BUDGET DECOR 5 Tips for Chic Wallet-Friendly Interiors

Jenny here! (Erika’s assistant.) Although I’ve worked every day since I was 16, at 21 I am still a relative newcomer to the world of “earning power.” Aware of my all-too-green status, I spend with caution and a budget (sort of) in mind. And while saving money would be effortless if there was no such thing as Pinterest, I can’t ignore the incredible home decor Pinspiration I see every day, and I must actualize it! This means finding cost-effective ways to convert my Pinterest home into my real life one.

Here are 5 of my tips for chic decor that won’t break the bank, as actualized in my home office.

No. 1  Humble Yourself

I posted a picture to Facebook the other day of my office and one commenter wrote “looks so luxurious!” I smiled because a huge percentage of the room’s articles are A. from Wal Mart (that luxe looking white love seat I’m sitting on? A Wal Mart futon), B. were once adhered to with a red sticker implying clearance (gold cobra and candle on coffee table, and white bust? all clearance rack salvages from Homegoods)  or C. scavenged from Craigslist (nabbed a $400 West Elm vanity for but fifteen George Washingtons. I cannot tell a lie—it was an amazing score.)

While I love to pore over a $500 Eames chair whilst online window-shopping, I have to be realistic about my budget. This means humbling myself and judging decor objects on their inherent visual value to me, rather than by where they’re sold or their listed price.

BEST AFFORDABLE DECOR SOURCES: Target, Wal Mart (believe it!), Ikea, Home Goods, Craigslist, Goodwill, Amazon Prime

No. 2 Let The Paint Do The Talking

Painting half my walls black with a $20 gallon of (you guessed it) Wal Mart paint elevated my office walls from a muted background to a statement. Paint speaks, and doing things a little out of the ordinary, like using black paint or painting only a portion of the walls, tells people you’re unique!

No. 3 Where There’s A Will, There’s A D.I.Y.

A mixture of overexposure to The Coveteur and questionable shopping habits led to me feeling incomplete without a floor-to-ceiling shoe closet. I couldn’t afford a professional remodeling of my closet, and I also couldn’t make permanent changes as a renter. As a solution, I stacked cement blocks and wood planks bought at the Home Depot, painted everything blue, and created technically free-standing shoe shelves! When you run into pricy decor obstacles, be creative and take to the internet in search of D.I.Y. design hacks!

No. 4 Vignette Little Objects For Big Impact

Arrange your knickknacks (or chachkes as my grandma says) thoughtfully.  Think of how you would lay them out if you were installing them into a shadow box.  Group by like-minded shapes or color schemes.

One facet of my office which receives a lot of comments is my glass top desk. I got it on Amazon Prime for only $150 (shipping included!) and use it not only decoratively, but also as a way to keep myself organized since there’s no hiding clutter!

No. 5 Let it Shine!

This tip is the most directly related to the word “chic.” Use shiny, reflective surfaces whenever possible! For me, this meant inexpensive gold picture frames from Amazon, a mirrored coffee table from Target, plus brass, gold and copper accessories acquired from flea markets or Home Goods. All of these low-cost but high-luster, smooth surfaces catch the eye and give a bit of luxurious dazzle.

Those are a few of my tips for chic, affordable decor. I’d love to hear yours!!

xoxo

Jenny Rose

Styled, Designed, & Photographed by Jenny Rose Creative