Decorating Your Home On A Budget: Tips For The Frugal Homemaker

Today I am sharing tips for decorating your home on a budget! Styling, thrifting and making it work with kids is possible for the frugal homemaker!

Happy Friday friends! Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing some of my favorite garage sale and thrift store finds over on YouTube. That got me thinking it might be time to write a full blog post about decorating your home on a budget. I hope this post can be an encouragement to you; you truly do not need to spend a lot to have a beautiful, cozy home on a tight budget.

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Decorating Your Home On A Budget: Find Your Style

The first step to decorating your home on a budget is to nail down your own personal style. One of my favorite ways to understand and define my personal style is by using home decor books. I love being able to stare at an image longer than I can a screen. I ask myself: Is it the colors I love? The furniture? The wood tones? What about the fixtures and accessories? Seeing the work of another interior designer helps me feel more confident in my own design choices.

As a blogger and influencer, it might seem silly to discourage you from using Instagram, but there’s something about it that leaves you feeling less than. I’m all for inspiration, but there are better ways. Try curating some boards on Pinterest to help you nail down your style. Organize them by rooms and be specific, but don’t spend too much time staring at your phone.

I’ve found that the best way for me to understand what I really love is through trial and error. It’s unfortunate, but true. That’s why I love thrifting so much. You can spend less and play with decor, and if it doesn’t work out, you haven’t invested much in a new vase, throw pillow or wall art. Facebook marketplace is another great option for budget-friendly decor, and I just love giving vintage or antique pieces new life in my home.

If you did spend a lot on something, you can always try to sell it on Facebook to gain back some of what you spent. I’ve done this multiple times with a piece of furniture, area rugs and decor. While I lose money at times, I remind myself that it’s all part of the process. My home wouldn’t look the way it does today without many, many mistakes.

And maybe not mistakes in the eyes of others, but rather choices I made that didn’t look or feel right in our home.

Decorating Your Home On A Budget: Thrift Store Tips and Tricks

Decorating your home on a budget starts with finding budget-friendly decor. I know it can be challenging to see other bloggers sharing beautiful pieces that you wish you could afford for your home, but I promise if you have a little patience, you can find so many wonderful statement pieces and gorgeous home decor at thrift stores. Here are some of my tips for navigating the thrift store:

Don’t buy something just because it’s a good deal. I used to do this all the time and ended up with a lot of junk I didn’t need. You’ll find yourself with stock piles of curtains, pillows, and table lamps if you’re not careful haha If you don’t absolutely love it, don’t bring it home.

Study the images you love so you know what you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to dig. If you love vintage artwork, sort through the frames to curate your own gallery wall. Finger through the piles and piles of plates, jars, greenery or blankets.

Look beyond beauty and think about function. Is this going to add clutter to my home? How can I use this item? I am a sucker for vintage laundry baskets, so I have to stop myself from buying too many for my laundry room haha

On the other hand, you don’t need to know exactly where you’ll use something. If you love it, buy it. For example, the three tiered basket in my entryway was found by my mom. I originally told her not to buy it because I had no place for it, but thank goodness she convinced me to take it because it’s now one of my favorite pieces of thrifted decor!

Be frugal, but also consider how much the item would cost brand new. I’ve passed up so many great things because I thought they were “expensive” for a thrift store.

Don’t overlook potential. For example, I loved a coffee table for my living room, but it was way too orange. Could it be painted, stripped, or made over? I’ll be honest, I really have to love something now to want to make it over, but I still consider potential. I’ve saved a lot of money with DIY projects over the years! Sometimes a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a piece.

Larger items like sofas or a dining room table might be investment pieces. As much as I would have loved to find my couch and chairs at a thrift store, it just wasn’t the case. We had to save and invest in those items instead of holding out for my dream set. That’s okay.

Be patient and visit often. The more you go, the more luck you have. I like to bring my kids sometimes and let them look at the toys or books. My husband even enjoys it now.

Decorating Your Home On A Budget: House Projects with Kids

Moms often ask me how I manage to get so many projects done with little ones. Please keep in mind that we should never compare our lives to anyone else’s. There are so many variables. Maybe I have more help from loved ones. Maybe my husband has more flexible hours. Maybe he’s more handy. Maybe I work faster. Don’t compare. It only leads to discouragement. Here are some tips that have helped me:

1. Focus on one project minimum at a time. Otherwise, it gets overwhelming. I’ve made the mistake of starting too many things at once or trying to finish entire rooms in one day. It only leads to stress and chaos. Decorating your home on a budget is a marathon, not a race. The most beautiful homes are curated slowly over time. Sometimes you really need to live in a home before installing a feature wall, adding crown molding to the ceiling or renovating kitchens. Learn how the house works best for your family. We can’t be the moms and wives we need to be if we’re stressed out with unfinished projects everywhere. We can’t be hospitable. Go slowly, ask God for wisdom, and remember this isn’t HGTV. It’s real life.
2. Find ways to entertain little ones while you work, or try working during naps. You don’t want your kids to remember an angry mom who always prioritized the house over them. Be patient. Ask God to help you. Life is short. Creating a beautiful home is important, but it’s not the most important thing. Play-Doh, paint brushes and water, coloring, Legos, magnet tiles all help. Ask older kids to help watch the younger ones. Let them get involved. My little one asked if he could help me paint, and I let him. Why not? If it’s not working, stop. Try again later. If your child clearly needs you, don’t fight it or get angry. They are the most important thing.
3. Ask yourself if the timing is right. I like using an old-fashioned planner. Is there a big event coming up? A holiday? The best time to refinish your floor probably won’t be in December haha
4. Prioritize projects. Is this really important? Does it serve my family? Will this improve our lives, or is it just something I want to post on Instagram? I’ve wanted to redo our master bath for so long, but every time I think about it, it’s not a priority. Other things have served our family better, like renovating our basement space for our boys.
5. Be patient. Something my mom always says: “Your home will always be there. Your kids won’t be.” One day when they all leave the house, you’ll have all the time in the world to work on stuff. Don’t worry about it so much now. Do what you can and learn to be content with what God has given you.

Bonus: Holiday Decorating Tips

This is still something I’m learning. I really only decorate seasonally three times a year: Spring, Fall, and Christmas. Winter isn’t really decorating, more just making the home cozy.

For storage, I like using clear plastic bins so I can see what I have. Try to label everything. After decorating, if you have items you didn’t use, donate them.

Pick a good time. Don’t start right before dinner and hope to finish in thirty minutes. It never goes that fast. I can decorate for Fall and Spring pretty quickly, but Christmas can take a week when you have little ones.

Set small goals. Today I’ll focus on the mantle or the tree. Get help if possible. Let your family know what you’re doing. Are the kids old enough to help? Coordinate a play date or ask Grandma for help. If not, be patient and chip away at it as you can.

Ask yourself why. If you’re yelling over Christmas decor, something is wrong. Believe me, I get it. I’ve had to check my heart and ask myself why I’m upset.

Keep it simple. You don’t have to go all out. I like to for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you have to. A few simple stems and pumpkins in the fall is all you need.

Well sweet friends, I hope these tips for decorating your home on budget have been helpful! I really want to be an encouragement to homemakers, so let me know in the comments if there are any other topics you’d like some extra help with. Be sure to sign up for my free mini homemaking course below as well for more homemaking tips!

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