How to Decorate Your First Home on a Budget

So you’ve just moved in to your new house or apartment and you’re thinking, “Now what?” You have some old furniture from college, maybe some stuff that your parents gave you and boxes of junk that you haven’t looked through since high school and probably won’t help your new pad look lively, let alone cool. You know all cool designer brands you want to buy from, but lets face it, you’ve barely got enough money to pay your bills, so that sofa you were eyeing at Sears is a high hope, even with a Sears coupon. This is still hope though, as long as you can manage some creativity to stretch your dollar as far as it can.

Before you even think to go out shopping look at what you have. That futon may be old but it’s still comfortable and can be used a sofa for the time being. The dinning room set from your parents with the bright blue chairs that don’t match anything can still work with a bit of sprucing up, so keep that too! Keep anything that has potential to look good with a new coat of paint or some nice fabric. Now that you know what you’re working with, it’s time to make a list of all the items you need.

Once you’ve got your list you’re prepared to go out into the world of thrift shopping! Not quite what you expected? Well if you’re on a budget a thrift store is the best place to shop. They have furniture, appliances, art and other décor just waiting to be bought and turned into treasures with a little bit of patience. You said you needed a TV stand, well there you go! It may have a broken hinge but that can be fixed with an extra $5 at the hardware store. It’s still half the price of buying it brand new. You wanted a bookcase but not in that color? Buy it anyway! You’ll be making a trip to the hardware store for that hinge so you might as well pick up some paint too. Be on the lookout for old posters, frame and trinkets that you may like.

Once you’ve gotten some new goodies head over to the hardware store for anything you’ll need to repair some of the furniture you bought. A new hinge, screws and don’t forget tools if you don’t have your own. Make sure to stop by the paint aisle to spruce up that bookshelf and those blue dining room chairs! It’s amazing what a new coat of paint will do to some old furniture.
Places like Big Lots or dollar stores also offer a lot of home décor items such as frames, valance for curtains, pillow covers, candles, vases, tablecloths, and organization and storage bins. If you’re good with a sewing machine or know someone who is, they can help you create your own curtains, pillow covers or futon covers so you can have a great unique look.

Steff Scholl knows all about thrift store shopping and stretching her dollars. Fortunately, she’s crafty enough to turn even the dullest of furniture into something new. But when she doesn’t feel like taking those extra steps, she turns to Sears.com where she can use a Sears coupon to get great discounts on her home décor.