By 
Are you looking for ways to achieve a unique style in your home without spending a fortune? Over the years, my love of home decor and my personal cottage style have evolved, but my desire to decorate on a budget hasn’t.
Anything I’ve done to improve my home has always been done with very limited funds, and as a result, I’ve become more patient in my purchases and more creative in my reuse.
These are the best ways I’ve learned to decorate on a budget, whether you’re buying secondhand or (occasionally) brand new.
Buy your house. Is it possible that you already have something that works for the space you are decorating? Walk not only through your rooms, but also through your attic, basement, and garage. Maybe there is something you already have that you have forgotten! For example, I recently needed a piece of furniture to use as a printer stand in my office. Due to limited space, it had to be a certain size and have an open area underneath for another certain size item. It turned out that a piece I was using in the kitchen fit perfectly!
Buy the house of a friend or relative. Someone you know might have just the item you’re looking for, so ask! Maybe you can get it for a great price, or even trade/barter for something of your own.
Second hand store. Thrift stores, garage sales, online marketplaces, and other second-hand places are great places to find gently used furniture and other décor items. I’ve even found some pretty amazing items on the curb – I’m always amazed at what other people throw away, and I’m not shy about putting stuff in my trunk if I think I can use it!
Re-use. Take a look at an item you have (or are considering buying) and determine if it can be reused or recycled to solve a new problem. Can you turn that low wooden coffee table into an activity table for the kids’ playroom? Turn a nice flat sheet into cafe curtains for the kitchen? Make a driveway tree out of an old door?
Do your thing. Recently, in an online decorating group, someone asked for help locating a sign for their kitchen that said “Pantry.” She told the group that she had already looked at two of the popular big box stores and couldn’t find any. My thought was, why not just make one? A handmade sign would be simple to make and would have a lot more character and personality than something mass produced. On a larger scale, I had wanted a primitive-style cabin for a long time, but never had the luck of finding one at a price I was willing to pay. One day I mentioned this to a friend and he offered to build one, which he did, in exchange for a home cooked dinner.
Shop deals, coupons and deals when you buy something new. With every outlet advertising massive sales on a regular basis, there is simply no reason to pay full price. Shopping late in the season, or immediately after the season for things like holiday decorations, is also a great strategy when shopping for new items. Bonus Tip: Check if your favorite store has an app for your smartphone; there may be recurring coupons built into the app, such as 40 percent off a regular-priced item. Forty percent is almost always enough to get you in the door!
There are so many ways to decorate on a budget. My style is all about well-loved, time-worn vintage items with character and history, and that means I very rarely buy anything new. It also means that I almost always pay very affordable prices!