Ideas for Room Makeovers on a Budget

Make a Plan, Make a Budget

We’ll get to the fun stuff in a minute, but first, a word of caution. When you need to stick to a budget, well, it helps to know what that budget is. Hitting the shops without a plan and picking up things here and there, thinking, “ooh, that’s cheap” and “ooh, that’s not too bad” is a surefire recipe for blowing the bank. Decide what your room needs before you do any purchasing. Can you freshen up things with a few new accessories? Does your room need some paint or wall paper? Are you trying to change the style of the room, or just give it some finishing touches?

When you have identified what needs done, make a realistic budget to complete the project. And then…stick to it! Remember, you can always break the job down into individual parts and complete the room a little bit at a time.

Now, The Fun Stuff

So, you have your room makeover budget set, now it’s time to spend it!

Paint and Wallpaper

Color is an inexpensive way to makeover your room

Paint and wallpaper are great, cost effective ways to complete change the look and feel of a room. If you’re trying to create a certain mood in the room, for instance giving your bedroom a calming feel, color is just about the best tool available to you. Blues and greens give your room a calm, cool feel, while yellows and reds jazz it up and are perfect for active spaces, like kitchens or living rooms. If you’re not sure what colors work well together, or what colors evoke which moods, have a look at our color guide.

Wallpaper can also change your room in an instant and is a fantastic tool if you want to change the style of your room. Certain floral patterns can help you move towards a French Country style, English Country style, or a Cottage style. Bold stripes work well with a modern style room, and textured wallpaper can help you create an Asian inspired room. If you’re new to wallpaper hanging, read our wallpaper hanging guide.

Accessorize

Just like the handbag and the purse complete your outfit, the accessories you choose for your home complete your rooms. Accessories don’t have to cost a fortune, either, so they are ideal to use when you’re trying to give your room a makeover on a budget. Ask yourself what the function of the room is, and go from there. For your bedroom, you might want to add some scented candles, some fresh lavender, or even an inexpensive water feature. If you’re giving your home office a face lift, invest in some unique office supplies, a new desk lamp, and some new photo frames. A throw rug, quilt, or pillows will add a splash of style to any room.

Seasonal Decorating

Seasonal flowers

If your decorating hand gets itchy on a regular basis, but your room makeover jobs don’t always fit into the budget, consider seasonal decorating to keep things looking fresh. Your decorating themes can follow the changing seasons; they can be based around holidays, or some combination of the two. Wreaths, blankets, flowers, candles, tablecloths, and knick-knacks can all bring the colors, scents, and sights of the season into your home, with a minimum of cost, and then be swapped out as the seasons change. To keep your seasonal room makeovers right on budget, shop in advance. For instance, check out the after Christmas sales to get bargain basement prices on Christmas accessories and save them for next year.

More Resources

For more ideas on re-doing your rooms with a minimum of expense, visit HGTV.

• Country French Style Basics
• Designing for Small Spaces
• Common Themes for Teenage Bedrooms
• Basics of Color Design
• Asian Style Interior Design

• Fireplace Design Ideas
• Decorative Lampshades
• Game Room Decorating Ideas
• Ideas for Decorating your College Dorm Room
• New Ideas for Window Treatments

• Bathroom Galleries