We have all been there and found decor that would be perfect for our house until we look at the price tag. So I found some ways how to decorate a house with no money.
You see, as a woman desperate to make our house feel like home, I used to think that I would have to spend a fortune to have a home that I felt proud of. And since I certainly didn’t have a fortune…soooooo I didn’t decorate.
Chances are you often feel the same way. Maybe you’re stumped trying to figure out how to decorate a house with no money.
What usually happens when you have no money to decorate…
You hold on to hand-me-down furniture and decor that doesn’t really fit with your style because you don’t think you could afford to buy anything new. You binge watch HGTV dreaming about someday having the money to decorate your home like they do on TV.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the secret that I figured out eventually… you can have a home you love ON ANY BUDGET. So today I’m sharing some of the ways I’ve figure out how to decorate a house with no money.
This post contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t wholeheartedly recommend anyway! Read my full disclosure here.
12 Ways how to Decorate A House With No Money
Find free stuff to decorate with
Always be on the hunt for free stuff! Check out your local Facebook groups because there are usually tons that are completely dedicated to people giving away free stuff. You can also filter Facebook Marketplace to show only free things.
Depending your city you may be able to find free stuff just by driving around for a bit on a Saturday. When we lived in San Diego, we use to drive around and always find free furniture and stuff on the side of the road or in alleys. Honestly a lot of the furniture and decor in our first apartment came from free finds!
Use free printables
There are free printables for pretty much everything online, but there are SO many for home decor in basically every style under the sun. Try searching for “_______ (enter your home style here) decor printable” and find out that suits your fancy.
Here are some free printables to get you started:
- DIY Frame For Printables (+ Free Bathroom Printables)
- 25 Free Fall Printables
- Farmhouse Spring Art Printable To Easily Decorate For Spring
- Free Fall Printable with Watercolor Pumpkins
- FREE Summer Printable
- Valentine’s Day Love Is In The Air Printable
Free pallets are your best friend
You’d be amazed what you can do with pallet wood! If you’re looking for pallets, you can usually find them for free either on Craigslist or just by asking around at some local businesses or grocery stores.
Once you do get your hands on some pallets, try a few of these pallet wood projects to see if you can create something that you’ll love adding to your home.
- 10 Pallet Wood Projects You Can DIY
- DIY Farmhouse Sign with Pallet Wood and Repurposed Lug Wrench
- Fall Sign: Thankful Grateful Blessed Pallet Wood Sign with Leather Straps
- Pallet Wood Side Table With Rustic Style
- Renter Friendly Garden: How to Make a Vertical Garden with a Pallet
- DIY Pallet AC Unit Cover You Can Make In Just 45 Minutes
- DIY Bottle Opener – Father’s Day Gift Idea
- DIY Reclaimed Wood Bed
- DIY Rustic Pallet Wood Sign
Use up your scrap wood
The moment you start woodworking is when your scrap wood pile begins to grow. Slowly, but surely, you have more scrap wood than you know what to do with!!
The fun part is that there is SO MUCH potential laying in that scrap wood pile. All it takes is some time, creativity and work to turn your scrap wood into useful and gorgeous small scrap wood projects.
Upcycle trash to decorate a house with no money
Someone’s trash can be your treasure. Or even YOUR trash can be your treasure! Before you throw something away, ask yourself if there’s a way you can turn this item into home decor.
Here are some creative ways to turn trash into treasure:
- Home Decor with Cardboard Boxes – 11 Cardboard Crafts for Adults
- 11+ Cardboard Crafts For Kids
- How To Paint Mason Jars
- DIY Vintage Pottery Made From Upcycled Vase (2 Methods)
- Colorful Upcycled Chair Bench For Your Backyard
- How to Upcycle Plastic Easter Eggs with Vintage Book Pages
- Upcycled Frame Wreath
Look in nature
If you’re stumped trying to figure out how to decorate a house with no money, there’s no better place to look than outside in nature!
- Grab some pinecones and put them in a glass vase.
- Cut fresh flowers from your garden or branches from a tree.
- Find pretty driftwood at the beach like we did for this yarn hanging
- Grab pinecones and branches and make these faux cotton stems.
Declutter and get rid of stuff
I know I know, it seems like the opposite of decorating to get rid of stuff. But I promise that you’ll be SHOCKED how much a difference it would make in your home if you simply got rid of stuff you didn’t need (instead of adding more decor).
There’s something to be said about a fresh space with less clutter and clear surfaces. Before you try to add more decorations, try to get rid of things you don’t need first.
Rearrange your furniture
Sometimes all you need is a little change up. You’d be amazed how different you can make a room look by simply rearranging your furniture.
If you’re stuck with how to handle space planning, try picking a focal point in the room and centering the furniture around that. Whether it be a large scale art piece or a fireplace accent wall, this can help make a huge difference in your room.
Propagate plants to decorate a house
Live plants are gifts that keep on giving. Once you get one, you can create more and more plants through propagation! I’m a total plant newbie, but I’ve managed to keep pothos, snake plant and a prayer plant a live for over year now so safe to say those are easy ones to start with.
If you want to learn more about how to propagate your plants, this is a great place to start.
Check used stores first
Thrift stores, consignment stores, CraigsList and Facebook Marketplace, yard sales, and estate sales are great places to find super cheap decor for your house.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a great place to find discounted DIY supplies and tools. We’ve saved hundreds (if not, thousands of dollars) by checking here first before we buy supplies for our DIY projects.
Make your own DIY decor and furniture
Although this one may not be a way to decorate a house with NO money, it is a way that you can decorate with a little bit of money. Making your own DIY decor and even furniture is a great way to furnish and decorate your home on a budget.
Here are some great DIY decor & furniture ideas to start with:
- DIY Wall Art with Scrap Wood and Wood Shims
- DIY Vintage Pottery Made From Upcycled Vase (2 Methods)
- DIY Round Wall Planter (Thrift Shop Upcycle)
- Super Easy DIY Crate Bookshelf for $100
- DIY White Farmhouse Pitcher From Tacky Thrift Store Find
- DIY Yarn Wall Hanging For Boho Nursery
- $3 Laminate Cabinet Transformed Into Green Boho Style Cabinet
- Picture Ledge DIY + Free Woodworking Plans!
- Easy DIY Bench For Small Entryway (With Free Plans)
Don’t underestimate the power of paint
Paint is magic, guys. If you don’t believe me….try it. Paint your walls, paint furniture, paint small decor like thrifted vases and frames…heck I’ve even painted our tile floors. It’s not no money, but it’s sure a cheap way to completely transform a space!
Skeptical? Check out these paint transformations:
- DIY White Farmhouse Pitcher From Tacky Thrift Store Find
- How To Repair Wood Furniture Before Painting (Chalk Paint Desk)
- How To Paint An Arch Like A Pro
- How To Paint Tile Floor (With Stenciling)
- Modern Sponge Painting | Semi Circle Pattern in Back of Locker Cabinets
- Outdoor Wood Painting Tips with A Paint Sprayer
- Mountain Mural Tutorial
- The Best Order of Painting A Room & Other Interior Painting Tips
- A Basic Paint Sheen Guide for Interior and Exterior Surfaces
- Two Tone Walls in Bedroom: How To Paint Straight Lines
- I Need To Paint My House Exterior! Answers To Your Paint Questions
- Vintage Bread Box Chalk Paint Makeover
- Choosing Front Door Paint Colors (& How To Paint A Door)
- How To Chalk Paint Bar Stools With General Finishes Chalk Paint
- How To Paint Mason Jars
Shop your home (use what you have)
I’m ending this post with the single BEST way to decorate a house with no money. Shop your home and use what you have! If you’re craving a little change or new decor, walk around your home and see what you have that you could simply move. You’d be amazed at how fresh things can find if you shuffle your decor around in your home.
You see, there are so many ways you can decor your home even if your budget is limited or nonexistent. If you find yourself stuck with no money to decorate, don’t give up home. You can still make progress creating a home you love…you just have to get a little creative.
Looking in nature remind me off Anne with E series. Propagating plants is a great idea, I’m doing so and it’s incredible how it changes the mood of the people at home.