Place inexpensive lamps in dark corners, switch globes out for lower lumens and select bulbs with warm hues. 

2. Colour yourself happy - for less. 

Ambiance in a home is influenced largely by colour. And the walls, the floors and furnishings can all affect how you feel in a room. 

As a rule, neutrals lift a space, while heavy colour - or too many mixed tones - can make you feel on edge.

It’s best to start with a light base where possible - think soft beige, whites and creams - then simply add pops of colour with inexpensive items like cushions, rugs, vases, towels and wall art.

But what can you do if your walls ARE the colour? Repainting can get pricey, so simply flip it around. Stick to softer, more neutral furnishings, and lighten it up in reverse.

Either way, before you begin, make a mood board and keep this in mind as you go along. Mood boards help keep you on track - and on budget - when restyling your home.

3. Invite nature in. 

Nature is equal parts beautiful, peaceful and healing.  

So bringing a touch of it indoors, is certain to give your home a stylish facelift, create fresh energy and invite positive energy in.

Impeccably imperfect, a few inexpensive indoor plants can help soften hard lines, calm a busy mind and provide tranquil ambiance to any room.

Which plants work best? Opt for leafy varieties that require minimal upkeep - like peace lilies, spider ivy, kentia palms and banana plants - mixing up textures, shapes and colours to give it a truly organic feel.

4. Add some (sensibly priced) soul.

 One of the cheapest - and fun - ways to style your home is to get crafting!

Pick the best pages from last year's calendar, have your kids paint some pictures using colours you love, or create a collage out of photos taken from happy life moments.

Pop them in a simple white frame and you’ve got some bespoke pieces that not only exude personal style and inspire gratitude, but also add soulful sentiment and positive energy to your space.

5. Less really is more.

 Stylish homes all have one thing in common - they’re organised.

So when it comes to your own space, simply decluttering is sure to up its appeal. 

Work on one room at a time, and get rid of things you don’t use (or like!). Sell or donate items in good condition, or upcycle them if you can.

Once the place is tidy, add some storage to help keep it that way. 

But don’t stress - organising your home doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Choose some pretty baskets or bins to stow everyday items, and repurpose jars or boxes to store smaller trinkets inside drawers.

Affordable DIY shelves work well for photos and art, hooks are great for coats and bags, and a simple bookshelf or shelving unit can become a stylish display for books, vases and plants.

6. Reuse, Recycle & DIY

Hands-down, the thriftiest way to style your home is to simply reimagine what you’ve already got.

Sand and re-stain tired coffee tables, upcycle old dressers and pop a no-sew slip over that worn couch.

Replace outdated handles on cabinetry, fit some new tapware, add a rainfall showerhead and replace the light shades.

Even the tiniest, most low-cost tweaks can pack a huge punch style-wise. 

Pinterest is a treasure-trove of budget upcycling ideas, offering endless inspiration for how to turn old furniture into stylish and functional showpieces on a shoestring budget.

You might even get hooked! Hard rubbish, op shops, antique stores - even your family’s hand-me-downs might suddenly become exciting ways to find your next cut-price project.

And if you’re not into DIY, or don’t want to spend a cent? Don’t underestimate how simply rearranging the furniture can add freshness to a space!

Ultimately, when it comes to styling your home on a budget, remember it’s often the smallest changes that will have the biggest impact - and when it comes to cheap and easy home décor ideas, there’s plenty of inspiration out there.

Giving your home a refresh shouldn’t equal an empty wallet, and with just a little thought, creativity and elbow grease, you too can create your own home sanctuary to love.

Want even more organisation ideas for your home, inspiration to create a home sanctuary within your own four walls, or simply want to discover more ways to live a stress-free life? 

Grab my free e-book ‘8 Essentials to Create a Cosy Sanctuary Within Your Home’ and get inspired!

You’ll also be signed up to my mailing list, where I share my top home organisation tips, interior design inspiration and all my secrets to living a slower, more simple life.

Don’t want to go it alone?

Why not book a free, 20-minute call with me to discuss all your interior design, home organisation and lifestyle needs.