Decorating on a budget is really easy! If you’ve never stepped into a thrift store to look for home decor, give it a shot. Just keep these key principles in mind and your decor will come together beautifully.

Pick a Style:

The first thing you need to do is find your style. Do you like earthy tones, pastels, or monochromatics? Look around your house and do some window shopping to get a very definate theme that you tend to stick to. This will make all the difference in the world for your decor choices to come together into a cohesive design.

I used to go with the earthy tones but recently I’ve been more and more interested in Shabby Chic design. It’s so clean and feminine I just love it. It’s given me an appreciation for vintage and old things as well. It’s also a very easy style to shop for on a budget. Since a lot of it is white with a mixture of textures, shapes, and splashes of pinks and pastels it is pretty easy to find great pieces that will fit wonderfully with everything else.

Pick 1-3 Colors:

Keep it to a maximum of 3 colors. Of course, you can do what you like but if you try to stick to a few key colors within your accessories and furniture then everything will look more put together and planned as opposed to a jumble of things slapped together.

Also keep in mind that when you’re looking if you like the shape of something (ex. a candle stick) but it does not fit into your colors, you can always spray paint it! Don’t let that hold you back but it helps to keep your eyes open for certain colors too.

Collect Like Items:

Starting a collection is also a good way to create a cohesive design with your decor. I know some people think of old thimble collections and are immediately put off. But collections can also be a good thing and bring together the rooms and areas of your home too.

For example, I’ve started collection cherubs. This fits into all three of my style points: Shabby Chic, Shades of White, and Collections. Therefore it goes great. You could also collect bird items, jars, and so much more! These are great things to keep an eye out for at thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets too. It gives you a focal point to make sense of the jumble before you.

Buy ONLY What You Love:

I’m a sucker for a good deal, but just because something is on a super clearance sale doesn’t mean you HAVE to buy it. If you aren’t in love with it and it doesn’t really fit into the style you’ve chosen then don’t buy it.

Take a step back from putting those things into your basket and think about where you’d put it, if it’s unique and you won’t find anything else like it, or if you just love it and really want to add it to your collection.

Most of all though, have fun! Decorating your home doesn’t have to be expensive. There are so many resources out there to find affordable decor items so keep your eyes open and your creative juices flowing!