20 essential tips for decorating on a budget

Cheap furniture is definitely appealing in terms of price, but it's likely that the piece you pick up at Ikea or Walmart will be falling apart in a couple of years. Score a true deal by shopping secondhand stores and resale platforms like Craigslist for a vintage piece that will stand the test of time. 

A coat of paint or stain can bring a whole new life to even the most dated pieces of furniture. Choose a hue that fits in nicely with your decor scheme, then pick up some brushes to transform a drab dresser into a custom piece that looks great. 

If you don't have much cash to spend on decorative pieces, plants are a cheap way to make any space feel homier. Easy-to-care for varieties like pothos and ZZ plants are low-maintenance, and the striking green foliage will fit in with any color scheme. 

Once considered tacky, peel-and-stick wallpaper is all the rage for designers looking to add a pop of interest to a drab space. Available in bold tropical prints and subdued patterns, there's a wide range of wallpaper options on the market that are perfect for those situations when you don't want to make any permanent changes. 

There's no need to go out and buy tons of decorative objects — you likely have plenty of things that can be tweaked or transformed to look great in your space. Turn empty Topo Chico bottles and mason jars into flower vases, and use old milk crates to store throw blankets in the living room. 

If you inherited an old dresser or coffee table that doesn't fit your aesthetic, give it a cheap facelift with new handles and hardware. Modern handles can be found at stores like Anthropologie and Cost Plus World Market for a few bucks each, and will instantly provide a new look. 

You'd be surprised what you can find on the shelves of a dusty thrift store or piled on a table at a garage sale. Items like wall art, table decor, and kitchen appliances can often be found second-hand much cheaper than the typical retail price. 

If you're worried about having enough cash to fully outfit your space, focus first on the essentials. Keeping a space minimalist — at least at first — will help you pull the design together without spending too much cash. Choose a few pieces, perhaps a striking coffee table or large piece of wall art, and let the rest of the space come together over time. 

When you're moving into a new space or starting over from scratch, it can seem overwhelming to completely decorate a living room or bedroom in just a couple of weeks. Instead of wasting cash on items that you'll eventually replace, be patient and only buy what you really love while building your aesthetic over time. 

If you're still trying to figure out what exactly your design aesthetic is, it can be hard to stick with a theme. But choosing a general vibe, like midcentury modern or boho farmhouse, can make it easier to select pieces that will come together cohesively. Once you've decided on a theme, use Pinterest to put together a vision board of what your space will eventually become. 

Shelving is an affordable way to make a room more visually interesting, especially if you've got lots of colorful books or fun decorative pieces to display. Score cheap floating shelves at Target or IKEA, or DIY your own with basic brackets and cut wood. 

If you're not willing to paint an entire space, an accent wall can really bring a pop of color and tie the decorative theme together. It's an easy enough project to DIY and can be made even more visually interesting with a faux finish or other design. 

A tray is a great way to declutter a table or bathroom counter, and they're easy to make yourself. Apply felt dots to the bottom of an old mirror or large ceramic tile to add visual interest and corral small items like skincare products. Alternatively, you can buy a cheap tray at a home decor store and give it a facelift with paint or mosaic tiles. 

Even if you can't sew, DIY curtains are easy and much more affordable than fancy drapery. Use flat sheets, vividly patterned shower curtains — even tea towels, depending on the size of your window — and fabric glue to make custom curtains that won't break the bank. 

Abundant at thrift stores and secondhand shops, mirrors can make small spaces look both bigger and more put together. That's especially true if you find a mirror with a fun ornate frame, which will add a luxe touch. 

Gallery walls are still wildly popular in the design world, and for good reason. They're fun to look at and make walls much more compelling. Buy multipack frames from craft stores, and blend together old black-and-white shots of your beloved grandparents with current photos and pieces of art for a cohesive look that's also totally personal. 

When someone says "wall art," most of us think of framed photos. But wall art can be so much more! In the kitchen, consider hanging vintage plates and other cute essentials like tea towels, while wall planters and stacks of books on a shelf provide visual interest in the living room. Tapestries and other wall hangings are also a great choice. 

If your space is packed with windows, use that natural light to your advantage! Gauzy curtains will keep the space well-lit throughout the day while providing privacy at night. 

Sure, you might not ever have the cash to put a Picasso in your living room, but patronizing a local artist could bring a stunning piece into your space while supporting an independent maker. The same is true for items like ceramics and decorative pieces like wreaths. If you don't find anything you love locally, consider shopping the small businesses on Etsy. 

Baskets are incredibly versatile as decor pieces, working as both functional storage and an interesting way to break up your space. Use them to organize toys and remotes under the coffee table, or stick one by the couch to store throw blankets.