8 Best Budget-Friendly DIY Home Decor Ideas

Are you looking for the best affordable ways on how to decorate your home on a low budget?

Actually, you don’t need a big budget to decorate your home.  Even with a little creativity and smart planning, you can transform your space into a cozy, elegant haven without breaking the bank. 

In this post, we’ll share 8 creative and budget-friendly home decoration ideas that anyone can afford which helps to create a stylish and inviting home without spending a fortune. The tips & techniques discussed on this post will help you to renovate your living room, add charm to your bedroom, create a brighter & clutter-free space or enhance your outdoor space.

1. Declutter and Rearrange Your Space

Before directly jumping into decoration, first you should declutter and rearrange the furniture, utensils, kitchen accessories and other home essentials. Decluttering helps you identify items that you already own and reuse those items.  For example, to get a fresh look you can move your sofa to a different wall or swap furniture between rooms.  

DIY Decluttering usually costs $0 – $50. If you hire a professional then it may cost up to $200 per session. If you want to finish the home decoration on a low budget then you should prefer DIY decluttering home design ideas than hiring a professional since DIY decluttering is a best budget-friendly option. 

Here are some easy DIY Decluttering steps for home decoration that help in enhancing your home decor by creating a peaceful and organized environment. 

Step1: Set a Decluttering Goal:

• Decide which areas need decluttering first (living room, bedroom, kitchen, etc.).
• Set a timeline (e.g., declutter one room per day or weekend).
• Use the “One-Year Rule” – If you haven’t used an item for a year, reuse or donate it.

Step2: Use the “Four-Box” Method: 

Create 4 boxes or bags and label each of them with a name (Keep, Donate/Sell, Trash, Store).

• Keep: Separate the items that  truly add value to your home and store it in the “Keep” box.
• Donate/Sell: Donate/Sell the item that you don’t need. 
• Trash: Keep the broken or damaged items in the “Trash” box.

Step3: Declutter Room by Room:

Start decluttering and rearranging each room of your home like Living Room, Bedroom, Kitchen, Bathroom etc. 

Declutter Living Room:

First remove unnecessary decor and keep only meaningful pieces since too many decorations create clutter. Use cable organizers or hide them behind the furniture. 

Read Also:- 9 Best Minimalist Living Room Design Ideas for Clutter-free Space

Use multi-storage furniture like ottomans, coffee tables with shelves, or wall-mounted shelves. Minimalize the shelving by displaying a few books, plants, and art pieces. 

Declutter Bedroom:

Follow the “Capsule Wardrobe” decluttering approach that keeps only clothes that fit your style and needs such as the set of tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes, and accessories.

Use the under-bed or hidden storage solution to store seasonal clothes. Keep only essentials like a lamp, book, and clock in your bedroom.  

Declutter Kitchen:

Remove the duplicate kitchen utensils and old appliances. Make a habit of storing grains, pasta, and spices in clear & labeled jars so you can reach when necessary easily. 

Read Also:- Best Minimalist Kitchen Design Ideas to Maximize space

Free up cabinet space by hanging pots and pans on a wall rock.  Keep only daily-use appliances like kettle or toaster on the countertops. 

Declutter Bathroom:

Check expiry dates of each skincare, medicine, toiletries & sanitation essentials and remove them from your bathroom. Organize sanitation and other bathroom essentials in a basket or a tray. 

Install wall-mounted shelves to keep towels, soap, shampoo. Remove the bulky decor items and only keep a small plant, candle, or one framed art piece. 

2. Decor with a Fresh Coat of Paint

Painting your home’s wall, ceiling or other surface with a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest and most effective ways to transform a home’s interior or exterior. The main purpose of decorating with fresh paint is to refresh the existing color, change the look of the entire room, protect the walls from damage and make the home feel new. 

The cost of painting usually depends on several factors like room size, paint quality, labor costs, and DIY vs. professional services. DIY Painting is a budget-friendly option since it can cost up to $100 to $300 total for one room which is 50% to 70% cheaper than professional service. 

If you want to decorate your home on a budget then choose DIY Painting ideas. This idea is best only if you have time and patience. In DIY painting, you can buy paint in bulk to save money and use the leftover paint for smaller rooms or touch-ups. 

Here are the best tips for choosing a perfect paint color for your DIY painting project:

• Choose Neutral tones (beige, gray, white) for your living room. 
• Choose Soft colors (blue, green, lavender) for your bedroom.
• Choose Warm tones (yellow, red, light brown) for the kitchen.
• Cool shades (blue, gray) for a craft room to boost focus and productivity. 
• Choose a color that matches with furniture, flooring and decor.
•  Example: Choose neutral tones and add color through accessories

Pro Tip: Test paint samples on your walls before finalizing a color. Observe how the color looks at different times of the day under natural and artificial light.  

3. Use Removable Wallpaper (Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper)

Removable wallpaper is a type of wallpaper that has a peel-and-stick feature i.e., it can be easily applied, removed, and repositioned without damaging walls. Removable wallpaper is a temporary decor solution and it doesn’t require glue or paste like other traditional wallpaper.

It acts as a barrier against stains and scratches. As a result it will help to protect the wall and keep the wall in good condition. You can also use the removable wallpaper to hide the damaged section of wall. 

Peel-and-stick wallpaper is cheaper than paint or traditional wallpaper. The total cost for one wall can be $50 to $300 depending on the wall size and wallpaper quality. If you want to decorate the home wall on a low budget then DIY is recommended since it’s easy to apply without labor or any expert’s help.  

DIY Removable wallpaper is the best choice for people who love changing home decor frequently. You get wide variety of designs with removable wallpaper such as:

• endless patterns, textures, and colors that can easily match any decor style
•  floral, geometric, faux brick, wood, and even metallic finishes

Here are some tips & tricks that help you choose a perfect wallpaper for each room:

• Choose a wallpaper with light colors and small patterns for a small room to make space feel bigger.
• Choosing Bold patterns or dark tones can for a large room add warmth and coziness.
• If you have an accent wall then use wallpaper on just one wall to create a stylish focal point.
• First, order the small wallpaper as a sample to see how the design looks. Also check the samples under different lighting conditions(natural light & artificial light) before making a final decision.  

4. Upgrade Your Lighting  

Upgrade your light fixtures by replacing outdated light with new, stylish & affordable ones to enhance the visibility as well as overall beauty of your home. It involves changing ceiling lights, pendant lights, chandeliers, wall sconces, table lamps, or LED strips. 

Choosing the right modern light fixtures enhances the environment of your home which also creates a stunning focal point in your room. It also saves money on electricity bills since a LED or smart lighting consumes up to 75% less energy than a traditional light fixture. 

The cost of upgrading light fixtures depends on several factors such as type of fixture, installation, and whether you hire a professional or do it yourself. If you choose a DIY lighting fixture the total cost per room can be $50 to $500 including the cost of LED bulb, table floor lamp, smart LED strips and other basic lighting accessories. If you choose a professional electrician then total cost per room can be $1,000 to $5,000 including labor cost, light installation and high-end fixtures. 

If you want to upgrade the lighting fixtures with simple & easy installation on a low budget then you should choose the DIY option. But if you want complex installations like chandeliers or recessed lighting then hiring an electrician is necessary. 

Here are the some tips & tricks that helps you choosing a perfect light option:

• For living room, choose a soft and dimmable lighting option 
• For kitchen room, choose a bright task lighting option(desk lamps, under-cabinet LEDs)
• For bedroom, prefer a table lamps or pendant light
• Install a bright and white color lighting option around mirror of bathroom
• Choose LED bulb which is energy efficient, long-lasting and also available on different colors
• Choose warm white brightness with 2700K to 3000K color temperature for bedroom/living room
• Choose white, neutral and bright light with 3500K to 4100K color temperature for kitchen/bathroom

5. Add Indoor Plants For Greenery

Indoor plants are the cheapest way to bring life and add a natural element to your décor. Indoor plants also help to improve air quality, increase oxygen level and reduce indoor pollutants. 

Many plants such as succulents, snake plants, pothos and peace lilies help in purifying the air quality naturally by removing the toxins. Such indoor plants are easy to grow inside the room since they require low-maintenance. Large leafy indoor plants help to absorb noise, reduce echo and make the space peaceful. 

Here are the some tips for choosing the perfect indoor plant for each room:

I) Statement Indoor Plant for Living Room:

Choose a Statement Indoor Plant such as Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera, Rubber Plant, Areca Palm for your living room. These plants have attractive large leaves which give a modern  and stylish touch to your living room. 

II) Calming & Air Purifying Indoor Plant for Bedroom:

Choose a calming and air purifying indoor plant for your bedroom such as Boston Fern, Peace Lily, Snake Plant, Lavender or AloeVera. These plants improve air quality by removing pollutants from the air, reduce stress and create a relaxing atmosphere. It is recommended to place indoor plants near the bed for better sleep.   

III) Low-Maintenance & Edible Indoor Plant for Kitchen:

Choose indoor plants for your kitchen that need low-maintenance and are also edible such as Basil, Mint, Rosemary, Pothos, Spider Plant. Use a hanging planter or a small pot on shelves for such herbs and indoor plants. 

IV) Humidity Plant for Bathroom:

Choose humidity loving indoor plants such as Ferns, Bamboo, Orchids, ZZ Plant for your bathroom. These plants release moisture which increases humidity levels. 

6. Refinish the Old Furniture  

Refinishing the old furniture is a way of giving a new life to old furniture by restoring, repainting, or repairing old furniture. It is an echo-friendly choice since it reduces waste by repurposing existing furniture instead of discarding it. 

Using this method, you can transform an outdated dresser into a stylish TV stand or a wooden ladder can be turned into a rustic bookshelf. It also allows you to create unique, custom pieces that fit your style. 

Refinishing the old furniture is a budget-friendly option since the core idea of refinishing is to refresh the existing pieces instead of buying brand new furniture. The total DIY refinishing cost including the cost of sandpaper, stripper, paint or wood stain, brushes & roller can be $40 to $150 per piece. Thus DIY refinishing is a cost-effective way to transform furniture than hiring a professional.   

Here are the best practical tips & tricks for perfectly refinishing the old furniture.

I) Choose the Right Furniture to Refinish: 

• Refinish the Solid wood pieces, dressers, cabinets, tables, bookshelves.
• Avoid refinishing a particle board or low-quality MDF furniture. 

II) Prepare the Furniture’s Surface Properly:

• Sand and prime furniture before painting to remove old paint, stain, and imperfections.
• Clean thoroughly the surface of furniture using a slightly wet cloth to remove dust and grease.

III) Select the Right Refinishing Method:

• Paint your furniture with chalk paint or acrylic paint to get a modern and colorful look.
• Enhances the wood grain on old furniture for a natural or rustic finish.
• Refreshes old sofas and chairs with new fabric.

Pro Tip: Sand and prime furniture before painting to ensure a smooth, long-lasting finish.  

7. Install Floating Shelves  

Floating shelves are a practical and stylish home decoration way for a clean, minimalist, and modern look. They’re relatively easy to install and can be bought at an affordable price. The major benefit of installing floating shelves is that it saves space by utilizing the empty wall space without taking up floor space. 

These shelves are widely used in living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and offices to maximize storage and enhance decor. You can keep books, plants, kitchenware, small appliances and decorative items on floating shelves.    

The cost of floating shelves depends on various factors such as material, size, and whether they are DIY or pre-made. The total cost for a pre-made shelf can be $20 – $200. While total DIY cost per shelf including the cost of wood planks, brackets & screws, paint & strain can be $25 – $100. You can still afford a premade basic wooden shelves at a price range of $20 – $50. 

Here are some creative DIY floating shelves installation ideas for budget-friendly home decoration:

I) Required Materials:

• Hollow-core wood boards
• Floating shelf brackets (hidden type)
• Screws & wall anchors
• Paint or stain
• Drill & level

II) Necessary Steps:

• Mark the point and drill into the wall to install the hidden brackets.
• Attach the Shelf onto the brackets for a seamless floating effect. 

8. DIY Artwork  

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ArtWork refers to homemade creative pieces designed for decorating a home. You can create your own artwork such as paintings, wall hangings, framed prints, abstract art, fabric crafts, or upcycled decor with the help of affordable and easily available materials. You can use materials like paints, paper, fabric, recycled materials, or even digital prints to create unique and stylish home decor.

The cost of DIY artwork depends on materials, size, and complexity. However, it is so much cheaper than the art brought from the market. You don’t need to be an artist, with simple geometric patterns or inspirational quotes to get a stunning look in your home.  

Pro Tip: Use online tutorials or apps like Canva to design your artwork. Print the artwork for a professional finish.  

Conclusion  

Decorating your home on a budget isn’t about how much you spend—it’s about how creatively you use what you already have. Whether it’s adding a fresh coat of paint, refinishing old furniture, or incorporating greenery, every little step contributes to decorate a home that feels stylish and inviting. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)