10 DIY Home Decor Ideas to Decorate Smart and Cheap

For the longest time, my brain immediately went blank when I heard “cheap home decor ideas.” In my mind, “cheap” meant the opposite of chic. Plenty of research and several experiences later, I’ve picked up a thing or two about affordable decor for home projects that cost next to nothing but definitely make a huge difference. Let’s go over them together. 

10 Home Decorating Ideas on a Budget 

1. Swap Out Throw Pillows

I saw someone refresh her entire living space just by switching out her throw pillows. She didn’t even buy new ones. She just opted for old fabric and a beginner-friendly tutorial. If you’re trying to decorate on a budget, this is probably the easiest win. Swapping pillows is like giving your home decor a mood change without doing anything risky. No paint, no hammer, just a zip and a fold.

2. Wallpaper the Inside of a Bookcase

A friend once used peel-and-stick wallpaper to line the back of an old IKEA bookshelf, and it looked like she bought it from West Elm. That’s one of those decor ideas that make a subtle difference. If you want budget-friendly texture and color without overwhelming one room, try it. You’ll need good print, a ruler, and something to smooth out the pattern.

3. Thrift a Lamp and Repaint It

Someone in my neighborhood group posted a photo of a ceramic lamp she got for $6 at Goodwill. She painted it matte black and used a linen shade, and the whole thing looked designer. I tried the same DIY project, and now it’s the coziest part of my reading corner. Moral of the story: thrift stores are goldmines if you’re on a tight budget and willing to paint a little.

4. Repurpose Old Frames for Wall Art

If you’re not sure how to decorate a bare wall but don’t want to commit to a gallery setup, try what I saw in a decorating ideas thread: frame leftover fabric, wallpaper scraps, or postcards from flea markets. It’s low effort, no stress, and easy to swap when you’re bored. Add a few frames in different shapes and you’ll have something decorative that feels like you.

5. Use Wallpaper as a Headboard

In a small apartment I once saw online, the owner stuck a rectangular patch of printed wallpaper behind the bed. If you’re trying to decorate without a headboard, try this hack. A bold geometric print or something textured works best if your room needs a little drama.

6. Hang Curtains Higher than the Window

This one is a pure visual trick: Hang curtains about six inches above the frame to make the space feel larger. You’d be shocked what that does to your home decorating game. Even cheap panels can look high-end this way. It pulls the eye upward and helps the room feel taller, which is perfect if you’re dealing with builder-grade basics and tight ceilings.

7. Pick and Paint an Accent Wall

I’ve seen a home decor makeover where they painted just one accent wall in deep green. The distinction of the wall made the clutter fade into the background. Do you have to go with deep green? Not necessarily. Clay red, bright yellow, or any other bold paint color works as long as it matches your current decor. 

8. Facebook Marketplace Furniture Swap

My cousin wanted a new coffee table but didn’t want to spend a dime. She used Facebook Marketplace to swap her old one for a mid-century side table with way more charm. It was such a genius budget decorating move. You can totally reuse or trade an old piece for something that fits better, even if all it needs is a sanding and polish.

9. Try Area Rugs in Weird Spots

Someone once told me they use area rugs not just under sofas but even in their hallway. At first I thought: weird. But, in rentals, it’s one of the best cheap ways to warm up cold floors or distract from tired tiles. If your living space feels like something you wish you left in the past, try this. Patterns help hide stains and add texture instantly.

10. Add Greenery (Even Faux)

I once helped a friend stage her place for an auction. The one thing that made it look like a beautiful home? Plants: some real, some faux. We tucked them on shelves, hung one near the window, and filled a corner with a giant snake plant. Greenery will always fit into any decor setup, really.

Conclusion 

I’ll be honest: I didn’t apply all of these ideas when decorating my home. There’s only so much you can do to transform a space without making it seem like it’s just showing off everything you got from several yard sales, anyway. However, if you ever need easy DIY ideas to make your space look better, have at any of the ones in this article. 

10 Small Living Room Ideas with TV (Fireplace Fans, You’re Covered Too)

I love small living rooms. They’re cozy, contained, full of potential. But making them feel homey? That’s the hard part. So many living room designs look great online but fall apart when you try fitting a TV in a small living room. And the moment you walk into the lounge, the clutter makes it feel like the whole room would pick your opponent’s side in a fight. If you’re in the same pickle, the design ideas below might just save your sanity. 

My Favorite Small Living Room Ideas with TV

1. Wall-mounted Frame TV with Floating Shelves

A friend had this gallery-style frame TV that looked like a painting when it wasn’t on. That changed how I now see a blank wall. Mount your television at a comfortable viewing height and add two floating shelves for plants and remotes. It’ll define the TV wall without cluttering your living space. If you want the screen to matter less but still be there, this is one of the best living room ideas with TV you should try.

2. Corner Armchair + Wall Sconces

One of the more clever room layout ideas I’ve spotted came from a rental with no overhead light and nowhere to center the TV. They pushed the TV to a corner, added an armchair facing it, and used wall sconces for light. This kind of layout can turn a small space into a cozy and inviting spot instead of a screen shrine.

3. Wallpaper to De-emphasize the TV

If there’s a particular wall that feels too empty but you don’t want to fill it with frames, try wallpaper. I used a bold pattern behind the screen, and it helped de-emphasize the TV without hiding it. Especially in small living rooms, it keeps the screen from dominating. One dark leafy print made the room feel layered, less techy, and more styled. Bonus: it also disguised a wall patch I never fixed properly.

4. Sleek Console with Open Shelves

This one came from a home design blog post I bookmarked a few months ago. In the inspo pic, they used a sleek TV console with open shelves. The main detail was that the back was cut out so the wall color peeked through. It works way better in small apartments than bulky units. Light passes through and cords stay hidden. 

5. Gallery Wall with a TV Tucked In

Instead of centering the screen, hang it slightly off to the left, then build a gallery wall around it: I’m thinking photos, a dried flower, a postcard. When next the TV is off, it won’t feel like a black hole. If you’re styling a living room with a TV and want it to feel more personal, start here.

6. Dark Paint and Seamless Wall

I got this idea from a show set in a moody apartment. The walls and ceiling were the same dark grey. Painting the entire wall and ceiling one color made the screen sit in space better, and in a dark room, it somehow made the room feel bigger. I’d recommend this for anyone sick of contrast lines.

7. Fireplace as the Anchor

Yes, mounting the TV above the fireplace is controversial. But where there’s no other obvious wall, you might as well do so, then flank the TV with two art prints to keep it from looking like a showroom.

8. Poufs Instead of a Coffee Table

When space is tight, a big coffee table can make a cozy living room feel cramped fast. How about switching yours out for two poufs and a small tray? It’ll give you plenty of seating, more footrests, and less visual bulk. 

9. Light Source Trick with Oversized Sofa

The best small living room ideas may not always come from expensive interior designers. They may come from mistakes. I once bought an oversized sofa without measuring. It barely fit, but it ended up creating a natural divide in the room. I paired it with a tall side table and a low light source behind it, and the screen tucked into the corner didn’t matter anymore. The main seating area was the star.

10. One Wall, Multiple Zones

A work friend of mine had just one usable wall and a lot of stuff. She arranged furniture in vertical zones: TV up high, bookshelf below, tiny desk to the side. Just like that, you can make your small space feel like it was made for your TV without compromising your layout. 

Conclusion 

Plenty can work in a small living room if you’re thoughtful about layout. Instead of letting the TV be the focal point, make it blend into the bigger picture. In small living rooms, the goal is to make the whole room feel balanced. Your guiding principle? Treat the TV as part of the design, not the main element. our space will feel just right.

Ikea hack – plant shelves on the cheap with Hyllis shelf unit

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One of the things that I really enjoy doing is Ikea hacking. If you’re unfamiliar with Ikea hacking, it’s when you combine 2 or more Ikea items and you create a whole new piece of furniture for your home decor. Goal is also to do it on the cheap, to save money. What I’ll talk about today isn’t really an Ikea hack, since I’m not hacking as much as I’m just writing a recommendation for the Hyllis shelf unit.

Plant shelves on the cheap with the Hyllis shelf unit

Recently I wanted to add plants to my living room. Some greenery would be nice on the eyes and let’s not forget that plants are also good for improving air quality.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I don’t really have anywhere to put the plants. In other words I needed a shelving unit. After visiting local hardware stores I was taken aback by the prices. Truth be told, their shelves were massive, very heavy. I’m guessing they are for tools. Ikea it is then, I thought to myself. Not sure why I didn’t look there right away.

 

Soon after opening up the Ikea website I found the Hyllis shelving unit. It’s a shelf unit made from galvanized steel. Perfect for plant shelves where it’s possible to get the shelves wet when watering them. They are just 15$ and assembly was a piece of cake. I wholeheartedly recommend this shelving unit if you’re looking for a place where to put your plants.