Redecorating When You’re Broke
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I have some tips on redecorating when you’re broke or low on funds. Redecorating when you’re broke doesn’t mean you can’t make small changes and switch decor from room to room.
This is called shopping the house. And it’s actually fun!
My Decorating Tips:
Switch Paintings From One Room To Another:
Over the weekend, I moved one painted canvas from my dining room wall and switched it with one in my bedroom. Redecorating when you’re broke often involves creative solutions like this.
Just moving things from one room to another changes the entire landscape. Maybe there wasn’t a window in the first place, you had these objects, and you want to put the focus on the window.
Maybe you have a vignette that includes nature, and you’d like the outdoors to be your backdrop.
Doing this changes the look. Now you have a window and lots of light. You could bring a house plant from another room and place it here to exemplify nature.
This is a good way to change things up without spending money. And it satisfies my need to redecorate.
If your overall decorating theme is somewhat the same throughout your home, redecorating when you’re broke makes it easy to change things up.
Move A Lamp From One Room To Another:
Shopping the house, or in my case, apartment, led to switching lamps as well. I brought my little red lamp into the dining room. I’ve had this lamp for ages. When I purchased it, the base was beige. I spray-painted it my signature red.
This draws the eye from the red lamp to the painting of the red truck above it. Now, the room has an additional color element that it didn’t have before.
Change Dishes On Display:
I switched and put some of the dishes in my blue cupboard. The white dishes I use daily stay in place, but I like to change what I call the “accent dishes.”
I just removed the polka dotted dishes and added my cottage dishes.
This is a quick and easy change, but it gives you a slightly different look. Now it looks more cottage-themed. It’s a playful and whimsical look. And it has a cozy vibe.
Styling Shelves:
Last week, I switched up decor on the wall shelves in my kitchen. I always keep canned food where it is easy for me to reach.
Ivy doesn’t get into this area, so I’m fairly optimistic that my changes will stay in place!
I didn’t move anything here. I just put the drinking glasses that were already on the shelf inside this vintage box. I like the texture and vintage look of the old box, which I’ve had for years.
Add To What’s Already There:
This is even easier. I added the neutral bead strand to the poetry books on the small table beside the living room chair.
It gives you a different look without taking anything away. You could also add a candle within the strand, remove the bead strand, and have the candle take its place. Candles make a room feel cozier.
You could place a house plant here, right next to a window. You could move the books forward and put the house plant behind them on the table. Or you could remove the books and add the house plant, and possibly still use the bead strand.
The possibilities are absolutely endless!
Move Decor Around Within The Room:
I had this gold pitcher somewhere else in the living room, but I decided to change things up. The bright color and the faux lamb’s ear appealed to me, so I moved it to another table.
You saw this change on my coffee table yesterday. What you didn’t see was Ivy checking things out.
So far, she has not decided to redecorate further by dragging things off to one of her hidey-holes. Maybe she likes the arrangement this way and doesn’t yet feel the need to change it.
However, I imagine those beads will garner her attention!
The important thing is that often little changes satisfy my need to redecorate.
The best part is that I don’t have to spend any money. And I didn’t even have to dig around in the closet to find anything! If I had much time that day, I would dig around in the closet and see what’s in there.
Digging in the closet may mean finding something you forgot you had! It’s kind of like receiving a present when it isn’t even Christmas!
Trade Decor With Someone:
Redecorating when you’re broke can be fun. If you have a neighbor you interact with often, you could suggest switching decor with her. She’d get something new, and so would you.
It could even become a whole neighborhood event! You could throw a party, serve refreshments, put decor on a table, and let everyone decide what to trade with you.
I’m always encouraged to discover ways to decorate on the cheap.
Little changes no money involved but it looks really good! Years ago I took an evening class about interior decorating. I quite enjoyed it, one thing the teacher told us I never forgot “being able to create a beautiful space doesn’t always mean you need lots of money. It does help when you have a good eye.” You have a good eye 🙂
I love lambs ear and they look great in that pitcher.
Such great ideas. Love the pictures of the barns and the red truck. I have always loved pictures of old barns. Over the week-end I had a friend come over and we moved the furniture. I have a very small living room and have been wanting to make changes. Now the room looks so much larger. I have some small things I want to change and you have given me some ideas. No money needed. Sometimes all we need is a little push in the right direction.
Thank you for your Blog..
Marilynn and Hayley
You’re SO welcome. Rearranging the furniture often surprises you on how it affects how you feel about a room.
These are great ideas Brenda! One thing I have found is that when I move something to a new spot, I find I like it better in the new spot! Love and hugs!
You just never know!
Such great ideas… and every room is gorgeous!!! Ever since all the Christmas went back up into the attic… I have been shopping the house .. so to speak !!! It always surprises me when I “re-discover” some decorating treasure !!!
I appreciate stuff more when I move it from room to room than constantly shopping.
Brenda, I love your photographs. Have you ever considered selling some you’ve taken of barns and trees etc ?
I’ve thought about it. Just not quite sure how I’d go about it.
Excellent idea, Brenda. Once I place something I tend to leave it there forever. Then all of a sudden I am totally sick of looking at it! My biggest decorating problem right now is that I have very few surfaces to arrange things on and can’t use some of them because of my two grandsons living with me and knowing that nothing on their level will remain undisturbed. But I know that’s only temporary as they are growing so fast that in just the blink of any eye they will be teens and won’t need the play spaces they do now. So I’m okay with that.
I am inspired to see what I can move around, though, after reading your post. I’ll be interested to know if Ivy approved of your rearrangements or not. One thing that I know she likes is the faux lamb’s ear and I do, too. I think I will have to look for some.
How is the weather there? We are still experiencing very cold temps. In the single digits. I’m happy to stay in. Hope you three are keeping warm and cozy.
We haven’t had it that cold. Getting down to 17 tonight. That’s probably the coldest it’s been this year.
This is very inspirational…and it makes sense or cents.. ;0) … to move things around to the rooms where we spend the most time…makes us enjoy our treasures more, and also not go shopping(one of my favorite things..lol)…. Great job… I also clicked on the other link at the end..which was very inspirational also..putting new sink on list..but sure it will not happen…also, love that back splash bead board idea… Thank you..yall keep warm..you and your furbabies…
It’s getting colder tonight. Glad for that black stove I drag from living room to bedroom!
Love your blog and ideas.
I appreciate you!
I really like your pictures in your dining room, Brenda. And that includes the one you wrote about last week that an artist did for you. Please write a post sometime about how you choose your paintings and how to arrange them on the wall.
Will do!
I do the same things, Brenda! I love changing things around, too. Shopping the house, moving things to a new room, whatever it takes. I moved some plants around today, as well as changed up plates in my plate rack and put just a few Valentine’s Day touches around.
It’s the little things that count.
She sure looks cute peeking through the foliage! Nice changes.
I think Ivy thinks I don’t see her there. She is such a clown!
This is all so pretty, Brenda…even your food cans look like wonderful decor! Shopping your own house is one of my favorite ideas!
It doesn’t cost anything, and you have the added benefit of knowing you didn’t break the bank redecorating!
Even your canned goods look attractive, Brenda! They seem to fit well with your color scheme. I like the glassware placed in that little wooden box. I’ve always loved those red glasses, no matter where you put them. For my contribution to this decor conversation, I will say that I recently took a bunch of little decor items off to a charity store (where I had found a lot of the items). I find that with less decor items on hand, I actually enjoy what I have more than I did before because I don’t feel so pressured to figure out where to put so much stuff. Thanks for the pleasing photos of your decor changes.
I agree. I’ve gotten rid of a lot of decor. I had too much in the closet where my clothes are and I felt bad about not putting them out.
These hints are WONDERFUL. Thank you so much for the inspiration.
These are easy tips. That’s why I prefer them!
For cheap artwork I cut out the pictures of my outdated wall calendars. I buy picture frames at thrift stores. I leave some of them just the way they are and I paint others. I also frame pretty greeting cards and postcards.
I’ve done this too. I also decoupage projects with parts of outdated wall calendars.
I know I will be walking around the house after I finish commenting on your blog today looking for artwork and decor accessories to change around a bit. What neat ideas and new looks you have created so easily. Your cozy little house is just beautiful. And the picture of Ivy is so cute. Love those cottage dishes (just as I love those polka dot dishes).
Take care and stay warm.
It’s an easy task just to walk around and pick up this and that and move it. As opposed to digging things out of my closet!
You have a good eye for decorating! Your home is lovely.
Well thank you for the compliment!
I’m surprised Ivy hasn’t redecorated the coffee table yet….she’s just waiting until you least expect it!!
Probably so. Sigh…
The photo of curious Miss Ivy is priceless!
She is the most curious cat I’ve ever known.
Love the green bottles,I don’t know…they just look refreshing?
Clearly the queen of quilts is giving her paw stamp of approval 🙂
I think so too! The green bottles with light shining through are just pretty.
I love the touches of red! Did you paint and distress the little red table? I love seeing your dishes and shelves, you have a knack for putting things together in an interesting manner. Thank you!
No, the table came just like you see it. I was fortunate!
You have inspired me! It is so cold here today, wind chill is -15 to -25, and I am needing something to get me up and moving! I will take my mind off of being frozen by shopping my apartment and changing things up!
It’s cold here too. Not that cold. But cold enough I don’t want to go out!
I like what a can of spray paint can do to liven things up when you don’t want to buy something new!
And I think, finally, Ivy has approved of your arrangements and sees no further need for adjustments!
Yes, that’s one of the very cheapest ways to redecorate. With paint.