Want to Redecorate Your Apartment on the Cheap? Here's How.

Whether you've lived in your apartment for years or just moved in, you'll eventually want to redecorate. Home improvement projects are very popular. In fact, home improvement spending in 2018 averaged $8,305 with households spending across a little over two projects. If you are into frugal living, this might be too much for you. But there are many ways to redecorate your apartment on the cheap. Here are a few ideas.

Make a Budget

Before you buy anything, set yourself a budget for redecorating. One important part of frugal living is knowing exactly where your money is going. If you don't have a budget, it can be easy to spend your money without realizing it. Almost 34.4% of renters are under the age of 35, so many of them might not have had a budget before now. If this is you, take some time to get your home budget in order. Then, make your specific redecorating budget before you get started buying anything. Ensure to incorporate a budget for certain styles and designs you can’t live without as certain styles like vintage or unique can be pricier but worth it in the end. Vintage looks are now becoming more popular by the general public and influencers around the world. Using vintage wallpaper designs in your home is not only trendy but brings a hint of nostalgia and wisdom to your home, you may even get lucky and find some on clearance or in thrift stores for a steal of a deal. 

Use Interior Design Websites for Inspiration

While hiring your own interior designer will probably be too expensive, you can use interior design resources to plan your own redecorating. It is very popular to hire an interior designer. In fact, the market size for interior design is expected to be worth $14.6 billion in 2020. So even if you're not hiring someone, take advantage of the resources available online. Read blogs and watch videos about interior design in order to pick up tips for your own home. You can even find designs you like and figure out ways to apply them to your own space. By using interior design resources, you can learn more about color, flow, and other design aspects that will make your apartment look even nicer.

Buy Used

One of the best ways to get furniture at a cheap price is to buy it used. A major part of frugal living is understanding how to shop at thrift stores and get good things for a fraction of the price you'd pay for them brand new. While not everything will be available in thrift shops, you can likely find good furniture for your apartment. Look for things that are in good condition and see if you can get them delivered to your apartment. If you're patient, you can usually find what you're looking for. And if something is perfect except for the color or a few holes, you can also repair or repaint it yourself.

Shop the Sales

If you're not operating on a strict timeline, you can save money on new things by waiting for them to go on sale. Stores will put certain things on sale at different times, so keep track of the price and sign up for online alerts if it changes. You can also look for sales ads from different stores that carry the things you need. This approach will require you to look at different retailers and compare their prices, so it will involve more work. But if you'd rather buy new furniture or decorations, waiting for them to go on sale can help you stay on budget.

Redecorating your apartment does not have to be an extremely expensive project. In fact, with some patience and hard work, it can be fairly cheap to do. Plan ahead, make a budget, and decide what you want before buying anything. From there, you can decide what you want to buy used, what you want to buy new, and how much work you're willing to put in to get the best price. Redecorating with frugal living is completely possible. Just follow these tips to make it happen.