16 Ways To Decorate A New Apartment On A Budget
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Moving to a new place and putting together your new aesthetic can be a daunting and expensive process. You want to make financially wise choices, as costs can add up very quickly if you do not shop around for the best deals, but you also want to love the home and environment that you are decorating.
If you are looking for inspiration for the best, most budget-friendly places and resources, we have put together a list that should help you keep costs down as you turn your new space into home.
Even if you are careful with your budget, you can easily create the environment you want with just a tad of resourcefulness and patience. Read on to see where to look for deals, how to create a wonderful aesthetic in your new place, and all on a budget!
Where to Look for Budget-Friendly Decor
Thrift stores
Thrifting is—first off—fun, and you discover treasures you simply won’t find anywhere else. It’s like you didn’t know you were looking for that specific something before you saw it! From furniture to wall decorations to eclectic knick-knacks to vintage plates, thrift stores are fun to browse and will add an aura of loved hominess to your new place. Thrifted goods make your space feel like you’ve been living there forever, instead of the stiff, cold vibe you can get from new things. Have a thrifting day this weekend and your wallet will be so much happier that you chose this route.
Facebook Marketplace
Surprisingly, a lot of great deals can be scored on Facebook Marketplace. Local artists sell their handmade wares; relocating individuals post their moving sales, so you can get bang for your buck; people posting surprisingly quality items that should sell for a lot higher, but their previous owner is looking for a quick turnaround. Facebook Marketplace is easy to browse and exists without the less desirable reputation that Craigslist has. You can haggle a bit, but the best options go pretty fast, so it would be best to keep an eye out if you’re looking for specific items. Many times, same-day pick-up is an option.
Garage Sales/Estate Sales
Garage and estate sales are more common in the summer and warmer months of the year, but these individual and randomly-sprung sales are great opportunities to browse for fun and gently-loved goods, furniture, and decor. Keeping an eye out for sales fliers around town is a great way to pop in and see if any of their offerings are compatible with the aesthetic you are working on at home.
T.J.Maxx/Home Goods/Marshalls
These stores have tons of popular home goods that consistently stay budget-friendly, high quality, diverse, and cozy! Also, TJ Maxx or Home Goods sales can be unbeatable. Shopping here is comically comparable to Target, where you walk out with far more than you were planning to buy. But, it’s just all too cute!
OfferUp
A website or, more popularly, an app, OfferUp has become more popular in recent years. It is similar to Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace in that previous owners are looking for a quick selling turnaround. It specializes in the local area, and you can find most anything on here! You can message the seller directly and arrange for pick-up.
Nextdoor
While Nextdoor might have a more community feel, you can catch great finds on this website, and they are going to be super close to you. You can get alerts on garage, estate, or moving sales that are in or near your neighborhood, and you never know when you might score amazing deals, maybe because people are more disposed to be “neighborly” on Nextdoor.
Check out local art/flea markets
Depending on the city where you live, there are often weekend local art sales or outdoor flea markets in your downtown, where you can browse handmade wares and pieces, which can add sensationally to the vibes of your new space. It’s great to support local, and these goods can often be more meaningful and unique.
Tips on How to Decorate a New Space on a Budget
Have an ideal aesthetic
We all dream that our new homes will be just as we imagined. Picture your ideal new vibe in your mind’s eye and keep a loose sketch of how everything will come together down the line!
Put together your new space slowly
Deals will come along with different events and seasons; items that really catch your eye will pop up if you are patient enough. You shouldn’t feel any pressure to throw together an entire apartment in a few weeks and then be done; you will not appreciate the aesthetic as much or be able to put as much attention into the details. Take your time and collect the pieces that really appeal to you.
Get plants
While the rest of your apartment is still coming together, invest in a few living plants to disperse throughout your new home—they will breathe life into your home! And, if experience has taught you that your green thumb does not have the best track record, artificial plants are also worth the energy. Collecting your own fresh wildflowers and gathering them into a mason jar for the counter will also lend a tad of beauty while the rest of your apartment is being worked on.
Our Picks:
Image: Amazon
Money Tree
Costa Farms
A money tree is a great choice for an indoor houseplant as it can grow quickly and looks great on an office desk or in a living room.
Image: Amazon
ZZ Plant
Costa Farms
ZZ Plants are the ideal houseplant for beginners. They can thrive in almost any environment and any level of care. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, a ZZ plant will let you neglect it and continue to spruce up your space with greenery.
Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon
Mini Faux plant Set
Der Rose
Can’t keep a plant alive? Black thumb? These aesthetic plants always look great and require no watering whatsoever!
Image: Amazon
Pink Ceramic Vase
Decorswith
No plants? No problem! A small, colorful vase can provide an accent for your home or apartment and you can place anything—pampas grass, fresh flowers, unique greenery—into it for a stylish update.
Invest in neutral furniture
For now, if you are young and budget-conscious, you don’t know how your tastes will change in the future, so neutral colors can mostly be considered safe. You don’t want to be stuck with an expensive piece of furniture that you simply hate! And you can always decorate with reupholstering, throw pillows, and colorful blankets. Accessories can bring a cold place to life!
Our Picks:
Image: Amazon
Small Loveseat Sofa
Linsey Home
A couch is a space that you will spend a lot of time on — so if you are going to invest in a piece of furniture, we recommend a comfortable sofa.
Image: Amazon
Folding Sofa Bed
MaxYOYO
If you want to save space for when friends or family stay over, make sure to get a piece of furniture that can do double-duty. This folding bed can be a chair or a floor cushion whenever you need it!
Image: Amazon
Microfiber Fleece Blanket
Bedsure
Who doesn’t love a soft and cozy throw? This fleece blanket comes in a variety of sizes (even for a king size bed), so you can choose a size that works on the couch for a movie marathon, but also fits on your bed at night. The versatility makes it a great choice for those on a budget!
Image: Amazon
Boho Throw Pillow
Merryhome
No matter your design style, we can all agree that a new throw pillow is a quick and easy way to change up your decor with the seasons. Plus, a simple, minimalistic, or colorful pattern like this can fit in any room.
Image: Amazon
Faux Leather & Linen Pillow Covers
Merryhome
For those that prefer clean lines, these colorblock pillows are perfect!
Image: Amazon
Futon Sofa Bed
Antetek
If you have a small space, you need to make the most out of it! This sofa bed is not only stylish, but functional, too! When you need a place for guests to stay, simple convert it into a bed.
Use Your Own Art
If you have an artsy inclination, consider putting one or two of your own creations up on the wall! Let loose and make a mess out of a poster on a tipsy wine night, scribble an illegible, fancy-looking signature in the corner, and boast of the piece’s rarity to company when they finally come over. Boom, ART.
This is your home, so go a little crazy with it! You could take on a few of the home-improvement projects yourself, or create and transform them into art projects! If you find a desk or table at a thrift store you love but needs some work, make it into a project. Reupholstering a chair with one of your favorite patterns or painting an old table will give you a sense of pride and accomplishment when you look about your home and see the fruits of your labor and love!
Decorate Your Walls
Blank walls are what keep a home looking sad and cold. Add mirrors, macrame tapestries, and prints, or anything to break up a solid, boring wall that feels empty just by looking at it. These additions cultivate an interesting aesthetic and make the place feel lived-in longer! Mirrors open up your space, reflect light, boost vanity, and make your apartment look bigger than it actually is. If you are allowed to paint the walls of your new space, pick out a fresh, vitalizing color for your cabinets and proceed to wreak havoc.
Our Picks:
Image: Amazon
Hanging Macrame Planter with LED Lights
Myfinca
Propagating the plants that you already own is an affordable (and easy) way to put more greenery into your home. But, while you’re at it, why not have a great piece of decor as well! Not only can you grow your favorite plants, but the lights give it a certain aesthetic twinkle!
Image: Etsy
Boho Gallery Wall Prints
The Midnight Musings
Not sure how to put together photo collages on your own? This set does all of the work for you for that maximalist, eclectic decor vibe.
Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon
Hanging Woven Tapestry
Decorful
These hanging tapestries are an easy way to incorporate texture and detail into your walls to provide interest.
Image: Amazon
Arched Full Length Mirror
HiGreena
A mirror is a great way to make a small space feel larger. Plus, the slim design fits into a variety of rooms so you can always stop and take a look before you head out the door!
Add Personal Touches
Small sentimental accessories and details go a long way. Memories from your travels, postcards from loved ones, framed photos—these small personal touches will remind you of what and who you love and bring that energy into your home!
Go Vertical
Vertical storage can be both a cool way to provide relief from a blank wall and be a practical solution for your possessions. Get a bookcase or make your own honeycomb shelves.
Keep an open mind
If you want to make the space completely your own, be open to different collectibles and items that you come across. Think, Hey, that’s a cool vase, tea-table, ladder, whatever. Put up swatches of different wallpaper, hang lights, make tapestries out of old cloth that you’ve been hanging onto forever. You will be happiest in a space that screams you!
It is more than possible to create a beautiful home space without emptying your bank account! Have fun and do it with love, and you’ll be sure to adore your new place.