Reviving the esthetic of your home can be quite costly. Here I share 5 tips to revive your apartment decor on a budget without breaking the bank. It seems likely, that you already have all of the decorative pieces you need, however, you may not realize it due to decor blindness.
In my opinion, this may happen because these same pieces are sitting in the same place for a long periods of time. Other times, you may be choosing the same design esthetic style over and over. For this reason, these details can drown out the decor. Lastly, you may just be wanting to switch out what you already have and that’s ok too.
Buying is always fun but your wallet may not think so. However, buying one decorative piece can revive excitement in your home just a little bit!
Shop your apartment decor on a budget
Follow along and see how you can use these 5 tips to revive your home decor and help you from gathering inspiration to executing your ideal aesthetic and all on a budget.
1. Create a mood board of your ideal apartment aesthetic
Review your home in its current state, specifically, try to visualize how you would like your home to look. To illustrate, a great way to have visual inspiration is to make a mood board and you can easily make one on Pinterest.
Click here to see my personal mood board I created on Pinterest. The nice thing about using an App like Pinterest is that it will give you additional ideas that you probably didn’t think of.
2. Revive your apartment by repurposing what you already own
Once you already have an understanding of what aesthetic you would like to incorporate in your home, look over what you own. Chances are, you already own a few pieces that reflect the style you are trying to convey.
- Pick and separate the decorative pieces you know fit your new aesthetic.
- Ask yourself what it is that you feel is missing or would like to replace.
- Ask yourself why you want to replace it.
- Don’t forget to take notes and pictures. I recommend using your mobile device in your notes section.
- Take any measurements of spaces, fixtures or anything you intend on filling or replacing.
3. Window shop your decor ideas with your budget in mind
When looking for a specific piece it is important to stay focused. Impulse buys are not always what we really want and are usually regrettable choices. Being patient also helps you refine the details of what you like and don’t like.
It is a great idea to review your notes and pictures from your mobile device while window shopping. This will help you with your vision and keep you focused.
As a brief example let me share with you my experience of when I was looking to buy a chandelier.
When I was on the hunt for a chandelier and chandeliers can be expensive, I knew I was going to have to thrift it. It actually took me about two months to find “the one.” I had seen so many different types which helped me refine the ideal look I wanted. Details of the craftsmanship are important to me and this chandelier had it all, the size, quality and price tag. Being able to find home decor on a budget is a great feeling but I went a step further and haggled a little and was able to get it for a lot less than I initially thought.
Here is the chandelier I picked.
4. Which materials are worth spending your budget on
When I found the chandelier that I fell in love with, I knew that it had the character and aesthetic of what I was looking for. From it being of a sturdy and high quality material, to the smallest details that only you see if you are looking for them. These are the things that are important to me and what I look for that makes me appreciate and fall in love with my new find. I hope that this example helps you in determining what is important to you and what you are willing to spend on.
A well curated home takes time so it’s okay to be picky! After all, you are spending your hard earned money and you want pieces that are worth in value, time and effort, furthermore, you want your home decor on a budget. If you have no problems thrifting, search for high quality materials like:
- Marble
- Vintage rugs
- Oil paintings
- Beveled mirrors
- Brass light fixtures
- Leather chairs, sofas
- Brass or Iron Chandeliers
- Wood frames and furniture
- Glassware, milk glass, wedgewood, fine china
Watch out for details such as plastic pretending to be glass or pieces that are at the end of their life.
5. Where to find bargains for decor on a budget
Usually local neighborhood apps share when there is going to be an estate sale or a garage sale. Keep an eye on these as you can score some great deals at these events because their main goal is to liquidate all items.
In estate sales will last more than one day. The first day being the most expensive. If the estate sale lasts three days, the last day is usually when you can get the most savings, sometimes up to 75% off. Most of the time, all the great finds may be gone by then so it can be a gamble if you wait until the end. However, you don’t have to wait because you can always haggle the price tag.
Now that you are ready to buy, there is an array of ways you can find fair and modest pricing for what you are looking for. Listed below are ideas of where you can find amazing bargains.
- Estate sales
- Garage sales
- OfferUp
- Facebook market place
- Curb Finds
- Home Stagers
- Outlets
- Etsy
In conclusion, now that you have gathered these 5 tips to revive your apartment decor on a budget, you should be pleased you have a great idea of where to start. Be sure to share your finds with me on instagram as I’d love to hear about your adventures!
Next, I am sharing how you can do a simple but very chic gallery wall. Click here so you can follow these easy steps to create your very own gallery wall.
xo, Julia
