Today, nearly everyone is on a tight budget.  The economy is the worst it’s been in years, and buying all new decorating items for your home just isn’t possible.  Sure, you can go for one of those “buy now, pay later” deals, but what will that do to your already tight budget once the credit card charges start rolling in?  Probably not a smart move.

Here are a few tips for decorating on a budget.

Recognize your own decorating style before you do anything else.  If you do not know what your personal decorating style is, chances are that the things you do decide to spend money on will not work together or may be too trendy, going out of style as fast as it came in.

Determine your style, and spend those precious few dollars you do spend on decorating items that will stand the test of time.

Be innovative with those things you already have

Sometimes you can go shopping without leaving home!  Look in the storage shed, attic or basement; there are often old mirrors, tables or furniture that you may have forgotten about.

Also, be a bit creative and try items that are normally used in one room in another room of your home.  For example, if you have a china cabinet that really serves no purpose in your dining room, move it to a girl’s room and display dolls or other collectibles.

Give your existing furniture new life

Many people choose to re-purpose and recreate the furniture they already have.  Strip the finish and give something a new coat of paint.  Take it down to the bare wood and give it a rich luster with stain.  Stencil it for a worn cottage chic look – use your imagination!

You can also find slipcovers that are fitted, so give your sofa and love seat a new look.

Remember that window treatments can break the bank

Many window treatments are extremely expensive, and before you know it you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the windows.

Look around; some of your windows may be facing in a direction that doesn’t need any cover at all.  Let the natural light come through!

Other windows may need only a blind or shade.  If you want to dress your windows up a bit, learn how to make valences yourself, or use sheets to create floor-length curtains that casually drape in a swag effect on the rod.

Good old paint is always a solution, and can change the look of the room more than anything else you do.  Paint the walls a warm shade and trim it out in white, or paint the walls a light shade and add baseboards and door facings trimmed out in bold, deep colors.

As you can see, there are endless things you can do to give your home a fresh new look without spending much money.  Get creative, be innovative.  By using your imagination, you will find that your home will look totally different with very little effort.