How to Decorate on a Budget

Decorating your home on a budget

In a recent survey, HAFELE discovered that 46% of people are planning some sort of home improvement project. If you’re one of the 46% and are looking to do things on a budget, you’re in the right place. Decorating can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to. I’ve put together some brilliant ideas, tips and tricks below to decorate on a budget and start making your house feel more like a home.

Rearrange and repurpose existing furniture

The best place to start when breathing new life into your home is with what you already have. Moving things around and repurposing existing furniture can do wonders for a space. Here’s how:

• Redefines how the space is used:Creating a reading nook, a social area, or a clear TV-watching zone.
• Improves flow and movement:Making the space feel more comfortable as your eye moves through a room.
• Maximises space:Clearing visual clutter by using hidden storage can give the illusion of more space.
• Enhances natural light:Allowing more light into your space can further increase the feeling of space and provide a nicer, brighter atmosphere during the day.
• Encourages you to declutter:Purging unnecessary items can further the feeling of openness.
• Adds statement pieces:Repurposing pieces (using milk crates as bookshelves, jars as storage or turning a vintage suitcase into a side table) adds bold and beautiful new pieces.

Repurposing existing items into functional pieces of decor can redefine the look of a space. For example, making a simple spice rack out of inexpensive materials (or cookbooks carefully stacked up to hold the spices) can breathe new life into your kitchen. An old wooden ladder secured to the wall in the bedroom can offer a lovely visual and be a great place for towels or bedding.

Top tip: If you do start purging, sell your unwanted pieces of furniture on Facebook Marketplace or eBay for even more decorating budget.

Shop secondhand treasures

Nothing you already own inspiring you? Why not take a look on places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Vinted and Gumtree for pre-owned pieces? You can pick up absolute bargains, and in many cases, bag a piece of furniture perfect for your space for free.

You can also look in vintage and antique shops if you have something very specific in mind. Or car boot sales. You might need to do some work to bring certain items back to life (some sanding, a lick of paint here and there, etc.). So be selective and only pick items that either already look great, or that you can quickly (and cheaply) repair/restore to achieve your desired look.

Create your own artwork

You don’t need to be the next Van Gogh to create artwork for your home. A few cheap canvases, paints and paint brushes from Hobbycraft or The Range are all you need to begin creating works of art for your home.

A popular trend on Instagram and TikTok right now is to use branches to create works of art, and it’s so simple. Find a small branch, cover it in paint and hit your canvas with it. Let it dry, and you’ve got a masterpiece. You could also add leaves by collecting them and using them as stencils.

To test your creativity a little more, you could use wall filler to create textured canvases by spreading the filler on the canvas and creating patterns in any way you like. You could also buy some air-dry clay and your own vases or ornaments (a great thing to do with the kids) or attend a sip and paint class to brush up on your painting skills.

A lot of people are using fabrics to create artwork for their spaces at the moment. In fact, some are even using bath mats as artwork! Some are simply pinning bath mats that match their colour scheme to the wall. Others are going a little further by putting them in frames or creating a simple hanging rail. It sounds odd, but it can work well with the right mat in the right space!

If you aren’t creative in the slightest, you still have options. Buy a cheap shallow shelf from Argos or somewhere similar and display your favourite vinyls, or buy some cheap movie posters and photo frames and display these to add character to a space quickly and easily.

Top tip: Keep the colours simple so your new works of art will work with any decor you choose now or in the future.

Use paint to create more of an impact

Painting your walls or ceilings will change the way a space feels more than almost anything else you can do on a budget. However, once you buy the tester pots, equipment and tins of paints, you might be closing in on your budget.

To save some money and get a really stylish-looking room, paint your ceiling. It will use far less paint than painting the entire room and leave any interior designer jealous. This can visually lower your ceiling, so reserve this for rooms with high ceilings so your rooms don’t feel too cramped. Accent walls are also a great option if you want to save some money. Accent walls work great in lots of different rooms, but look particularly good in a feng shui bedroom layout with a solid colour behind the headboard, as it creates a balanced and symmetrical feel in the space.

If your budget for paint is really tight, you still have plenty of options for adding a pop of colour to your home. Painting small pieces of furniture can add a breath of fresh air to any space. Using stencils to add colour to a space is quick and easy. Painting your skirting boards and the edges of your internal doors. It’s a great way to separate spaces and add your personal touch to your home without breaking the bank.

When buying your paint and tools, shop around. Places like Wickes, Homebase and B&Q have great deals on paint throughout the year, but particularly over Easter, Christmas and sometimes the summer months. Waiting a couple of weeks before you buy your paint could mean you can save a lot of money.

Embrace DIY decor projects

Creating your own decor is a great way to save money, and it’s really fun too. Here’s some ideas:

Gallery walls

A gallery wall is a great way of adding some character to your home, and it’s so easy because you don’t need to align anything. In fact, the more chaotic the layout, the better! You will need to grab some photo frames, but places like Argos sell packs of frames for a really good price. Don’t be afraid to mix and match the frames for an even more unique look. To hang your pictures, you have plenty of option, from picture hanging kits that include nails and picture hangers to less permanent solutions like Command Strips that are easily removed if you move or change your mind.

DIY wall panelling

Adding wall panelling to your home isn’t as tricky or expensive as you might think. Alex Fiske, a keen home DIY-er, created a stunning feature wall in his new home for around £50 using just a few basic tools. All you really need is a saw, a mitre box, measuring tape, masking tape, some strong adhesive (all available from places like Screwfix), a wall panelling kit, and your chosen paint.

Start by measuring out your design and using masking tape to map it directly onto the wall. This helps you visualise the layout and make adjustments before committing. Once you're happy, cut your panels to size, apply the adhesive, press them into place, and allow to dry fully before painting. It’s a simple project, but one that can transform a room – and it’s worth noting that hiring a professional for this job could cost anywhere from £800 to £2,500.

To save even more, consider using MDF strips instead of pre-cut panelling kits. MDF batons can be sourced from local timber yards or cut down from larger sheets, which can slash your material costs. You can also experiment with different layouts – square, shaker-style, or vertical slats – depending on the look you're after. If you’re decorating on a tight budget, wall panelling offers maximum impact for minimum spend.

Turn flatpack furniture into designer-built-ins

The average cost of a built-in wardrobe is £3,250 if you hire someone. Yet you can do it for the cost of an Ikea wardrobe, some trim pieces, paint and some Swedish meatballs! There are loads of videos that go into a huge amount of detail about how to do this, and you really don’t need that many tools or that much DIY knowledge to pull off something that looks amazing.

Kirsty Griffiths has an amazing series covering the IKEA wardrobe hack that’s well worth checking out if you fancy giving it a try.

Find alternatives for expensive decor

While you can find some gems at John Lewis in the sales, there are other ways of finding expensive-looking decor within your budget. Look for alternatives. Places like Wayfair and IKEA have really high-end looking decor pieces that cost a fraction of the price of the real thing!

Got your eye on something eye-wateringly expensive? Shop around and look for alternatives. And don’t be afraid to extend this to other areas of the home, for example:

• Swap solid wood floor for laminate
• Marble countertops for marble-effect Fablon
• Polished concrete floor for concrete-effect tiles

Bring the beauty of the outdoors in (for free!)

Create a beautiful, botanical garden in your house! Houseplants are pretty cheap and add life, colour and vibrancy to your house really easily. If you aren’t great at looking after plants, there are plenty of low-maintenance options out there, like cacti, for example, and if you are really bad at keeping plants alive, there are also fake options. You could also collect branches or driftwood. If the pieces of wood are big enough, they can create a stunning visual used to separate spaces (just make sure to secure them to the wall with a few hidden screws. If you can only find smaller pieces, these work great in vases or as wall art.

For plants that love moisture, give them a home in the kitchen or bathroom. For those that need a dryer atmosphere, keep them in the living room or bedroom. You can add them to your bookcases, TV stand or create a living wall full of plants with shelves full of colourful plants.

To take your plants up a notch, you also have endless possibilities.

Quick tip: When it comes to pots, the possibilities are endless. However, I’d recommend buying some cheap pots and a few sample paint colours and painting your pots to match the decor in each room for a couple of added style points.

Don't underestimate the small details

Making minor changes to your space can do wonders for the feel of it. For example, updating cabinet hardware in kitchens and bathrooms can make cabinets feel new again. Switching out old light switch plates and outlet covers can give a modern look. Refreshing towels and bath mats is a quick way of updating your bathroom without painting.

Even adding a few new candles to your space can be enough to change the feel of a room. Paying attention to the smaller details is a great way of refreshing a home without it costing you a fortune.

Get free inspiration online

There are a lot of people doing some amazing decor on a budget online. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram all have amazing content creators creating stunning homes for very little money. So, explore these social platforms to get some free inspiration for your next project.

'When you're decorating on a budget, creativity is your best tool. I have found that Social media is packed with smart DIY tricks and real homes that prove you don't need deep pockets to make a big impact. I once saw someone on TikTok transform an old IKEA bookcase into a stylish hallway bench using just paint, a cushion and some leftover wood – all for under £30. That kind of inspiration is priceless when you're watching the pennies.'

How to set a budget for decorating your home

On average, people spend £330 a year on decorating their homes in the UK. Knowing how to spend that money is crucial to getting the results you want. So, here are a few tips on how to maximise your decorating budget.

• Define your goal: decide if you're decorating a room or the whole house.
• Set your total budget: include a 10-15% buffer for unexpected expenses.
• Look for smart savings: use our voucher codes to save money on all your decorating supplies.
• Track your spending: use our voucher codes to save money on all your decorating supplies.
• Decorate in phases: start with essentials, add decor over time.

Decorate your home and save with Savoo

Don’t spend more than you have to on decorating your home. You can find some great deals on decor and paint with our partners and build a beautiful home that your family will love with a bit of DIY knowledge and some elbow grease.

Transforming your home doesn't require a hefty budget. By implementing these tips, you can create a stylish and comfortable space without breaking the bank. Before you make any purchases, be sure to check Savoo's latest home and garden discount codes and vouchers. Whether you're looking for deals on paint, furniture, or decorative accessories, Savoo can help you save even more on your budget-friendly decorating journey.