Decorating for the Recession…10 Ideas Under $100!

Grab your paint brushes, your light bulbs and your storage bins folks…. here are 10 easy decorating ideas for less than $100.

1.  Go where you can get things cheaper.  Thrift stores, flea markets, Craigslist or your friend who is moving.  Chances are if you help them pack and move, they’ll start handing you things that they don’t want to take with them.  Ive gotten some great stuff this way and may have lost a few pounds too!

2.  Bartering.  I found several people online that were interested in trade.  If you can’t tile, but can create websites, consider working on a trade basis to keep your costs down.  Who knows… that tile guy may be in need of a new website to draw in new business?

3.  Invest in paint first.  Your cheapest most inexpensive option.  It doesn’t just have to be on the walls either.  It can be on the furniture or even the floor.  Check out this great picture from Metropolitan Home of a floor rug that was painted on!

4.  Modernize your lighting. Replace old lampshades, switch to clear or globe bulbs, spray paint old bases or place lighting in unexpected places like on the kitchen  or bathroom counter.

5.  Repaint your front door and invest in new house numbers.  This is the first thing people see when they come to your house.  You want the first impression to be spectacular.  You might even want to consider wallpapering the foyer.  This will provide a dramatic entrance every time.

6.  Give your furniture an overhaul.  Now you have several options here.  You can sand, stain, paint, wallpaper or you can do what Lindsay over at Penny People did. She used inexpensive unfinished Ikea furniture and gave it her own spin.  Check out how great this furniture makeover is!

7.  Branches, flowers and herbs.  I decorate and I cook with them.  A perfect money saving combo.

8.  Change your furniture arrangement around.  Sometimes even pairing your outdoor benches with your dining table can give it a whole new look.

9.  Hide the clutter.  Your space will seem so much more organized and less chaotic.  I love this idea of putting a roller shade onto a bookshelf courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.  Easy, inexpensive and your hardware store should be able to cut it to size for you.

10.  Window Treatments. To give the illusion of a higher ceiling go with vertical stripes or hang you curtain rods as high as they can go.  Or buy a plain white shade a design it yourself with stencils, ribbon or trim.  I’ve even used an inexpensive shower curtain because it went well with the space.