How to Decorate with No Money (or on a very tight budget)
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If you’ve ever spent any time trying to decorate your home, you’ll know it can get expensive FAST!
It takes incredible amounts of time and effort to put together a beautiful space, whether you have infinite amounts of cash at your disposal or not (and not many of us do!).
Luckily, if you’re resourceful, there are ways to create a totally chic looking home without going broke! So today we’re going to look at some of the cheapest possible ways to furnish and decorate your home.
When we talk about “affordable” and “inexpensive” decor, the terms are absolutely subjective: for some people, “affordable” could mean anything up to $1000.
But some people only have a spare $50 to buy everything they need.
And other people have literally no disposable cash but they still need to furnish a place with the essentials!
I totally get the struggle because I have been there!
- So first, let’s look at zero-cost ways to furnish your place.
- Then we will look at low-cost ways to furnish your place.
- After that, we’ll take a look at some budget DIY projects that you can tackle that will not cost you an arm and a leg.
Grab a cuppa and get comfy! And if you don’t have time to read it all, you can always just pin any image and come back to the article later!
How to decorate your home with zero money
I have acquired numerous great pieces using all of the methods I talk about below.
If you’re strapped for cash and just starting out, these budget-friendly decorating ideas are a godsend!
1. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace – the free sections!
If you have literally no money to spare on home furnishing or decor, but you still need essentials for your home, I recommend you search the free sections on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You’d be surprised at how much stuff you can find!
Often times, people just don’t want to deal with getting rid of stuff and would rather give it away to someone who is willing to come pick it up. If you really need to, you can furnish your whole place for free.
I once got a free 3 seater down-filled sofa in amazing condition with a custom made slipcover. The owners were an older couple and didn’t want to deal with getting rid of it. It was a beautiful and very comfortable sofa that I actually ended up reselling when I moved out. I found it on Craigslist and I resold it on Craigslist.
In 2024, Craigslist is definitely less popular than it used to be; a lot of people have pivoted to using FB marketplace only. But for those who don’t have a FB account, Craigslist is still a great option and definitely worth checking.
2. Freecycle
You can sign up for Freecycle and get daily emails on all the free stuff that is available in your town or city.
I recommend setting up your notifications to be instant so that you get an email as soon as something is posted.
Some people watch Freecycle like hawks and swoop in to claim all the good stuff. Unfortunately, free = competition so you have to act fast.
3. Hand me downs
Ask your family and friends for hand me downs – chances are they have items they don’t use that YOU can!
My mum and dad saved me so much money when I moved into my first apartment after university! They gave me everything from dishware to laundry baskets, linens, an old dresser, a mattress and so much more. This way, I was able to save and spend a little bit of money on a dining table and a bed frame (all rigorously IKEA, of course).
Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and fam if they have anything they don’t need anymore. Tell them you’d be happy to take it off their hands!
With everyone Marie Kondo’ing the heck out of their homes nowadays, it shouldn’t be hard to get a bunch of free stuff that otherwise would have been donated anyway. Free stuff definitely sparks joy, especially when you have nothing. 😬
4. Take a walk around your ‘hood
If you’re not squeamish, check your local back alleys for discarded furniture and free stuff. Believe it or not, that used to be one of my favorite past times 😅 Or take a drive around your neighborhood and see if you can spot any items left curbside that are free for the taking.
TIP → It’s especially a good idea to do this towards the end of the month when people are clearing stuff out of their homes and apartments before moving out!
Sometimes what you find needs a little refinishing, and sometimes you can just use the items as you find them. What you find might be a little wonky and rough around the edges, but hey, if your budget is tight, your budget is tight.
Not free, but almost
Now we’ll look at the cheapest possible ways to find deals on great-looking decor for your home.
These methods may take some time if you are looking for specific items, but the savings will be well worth it!
1. Thrift stores and second-hand shopping
I feel like I’m stating the obvious here, but it needs to be said: don’t underestimate what you might find in second-hand stores!
If you have a little bit of money to spend, don’t forget to check your local thrift shops. Sometimes you can really come away with some fantastic finds.
If you want to save EVEN MORE, then wait for your favorite second hand stores to have sales; for example: I often wait for Value Village to do their 50% off sale and I’ll go shopping then.
After Tidying Up was brought to the masses on Netflix, the KonMari decluttering method has got everyone clearing out anything that doesn’t “spark joy”.
I don’t know about you, but to me this sounds like the perfect opportunity to hit the thrift stores and score some amazing stuff!
Now more than ever is the time to be second-hand shopping, as thrift stores have reported a massive surge in donations ever since the show aired at the beginning of 2019.
2. Yard sales
Garage sales are another great opportunity to find real bargain items. If you’re old school, look for signs posted up in your neighborhood on telephone poles.
The easier way to find yard sales in your area is to check any local websites that have this sort of thing posted. Just try googling “XYZ garage sales” (where “XYZ” is the name of your town or neighborhood) and see what you find.
You can also check Facebook and see if there are any Yard Sale Groups in your area.
TIP → A good tip for getting free stuff from yard sales is to wait until it’s all over and walk by later or in the evening. Often, the owners will just leave whatever didn’t sell out on the curb for free, because they don’t really want to haul it back inside.
3. Online classified websites
You can find a lot of deals on second-hand decor and furnishings on “classified” type websites.
They are especially good if you’re looking for unique vintage items, but really it’s possible to find anything!
We already talked about Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist earlier. But there are more places online to find amazing deals, and I’m sure I’m missing tons! Leave me a comment with your faves below!
If you’re in the USA, you can use:
In Canada you can try:
4. Rearrange your furniture
Have you grown tired of your current layout? Try switching up how your furniture is arranged! I used to do this all the time as a kid in my bedroom! This is literally free to do, it just takes the time and energy to move everything around.
If you have rooms to spare that you can play around with, you can even try swapping bedrooms, or putting the home office in the place of a guest bedroom. Have fun with it!
5. DIY is not always cheaper
A lot of times people are quick to say “You can just DIY it to save money!”. But sometimes DIY is not an option.
To pull off a great looking DIY, you need materials, tools, time and usually some level of skill.
If you’re not careful, sometimes DIY can end up being just as expensive as buying something new.
The perfect example is this mirror from Urban Outfitters: I wanted to DIY this so bad!
But once I calculated how much it would cost in materials to do it properly, I realized I could buy the original mirror for the same amount as DIY’ing it, if not less!
And I wouldn’t have to spend time doing any work, either.
Moral of the story: if you plan on embarking on a DIY adventure, be sure to calculate how much it’s going to cost you in materials so that you don’t end up spending more than it would cost you to buy something new. Do your research first!
And remember that every DIY project also costs you your time, which is precious!
7 Low-cost DIYs and decorating ideas
Speaking of DIYs …
If you are passionate about your DIY projects, here are a few great cheap home decor ideas that can freshen up your space in no time.
A couple of these projects are actually dollar store DIYs – they are THAT cheap to put together!
1. Paint a room
Paint! The ultimate cheap home decor MVP!
If you are going for a huge impact change at a minimal cost, consider painting your room. The cost is minimal: a can of paint will cost anywhere between $20 to $50 depending on which brand you get, and a set of paint rollers, brushes and a tray only costs $16 on Amazon.
If you’ve never tackled this kind of project before, then check out these 10 steps to painting your room like a pro.
2. Paint your furniture
You can give an old piece of furniture a breath of new life by giving it a coat of paint and some new hardware.
It’s fun, fast and cheap to do.
Check out my guide on how to paint solid wood, laminate and metal furniture!
3. Create an accent wall
Accent walls are a great cheap home decor idea. You can create a feature wall in an afternoon by painting, stenciling, or hanging some funky wallpaper. You can also apply some architectural interest like molding or fluting or slats.
Two-toned and color block accent walls are also incredibly awesome looking and would add a super modern vibe to any drab corner of your home.
How to create an accent wall with wallpaper
I recommend buying peel and stick removable wallpaper for this project. It’s easy to remove with no mess or fuss.
Removable wallpaper is the perfect temporary decor solution, for example if you live in a rental property.
Some of the best places to buy modern and chic removable wallpaper online are:
- Etsy
- Amazon
- Society6
- Wayfair
- Chasing Paper
- Rocky Mountain Decals
- Spoonflower
- Hygge & West
- Rebel Walls
- Cuckoo Walls
Here’s a video from Society6 that shows you how to easily apply peel and stick wallpaper.
How to create a color block accent wall
If painting a room a single color isn’t enough of a change for you, then color blocking is the way to go!
When I saw this room from The House That Lars Built, I lost it! It’s simply amazing.
Continuing the color blocks onto the ceiling and overlapping the natural edges of the room creates a fantastic vibrant, and dynamic effect.
It’s more work and a bit more expensive than just repainting your room in a single color (because you have to buy multiple colors), but the results are outstanding!
Here’s a video that shows you how to color block an accent wall.
4. DIY: Dollar store trash can makeover
Give your cheap dollar store trash can a chic makeover with some rope. Easy, inexpensive and looks really great! Get the tutorial at Two It Yourself.
Want a stylish trash can hack? Grab a cute basket big enough and line it a plastic bag lining. Great for paper trash! Just remember, woven baskets are tough to clean, so keep ’em dry! 😉
5. DIY: Terracotta planter makeover
If you’re not grabbing your terracotta planters from the dollar store, you’re missing out! They’re super affordable. I always load up when I’m there. Anyways, if you’re not into the orange color of terracotta planters, you can easily jazz them up with some paint and ribbon. There are tons of paint ideas out there, just search ‘painted terracotta pots’ on Google and pick the tutorial that speaks to you!
6. DIY: Mid-century inspired plant stand
Try your hand at carpentry with this pretty mid-century inspired plant stand. There is no fancy joinery involved in this project, just brackets, so it makes it a bit easier.
Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
7. DIY: Topiary trees
Learn how to make these charming DIY topiary trees for a few bucks over at Home Made Lovely. Perhaps you can put one on your newly crafted plant stand? (see above) 🙂
Decorating your home doesn’t have to break the bank. By incorporating these no cost and low cost decorating ideas, you can start to create a space that reflects your style and personality without spending a fortune. Whether it’s upcycling old items, DIY projects, or simply rearranging furniture, there are plenty of creative ways to refresh your home on a budget. Remember, a beautiful home is not about how much you spend but how you express yourself through design!
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