Decorating Styles

• Some decorating styles, such as shabby chic or country, automatically help you save money because a primary component of the style is used furniture and accessories. These motifs also allow you to mix and match furniture pieces from different styles and eras. This isn't to say that the furniture looks haphazardly placed together in these frugal decorating styles. Rather, decorating elements such as colors and patterns provide visual unity. To incorporate some of these elements, paint all your wooden furniture pieces the same color. Throw decorative pillows in a common pattern on the couch and chairs to make the pieces look like they belong together.
  
  

Double Duty

• Buying double-duty furniture and accessory items offers you some of the simplest ways to bring your frugal home ideas into fruition. These items save both space and money. When incorporating this idea, start with items such as an old trunk, which you can use not only for storage space but also as a coffee table. Cover old metal cabinets with an inexpensive tablecloth to create a side table for a chair. A loft bed provides you with not only more floor space, but many come with dressers or desks as part of the design, saving you from having to buy these items as well.
  
  

Paint

• Painting rooms and old furniture pieces is one of the most frugal home ideas you can employ. Paint is inexpensive and covers a multitude of flaws, particularly if you incorporate faux painting techniques into your plans. Painting a room does more than just add color to the walls. You can also use it to fool the eye. For example, painting a room a light color makes it look bigger, which means you can put off building onto the room until you can better afford it.
  
  

Budget

• One of the best ways to carry out your decorating ideas is to establish a budget before you begin a new project. Determine how much money you can comfortably spend and think of ways to save money, such as shopping sales or buying items second hand. Other options that allow you to save money include going through your attic, basement and/or garage to see if you can recycle items. You can also do your decorating tasks in a room a bit at a time. Once you know what style of furniture you'd like to use in the room as well as the color scheme, you can buy pieces over a number of months until the room is fully decorated.