From the Archives: Greatest Hits Cheap, Yet Chic: 8 Living Room Ideas for Little to No Money (Image credit: Carolyn Purnell) We live hard in living rooms. It's where we entertain, relax in the evenings, watch TV, and do countless other activities each day. Yet when we get sick of our surroundings and need something different, it's tough to make big changes in the context of our busy lives and small budgets. That's when small, cheap tweaks come in handy... Meet Victor and his modern, minimalist living room: Here are eight small ways to switch it up at home, on a budget: (Image credit: Alexis Buryk) 1. Shop Your Home: Instead of going to the store, stroll through your house and “borrow” items from other rooms. Or, take a look at what’s lingering in your closet or storage that might feel new again in the light of day. (Image credit: Monica Wang) 2. Curate: Pare down what’s on hand, and then style vignettes around the room. Arranging decor helps your eye move around the room in interesting ways.
Plus, when you choose meaningful items (i.e. travel souvenirs or family photos) it also means extra nice warm fuzzies. 3. Add Plants: Greenery is one of the best ways to liven up a space. See if one of your friends or neighbors will divide up one of their plants and give it to you, then find a vessel around the house for your new organic friend. (Image credit: Kim Lucian) 4. Bring out the Books: I firmly believe that books are beautiful. It’s just a bonus that they are close at hand, or easy and cheap to come by. A stack of books adds needed color, or is a nice space-filler when you don't want to buy pricier accessories. 5. Re-arrange Furniture: Get acquainted with a different part of your space by moving around your furniture. Put your desk by a window for a change, or orient your sofa towards the fireplace vs. the television for awhile. 6. DIY something: Aside from the good feeling you get from making something with your hands, DIY projects are inexpensive ways to decorate.
It doesn't have to be large— even a quick no-sew pillow adds something new to a room. (Image credit: Theresa Gonzalez) 7. Paint: We talk about painting all the time for good reason; this is one of the cheapest and easiest things you can do to switch up a room. It immediately changes the mood, looks fresh, and can be done without a lot of money. (Image credit: Noah Marion's Warm, Rich Home) 8. Find Beauty in the Everyday: Take a look around for regular items that have special visual appeal. Whether it is your collection of boots (above), or an old kimono, displaying them in a conscious way elevates both your objects and the room. What tips do you have for decorating on the cheap? Re-edited from a post originally published 3.25.14-NTArranging furniture is an art— no, seriously, it’s one of the most important parts about interior design. That’s not to say that it’s best left to the pros, though. Everyone can design their own perfect space with just a little bit of thought and a lot of experimentation.
In fact, figuring out how to set up your new place is a really fun part of moving into an apartment. When it comes to arranging furniture in your apartment,it’s sometimes necessary to get a little creative (and even to just throw the rule book out of the window every now and then). One of the most difficult rooms to design tends to be the bedroom, especially if it’s small. So, read on to learn how to arrange furniture in your bedroom: Before you start deciding where to put what, think about the furniture you’re using and try to use only the pieces that are necessary for the room to function. This is especially important in small apartments when there isn’t a lot of extra space– using fewer pieces will make the room look and feel a lot more spacious. If your room is extra tiny, use taller dressers and shelves to get more storage while taking up less room. Another quick tip before you get started: Don’t buy new furniture until you’ve arranged the pieces you already have.
That way you’ll know the exact furniture you need, along with the dimensions and style you’re looking for. It’s a good idea to experiment with different arrangements on paper before you start pushing furniture around the room. That way you can eliminate some options that won’t work without potentially scratching your floor or walls while moving your dresser for the zillionth time (believe me, it happens). Measure at least your biggest items (bed, dresser, shelves, etc.), as well as the dimensions of your room, then sketch out a couple of different options. If you’re not much of an artist, check out an app that can do the job for you. Try Home Design 3D (iOS) or Floor Plan Creator (Android). While figuring out how to arrange furniture in your new bedroom, think about your lifestyle. This could really affect where your furniture ends up. For instance, if you tend to watch a lot of TV in bed, you’ll want to find a layout that works well for that. Also, plan your walkways.
If your bed is blocking your path from the dresser to the mirror, you may find yourself a little annoyed down the road. Once you’re ready to put the pencil and paper (or app) down, and start actually arranging, begin with your bed. Traditionally, beds are placed on the wall opposite the door or the largest one with no windows. In a small bedroom, you may have to break these guidelines, though. Find a spot for your bed that makes the most sense to you, just make sure you can open and close your bedroom and closet doors. Also, while placing your bed under windows is totally OK from a design perspective, you may find yourself feeling uncomfortable drafts over the winter. When you’ve found the spot you think works best for your bed, arrange everything else starting with the biggest furniture item followed by smaller ones. Usually the dresser comes next, followed by bedside tables, a desk, shelves, chairs, and anything else you may have. Small-bedroom tip: If your closet is spacious, see if you can fit your dresser inside it.