decorating on a budget: 9 small steps that make a big impact!

Via Andrew Flescher

Our homes are big motivators. People often underestimate the impact it has on our daily attitudes, but enjoying one’s space is actually an elemental factor for having a joyful life. Having a beautiful home is a right, not a luxury: We all need and deserve to live surrounded by a space that makes us happy and motivated. Our own little piece of the world, filled with things that we love and love us back.

No matter what your budget is, you should always prioritize, and invest in, your wellbeing. And with these easy steps, you’ll see you can accomplish a lot with minimal effort.

Step 1. Clean!

Do we even need to explain this one? Coming home to a clean environment is the best feeling there is. Keeping your house neat at all times takes a lot of unnecessary stress out of your life (and sight). Just do it. All the time.

Step 2. Organize!

Marie Kondo your life. Get rid of clutter, and donate what you don’t use or need. Have a place for everything: Cords go where cords go, pens go where pens go, and so on. Your main goal is to make your life easier and convenient, so try to think about your processes inside your house and streamline them as much as you can. For example: The dishes go near the sink and dishwasher. If you can, invest in storage solutions from The Container Store, or really any source. Trays, baskets, bins, boxes, and jars are your best friends.

Step 3. Repurpose!

If you own something that is of a nice quality but in poor condition: Fix it. A nice wood piece can always be sanded and stained, (or just painted), some rugs can be cleaned and dyed, you can make slip covers for chairs and sofas for an easy quick fix too.

Step 4. Update!

There are a few things that you can upgrade for very little cost: cabinet knobs, door knobs/levers, switch and outlet plates, and simple light fixtures. Build.com is a great resource with mega affordable pricing, and their search tools are impeccable. Rejuvenation is also one of our favorites if you have more room to play!

Step 5. Paint!

Paint is not expensive, and a bucket goes a LONG way. You can try painting your doors, or an accent wall or two. Here’s the cheat sheet for paint finishes: Ceilings go Flat, walls go semi-gloss (or eggshell), trims (baseboards, frames and doors) go gloss. Get dirty and make it fun!

Step 6. Upgrade!

Some things just need to be changed: Shower curtains, bathroom towels and rugs, bedding, dishes and silverware. Buying these fresh will make you feel fancier immediately.

Step 7. Thrift!

Thrifting is the best thing ever. You’ll have fun, you’ll find awesome pieces, and you’ll love them forever. Look for a cool bench for your foyer, a retro dining chairs to mix with your table, or a comfy reading chair. Smaller pieces like end tables, vases, and even lamp shades are always under-looked, but they make such great statements!. If you rather shop from your couch, follow thrift shops on instagram, or go to websites like Chairish (you can negotiate prices on both).

Step 8. Add some green!

We made an guide for this. In short: Plants change everything, as if they’re magic (we think they are). Just add 5 sunflowers on your dining room or a hanging ivy in your room and tell us how it makes you feel. Homes need plants like we need air. Go to your nearest nursery, or order some cute ones from The Sill, and fill your space UP (kitchen and bathrooms too!). The trick for plants is also where you plant them, so make sure your planters are efficient and stylish. Allmodern and its sister sites have some nice ones.

Step 9. Accessorize!

We ALSO have a whole article on accessories, but in a nutshell you’ll want to think of your accessories as a ‘collection’. As such, it should be cohesive and carry meaning in every piece. Wether you are very minimal or live for collecting tchotchkes, every accessory should have a reason to be. And the way you arrange them will be the cherry on top, so be mindful of balance and symmetry when placing them! We never encourage buying accessories on a whim, but if you need a quick nice fix CB2 would be our go- to.

The road to a happy home doesn’t have to be a long (or expensive) one. Just make a plan, set up a budget and have fun with it. And don’t forget: Everything you bring into your home should bring you joy.